Painting with Lights

On Saturday evening, our little town of Oskaloosa had a Painting with Lights ceremony where the City Band played Christmas songs, they turned on the lights, had snacks, met Santa, and hand horse-drawn carriage rides. It really feels like a Hallmark movie!

Avery and I ordered Pizza Ranch to-go, brought our chairs and blanket and ate while we listened to the City Band play Christmas songs. Steve and Aubrey were at a basketball tournament in Marshalltown.

We got hot cocoa, cookies and popcorn, while we were waiting in the carriage line.

 

Little Eagles - Aubrey

This year the 7th and 8th graders from PC, Sully, Peoria and Osky Christian all formed one AAU basketball team for the Little Eagles. This was the first tournament that Aubrey was able to play in this year and she was thrilled that they got 1st and won all 4 games. Steve is also helping Brent Geetings coach. It was a long day in Marshalltown, but Aubrey was proud to get her 1st AAU gold medal...ever!

 

Thanksflipping Performance

On Saturday, Avery had her Thanksflipping performance at Transform Academy.

She did her cheer performance a couple times, and went through her tumbling rotations. She really is getting comfortable with her round-off back handspring and now working on her back-tucks! 

 

OC Fall Program

On Friday, November 22, we had our Oskaloosa Christian fall program.

Aubrey played the saxophone and sang in the 6-8 choir.

Avery performed with her 5th grade band for the first time ever

and joined the 6-8 choir for one song.

practicing on Friday afternoon

Mrs. Keith is Aubrey's band teacher

practice on Friday afternoon

concert night

Avery played in a round, "Frere Jacques"

Mr. Carmichael is Avery's band teacher

6-8 choir

Aubrey was acknowledged for being a part of the honor choir

5th graders joined the 6-8 choir for one song

our tradition of getting a stocking gift after the concert continues

 

Arizona Vacation

 Friday November 15 - Monday, November 18 I went to Phoenix, AZ for a college friend's reunion. I left Steve home with the girls since he had 2 basketball games, school things and farm things that he really couldn't miss.

(pics in reverse order)

After seeing "Waymos" all weekend, I decided to book a driverless car to take me from Annette's school to the airport! Overall, I felt quite safe and it was a quick 10-minute trip. There was one close call as the Waymo did not detect a construction vehicle that pulled in front of us, as the construction worker had to wave his hands in front of us to make sure it stopped! Yikes!

Thanks to my friend, Annette, who helped me locate my Waymo and get me in safely :)

I got to spend a little bit of time at Phoenix Christian School with my friend. It's so fun to visit other schools and see how things work. Her class was so sweet! 

We got an Air B n B all together and spent many hours catching up. 

One evening Jon made us supper! Thanks, Jon! 

Our living room where we could hang out and watch football.

The front of our house we stayed at.

A WAYMO in the wild :)

On Sunday morning/early afternoon, we toured the downtown Scottsdale area and enjoyed visiting the little shops and having lunch and frozen yogurt there. 

The boys enjoyed this gaming room 

We went to "Culinary Drop-Out" in Scottsdale for a fun dinner.

The palm trees were so pretty lit up!

The only whole-group pic we got!

I requested the ISU football game at the restaurant, that they finally got figured out.

Group minus Ang

Group minus me :)

After our hike we grabbed lunch at In-N-Out Burger - yummm!

We also stopped at Annette's apartment to pick up a few things after our hike.

On a Facetime call with the fam

We saw this mountain quail while we were hiking.

a fun variety of cactus

Annette and I took the more scenic, slower hike while most went on more of a strenuous hike.

most of the other hikers

We had a miscommunication about which trail head to meet at, so we had to hike to each other. 

YAY - sunny weather! It didn't ever get above 70 degrees, but it felt so warm!

My plane snacks on my direct flights out of Southwest!

Yikes, here I go!