Jaclyn's Mission Advent Calendar

Dollarama has the cutest clothes-pin-backed stocking advent garland right now, and another missionary mom I know threw out an idea recently of collecting Christmas notes from friends and family to send to her missionary, so I put it together into something for Jaclyn. Thanks to the people on Facebook and my direct email for making this happen! We found the cutest little cards to fill with everyone's well wishes, and we added some small gift cards here and there. And by 'we', I guess at this point I mean Carmen and Chloe. They put it together. Carmen wrote a stern note in Day 1 about only opening one day at a time, and Chloe wrote all sorts of silliness in the last day. 

What do you think the chances are that Jaclyn reads Carmen's and Chloe's messages (and every card in between) on the day it arrives in her mailbox?

Chloe's Best Diner

If we should grow up to do what we love, Chloe should really have a restaurant. She has played restaurant for as long as I can remember, and the menu continues to improve.

A couple of Sundays ago Chloe made roast pork, potato wedges, and steamed vegetables, with brownies, ice cream, and chocolate sauce for dessert. This time the restaurant was a fine dining establishment with candles and a posted menu.

Earlier in the year, Chloe had to do an assignment that included future plans - so she made a diorama of her future restaurant. I wish all homework was this fun! Note several awards on the wall, above. 

And from this angle you can see the autographed celebrity photographs on the wall. Chloe's Best Diner is going to have a waiting list, no doubt. Lucky for me, I'll know the chef.

Volleyball might be the most difficult sport to photograph

Because the player only has 'possession' of the ball for like half a second!

Carmen in the middle

Carmen about to hit

Looks like another hit

Waiting for the ball I can photograph no problem

A set

And her team finished off the season with a Bronze Medal at Zones. Way to go girls!

Take Your Kid to Work Day - November 6

I wasn't going to post about this because of the blood, but Carmen pointed out to me that her aunts have mostly already seen this on her Instagram, so I may as well.

Alberta has a province-wide day every fall for 9th graders to go to work with a parent and learn about their workplace. Jaclyn and Steven went to Ken's work when they went through grade 9 - I see the appeal with the glamour of downtown, and going out for lunch with Dad. (My lunch breaks are only 30 minutes, no time for eating out.) 

But Carmen chose to come to my office because she likes blood and guts - she wants to be a trauma surgeon.

Dr. Fairbanks gave Carmen exactly what she was looking for with a bone graft.

Carmen leaned in all day with many patients who were all very good sports. And she even got to go out for lunch with Steven, since the high school is just down the street from my office.