Pumpkin Carving

This weekend, I got to experience an American tradition that I have not tried before: Pumpkin Carving. My friend Ibeth, who I met in my Deutsche class, invited Jono, myself, Melissa, Natalie and Victor over to her pumpkin carving party. We had such a fun time! Who knew carving pumpkins could be so much fun? My pumpkin did not turn out so great (I'm a little creatively-challenged when it comes to this sort of thing), but everyone else's came out incredibly creative. I was especially impressed with Natalie and Victor's products since neither of them have ever done this before.

Melissa imitating Natalie's baby bump

Getting gooey

Ibeth and her ghoulish design

Natalie hard at work

The end result (Natalie's pumpkin)

Victor's masterpiece

Mine's the haggard looking one on the end

Jono's work of art

Ibeth's husband, James, admiring his handy work

The end result

All our pumpkins on display

Friday Early Morning Girls' Group

I've been meeting with my small group of High School girls on friday mornings this semester. We meet at the crack of dawn, 6am, since they start school at 7am (shocking). I have been so encouraged by my girls and their dedication to this early morning meeting. I'm ashamed to say I've overslept twice... but they still agree to meet that early, despite my tardiness.

We've been going through Rick Warren's book, 40 days of purpose. I've read this book once before whilst living in Perth and I thoroughly enjoyed it then as I am now. It's been so refreshing going over some of the basics of maturing as christian.

So, here's to my small group and their incredible dedication!

Elimination Station

I need to post this, as this is an important thing that all fans of the A>R need to know. The Amazing Race (Airs on CBS sunday nights at 8pm: that plug was free this time, CBS!) now has short 5 min webisodes showing what happens to the teams once they get eliminated. 

AMAZING. I never knew this.

just click here for this week's episode of... dum dum dum: ELIMINATION STATION!

Lake Tahoe Baby!

I am so excited as Jono and I will be spending our 3 year anniversary here:

And I really hope it looks like this when we go:

The Week

This is how I love to spend my Saturday afternoons:

Reading The Week magazine, with a cup of tea on the patio. Nothing like it! The Week is so cool, because it samples from the best columns around the country and compiles them all, including interesting little titbits from around the world. For example, the following story appeared in this week's issue:

"It was a good week for reverse discrimination, after a group of dwarves in China set up a village where nobody taller than 4foot3 is allowed. 'As small people we are used to being pushed around and being exploited by big people,' said resident Fu Tien. 'But here there aren't any big people.' "

Christmas comes early

It's here. You should've seen me as I strutted down to the Aventine Office with my UPS slip in hand. I was like a kid on Christmas Eve as I walked back to our apartment, triumphant with the large box gripped in my arms.

Jono's parents generously helped us buy our first production quality camera: a Canon XL1. Here are a few pics documenting the opening process. Watch this space, as we have a wedding scheduled for October 17th and will be using this beauty to shoot it.

You gotta love these little guys

Jono has a burst of excitement as we discover the lens

This moment: Picture worthy

TaDa!

Thanks Ma & Pa Knepper!