Glass blowing adventure

To celebrate Jeff's birthday, we scheduled an outing to the Tacoma Glass Blowing Studio, where we got to make our own glass projects (with some expert assistance).  

Selecting our projects.  There were paperweights, wall plates, vases, and bowls to choose from.

Picking and layering the "frit" (glass chips) to customize the color and design of the projects

Caroline mixing her frit

Ready with the necessary safety equipment...

Margaret & Jaiden horsing around

Once everyone was ready, we moved into the studio and took turns making our masterpieces with our guide Bill.

Step 1: Get your blob of fiery hot glass out of the oven.

Step 2: Cool the rod that holds the glass by rinsing in water

Step 3: Roll the glass in the "frit"

Step 4: Use tweezers to create desired swirls or feathered effects

Step 5: Roll the extra layer of clear glass onto base layer

Step 6: Shape the glass by rolling it in wooden molds

Step 7: blow air into piece to expand it into vase or bowl

Step 8: Re-heat and blow to pop hole in end

Step 9: Re-heat and "peel" edges out into desired shape

Step 10: Add base and stamp initials into the masterpiece!

Once done, the pieces are put in a 900 degree oven for several hours, and then slowly brought down to room temperature for several more hours, where the true colors become visible.  Takes a couple of days... We are excited to see the final products later this week.

Special guest

Chillin' with cousin Jaiden

We were lucky to have a special visitor over the holidays--Margaret & Caroline's cousin Jaiden.  They spent two nights together up at Grammy & Grampy's, going shopping, swimming, and staying up late.  Then it was one more night together at our place, with games and more staying up late.  The three get along so well--we can't wait for summer when hopefully Jaiden will come for another week-long visit like she has the past couple of years.

Christmas Eve and Day 2012

Christmas Eve at Grammy & Grampy's with cousins Jameson & Logan

Margaret modeling her new outfit on Christmas morning

Caroline seemed thrilled with her new posable Pullip doll--perfect for stop-motion animation movies!

Our traditional Christmas dinner.  For 10 this year.

The Green Machine returns

Jeff and Caroline have returned to the court for another season of basketball. We have almost all of the same great girls from last year, plus a group of nice new girls who have never played before.  It's posing a bit of a challenge to blend the two groups with different ability levels, but fortunately they are all getting along. The girls seem to be having fun and are not terribly upset about the fact that they haven't won a game yet.  Stay tuned, many more games to come in January & early February.

Getting assignments from Coach Jeff.

Caroline getting her game face on.

I haven't been able to take as many pictures this year since I'm tasked with assistant coaching, so I have to keep track of stats!  Will try to get some better action shots in the next games.

Nutcracker, Year 5

Dancing in her 32nd-40th Nutcracker performances this year (8 per season!), Margaret is loving ballet more than ever.  It's very noticeable how much more advanced the girls in her level are this year.  They're all turning into such beautiful and graceful young dancers, and it is so fun to watch!

Sugar plum attendant Margaret dancing in the Nutcracker (she's the blurry one leaping in center front)

As part of the Sugar Plum Court, Margaret got to be on stage with the lead dancers.  She's the one in the center back with her right arm up, in between the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Dew Drop Fairy.

Caroline's Christmas piano recital

Caroline playing "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch"

Portland 2012

Caroline in the physics lab at OMSI 

Off to dinner at Mama's

Enjoying a rainy late-night walk to see the Christmas lights

Posing at the hotel

Kids discovered the exercise room this year while on a break from the pool

One of our finds during the scavenger hunt

Hanging out at the pizza joint

Trick or Treat night

Caroline went for the classic vampire look this year, complete with fake blood and everything! 

Notice the porcelain fangs...

Totally lucked out on weather--
rain stopped just before they started, so didn't even need a coat over top of the cape.

Caroline and her evil witch friend from up the street.

Margaret was too cool for a real costume, and managed only to throw on some "nerd" glasses to go out collecting candy with her middle school friends.  Didn't even get a picture.  Another milestone come and gone...

Halloween Eve

Goofy girls barfing and eating pumpkin guts...

With Jeff stuck in Washington D.C. due to Hurricane Sandy, the girls and I had to make the best of carving pumpkins on our own.  We set up the computer with FaceTime so Jeff could participate remotely.  It wasn't the same, but better than nothing...

Caroline's Cat

Margaret's Lorax

Mom's smiley guy

Posing on the porch with the final products

Girl Scout Encamporee

Margaret's girl scout troop went to an "encamporee" at Camp River Ranch earlier this fall with several other troops from the Olympia area.  Turned out to be a very fun weekend--even for me and Linda, the other Mom.  Margaret's so lucky to have such a great group of girls who continue to enjoy scouts together.

Getting ready to do the flag ceremony.

Having fun in between "outdoor skills" sessions

Margaret's troop posing before the canoe outing.

Lucked out with a beautiful sunny afternoon for a canoe trip on Lake Langlois

A Midsummer Night's Dream Girl

Shortly after Margaret was auditioning for the company, Caroline was auditioning for her part in the 5th grade Shakespeare play at school.  They're doing A Midsummer Night's Dream this year.  Caroline was cast as Titania, the fairy queen, which will be a fun and challenging role with lots of lines and responsibility.  We'll be sure to let you know when opening night comes in May.

Caroline's most recent role was as the fisherman's wife in "Under the Big Top" at Olympia Family Theater last spring.

Halloween fever

The girls made these cakes a couple of weeks ago, inspired by the ideas in their American Girl magazine Halloween edition.  Margaret's is the one-eyed purple dude, and Caroline's is the three-eyed green thing.