Christmas Letter

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B23-9cq3fncAUXRjLXUwbXJqc3M/edit?hl=en-US&forcehl=1 (click link to open in Google Docs)

December Overview

This has been quite a busy month! Let's see... the last update was FLL... what's happened since then? *gets out calendar* 

Thursday the 13th was rather busy! Gloria and I had a violin lesson in the early afternoon and Mom taught an organ lesson a bit later, but the big event was the SCCCHE Christmas concert. Glorpes Galore (including Cecily and Thor) performed two dances, Knut sang I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas with Joe Phillips, Cecily performed a flute duet with Eleanor S. and her flute teacher Mrs. King, Peterson Family Singers sang Shepherd's Joy, and the SCCCHE pickup orchestra accompanied two audience carols. 

SCCCHE Pickup Orchestra - Photo Credit: Tim Jones

About an hour after we got home from the concert, Knut, Thor, Papa and I went to the O'Fallon movie theater for the midnight premiere of The Hobbit! As to WHY we decided to go at midnight of an already-hectic day... we're crazy. ;) As to HOW my father actually agreed to such a ridiculous plan... let's just say that Knut and Thor have amazing persuasion abilities! It was nearly 4 a.m. before we got home. :) 

Discussing the movie in the car on the way home, we each had quite different opinions. Thor said, simply, "Wow." Knut loved it as well. Papa was disappointed by the movie; he said there were too many orc battles and not enough storyline. I agreed with him about the overabundance of battles, but overall, I thought it was very well-done. Usually I'm something of a book purist, but though the movie deviated from the book in several significant points, material was added, not taken away. These additions brought in some really neat elements to the story, as well as background material for The Lord of the Rings. If it weren't for the excessive orc battles (I closed my eyes at several points) and some unnecessary crude humor, this movie would have been just about perfect. :) 

The next day- Friday the 14th- was much less busy. ;) The only thing on the calendar was a cookie exchange in Mascoutah that I was invited to. It was quite fun indeed! There were some astoundingly brilliant girls there... while playing trampoline Ninja, they shared their ideas for how Ninja can solve the problems of the world... specifically in the realms of war and energy. *solemn nod* 

Sunday was the Mascoutah Community Christmas concert! Peterson Family Singers sang Shepherd's Joy (again), and the senior choir from church (including Knut and me) sang John Rutter's Angel's Carol. (Beautiful piece...)

Cecily and I were invited to the Christmas party for the Bright Lights Belleville group on Monday. It was awesome to catch up with girls we hadn't seen for quite some time. (Thank you so much, Allison, for including us!) 

On Tuesday, Bright Lights and his Lighthouse came together for a caroling party. After singing at a nursing home and an assisted living center, we came back to Shady Oaks where Grandpa and Grandma Davis bravely hosted the group of about 50 people! 

We had family photos taken at Portrait Innovations last Thursday! Miraculously, everyone is actually smiling for this photo! Even li'l Leif is smiling in his sleep. :) 

Grandpa and Grandma Peterson arrived yesterday afternoon! Sadly, they're only staying for a few days, then heading down to Florida to spend New Year's with the Travis Peterson family, and then moving on from there to Texas to visit Noah and Marina. We get them for Christmas, though! :) 

Peterson Family Singers will be singing at Gloria's and my violin concert tonight. The piece will be... you guessed it... Shepherd's Joy. We'll also be singing it at church on Christmas Eve! It's quite a fun piece. :D

A dose of cuteness:

Leif (actually set down! *gasp) 

FLL

The big news:

Robo Raiders have advanced to Worlds!! 

When I saw them in Research Presentation, Core Values, and Technical judging, I was astounded by how much their team has grown this year. They have become a fabulous team! 

They were up against some great teams in the Regionals competition yesterday. They only scored 19th in the Robot game (their robot was malfunctioning), but the judges were extremely impressed by their robot's design. 

The accordions featured prominently the entire day. Cameron and Knut learned the Chicken Dance on their accordions, and played it whenever the team was going to one of the judging rooms. At one point they had several refs dancing along!

Knut collects buttons from other teams at each FLL competition and puts them on the leg of his jeans. I believe his total count is currently 44. 

Knut waiting outside the room for Core Values judging.

Waiting for Technical judging, being silly (as usual).

Scott and Joe at the Robot table, getting ready to compete in Round 1

The Robot Game: six teams competed at once at three different tables. There were three rounds, and the highest score of the three counted toward the team's score. 

The victorious team and coaches with their Champions' Award trophy

Team, coaches, and family members (at least, the ones who came along for the day)

Great job, Robo Raiders, and congratulations!