Happy 16th, Austin!

Austin had a very full 16th Birthday doing tons of stuff he loves.  His birthday was on Saturday so it allowed us to pack a lot in.  Austin started his day playing basketball for our ward young men's team.  Following that he, Tanner and two friends played some tennis.  They finished just in time to come home to a birthday breakfast spread of German pancakes with blackberry compote and maple syrup, bacon, and orange juice.  Then Austin was off to another basketball game for a young men's team in the Vancouver North Stake.  After a quick shower Austin took a few friends to Big Al's to bowl a few games, hang out in the game center and fill their tummies with munchies.  When Austin got home from bowling Eric and I took him out to log some more drive time so he can get his driver's license SOON.  We stopped at Red Robin's for his birthday burger.  I don't know if I have ever heard the words "I am not hungry" ever escape Austin's lips, but they did during that dinner.  He still found room to polish off the ice cream sundae they brought him though.

On Sunday Austin was ordained a Priest by Eric.  Grandpa Tippetts came to our ward for the ordination.  Grandma Tippetts joined us after church for Austin's birthday dinner of chipotle burritos.  Following dinner Grandma G, Uncle Steve and Aunt Cathy came for brownies, caramel of course, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  16 doesn't get much sweeter than that.  We sure love you, Austin.  Happy Birthday!

Welcome to Band!

I am so glad I kept my old flute.  I can’t tell you how many times I got it out thinking I should consign it at the local music store.  I am glad it was so far down on my list of “things to do” that I didn’t get to it and ended up putting it back in the closet.   McKenna has decided to pick it up and try it out in the 5^th grade band program.  She has several friends in band and seems to be enjoying it.  This is her at her very first concert.

Congrats, Carson!

After much fretting and worrying (much of it very un-needed) Carson pulled off his 4.0!

During winter break Carson was constantly checking the computer for his grades.  There was a glitch in the grading system software that said Carson had a C in his science class - boy, did we have to talk him down from that one.  Unfortunately, he had to wait until he got back to school two weeks later to get it cleared up.  It weighed heavily upon him the whole vacation.

But by the time everything was published and official and awards were handed out, Carson was at the top of his class as always.  Even being at the top of the class he has time to learn new talents.  Over break I taught him how to crochet.   Look at this cozy hat he whipped up!

Happy New Year!

We didn't have any huge plans for New Year's Eve this year (besides the kids going to the youth dance), but Eric and I knew we wanted to do something together as a family that would be memorable and fun.  That got me to thinking about what I did as a teenager.  I grew up going into downtown Portland with my friends and exploring the city.  We would eat at different restaurants, people watch, go to Saturday's Market, listen to street performers and enjoy the waterfront.  There is no way I would let my kids go do today what I used to do (I often wonder if my Mom and Dad knew what I was doing.  I promise I wasn't trying to hide anything.), but I still wanted them to have fun memories of growing up near a great city like Portland.  That led us to the Stray Boots Company and our urban adventure.

Ankeny Square and the Skidmore Fountain near Saturday's Market

This company puts together interactive walking tours of major cities in the United States.  Portland happens to be one of those cities.  You purchase an adventure option then call a given phone number.  They give you a location and clue to start you on your tour.  Codes and messages are sent to your cell phones.  You then have to send certain information back to the phone number to get the next clue or message.

Tanner and Austin and the entrance to Porland's China Town

McKenna in one of Portland's Historic Hotels that has hosted many of our countries, and others, dignitaries

We were able to learn a lot about the history of Portland and see some grand architecture.  We met a lot of nice people, watched a lot of weird people, ate some great food, saw a street performer or two, went into a few shops that had some really cool stuff and some shops we never would have happened into otherwise.

Austin in his favorite western wear at the Portland Outdoor Store .
I wanted the cute cowgirl boots.

Who needs a saddle when you can ride bare back?

We found some neat books at a used bookstore that still wished Wilson was President.  We learned where to go to find old vinyl records and anything you could want to know about the old music greats, especially the rockers.

Did you know Portland had a chapel of Elvis? Tanner was excited about that.

We found a little sandwich shop called The Peoples' Sandwich that makes its own dic"tater"chips and fries and they are ooh, so good.  The sandwiches looked great too, but we had to leave room for Voodoo Doughnuts...

We had an all out good time.  This was a great way to bring in the new year.   Welcome, 2012!

Christmas Morning

Grandma G got to spend Christmas morning with us this year.  There was a big debate about what time we would be getting up.  The kids were fighting for 5:30.  Mom and Dad said 7:00.  Grandma G just said, "You tell me when to be there and I will."  We settled on 6:30.  Grandma was on time.  The rest of us were still sleeping.  Her knock on our door got things going Christmas morning.  Since she was the first one up, she got to be the first one down the stairs after our family scripture reading about the Savior's birth.

Eric and I got a new bedroom set for Christmas.  We graduated from a Queen bed to a King.  Everyone loved the extra room when we piled on it to read Christmas morning.

McKenna had left milk, cookies and a note for Santa:  "Dear Santa...Sorry that I have been nauty this year. I hope you forgive me and still give my family presents...Sorry I didn't write you a letter or go see your helpers at the mall.  I realy do believe in you, it's just...I guess it's just because everyone at school doesn't believe.  But don't worry, I do.

Of course Santa replied: "I am so glad you still believe.  That is what keeps the Spirit of Christmas alive!  Do you know what the Spirit of Christmas is?  If you can answer that question you will always believe and you will always be on the nice list because it will affect how you act the whole year through."

We did get presents:

 McKenna got a new bike.  Santa knew exactly what color (not pink) and size (knees don't hit the handlebars when peddaling) to get.

Carson had a few more Christmas surprises, though none as spectacular as Abel.

Austin got a weight set and a shaving kit.  I am not sure which he was more excited about.  He had a little mustache going that Carson had fondly named Fernando.  It stuck and the whole family would find every opportunity to tease Austin about his new friend, Fernando.

Goodbye, Fernando!  We will miss you.

When Tanner got a nice luggage set from Santa I couldn't resist giving him the book Wherever you Are:  My Love Will Find You.

I was wandering through Kohl's helping McKenna pick out some Christmas presents when we found this title. I should have known not to read it.  I was sobbing right there in the middle of the store and McKenna had to finish reading it to me.  With a son getting ready to head out into the great big world (college for a year and then a 2 year mission for our church) the story resonated with me and what I most wanted Tanner to know.  Tanner read it on Christmas morning sitting by his luggage (there was no way I was going to get through reading it to him).  I don't think his eyes were dry by the end of it either.

Tanner didn't disappoint me.  He added to the collection of dated snow globes he had started for me three years ago.

Eric got his Halloween wish:  his own sound system to put on his Halloween productions.  That will definitely give us more boxes in the attic for Halloween than for Christmas - as if there was ever a question of which holiday we have more stuff for.

All in all it was a fabulous Christmas season.

Christmas Surprises

Carson just loves surprises!  Any gift list he has you can count on a line item being "Surprises."  Last year for Christmas Austin surprised Carson with a fish tank and the promise to help him get it set up.  It was totally unexpected and was very thoughtful of Austin.  So thoughtful that it brought tears to Carson's eyes.  He was so overjoyed he didn't quite know what to do.  That will be a fond Christmas memory for many years to come.  It just so happens that we had another opportunity to surprise Carson again this year.

As you all know Carson loves the violin.  He loves to listen to violin music and over the last two years has learned to play the violin.  What many of you might not know is that Carson had to reach a certain point in his piano mastery before he could pick up the violin and he had to help purchase his instrument.  He saved and saved and dedicated himself to learning what he needed to on the piano.

Since he began playing the violin Carson has had to move from a 1/2 size to a 3/4 size and needed a full size.  Each time he had enough to cover half of his instrument through savings and resale.  The full size was going to be quite a stretch.  He was saving EVERY penny.

At Grandma Hirons' funeral we were approached by a distant cousin who found out Carson played the violin and told us that she had some violins that had been in the family for years and she would like Carson to have them.  Carson was very excited!  We didn't know what condition they would be in or if they were even playable.

When we got the violins in November we found they needed a lot of attention.  Grandma G, Cousin Geri and I decided that for Christmas we would all go in on getting one of the violins repaired for Carson as a surprise. At a family gift exchange right before Christmas Carson got a can of olives (which he was totally fine with and excited about), but when Grandma asked him if that was all he got she was led him to the closet where he found the violin.

Cost to repair one family heirloom violin:  $500

Cost of Carson's surprised expression and tears of gratitude:  Priceless

He named the violin Abel after his many-greats uncle Abel St. Germaine who purchased the violin in the early 1900s and played it in the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.  Uncle Abel then passed it along to Barney St. Germain when he came home from France at the end of World War I.  Uncle Barney could play any tune he heard and would always play at family gatherings and social functions.  Cousin Geri was gifted this violin at the age of 12 and was able to play a duet with Uncle Barney before he passed at the age of 85.  Several cousins tried the violin and decided it was not the instrument for them.  We are glad it has fallen into Carson's hands.

Carson was also given another full size violin that was cracked and beyond repair, but we put strings on it and it plays.  Carson cleaned it up and will keep it for a "practice" violin.  The 1/2 size violin that also came into his hands was in good condition.  We have cleaned it up, put strings on it and plan to sell it.  The price we receive from that violin will go into a music education fund so Carson can continue to pursues his violin talent in the years to come.

Christmas Activities

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas around our house without a few things:

1.  A family trip to the Festival of Nativities - after having so much fun with our picture scavenger hunt at the festival last year we decided to do it again.  We hit Dairy Queen after for a little blizzard treat.

2.  Christmas Concerts - Carson played at the mall this year with his orchestra as well as in his winter concert at the school.  He is the lead violinist and LOVES to play.  I never have to ask him to practice.

Tanner and Austin are now in the same choir and got to perform at several places around the Portland/SW Washington area.  Besides their winter concert at the school they also got to perform at the Festival of Nativities and the Grotto.  Tanner led the choir with a solo in one song and did a beautiful job!  You can listen to their song by going to http://unionchoir.org/media/2011-2012/holiday-concert/  and under the audio files selecting #13 Gloria by the Chamber Choir.  Tanner is the soloist on this piece.

3.  The Sork Family Musical Christmas Special - for years and years we have been performing in retirement homes around the community where we have had family members as residents.  With the passing of Grandma Hirons this year we didn't have a retirement home to visit.  Everyone felt a little sad about that.  So I called the retirement center where the scouts helped honor the vets on Veterans Day and asked if we could adopt them as our grandparents.  We were able to go meet some new friends and share our talents with them in memory of Grandma Hirons, Grandma Sork and Bapa Lou.  We also did a little program for the ward Relief Society Dinner.  Sorry, no pictures of this one.  I was busy sitting at the piano while Tanner, Austin and McKenna each sang solos.  I also accompanied Carson as he played a Christmas medley on his violin.  I also played a few duets with my piano students (I am up to five now).  We asked some family friends to participate too so we had a trumpet trio as well.  We also incorporated a few sing-along songs in there for the audience to participate in.  It was a nice evening.

4.  Arts and Crafts - One of my very good friends, Jeri Fitzgerald came by and brought us a Christmas Candy Train.  It was beautifully decorated and took so much time and love we decided to build a whole village to go with it.  Emily Mosset, our cousin, was visiting with us so she got to help too.

5.  Some sort of adventure.  This year it was snowboarding - The big boys got lucky and Dad took them up to the slopes one day.  I had been sick so not all of us could go.  There are so many different skiing levels in the family it takes two adults.  

The two youngers got to stay home with me. We had a cabin day (that means laying on the couch and watching a movie with popcorn and a yummy slushie drink.  We also played a few games.  Then Carson and McKenna planned, shopped and began working on the gingerbread village.