Jingle Bell Trail

Our school's annual Jingle Bell Trail 5K run had a record number of runners this year - over 900!  I'm proud to say that two of those runners live at the White House.  Don't get too excited - Donald and Emily ran the 1 mile race while I stayed inside and handed out race packets to runners.  I did get to slip out to see them take off at the finish line. In the ten years that I've worked at my school, I've never actually run the race because I'm inside working - and because I don't run.  Emily had a great time running her first race and actually wants to train for the 5K next year.  The weather was great, Santa stopped by for a visit, and a good race was had by all.  Come run with us next year!

Wolfie came to the race, too!

Emily and her sweet teacher

Ready to run!

All finished and ready for breakfast!

Christmas Tree Lighting

I got tapped to take Santa pictures at the Palmetto Christmas tree lighting this year and came away with some great family pictures, which we almost never get!  Palmetto recently opened their renovated Train Depot and Museum and it looks incredible.  Hosting the tree lighting and Santa pictures there was a lovely way to introduce the town to this new landmark.  You can read more about the renovation project here:  Train Depot Renovation Project  Enjoy our Christmas pictures!

Future MVP

Emily has taken a great liking to football.  Her Christmas list to Santa includes, among other things, a Falcons football.  She and Donald spent some time playing catch at the park lately and I stayed behind the camera, because I enjoy photography and am also inept at catching.  Love these pictures  of my little girl!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We were so excited to have overnight guests at the White House for Thanksgiving this year!  Our friends, the Zoellers, came down to have lunch and spend the night with their family.  The kids had a fantastic time playing together.  Emily loved having kids her age to play with and spent a major part of the time idolizing their teenage daughter.  We had fun making smores and spending the day after Thanksgiving at the movies.  Fun way to spend the holiday!

Always a good helper!

We put Uncle David at the kid's table.

Is it possible that I made this?  It came out of the pan in one piece AND tasted good!

Smores Time

Football Tournament!

Turkey Jam 2012

Turkey Jam is one of my favorite White House traditions.  Everyone comes over for an anti-Thanksgiving meal (no turkey allowed!) and over the years, everyone started bringing a guitar for a group performance later.  This is kind of funny, because neither Donald nor I can play!  Emily loves rocking out with everyone on her hot pink electric guitar and decided after this year's jam session that Santa needs to bring her an acoustic so that she can play along with Skinner and Adrian at next year's party.  Sounds like a good idea to me!

Yard Work

It's an annual tradition - we stage a big yard work day before Thanksgiving so that the yard is (relatively) neat before guests arrive.  The trees out front drop a huge number of leaves and Emily loves to rake up a massive pile and then go leaf diving.  She has so much fun but I'm always so worried that she's going to be covered in ticks and redbugs later!

Veterans Day

Our school did a fantastic Veterans Day program this year.  We had an incredible turnout for a breakfast in the library, followed by a program that was started off with a local high school JROTC.  The program was followed by the landing of a Black Hawk helicopter on the school track.  The pilots stayed all day and each class was allowed to go out and tour the helicopter - and by tour, I mean they allowed every kid to climb in the pilot seat, press any button, or work any lever that their little heart desired.  They had so much fun!  It was very moving to see so many veterans present at our school and see all the love that the students poured out for them on this special day. Em had a special guest - Granddaddy Don and Cici were able to come and spend the morning with her. Big thanks to all of our veterans for helping to make our country great! More pictures of our big day are available online here: Veterans Day Program

Falcons Fan

I took this picture on the way home from Publix the other day.  I love the reading, but seriously, the subject matter baffles me.

Fall Photo Shoot

Our Japanese maple tree has turned a beautiful shade of red, so Emily and I decided to take a few pictures with it after school this week.  Pretty tree, pretty girl!

Something was skittering around in the bushes. She was a little freaked out! It was just a chipmunk, right?

She chose this pose and location.  Tree hugger!

Thanksgiving Feast

Donald was unable to attend Thanksgiving Feast this year, but Emily still had five visitors at the table with her - both sets of grandparents and me!  That's a lot of turkey.  Our school serves up a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner.  I've actually requested some of their recipes for our own White House Thanksgiving!  

Savannah Trip

Donald had the opportunity to give a presentation on BYOT (that's Bring Your Own Technology for you non-educators!) with some Coweta County teachers and administrators last week in Savannah, and Emily and I couldn't resist riding along to one of my favorite cities.  This was Emily's first trip and, although we had to split our time between business and pleasure, we had a great time.  She enjoyed shopping at the college art supply stores and taking pedicabs, one of her favorite traveling activities.  We also spent a day at Fort Pulaski, where she had an absolute blast.  I have to admit that a trip to the Fort was not top on my list of Savannah activities but she had so much fun that I think we'll have to go back on our next trip.  She's already scheming for a visit to Andersonville!  Enjoy the pictures!

Obligatory (and delicious) trip to the Savannah Candy Kitchen

The Peacemaker was docked in Savannah and we were able to board and take a tour. Such a neat experience! Emily especially enjoyed meeting the crew.  They sat up top (above?  I don't know ship's lingo) and played guitars, flutes, and drums.  Very cool - and hippie.

Beautiful brickwork on River Street

Having a run through the fountain at Ellis Square. We had to run back to the hotel for dry clothes and a hot shower, but she  had loads of fun - you can tell from her expression!

Working through the Junior Ranger workbook at Fort Pulaski. She was completely obsessed with earning a badge there and now wants to earn an actual patch by visiting two other parks.  

It took 25 million bricks and 18 years to build Fort Pulaski!

She did it!

The view from Fort Hambright

Having some fudge and pralines while watching the Falcons game. Well, they watched and I read People magazine - and ate pralines.

Spending some time sketching the fountains and buildings in Ellis Square. I think , besides the Fort, that this was the best part of the trip for Emily.  

Breakfast at the hotel on the day we came home. That's right - you see soy milk on the table. Who is this kid, anyway?

Visiting Blick's Art Supply - just like the local SCAD students!

Pedicab aficionado!

A fun way to spend an evening while Donald was in meetings - We didn't bring suits because we (mistakenly) thought it would be too cold.  So instead of swimming, we dangled our feet in the water and played cards.