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Gloves are complicated.  

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Finished them in one month exactly (Dec 21 – Jan 21). This cable pattern was STRANGE but I trusted the chart and it worked out as they promised.  Sometimes you have to have faith.  

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Nimbus being so helpful while taking down the tree.

A short hike with Ben, I think they were along Ralston Creek.

Games and Legos have dominated the month.

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I see you Freddy.  I see that yarn you stole.

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New camera phone takes nice pictures.  

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Sam wrote his talk for church all by himself.  I hesitated to re-write it into something with more context.  He did great and delivered it without any help!

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Jack started a proper rock collection.

 

Jack has been running his rock tumbler all month.  This is after the first grit level.  His final polish (#5) will finish by February.

Enjoying the Kiwi Crate given by Andy and Jenn.

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We got a mystery poop problem.  Took Freddy to the vet to help try to fix it.  Grrr. He had inflamed intestines and rectum, but was negative for parasites.  They gave him a deworming dose just in case.  We are working on preventing human food snitches and determining if he has a food allergy.  

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I tried making some gluten free and egg free waffles for some friends with sensitivities.  They sort of worked, I think they could experiment and get a good result.  The kids were wildly jealous I made waffles for others, so I made a second regular batch for us.  Both pearl sugar and chocolate chip variety, because they couldn’t agree.  Also, the Marvel waffle iron was appropriate because Jack and I have watched all the way to Endgame!  Next movie night will be the one he wanted all along, Spider-Man: Far From Home.

More games, more Marvel.

Tacos and books.  

Pinewood Derby 2020.  Jack’s car is “The Mad Titan” seen over his shoulder.  It’s the Infinity gauntlet with stones and a Spider-man Lego mini-fig riding on the back.  His friend Dylan has Luke Skywalker’s speeder, the orange one.

Jack won 3 out of 4 heats, placing second only once.

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It’s openly admitted that the Mielke car and the cars by the Stowitts and Kings were made entirely by the dads.  So among the Scouts, Jack came in 4th behind them – but in my mind he came in FIRST for having made his car all by himself!!!  Poor kid really wanted a trophy this year.  I consoled him, as usual, that it’s just not fair when the parents design, carve, weigh, and even put the paint on the kids’ cars. 

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Mario Party on MLK day.  I had a cold all this week and didn’t mind letting them stay jammies extra long. 

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Ben and I got to the Alamo Drafthouse so often that we have reached the “Top Brass” level.  They have an annual party for members and this year I went with Shawn as my guest.  It was a trivia game based on 2019 movies with free drinks and buffet.  We did alright in trivia, but didn’t place.  I was thrilled the get some swag!  

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If only wearing this pin meant I got a free drink or something at each screening 😉

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This morning was the spelling bee.  Jack has been practicing all month.

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He did great!  Last year he passed one round and was out the second.  This year I think he made it to the fifth round.  So proud of him!  He was tearful afterward, true to his nature.  But he swallowed it down and I think he knew he did well.  We told him we’ll go to Disneyland to celebrate 😉