Testing

 Testing on ipad

The Countdown Begins

The suitcases have been moved from storage in the closet to the bed in the guest room. On the final leg of our upcoming adventure we are allowed one suitcase each, weighing up to 50 pounds and a carry-on weighing less than 13 pounds. Hubby had to get a new large suitcase as his lost a wheel after the cruise to New Zealand and Australia.

The need for a large suitcase is because we are traveling from North America winter to South America summer to open water excursions and summer in Antarctica. One night in New York City with some exploring in winter temps, four days in South American countries including a rain forest region, and then 9 days on a cruise with land excursions on ice.

one of us is farther along in the packing than the other

new black LARGE suitcase from Costco

We have specific clothes we are to bring for the cruise. Parkas and boots are furnished, but not the layers. Waterproof lined pants on the left. Two base layer shirts. Two mid-layer pullovers. Two pairs of base leggings. Two pairs of wool socks from Sweden and one pair of sock liners.

We purchased special gloves, neckwear, goggles, waterproof pockets for our phones, AND seasickness meds, sunscreen (not in photo) and three different electrical adaptors. (We had two of the three needed adaptors and only had to purchase the one needed for our overnight stay in Brazil.) All of this fits into the white packing cube in the first photo. Keep in mind, this is ONLY the clothes needed for the possible eight Zodiac excursions from the cruise ship to land in the Antarctic continent. 

A friend, Donna, purchased this lined, ear-flap, waterproof hat at a rummage sale in AZ last winter from a woman who was on an excursion to Antarctica on the cruise line Hurtigruten. I felt it needed to make another trip to the continent. 

Summer clothes, ship casual and dinner clothes are beginning to be pulled from the closet. I am going to keep those to a minimum! The adventure begins on Friday. More FB posts and blogs beginning next week.

Happy Valentine's Day

 

Our realty company gifts us each Valentine's Day with free Oh My Cupcakes! This is the first of the six years we have been able to appreciate the gift as we are usually in AZ. The realty company also gifts their customers with a pumpkin pie (Costco size) for Thanksgiving. We took advantage of that in November, also for the first time. Usually these two freebies go to our son and family who also get their own desserts because we used the same realty company. Pretty sweet!

Back left: chocolate cupcake with vanilla bean frosting, double chocolate with butter cream frosting, lemon with frosting and vanilla cupcake with tinted vanilla bean frosting.

Christmas Lights at The Falls

 OFD wanted to see the Christmas Lights at The Falls after the play and pizza. These are her photos.

Winter Wonderland from November 21-January 5

over 29 miles of twinkling light strands

260 decorated trees

the Visitor's Center & Observation Tower

The Falls are water (Sioux River) cataracts and waterfalls at the Sioux Quartzite quarry in downtown Sioux Falls. The Parks and Rec Department light and decorate The Falls Park the weekend before Thanksgiving for the Christmas season. Thousands of people visit the park during this season.

colored lights reflecting on the water

You can see the fog start to move in by looking at the sky in this photo.

and there's the fog

visitors can walk throughout the park or drive through to see the lights

this was the 22nd year of the lights at The Falls

This house is NOT part of the lights at The Falls. It was on 26th Street across from McKennon Park. We noticed their huge Halloween display and wanted to see if they decorated for Christmas. Yes, they did. Arch over the sidewalk. Lighted figures on the lawn. House and garage trimmed in lights. Christmas spirit.

The Grinch

 OFD wanted to see How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which was playing at the Washington Pavilion over Christmas. The two of us had tickets.

statue at the Pavilion, part of the outdoor art display

At first I thought the glass was reflecting the sunset, but it is colored glass. Still impressive. Also part of the art at the Pavilion.

no photos once the musical began

we both enjoyed a Don't Be Grinchy adult beverage

photo collage from OFD

Hubby joined us for pizza after the play

December Family Time

 We have a family tradition of going bowling when we all get together. This photo of KJs family was from our Thanksgiving bowling activity. The photo of the 7 of us was our Christmas card this year.

I volunteered to help the family make lefse this year. It is a tradition of the Hanson family and in the past, was a weekend event in Watertown. This year K & C planned to make it at their house.

Since I used to help make lefsa at LCOOR in Watertown, I offered to help this year. The kids had done a trial run earlier in the week. They had the family recipe and planned to make 50 lefse on that Saturday. One griddle. One roller. A fun afternoon with K & C and her parents. The Hansons enjoyed lefsa at their Christmas Eve and Christmas Day gathering, and so did we.

photos from Christmas bowling

OFD & FDIL

Hubby

McBe

posting the score 'cause I broke 100!

Miss W

soup after bowling and presents at our house

a game of Clue after dinner

it was new to KJ & C, but is a favorite of the grands

and daughter

The grands stayed overnight. OFD and Miss W frosted and sprinkled pretzel sticks the next afternoon.

McBe and I made pretzel turtle treats

he also frosted and sprinkled pretzels

All the treats were shared amongst the 3 families, including the four kinds of cookies I had baked earlier in the month. 

McBe's December Concerts

 As I said, December was a busy month. The 8th-grade Band Concert was first.

he played the xylophone for the first song

(I think there were 4 xylophonists because there are lots of percussionists)

snare drum for the second number

no photo, but he played the tympani for the third song

the 8th grade band

The Edison Middle School Chorus concert was next. McBe was one of three eighth graders to play percussion accompanying one sixth-grade song.

The seventh and eighth graders sang six songs for the gym-filled audience.

he knew I was taking a picture of him

having a little fun with one of the songs

the seventh and eighth grade chorus

90 seventh graders and 70 eighth graders

Miss W's December Concerts

 Miss W had two chorus concerts in December, the first, a Tea over the noon hour on December 10th. 

I do not remember if she was a member of the third or fourth ensemble to perform for the small audience of parents and grandparents. Each group was dressed in their black performance clothes. Each chorus group of women has a different black dress. The guys...Not; just black suits.

Each choir group sang four songs. The Lincoln Chorus Ensemble Tea was held in the high school chorus room. The students provided cookies and other sweet treats, along with coffee or apple cider for the audience members.

Her second December chorus concert was on December 15th in the newly renovated Lincoln High School theater.

Miss W and the Cadet Choir members (both male and female singers)

sopranos on the left, bass and tenor in the center, altos on the right

They sang four songs, different than any of the songs performed at the Tea

full choir chorus (2 more songs) 

The last song performed is "Hallelujah" from Messiah. It is a tradition of the Christmas concert. Former students are invited on stage to join the choir. That is why you see some song sheets in the photo and some people not in the concert red robes.

I have been keeping track. Miss Willa sang in 4 chorus/choir performances from October 24-December 15 for a total of 19 songs performed in less than two months. I know they have started on their music for spring contests and concerts. Impressive!