Our gingerbread house

Temperatures were in the 20s today (and will stay there tomorrow), so we could only play outside for short periods at a time.  During our indoor time, we constructed and decorated our gingerbread house.  Josh and Lucas each got to decorate one front/back panel, one side panel, and one roof panel.  Mom and Dad got to try to put the whole thing together without breaking the panels, knocking off the barely-secured decorations, or crushing the icing parts.  It took some work.

 

But our finished product is so cute!

 

The green stars and hearts are made from fondant.  John cut the shapes using Lucas's Pop Chef, which THRILLED Lucas.  He loves that thing. 

 

Yes, one panel went down.  Nothing a little extra frosting couldn't (sort of) fix. 

Snow Day!

Like much of the country, the Dallas-Fort Worth area got hit by this winter storm yesterday.  We went to sleep last night to the sound of sleet hitting the windows; we awoke to a white winter wonderland!  The boys were so excited. 

 

  

 

All the schools were closed, as was my office, so we had the whole day to enjoy it.  Not that we got to sleep in, of course; as usual, when the boys have a day off, they seem to get up early even though we have to drag them out of bed on school days.  Once the word was out that there was "snow" on the ground, everyone was wide awake!

 

The "snow" was really tiny dots of ice:

 

But the boys were not deterred.  They ran around and slid down the neighbor's driveway and played dart guns and built an ice fort out of this "snow"/ice drift:

 

But one question remained:  who dresses these people?

 

Lucas is under the impression that if he adds summer layers over his winter clothes, he is warmer.  Thus, the shorts over his pants.  Underneath his coat, he is wearing a tank top over his thermal shirt.  Good grief!

US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

As a result of the significant budget cuts our office sustained this year, not to mention a friendlier new Chief Judge, I have begun to make court appearances again.  I argued one case before the Fifth Circuit in September, in El Paso, and I made my first appearance before the Fifth Circuit at its main courthouse in New Orleans this week. 

 

Here's a view of the courthouse from across the park:

 

 

And a closer view:

 

Trips to New Orleans mean one thing at our house:  CHOCOLATE GATORS!

 

Appellate courts don't rule at the time you argue the case; they take it "under advisement" while they conduct their own research and analysis, and then issue a written opinion several months later.  So I don't know whether I'll win, but I did get a nice compliment from one of the judges, so we'll call it a success!

 

If you want to hear the argument, click on the following link:

 

http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/OraLArgumentRecordings.aspx

 

and enter 12-10834 in the box that says "and/or docket number is" and click on "search"

 

The screen for case number 12-10834 will appear.  Under "Listen," click on the link that says "Windows Media" and an audio file will open up.  You might have to turn up your volume; in my experience, these recordings are not very loud.  But it will start playing.  I argue for the first 15 minutes and the final 5 minutes; my opponent argues for 15-20 minutes in between. 

 

 

2013 Wildcat Run

This morning we ran the Wildcat Run at Josh's school.  Josh ran in the 5K and Lucas and I ran in the One Mile Fun Run.

 

Josh finished THIRD in his age group!  He won a trophy for his outstanding effort. 

 

 

The runners in the One Mile event had to beat the turkey to the finish line in order to win a medal.

 

 

Lucas made it!  He beat the turkey and won his medal!

 

 

Congrats to Josh and Lucas on another great race!

Lucas's first day of first grade

Lucas returned to the same school he attended last year, East Fort Worth Montessori Academy.  This year, they have three new pygmy goats and a fully organic garden.  His first day report was that school was "awesome!"  He loves his new teacher and is making new friends (only one classmate from last year is in his class this year). 

 

 

Have a great year, Lucas!

Josh's first day of fourth grade

Today was Josh's first day of fourth grade.  He is attending a new school this year: Saint Andrew Catholic School.  He looks very tall and grown up to me.

 

 

For comparison purposes, here are Josh's first days from each of his previous grades.

 

Third grade (and Lucas's first day of kindergarten):

 

 

Second grade:

 

First grade:

Kindergarten (the sweatshirt on the first day of school is a dead giveaway that this dates to when we still lived in Portland):

 

At this rate, he will be driving soon. 

 

We love you Josh. 

 

 

 

Go Giants!

During our annual trip to California, we fit in a Giants game this year.  The Texas heat did not prepare us well for AT&T Park.  While our team spirit was evident, we could have used a few more layers.  And the Giants could have used a few more hits.  But we had a great time. 

 

Ice! featuring Merry Madagascar

Our Christmas season kicked off with a visit to the Gaylord Texan resort, for the Ice! exhibit.  The theme this year was Merry Madagascar, and it is just amazing that artists can carve and color ice to look like all of these characters.  The boys enjoyed the art but mostly loved the ice slide (of course!), and also enjoyed seeing the life-sized Gingerbread house inside the hotel, along with the stilt-walkers and all the other festivities. 

 

 

Donning the parkas in order to enter the freezing ice hall:

 

Alex the Lion:

 

Josh, Lucas, and King Julian:

 

Marty:

 

Gloria:

 

The penguins!

 

 

 

 

Lucas on the ice slide:

 

Josh on the slide:

 

Ice nativity scene:

Other festivities at the resort:

 

This gingerbread man photo is one of my favorites!  I love the happy faces on my boys!

 

 

Santa!

We finally made it to see Santa.  Josh and Lucas were very excited and gave a lot of thought to their wish lists this year. 

 

 

Josh even helped Santa read Lucas's list.  (Lucas has learned to write letters but has not learned to spell.  Reading his list is a real skill.)

Jingle Bell Jog 2012

It's that time of year again!  This morning we ran the Jingle Bell Jog, and as always, we had a great time. 

 

The morning started with a visit with Santa:

 

 

Then it was time to line up for the race.

 

 

Josh ran alone, because none of us are fast enough to keep up with him.  John got a picture of him recovering after crossing the finish line.  Josh came in 6th overall with a 7:15 mile, right up at the front of the pack!

 

 

Lucas ran the whole way (and in fact had to leave me at around the halfway point, but I could stay close enough to keep an eye on him as he ran ahead and finished).  He finished 61st overall with a 10:09 mile, which was in the top third at least.  He was ahead of a lot of people. 

 

Lucas with his finisher's ribbon:

 

And Lucas with his BLUE ribbon for winning the kindergarten division!

Josh won a blue ribbon too -- his fourth in two years, after finishing first in his division in consecutive Turkey Trots and consecutive Jingle Bell Jogs!

 

My fast runners!

TCU Football

We went to the TCU football game today to root on the Horned Frogs.  They have a great tradition of allowing children to run onto the field with the team when it makes its entrance at the start of the game.  And they give you a jersey too! 

 

 

 

The boys were fast!  As we had to run the whole 100 yards to the other end zone to exit.  John and I really had to run to keep up with them.  It was a lot of fun and definitely a highlight of the day. 

 

Despite the cold temps and occasional misty rain, we had a great time!