Competitions, Christmas Trees and Camera Crews

This week the kids participated in UIL competitions for their schools. They all did really great and we are so proud of them! Austin competed in calculator applications, mathematics and number sense. He placed 4th, 5th and 6th place in his events. Rebeckah placed 5th in both editorial writing and maps, graphs and charts. She placed 2nd in dictionary skills and FIRST in social studies. They haven't received their awards yet though, so no pictures. Today Hannah's school had their competition and she competed in Oral Reading. Here is a sample of what she did:

She ended up placing 3rd!

After Hannah's competition we went to a local Christmas tree farm to cut down our tree. It didn't really feel much like Christmas though considering it was 85 degrees outside! So there we were in our shorts trying to find a tree that all seven of us could agree on when we notice a camera crew filming us! They came over and asked us if they could film us cut down our tree for the news. We agreed and asked what channel they were from (thinking of course they were from a local station). Imagine our surprise when they said "We are from ABC, filming for Good Morning America." Rebeckah said it looked like we were filming a toothpaste commercial because we kept smiling so much. My brain turned to mush as they pointed the camera in my face and started asking me questions. For some reason my family made me the spokesperson. That was a bad decision on their part! I look like a complete goober! Of course AFTER we got home I thought of all kinds of things to say! I hope they don't use sound IF they use a clip of us. I don't know if/when they will air it, but the kids thought it was exciting. After we cut down our tree the kids went and roasted marshmallows and then decorated pine cones while Chris tied the tree on the van.

Sean loved the little "Sean sized" trees.

This picture cracks me up. I told them to get together and "act like they like each other". Rebeckah made that face just as I took the picture. (Sean isn't in the picture because he was being stubborn...just like a two year old.)

Matthew trying to cut down the tree.

Sean loved roasting (and eating) the marshmallows.

The kids had a lot of fun decorating the pinecones.