Jingle Bell Jog

 Callie volunteered me to chaperone her class for the Jingle Bell Jog. So I did.  I got to walk the mile with them from the school to the gym.  Then we ran most of the 1.5 mile Jog, had yummy lunch at the party, and walked the mile back to the school.  It started raining just as we left to walk back to the school, so that was cold and wet.

Callie and her cool classmates.  And her utterly awesome teacher, Mrs. Billlups.  The Jog had a Grinch theme, in case you couldn't tell!
And the event is open to the entire base.  And a LOT of units participate.  There is nothing more fun than seeing a "sleigh" with Santa in it being pulled by 9 Marines wearing reindeer outfits.  It is a really fun event.

Rylee and her friend Lilly. 

Rylee and her best friend Milly! 

Rylee rocking the hat and antlers. 

 I saw Delaney during the Jog as well!

Look at her go! 

She was particularly pleased with the streamers that trailed out in the wind.... or when she was running. 

 Having fun at the party at the gym.

School Party

 Rylee's class had a little party.  It was not a fun party.

It did have fun treats like these.  

But most of the party was the kids doing their normal school routine. 

They had carpet time and the teacher read "The Polar Express". 

And they did worksheets.  And then, at the very end of the party we got to eat treats.  I do not like that kind of party.

The school also had it's "Winter Wonderland" concert, where each class got up and sang a Christmas song.  I absented myself to avoid the drama of girls who did not want to sing in public.  They were just fine.

My friend sent me this of Delaney, hanging out, waiting to sing. 

And Callie's teacher sent me this, to prove Callie did not die on the spot like she claimed she would.

What I'm sewing

 I have been busy sewing.  I am suppose to be using up my stash faster than I am replenishing it, but tis not the case.  I end up going to the shop and seeing lovely kimonos and I have to bring them home.  It has made for some delightful creations though.

I liked these colors a lot.

Check out the pattern on this one! 

And I have been making infinity scarves.  Like this one. 

Delaney is my lovely model. 

Mostly because it is really hard to model and take selfies myself!

And let me tell you how gratifying it is to purchase a roll of obi fabric and get home to find this price tag rolled up inside of it.  I paid 500 yen for it and it was originally 48000 yen.  So, rather than paying $450, I paid $4!

Good Times

 Apparently marshmallows are not a thing in Japan.  Some of our missionaries really miss them.  So we had all 6 missionaries, plus the senior missionary couple, along with 3 young single adults come over to roast marshmallows and make smores with our tiny fire pit.  A good time was had by all.  Especially since my awesome friend Lynnette sent me some marshamllows to enure there was sufficient. She even sent the giant kind.

Rylee and her giant marshmallow.  She thought it was awesome.

Callie and Sister Mcnaughton working on perfection. 

Rylee's rather crisped and warped s'mallow. 

The next evening we went to the senior couple's house for a missionary farewell party.  Rylee and I may have participated in some shenanigans:

Finally Decorating!

 Last year the Christmas tree was in the area that I later set up my sewing machine in.  So there was no place to put the tree this year.  Well, there were three options- I could move my giant pile of fabric and figure out where to put my sewing machine and sewing desk, we could try to stuff the tree in the too-small area between the couch and the wall, or we could blatantly place it in the side of the room and take up all the space to walk through.  None were attractive options.  Mostly because I did not have anywere to move my fabric and sewing stuff to, and Dan wasn't a fan of losing more floor space to a tree.

The kids finally decided to try squashing it into the small space, because it was the most likeley to happen scenario.  The fit was.... snug, and the branches had to be bent down a little, but it was close enough.  So there it went, and there it stayed!

The kids were thrilled to put the ornaments on and to decorate everything.

I love this.  Look closely at the bottom.  I have no idea why Marian and Rylee were under the tree but you can see their legs sticking out.

Oh, no, this isn't staged at all!