We kicked off our Christmas activities with the Christmas Eve service at Church.
Essie played one of the angels in the nativity.
And Matt sang a special song with our friend Rose
We've traveled so much the last 6 months that we decided to stay home this Christmas. We all enjoyed waking up in our own beds Christmas morning and then headed next door to open presents at Granpa & Grandma Kinnell's house.
AJ's 7th-Grade basketball team participated in the Dick's Sporting Goods Middle School Showcase in Lexington over the weekend, and his team went 4-0 to win their bracket and a 1st place trophy.
So it's been forever since we've made a blog post. Sorry about that but things have been crazy busy and crazy emotional for me (Amy) but of course through it all, life keeps moving and the kids keep growing up. The weather has been abnormally warm this December in Kentucky, which the kids have loved. This video was shot last week when it was in the 60's.
Last Thursday was the end-of-year banquet for West Jessamine High School Boys' Soccer. As a 7th Grader, AJ was eligible to participate on the JV team this Fall, and his team finished with a 9-8-1 record. AJ was given the Offensive Player of the Year Award after leading his team in goals and assists. We are proud of the hard work he put in this season, all the practice time and playing almost every minute for his team. Most importantly, we are proud that he plays with respect and character and is a good leader. He is admired by coaches, teammates, referees, and opponents. The future is bright for this one.
Last week Matt's grandmother, Eva Hindman, passed away suddenly at the age of 95. She was a very special person whom we all loved very much. We had a very nice time visiting with family and celebrating Gigi's life.
Gigi, 1944
Grandpa & Gigi at their fishing cabin on Pleasant Valley Lake, 2004
This picture is from the girls' first meeting with their great-grandparents in August 2009.
Chloe is named after her Gigi, Eva Chloe.
Gigi would've been so proud to have her family together in her church for her funeral - all three of her children, 6 of 7 grandchildren (one was deployed), and 4 of 6 great-grandchildren.
The kids were on fall break last week so we headed to my Mom's house in Northern IN. My Dad planted a few apple trees years ago and we are now able to reap the reward of his hard work. My Mom doesn't like to harvest the apples until there has been a frost, since this sweetens the flavor of the apples, but I wanted my kids to have the experience of seeing how apple cider is made since this is definitely a lost art. So despite chilly temperatures, I hauled the kids outside and made them get to work picking apples.
Chloe
AJ (who is now refusing to have his picture taken)
Essie trying to navigate the apple trees that need to be trimmed SO badly.
True selfie with no make-up or contacts
Can you find Essie in this tree?
There she is-all the way at the top!
You'll notice the steers just hang out, hoping some apples will fall their way.
Chloe wanted to take a picture of me so here I am, freezing and dressed in my father's clothes.
AJ taking a bag of apples to the car to head off to get them pressed into cider.
We headed down the road a few miles to an Amish friend of my parents who has an apple press.
My Mom loading some apples into the chopper.
Up the conveyor belt into the chopper
Amish guy laying cheesecloth into pressing frames.
Then he transferred chopped apples from chopper into the frames.
A coupe of frames of chopped apples under the press.
The cider is then transferred to the small tank and larger tank pictured below so you can fill one gallon, or a few gallons at a time.
The garden season has come to an end for 2015. It was a difficult year with record rain in June & July making most of the early planting rot where it stood. I only canned 18 pints of tomato sauce this year, that's it! No salsa, but no worries, we still have plenty of salsa left over from last year.
I did figure out the best place to plant peppers. I used the southwest corner of the flowerbed & had the best pepper harvest I've ever had. Meanwhile, the peppers I planted in the garden produced about 3 peppers.
My acorn squash has apparently cross pollinated with the (volunteer) pumpkins. Haven't cracked one of these opened yet so not sure if they are eatable.
On a rare Saturday where there was no soccer, Amy didn't have to work, and it was sunny and upper 60's, we decided to go down to Red River Gorge for some hiking. Our goal for the day was to climb Indian Staircase, an "unofficial" route that is definitely one of the cooler spots in the gorge.
Chloe & AJ fueling up at Sam's Hot Dog Stand
Essie
A little family photo at the Bison Way trailhead
Essie says she is "Queen of the Stump"
Matt & AJ
Sassy girls
We were pleased to have Aunt Buffy, who was camping in the gorge this weekend, join us on our hike.
We can't pass a fallen log without making it a balance beam.
Chloe
Climbing up over the rocks to get to the base of the Indian Staircase
Aunt Buffy
Almost to the base of the staircase, trying out our rock climbing skills
A little Mom-and-Son selfie
Family picture at the base of Indian Staircase
Chloe and Essie
The girls LOVE climbing on rocks.
Dad gives Chloe a hand to get up on the staircase.
The "staircase" is actually a series of impressions worn into the rocks. Legend has it that the steps were made by Indian hunters over 200 years ago.
Chloe is on her way.
Essie's turn next
Making their way up the staircase
And here come Mom and Dad, bringing up the rear.
Chloe wasn't sure she was going to make it.
But with a little encouragement, she did.
A great view from the top
Exploring the Council Chamber Rock Shelter
Under the rock shelter
View back across the canyon of the Indian Staircase
A little more zoomed-in view of Indian Staircase. Yep, we climbed up that slope.
Indian Arch
Taking a break at Indian Arch
Family photo at Indian Arch
Chloe
Have we got some crazy kids.
Chloe and Essie
How to get up on top of the arch? Why not just climb a tree. This kid is ridiculous.
And he made it.
Adena Arch
The girls really enjoyed playing under Adena Arch.
One more family photo
And oh, what great views
Heading back down the mountain - a very fun day in the woods.
