Quiddler Queen

So we adapted how we played - but play we did..

It was more of a public thinking game then a private struggle.

The results were still the same:

Mom 327

ME 249

She still has game.

Sing it Parker

another super sunday

Though we missed Mackey while she spent the Sunday with Blair & Julie in Wisconsin we were able to snag Paul & Sarah, Tristan and Brianna for scone Sunday along with Robert, Laura and kids. (next time we will get Jane & Daryl as well.)

Sunday was made for worship, scripture study, family & friends. Sunday was made for scones, games, swinging on the porch & reading to younger cousins.

After they've seen Paris

Evan's life has been full of adventures and miracles large and small - one of which is skiing. We first had Evan on cross country skis as we did with all the family, whether in the backyard or at French park. A little up, a little down, a lot of horizontal movement. The first down hill skiing experience came under the tutelage of Doug Morrisette and Brad Taylor who worked with Evan 1-on-1 at a Saturday boy scout activity , I think at Troll Haugen back in MN. This was followed by a couple more scout activities - all really great accomplishments and done with great kindnesses of others, still at relatively calm altitudes. We did a skiing Thanksgiving trip to Alta where everyone took lessons - a step up for everyone. But truly miraculous skiing has happened under the care of Brigham.

Rindy found an adaptive ski program at Park City. Evan gets a lesson and an opportunity to ski each Friday during winter semester. The key is he needs a ride up and a companion for the afternoon - enter Brigham. It is one of the many acts of service done by Brigham in helping facilitate a BYU experience for Evan. Thanks for making it happen.

who if not i

We had a totally enjoyable Christmas present today for a valentine's date.
For Christmas Blair & Julie gave us gift certificates to Ted's Montana Grill in downtown Naperville (about a four block walk in the fresh air) followed by tickets to the DuPage Symphony Orchestra (another three block Wenz's auditorium. The dinner was enjoyable and the concert a delight. They performed Indian Suite by Edward MacDowell, and Grand Canyon Suite by Ferde Grofe and an original composition by symphony and Women's chorus by Jams Falzone entitled " who if not I" with lyrics from an old celtic poem:

The Mystery of Amergin.

I am the wind which breathes upon the sea,
I am the wave of the ocean,
I am the murmur of the billows,
I am the ox of the seven combats,
I am the hawk on the cliff,
I am a beam of the sun,
I am the fairest of flowers,
I am a salmon in the water,
I am a lake in the plain,
I am a word of science,
I am the point of the lance of battle,
I am the God who creates in the head [i.e. of man] the fire [i.e. the thought].

Who levels the mountain?
Who speaks the ages of the moon?
Who teaches the place where couches the sun
who If not I?

The symphony alone pieces were well performed and the hall an excellent venue. The original piece started with the women's chorus humming one note as they entered with two soloist canting a piece from St Thomas Aquinas, then a full Rondo - great evening, great date.

LOCK UP YOUR DAUGHTERS!

– The Naperville North High School Theatre Department presents Gilbert and Sullivan's “The Pirates of Penzance” on February 25,(parker) 26 and 27 (parker)at 7 PM and February 28 at 3 PM in the NNHS auditorium. Everyone's favorite soft-hearted buccaneers are back and they're in the mood for matrimony. Join the dashing Pirate King,(parker) the bumbling Sergeant of Police and the Modern Major General for a swashbuckling good time. Along with a 26-piece high school orchestra, double casts of 60 each and a stage of crew of 30, highlighted numbers include Poor Wandering One, I Am a Pirate King, A Policeman's Lot is Not a Happy One and I am the Very Model of a Modern Major General. Matinee performances are being presented February 23 and 25 during the day for 8th graders from Jefferson, Kennedy and Washington junior high schools.

Tickets are $5 for students and senior citizens, $7 for adults and are available at the box office one hour before each show. This is the last chance to see a production directed by Jim Yarbrough as the NNHS Choral Director will be retiring at the end of the school year following a 23-year career in District 203. Let’s pack the house!

Rapa Visitor

The North High School choir is sponsoring an international group Singers of United Lands, that is making a cultural tour of America. The group is comprised of singers from Estonia, Haiti , Venezuela and Steve from Rapa in french polynesia.(Little Rapa, "Rapa Iti" in Tahitian, is the most far-flung of the Austral Islands, some 1,420 km to the south of Tahiti. ) Steve just spent one evening with us but it let me practice my french and catch up on life in the south seas. It made Parker homesick for his second family - the peniata's

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/4644346

Madrid

Who knew Madrid was in Illinois I always thought I lived there in Spain. Anyhow at 4am we woke up withe the noise and a slight 3.8 tremor. A minor earthquake centered in a rural area about 40 miles northwest of Chicago struck in the early hours of Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. No damage with that little of a shaking but definitely news worthy. Never was on our radar that we lived in earthquake territory.

Wisconsin Visitors

Its wonderful having Blair and Julie so close that without fanfare they can drop in or a few days to visit. To our delight Julie, Eden and Dean made the trip for a few days. With the snow storm they headed downtown with Rindy for a free day at the Shedd Aquarium. Its was a short but truly sweet visit.

And yes Dean is one handsome baby!!!!!!!!

MUNUC

For decades, though totally unbeknownst to the Wilson household, the world's high school and college students have been the beneficiaries of a unique education in politics, diplomacy, and foreign affairs. The Model United Nations experience brings to life the problems that face the real world and allows participants to represent their assigned country's position and work towards resolving issues of global importance. MUNUC is hosted by the University of Chicago is one of the premier high school United Nations simulation in the country..

So Thursday bright and early we dropped Parker off at the train station and off he rode until mid-afternoon Sunday to the Palmer House Hilton to represent the Sudan. A robust schedule with over 1,000 students participating from across the country and a few international participants as well.

Thursday, February 4

• 3:00 - 5:30 Conference Registration (Delegate Services)
• 4:00 - 5:30 Novice Delegate Training (6th Floor Ballrooms)
• 5:30 - 6:30 Dinner Break
• 7:00 - 8:00 Opening Ceremonies, State and Grand Ballrooms (4th Floor)
• 8:30 - 11:30 Committee Session
• 9:00 - 10:30 Advisor Meeting
• 12:30 Delegate Curfew

Friday, February 5

• 1:00 - 5:00 Committee Session
• 5:30 - 7:30 Dinner Break
• 7:30 - 11:30 Committee Session
• 9:00 - 10:30 Advisor Meeting
• 12:30 Delegate Curfew

Saturday, February 6

• 8:30 - 12:00 Committee Session
• 12:00 - 1:30 Lunch Break
• 1:30 - 5:30 Committee Session
• 2:30 - 3:30 Advisor Meeting
• 5:30 - 9:00 Dinner Break
• 9:00 - 12:00 Delegate Dance (State and Grand Ballrooms)
• 12:30 Delegate Curfew

Sunday, February 7

• 8:00 - 1:30 Luggage Storage Available (Upper Exhibition Hall)
• 9:00 - 11:00 Committee Session
• 11:00 Hotel Checkout
• 11:30 - 12:30 Closing Ceremonies (State and Grand Ballrooms)
• 
  

A great event to stretch and grow in new ways. Parker came tired but uplifted. Wish we had heard of it a couple of kids earlier.