Cooking & Climbing, Sitting & Singing

Can it be December already? Tomorrow "Thing #1" (see The Cat in the Hat) turns thirteen!

News Flash: Madeleine and Elise are gaining experience and confidence in the kitchen. I have found it best for me to set them up, answer questions, give reminders, and then leave the apartment altogether. If I stick around, I micromanage. So far they have made eggs (fried, scrambled, omelets), granola (from scratch), bread dough, pretzels, brownies, rice krispy treats, jello, and play dough. Additionally, last month Madeleine selected a recipe (mushroom pie, see photo), put the necessary ingredients on the shopping list, and then made the whole thing (crust included) by herself!

Our newest athletic endeavor was a trip to the rock climbing gym provided by Jason Dausman. We loved it. Everyone, except Thomas, made it to the top of the wall several times. Thomas went up many, many times to about the halfway point and then belayed down, happily bouncing off the wall all the down. I really think this was the main reason that he didn't make it higher. Rappelling down was too fun. He wasn't a bit sore the next day! We had to leave after two hours and no one was ready to go.

Our second 5K was run by me, the girls, and Paul. It was Paul's first 5K, and probably only the second or third time he had run that distance. I hit my goal time. Charlie is enjoying telling everyone how I finished first for my age group, but I have to add that it was a VERY small race. There were three women in their thirties including me...and several women in their forties and fifties beat me. The kids were very proud of me and excited by my medal. Paul got a ribbon for second place in his division--men under 19! Elise won a dozen Einstein bagels.

The girls are learning how to babysit. Again, better that I'm not there! They've both had serious experience in poopy diapers now. Elise babysat a seven year old who is bigger than she is. Madeleine is figuring out which families have the best libraries and what to do when she hasn't brought enough schoolwork and the baby is napping. Elise has interesting games for the kids, like "zoo," "run away from home," and "make tunnels out of the sofa cushions." Sometimes she comes home very tired.

Last month both of the girls had the opportunity to serve in church by playing with the worship team. It was a milestone for them musically, and a special chance for them to prep and rehearse with Claudia. Another special chance: Charlie and Madeleine are singing in the chapel Christmas choir this week, directed by Claudia who is also giving Madeleine voice lessons.

Well, that's our news, meaning what is actually different about life for the Gibsons these days. Really, things feel pretty much the same. The boys would probably want to tell you about their explorations in the woods out back, finding a cave/tunnel, and parts of a decomposing rabbit. They've also figured out how to climb a tree in our yard though it's getting too cold to hide in it, waiting for unsuspecting passersby, as they were originally. Paul, Thomas, and Elise also developed a new game in the stairs and landings of our apartment building. It was a version of "Marco Polo," played with a box over "IT"s head. That only lasted one morning. That was the same morning that Paul and Thomas popped out of bed early and did all their school workbooks, only to have Madeleine wander out at breakfast time and tell them that it was Saturday!