Dad's 70th Birthday
My dad celebrated his 70th birthday the beginning of December. We had dinner, cake and presents at their condo and had a good time celebrating!
My dad celebrated his 70th birthday the beginning of December. We had dinner, cake and presents at their condo and had a good time celebrating!
 |
| Dad with seven of eight grandchildren! |
Emily's Accident
The next day (a Saturday) proved to be very “exciting”. Emily and her longtime friend Emma, had gone to a retreat with the youth group to a farm near Columbus to help to a live nativity. She has gone several times to this particular place with our church and always had a great time. However, I got a call mid Saturday morning informing me that Emily had taken a fall from a hay loft. Of course many different scenarios went through my head but it turns out she and some other were playing around and she accidentally fell backwards while sitting off the hayloft straight onto her back. Thankfully she was only 6 feet up off the ground but she had no opportunity to catch herself and the fall was very painful. God also blessed us in several different ways. Number one there was a nurse on the retreat and she was called quickly to the scene and is the one who called to report to me what had happened. Secondly there was a hospital less than 10 minutes away from the farm. We decided it was best that Emily go to the emergency room to get checked out because she had landed on her upper back/neck region and she couldn’t move without significant pain.
Needless to say I dropped everything and went straight up to be with Emily. Unfortunately I got caught in construction traffic and was literally at a standstill for 30 min or more. It took 3 hours to reach the farm but by that time Emily had been seen at the hospital, examined, x-rayed and released. They determined she just had some bruised ribs. We packed Emily and her friend Emma up and were on our way home. At first Emily wanted to stay at the retreat but reality soon set and she realized that coming home to rest and relax was a better idea. Time and an adjustment at the chiropractor have served Emily well and she is feeling back to normal.
David's Green Belt
Phew, well the next weekend in December was also exciting but in a good way this time! David tested and got his green belt! Here are some pics and a video from that day!
 |
| Wow! Look at the height on that kick, he's come a long way (up) with his kicks! |
 |
| A punch David had to do as part of the application part of his test. |
 |
| David performing one of his three kicking combinations. |
 |
| David in his "sparing" gear. |
 |
| I couldn't resist taking a picture of David's cute little piggies! |
 |
| Our new GREEN belt, showing off with his instructor! |
As most people in Cincinnati know the Duke Energy train display was moved to the Cincinnati Museum Center having been gifted to the museum to preserve the large collection for future use. However, I must say that I am not a fan of this move. My reasons are as such…
1. The event went from being a free event with free cookies to a paid event (over $10 per person).
2. The event used to be where you could just show up, look at the trains and leave. Now you must endure a long museum display of older Cincinnati (which is not interesting to children and the adults with them are unable to enjoy) before you get to the trains at the end of the museum.
3. You must endure your children begging to visit the other museum centers which you did NOT pay for and don’t have time to visit now that you’ve spent the better part of a hour dragging them through the museum. Not to mention that they’re worn out and tired by this time.
4. The trains used to be in the large lobby of a downtown building and is now housed in a much shorted ceilinged room, making the whole display seem much, much smaller.
Now that I’ve ranted about the display, I cannot say that we will head down each year to see it unless we plan on spending the entire day at the museum centers. I’m very disappointed in the whole thing but cannot blame those who owned the trains to want to keep them in working order and in display worthy condition for many more years.
 |
| A partial view of the train display. |
16th Anniversary
This particular weekend Jason and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary! My parents watched the kids overnight on the Friday night while Jason and I went out to dinner, etc. On Saturday night, Jason’s parent’s watched the kids overnight while Jason and I went to a Christmas party! It was nice to have two nights in a row where we didn’t have to worry about anyone else but ourselves but I could tell the effect it had on Masamo. He was a lot more withdrawn and need some extra special attention over the next few days to reassure him.
This particular weekend Jason and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary! My parents watched the kids overnight on the Friday night while Jason and I went out to dinner, etc. On Saturday night, Jason’s parent’s watched the kids overnight while Jason and I went to a Christmas party! It was nice to have two nights in a row where we didn’t have to worry about anyone else but ourselves but I could tell the effect it had on Masamo. He was a lot more withdrawn and need some extra special attention over the next few days to reassure him.
 |
| Jason and I as we were about to head out to celebrate 16 years! |
David's Poetry Reading
David’s class had a “poetry reading” the week before Christmas break. They had been memorizing poetry by Jack Prelutsky. The kids really enjoyed the poetry and David is now a big fan of his and Shel Silverstein! Here is David and his group reciting one of the two poems they memorized.
I do not wish to go to school today", insisted Sarah Sue.
"And Mother if you make me, I will eat a worm or two."
"Do you mean worms like these?" Her mother firmly said.
"I got them in the garden, they're extremely long and red."
"They're both the very juiciest and and plumpest I could find."
"I'm off for school," said Sarah Sue, "for I have changed my mind!"
David said he was nervous getting up in front of everyone, knowing David this comes as a little surprise because as anyone who knows can attest to, he loves to show off and have everyone’s attention. I guess small crowds are more his style though.
