Sunday, December 09, 2007

Merry Christmas!

Fresh snow with a light layer of ice has just fallen on our little blue house on the hill, Christmas card designs are hanging throughout the kitchen, the kids are practicing their Christmas Pageant lines, the dog is waiting for someone to say the word “walk” despite the aforementioned snow and ice, the woodstove is cranking...and the pile of shoes and boots in the front hall is growing…’tis the season!

We hope this finds you and yours well. Life is good around here. We are busy, but with fun stuff…and the kids sure are growing up fast. We had a fun year—with a family trip to Martha’s Vineyard, a few trips to the Adirondacks, a getaway to Chicago, and lots of activities on the home front. Hope the year ahead will bring a chance for us to connect.

Below is a little update on our crew.

Anna Bee, 11
Anna has had an adventurous year this year. She traveled to Australia this summer with the People to People Student Ambassador program—visiting Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef, and Brisbane. She came home inspired by many of the things she saw and friends that she made. She is a serious student but has made time for lots of fun activities. This fall she is taking swim lessons, still playing the oboe, singing in the school’s “Select Choir”, helping Mom at various 4-H events, participating in Odyssey of the Mind, and serving as the Vice-President of our 4-H Club.

Cara, 9
Cara is finding her niche. This summer she took part in a local theater camp and loved it. Although we always knew it, she has learned that she likes to perform. So, this fall she is taking dance classes, and looking for opportunities to have fun with these new interests. She is also swimming, playing the trumpet, singing in the 4th grade chorus, participating in Odyssey of the Mind, and serving as our 4-H Club Treasurer.



Jeffrey, aka Jeffy, 3 1/2
Jeffrey is a typical 3 year old boy. BUSY! Holy moley. He is a sweetie most of the time, though, and loves his sisters, pre-school, puzzles and his friends. Jeffrey is also taking swim lessons...and is almost ready to swim on his own. His independence makes me happy, sad and scared all at the same time.
Have a wonderful holiday season!!! May the force (of Christ) be with you.

Love from—The Carmichael clan of Moravia

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Insectapalooza!


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Originally uploaded by carmichaelceleste.

Although I can't seem to pass my passion for oozy biology onto my kids, they do seem to love to go to Insectapalooza, an event at Cornell put on by the student entomology club. Cara even went this year without me. She is shown here with her pal Dakota. About 8 of our 4-H club went and had lots of fun. I heard that a bunch even ate grasshopper chocolate chip cookies...and went back for seconds. Sniff...makes me proud :).

See what you North Carolinians are missing :)?

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Watch "Uncle Matt and Jeffery"

Your friend, cjc17@cornell.edu, has sent you the following video:

Uncle Matt and Jeffery

31 sec - Jul 15, 2007
Description: Uncle Matt and Jeffery having a few choice words.

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Go to video.google.com/

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http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4030290816396481738&pr=goog-sl

Sunday, July 08, 2007

From slope to scenic


The Gees have done it again! We are one step closer to the shed project being complete (thanks guys!). Terraced steps were added to the garden side entrance of the shed this week. Jeff, Beth and Matt made easy work of this labor intensive job. We finished it off with mulch this weekend, and will eventually landscape it. Looks terrific. Another DIY project :).








Sunday, May 06, 2007

sad stuff

Welcome home ma & pa Carmichael! We are looking forward to seeing you and visiting Georgi. The girls are all excited about the Garage Sale. Both had invitations to b'day parties this coming weekend, but chose instead to be in Radisson. :)

We had a fun time in Chicago this week. The windy city is a very beautiful city - rich with architecture and greenways. We had lots of fun exploring (and I enjoyed my conference too). While there received very sad news about a co-worker, Kathy Langendorfer, back home who suddenly died. So very sad. She was in her 50's and had been recently diagnosed with Chrohn's disease. Life is so precious. Whenever someone in my circle dies I vow that I'm going to live and savor each moment more fully, and then, shortly after...I forget until the next time. Maybe I'm just afraid to live fully.

On the same note. When Jeff and I were driving to the airport last Tuesday a squirrel was indecisively scrambling back and forth in the road before us. He couldn't decide which side of the road to cross to. I watched him with anticipation "go, go, go!" I may have even said out loud. Just as I thought he'd make it, he changed his mind, darted back the other way and...was squished by our car. We were both sad. Yup, just a squirrel, but an acute analogy for the way that we sometimes live our lives. Afraid to take the risk to cross the road, but harming ourselves even more by not taking the risk. Not to mention making others nervous in the process.

Hmmm...deep thoughts.

Well, here is a not so deep thought. We are wondering if anyone wants to go on the biggest loser diet again. Seems that strategy (J says it is the competition) worked two years ago, and the tight jeans are saying...it is time to try drastic measures again. We are recommending again...from Mother's day to July 4th same as last time around...anyone in? Doesn't matter what the "prize" is - it could be way more obscure or diluted than money(wasn't it $2 a week last time unless you were the winner for the week?...we are open.

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Do you need a tractor Dad?

Hey there

How is all going? Another Sunday night here...clickety clacking on the computer with Georgi on my lap. She runs to the computer when she sees me coming. Wish I could elicit the same response from the rest of the family.

Jeff had the flu this weekend. Poor guy. "Bring me a cold towel." "Can I have some ginger ale?" "Did you put ice in it?" "Where is the paper?". I just kept thinking...what will I do when we are old and need to really wait on each other? This was three weekends in a row now that someone has been puking. The first weekend wasn't anyone in our family - it was a friend of Anna's who got sick...in our car. To add insult to injury - two cats puked this weekend too...on the carpet - of course. There was a sweet part though. Jeffy was very concerned for his Daddy. When I told him Jeff wasn't feeling well - he brought him a tractor for his hand. Jeffy always has to have a car in each hand and thought Daddy wanted that comfort too.

All that aside - I was busy sewing 4 more Indian costumes for The Music Man Jr. It is this coming weekend - Fri and Saturday. The girls are pretty excited - they are part of the chorus and they dance. The whole thing has been so fun and cute. Cross your fingers...that the weather is good, the cast is healthy (word has it that Professor Hill has a temp of 103 today)...the Indian costumes fit etc. There are 70 kids in the play. I thought there were only 40 when I brought in snack...not so... God Bless Mrs. Abbattista for ever attempting this...she is marvelous!

The girls also got out to play in the snow many times this weekend. It was great snow for packing, sledding etc. I looked at it rather longingly from my sewing machine, beside the warm fire.

Guess that is about it.