A WONDERFUL WEEK ! !

After a warm, reflective family time together on Christmas Day . . .

. . . we traveled to Devil's Den State Park in Arkansas, and spent the week with this crazy bunch . . .

. . . and then returned home for a special New Year's Eve dinner and games with Amy and Nate (which are currently happening, and require my presence.)

MERRY CHRISTMAS ! !

“The spirit of Christmas needs to superseded by the Spirit of Christ.
The spirit of Christmas is annual; the Spirit of Christ is eternal.
The spirit of Christmas is sentimental; the Spirit of Christ is supernatural.
The spirit of Christmas is a human product; the Spirit of Christ is a divine person.
That makes all the difference in the world.”

Stuart Briscoe

STRANGE HOMESCHOOL ENTERTAINMENT (FOR STRANGE HOMESCHOOLERS !!)

During recess break this week, the guys decided to walk on water.

Even more fun was dancing on water.

We had several days of extreme cold, and our pond froze solid. The kids had been skating around on it each afternoon. Then things warmed up enough that the several inches of precipitation we received came down as rain. The rain made a layer of water, on top of the ice on the pond. The lunch cleaning crew kept watching the pond, and thinking. . . and thinking. And then they made a mass exodus with a camera.

It was just too good of an opportunity to pass up!!

JOSIAH ! ! !

JOHN PRACTICES LEVITATING

JOEL COMMITS HIMSELF TO EXTREME SPORTS (WINTER BELLY FLOPS ON ICE)

This is about when I looked out the window. It was 33*F and Joel was cavorting on the pond in his shorts and T-Shirt!

Some times you just have to sacrifice yourself to get the shot.

I'm not sure how Adam talked him into it !

But you just don't get an opportunity like this very often.
(He ran right from here to in front of the wood burning stove!)

KAY'S CHRISTMAS BAND CONCERT

Weird optical illusion: Doesn't it look like John is playing Josiah's Tuba?

The Jazz Band

And the whole music program from Kay's Studio. They all did a great job!! Thank you Kay!

KAY'S CHRISTMAS BAND CONCERT

All decked out

Waiting for their turn: Abby Hall (a fantastic musician!!), Rachel Hickle, Joy Nisbett, and Zeke Hall.

Anna is hardly bigger than her horn.

Anna, Sarah Hickle, and Abby and Rachel. We are so thankful for such great friends for "memory making".

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. JULIE ! !

"Cute as a button" -- Although it's been a few years since she looked just like this, that's still how I think of my little sister Julie.

Today is her birthday, and it's is hard to believe that she old enough to be the respected pediatrician in charge of injury prevention at the CDC. She regularly appears on television, radio, is quoted in the New York Times, etc.

But one of her most important jobs is answering questions day or night from her big sister. I've always said having a really good pediatrician as a sister was one of the smartest things I ever did!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIE!! We love you and we're proud of you. My, how the time flies.

And in February Julie and her fantastically wonderful husband Jon will be the proud parents of a sweet little girl!

(If someone would send me Julie and Jon's wedding picture, I would love to post that; however, since I may be in really bad trouble for posting these, it may not happen.)

Julie and Jon Klevansky
August 12, 2004

PENZANCE BAY

This is the lovely Penzance Bay, which is pictured here to honor our announcement:

Fine Linen Drama Auditions
December 18th 5-8pm and December 20th 3-6pm
at Ozark Actors' Theatre
for
"The Pirates of Penzance"
a musical by Gilbert and Sullivan
to be performed in late April

for more information, feel free to contact us at:
nisbett@centurytel.net
or 573-699-4676

MARCHING IN THE SULLIVAN CHRISTMAS PARADE

The kids are part of Kay Harrison's fantastic music program, and the Homeschool Band. For the first time, this homeschool band marched in a parade. They did an amazing job! When we were in high school, we spent many early morning hours every day practicing marching; these guys are only get one day a week, only started working on this about 5 weeks ago, and some of them had only started band this fall, yet they did such a nice job they were awarded first prize in the parade.

The banner being carried by two adorable snowpeople.

John and Josiah warming up (it was cold).

Abby Hall is a very talented trumpeteer!! I am so impressed.

Joy reminds me so much of her Aunt Margie, especially in a band uniform (for some strange reason).

The lovely Hickle girls, Rachel and Sarah, playing lovely flute music.

Luke Webber and Zeke Hall -- the big drums.

Band Halt !!