Celebrating Veteran's Day

Jace's school is doing a little veteran's day celebration today, so he took pictures of Grandpa. As we think about this day, we remember all those who have fought for our freedom and all those who continue to do so. Thanks, Dad, and all others who keep this country free. Your sacrifice is beyond anything I could imagine.

Charles E. Jewell
Rank: Specialist 5th Class
Branch: Army
Years of Service: 2
Wars served in: Vetnam Era Veteran - Served in Korea

On Saturday night, we attended our annual swing dance, the San Marcos Hangar Dance benefitting the CAF. Here are some pictures of our fun evening:

Sheila and Walter, who we have been dancing with since we moved to San Antonio:

Our kids (Izzy, Allison, Danielle, Lise & Adam), all of who came with us last year, except Adam, the lucky man with 4 dates:

Our group, the McMillan Social Dance Club (thanks to Patrick for our cool name). We only meet once a year at this dance:

Our kids and their "men in uniform"...the girls befriended some ROTC guys and taught them a few swing moves. Their commanding officer was kind enough to allow us to take a picture before he took them home:

And the girls, with their sexy leg pose...to show off their shorts under their skirts:

We had a great time! Here's looking forward to next year...

Jace's Newest "Invention"

Jace is always building something. Always testing out some hypothesis or another! Well, the other day, he came to get me to come see his "pulley system" in the backyard...technically, it doesn't have a pulley, but it's the right idea! Here is a picture (he had some help from Brett, too):

Happy Halloween!

This year for Halloween, we were invited to Trick-or-Treat with Margaret and her family. This was great with Jace and Brett since they are friends with her boys and the kids next door, too. Here are some pictures of our fun night! Thanks for the invite...looking forward to next year:

Anders and Brett:
Ryan and Jace:

Brett and Jace (aka Obi Wan and Anakin):

My friend Margaret (don't hate me for posting you out here!):

And before Halloween, the boys did pumpkin push-ins instead of carving (I highly recommend this! Thanks Kat & Heather!):

Super Jace

The Friday that Heather and Kat were here, Jace came home with a Super Citizen's Award from school. This is an award that his classmates vote on, so pretty cool. Also, he had a reading award in his backpack as well. Then, on Halloween, he brought home his report card (all As and Es) and another reading award for "Most AR Tests" and "Highest Reading Level". He's doing so great this year! We're very proud of him! Here he is giggling with his Super Citizen Award pinned to his shirt (thanks for making him smile, Heather & Kat!):

Good King Brett

Brett has been really into Backyardigans, The Tale of the Mighty Knights, lately. One day, he decided that we needed to play it. That meant that I got to be a brave knight all day and he got to be the good king. That also meant that I was addressed as "Brave Knight" all day and I was to address him as "Good King" (which gets a much better response than "Brett" on a regular day when asking him to do chores). Also included for the Good King was the making of a crown, which he wore everywhere, even to Jace's parent/teacher conference that day. Why do we bother buying toys when a couple pieces of construction paper stapled together work so much better?

Sisters' Trip!!! WAHOOOOOO!

My sisters both got to come to San Anotonio for a NO KIDS sisters' trip last weekend! They both came in on Thursday night and then left Monday (BOOOO!)...I'm now on a massive campaign to get them both to move to San Antonio. I figure if I get at least ONE of them back here, Mom and Dad will stay when they get home and then I'll have sisters AND parents here. I know it's a long shot, but hey, a girl can hope!

Anyway, we had a blast, stayed up too late every night and were pretty exhausted by the end of it all...but we spent great time together! While they were here, they got to see Jace and Brett participate in the annual Primary Program at church. Kat decided it would be a great idea to sneakily video the boys' parts during the practice on Saturday (we're not supposed to video in the chapel), so she did...unfortunately, the quality was not great, so I'm not going to waste blog space on them. They both did a great job! Brett memorized his scripture and Jace mostly wrote his own talk. We were very proud of them!

Here's the only picture I have on my camera of me and my sisters...I miss you terribly!!! COME BACK!!!

Way to go, Idaho!

Shaunna Boothe (daughter of our neighbors) goes to BYU Idaho, and while she was home for the summer, the boys thought she was the best. After she left for school, they drew her pictures and we mailed them to her. A couple weeks ago, they got a package from her with t-shirts and letters! Thank you, Shaunna!!! Here they are modeling their new Idaho shirts:

Brett's School Fall Festival

At Brett's school, we did a Fall Festival instead of Halloween. The kids came dressed as their favorite book character and then we shared favorite parts of the books, did crafts, ate snacks and had a pumpkin hunt. Brett's favorite thing at the moment is all things Star Wars, so he was Obi Wan Kenobi from one of his Star Wars books. Mrs. Elliott's costume was the best...The Little Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.

Mrs. Elliott & Brett before the party (notice her clear bag with all the things the little old lady swallowed in it):
Brett with his glow stick (i.e. light saber...much easier than his toy one to take to school...much smaller):