December Stuff

Here is the bravest girl I know!  Caylie is still taking growth hormone shots every night, with a great attitude.  We had one of our quarterly visits with her endocrinologist Dr. Koontz in December.

Caylie goes to church early with Jim on Sundays, and helps with cleaning.  Here she is on the stage while the worship team practices.  Proud of her!

And she loves "A Charlie Brown Christmas" like her mama!

Samuel played basketball for Sky Vista Middle School.  

Daddy got a new job as CFO for Welch Equipment Company, which sells and rents forklifts.  We all went to see the new place, and the kids tried out some of the forklifts.

Justin had concerts with Wind Ensemble and Jazz 2. 

 Both are amazing!

EHS Wind Ensemble
"The Eighth Candle"

EHS Jazz 2
"Boplicity"

EHS Jazz 2
"Hot Chocolate"

EHS Jazz 2
"Blues in Hoss Flat"

AAC Christmas Party

We had fun at AAC Adoption's annual Christmas party!
Caylie and Tessa enjoying some candy canes.

Of course there was face painting!

And the finished products!

We don't do Santa at our house, but the girls were up for some cute photos.  🎅

Samuel and his former foster sister, Piper.  They lived together at the House of Grace foster home in Yangchun, Guangdong.  Samuel adopted 2015 and Piper adopted 2016.

And three kiddos from Fuzhou, Jiangxi!  LiLi adopted 2012, Caylie adopted 2013, and Foster adopted 2017.  We're so happy to have continued relationships with these families!

Indiana Thanksgiving

We drove out to Indiana for Thanksgiving!
The sun had not yet come up when we left.  We stayed a night near Kansas City, and got there the day before Thanksgiving.

There is always lots of game playing!

Aunt Janiece and Caylie.

Grandpa and Grandma Beck

Our family.  💜

We were missing Keelan, who had to stay home and work.
Samuel, me, Jim, Justin, and Caylie

My sister Sharon's family.
Shelby, Angela, Adam, Sharon, boyfriend Toby, Stephanie

 My sister Tina's family.  They drove out from Connecticut.

Tina, Ken, Elsie, Millie

 Justin has never had a piano lesson, but he likes to tinker, sight-read, and play by ear!

Yummy Wick Sugar Cream Pie!  Made in my hometown of Winchester, Indiana.  I don't get it very often.

Cousins, Caylie and Angela.

The day after Thanksgiving was an un-rehearsed concert!  Grandma and Millie on flute, Uncle Ken and Justin on trombone, Aunt Sharon on piano.

Videos of the fun!

Me and my Caylie.

 Angela made a mashed potato sculpture of Toby's face. 

 She is a talented artist.  😁

Our friends the Johnsons, who used to live in Colorado with us, but now live in Indiana, came to see us.  Mark is a pilot, so it was a short flight!
Graham, Sandy, Mark, Jim, Me, Caylie, Justin, Sam

October

First snow ofthe season!  Tessa and Caylie being seeing in it.

Caylie and me at her parent/teacher conferences, Global Village Academy Douglas County.

Justin in his band tux.

The marching band got new uniforms! 
(They only wear their fancy hats in the show, though. 
Scroll on down!)

Justin and his friend Benjamin.  

They've known each other since kindergarten.  Benjamin's mom Sarah was their teacher in 1st grade, and I was their teacher in 2nd and 3rd at Meadowood Christian School.  Now they're all grown up in high school.

Marching band low brass!

Samuel turned 15!

Birthday dinner at MOD Pizza.

And home for birthday homemade cheesecake!

Justin's Band Performances, Fall 2018

I'm wayyy behind in blogging, but this will have to do for now, till I get caught up!  Justin has been busy with band this fall, and I want to share his performances.

These first two are from his Jazz Band concert, October 6.  Last year he was in Jazz 1, and has worked up to the next level, Jazz 2.  This group is amazing!  I'm missing the piece in which he had a solo, as my phone stopped recording in the middle of that one.  (Sigh.)  I'm waiting to get a recording from another band mom, which hopefully will come soon!

The Art of the Matter 

The Incredibles

The next three are from his Wind Ensemble concert, October 9.  Last year he was in the beginning Concert Band, and has moved up two levels to Wind Ensemble.  This group is amazingly talented, as well!

The Admiral of the Air

Charm

Twisted Tango

(video by Jim with focus on Justin!)

And here is the amazing Raptor Regiment Marching Band, doing a halftime show at last week's football game in their new uniforms!  This 172-member band works so hard all summer and fall.  Enjoy!