Fire Prevention Essay

So every year at GMS, the kids grades K-8 have been required to participate in the State of DE Fire Prevention Poster & Essay Contest.  It's usually done with a bit of "this again?" type of attitude.  The younger grades make posters and middle school writes essays.  Each grade has a different topic that they are supposed to write about.  This was Devan's last year to have to do this.  The topic for 8th grade was "How to escape from a building that's not your home."

We found out in Dec. that Devan's essay was selected as one of the top 3 for 8th grade in Sussex Co.  They had a dinner in honor of the event, but we didn't go to it for various reasons.  Low and behold, out of the 3 he got first place.  So.... he then got invited to another dinner which all the first place winners in the state were invited to.

We took Devan, dragging him by his toenails, because we thought it was important for him to go.  It was a nice dinner with a little speech from the lieutenant governor and some important firemen.  Then they had the awards of giving 1st, 2nd, & 3rd per grade.  Devan got 2nd place and had to go stand up front on an awards podium.

After that they went into the firehouse and had more pics.

They were also given an envelope along with the cool award which had some cash peaking through a window.... a $5 bill.  On the way to the car, we were jokingly talking about whether there was more 5's hiding behind it.  When he opened the envelope, out fell $75!!!  All of a sudden, having to go to the awards dinner & ceremony wasn't so bad!!  Good job, Devan!

Christmas Break

Every year over Christmas break, this happens......

I usually like to clean up the trash as we go.  This year I was told to "stay sitting." This is a picture of the aftermath.

This also happens every year, 3 days after Christmas......

Happy 14th, Devan

This year something happened that I don't remember ever happening before.  We had such cold weather for a long enough period of time and we had the best hard clear ice for skating on the ponds (even though we had a 1/2 inch skiff of snow to scrap away.)  It was during Christmas break and some cousins were here and the kids brought the New Year in by skating in the moonlight.  Oh.... and they also hooked up a cool disco light as well.  Great memories!

Renae, Jewel, Sarah, Melanie, Ericka, and DANIEL

It was nice while it lasted.... which was about 5 days once it was thick enough..... and then we got a 6 inch snow followed by a thaw.

Random Stuff

In looking through photos, I found a few random things that missed getting put on the blog.  Here is one from a fishing trip that Lyn, Darryn & Devan went on late summer.  They went out 60 miles in the ocean to catch mahi, mahi.  They caught a bunch of smaller ones but Devan got the biggest.

46" Mahi, Mahi

Dwight has been playing around with a forge, thanks to some supplies and things he got from his Uncle Brian.

His friend Ryan is assisting.

So far, no finished products.

Mostly just playing with fire.....

And speaking of fire.......... this happened........

The big 5-0