Elf

Well, our time with our elf has come to an end but he didn't leave 

quietly.  Owen and his friend were up to no good this year.

One night, Owen got a hold of a marker and wrote on the

toilet seat - "Ho Ho Ho - Who's gotta go?"

Then we woke up to Owen and friends in

a race to the finish line.

Briggor came up with the idea of bringing his army

men downstairs because Owen and friends were

getting into everything.

So, that evening, the army men went to work and caught

the two of them before they could get into anything.

Owen and friend left us on Christmas Eve with Santa.

That elf causes so many problems while he is here.

School Christmas Party

The Friday before Christmas, the last day of school before vacation, Briggor's 5th grade class had

their Christmas party.  I volunteered to help out.  The kids ate snowmen made out of small donuts stacked on each other with candy eyes, nose and scarves.

They also had santa hats made out of strawberries and cream cheese icing.

The room mom gave each child a tupperware container filled with baking soda.  Us moms walked around and added conditioner, yes, conditioner for your hair to the baking soda.  It is a really cool

special effect.  The baking soda turns into "snow".  California snow!

The kids really had to work the conditioner into the baking soda to

get to the point that they could mold it.

What was really great to see was when the kids started sharing and

building together with their "snow".

5th grade

This is Briggor's 5th grade class.

Mark and I tease him to look around and take note of the girls in his class.

Many years ago, Mark and I were in the same 5th grade classroom at 

Village Christian Schools.  Here we are now, married!!!

HAHAHA!!

You never know.............

Jade Christmas performance

Jade had back to back Christmas concerts last week.

The first one was held in a church on the east side

of town with a small group of chorus members.

The following evening was the main event at the high school

performing arts building.

It was Jade's big night!  Jade tried out and secured her first solo performance

in front of a live audience.  She was so nervous.  On a daily basis, you can hear

her singing around the house but this night, all eyes were on her!

Jade sang "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" with 

no music.  It was ALL her and she nailed it!

It was amazing!

The is the Chamber Choir that Jade is apart of at her high school.

Jade is in the bottom row, second from the left.

The following is a video of Jade's performance.  If you received this blog post in an email, I do not believe it will work.  You will have to go to the blog website here: Mendenhall Family Adventures

Basketball

Briggor attended 7 after-school tryouts with many 5th and 6th graders all

working hard for a position on the 14- man boys elementary

basketball team roster.

After many COLD afternoons and many suicides, which are NOT his favorite, Briggor

managed to earn a spot on the team.  He is the shortest of all the players but 

he plays with everything he has.   He is also 1 of 4 - 5th graders on the team.   It's going to be a great year!!

The boys basketball season officially begins the first week of January.

Right now, he is attending 3 practices a week to prepare for his first

season.

Briggors Steph Curry pic

Briggor's favorite player - Steph Curry of the
Golden State Warriors

Elf-capades

So, Owen, our house elf, has been busy this year causing all

kinds of mischief.  Briggor loves waking up to

see what Owen has been up to during the night.

Owen decorated the bathroom mirror!

While decorating the tree, Briggor found this elf ornament in the decoration box.  Briggor decided to put him next to Owen.  Well, Owen thought it was nice to have a friend around this Christmas.  Owen is teaching him how to be naughty..............

Owen found all my Christmas books and placed them around the house.  We even found him reading one on the
couch with his new friend.

Owen and friend with a late night snack!

This is what happens when you leave the pantry door open....
the elves built a Christmas tree out of cans!!

Christmas Tree

My Christmas tree and all my decorations are up this year in the house.

It took me a few days to complete this project but

I am pleased with the results.

Here are a few pictures of a few ornaments from my tree:

Bakersfield Christmas Parade

Our city's annual Christmas Parade was last week.

I took a few of the kids and headed downtown.

Bakersfield is not really that big but the people who

live here really love this town.

The crowd was 5 people deep and

everyone was in a cheerful, holiday mood.

This is a great way to start off the Christmas season.

Megan and friends

Briggor and I

Shop

A few Saturdays ago, it was "clean up the shop" day!

All the kids went to the shop and helped.

They will tell you they hate doing it but

I think they actually like getting down and dirty 

and spending time with each other.

Briggor found his favorite spot!

Briggor had the job of sorting all the various nuts, bolts, screws etc from the bin.

Every kid has had this chore at one time or another.

His turn was this year!

I think it actually like sitting there tossing the items in different bins.

Elf culture

Santa didn't forget us this year!

On Thanksgiving, we received our annual elf!!

Owen, the elf arrives every Thanksgiving day!

Briggor found him on the front porch when we went out the front door.

He was in the box sitting on the porch.

It didn't take him long to start his antics!!

Thanksgiving

Well, another Mendenhall Thanksgiving has come and gone AGAIN!

It seems we just got over with the one last year.

Time sure flies.

Thanksgiving day started out with coffee and the Macy's Thanksgiving

Day parade on the big screen.

Then, Mark and some of the kids started playing "the game"

at the dining room table.  This game started the night before

and continued on into the holiday.

My mom and I enjoying a little time on the couch after we

got the turkey into the oven.

Man, do I look tired!!

After the appetizers were served, Mark got the older kids together -

and toasted to the holiday.

Crackers with hot, spicy cheese and a dollap of hot sauce with

a Jack Daniels chaser shot!

Geez!

Nettie commented that she was home with this tradition of sorts.

LOL

I never tire getting pictures of my kids.  They always comment to me -- again mom?   I just respond with a smile and say YES!   Here are my beautiful kids...............

Skyler (Bud), Megan and Ryan

Jade Skyler (Bud), Ryan and Megan
Nettie

Beema and the grandkids

Nettie, Jade, Skyler (bud), Ryan and Megan

My beautiful girls

My handsome boys

Me with the girls --- still looking tired.

Nettie and Mark

Finally, it was time to eat!!

Here is a plate of my wonderful turkey dinner!

Happy Thanksgiving from our house to yours!!!

Add caption

Light The Night Walk

I forgot to post the results of my Leukemia walk this year.

The event took place November 7th at Cal State University, Bakersfield.

This was my 2nd year with a team!

Thank you to all who donated to my team this year and in the past.

If it wasn't for research in this area, I might not be here today.

I am grateful to all the people involved with LLS.

On the night of the walk, the place is filled with lanterns.

So beautiful......

Each lantern represents the following..............

The LLS (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society) asked me to go on stage again this year.

I just had to represent the survivors who were there at the event that evening.

I also lead the Survivors walk which meant that all survivors that were there walked first in

front of everyone while everyone else cheered.  We represent what research has done for us.

Team Mendenhall rasied $1,332.00 this year!

I am still taking donations until the end of the year.  Go to

LLS-Light the Night/Team Mendenhall

You can donate online!!