Holiday Concert at Putnam School of Science

This was taken at Jane's school holiday concert. They were singing Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree and were really getting into it! For some reason I couldn't meter this photo properly to fix the light in the school gym. [sorry it's so dark!]

Taken before leaving for school on Friday morning - check out the cool mountain woman coat and boots!

And, this is what she wore under her mountain woman attire for her holiday concert. She was very sparkly!

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It's beginning to smell like snow!

Something strange happens to the trees here when it snows. Because the sun is usually full in the sky by 10am - they form an ice glaze if it snows the night before. The effect is breathtaking!

Not a lot of snow, mind you - just enough to remind us that it's winter and it will be cold on some days. It's really a nice way to spend the winter months.

And, then usually by noon it's all gone!

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I Want to Stay in a Yurt

New Yurts Offer More Accommodations

This looks like it would be a LOT of fun!

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Man, This Kid's Going To Have Some Autograph Book...

We just returned home from the first presentation in a series of monthly high profile speakers. That's right. Jane is with Morgan Spurlock in this photo. She was enthralled. Absolutely enthralled. After his presentation, we hosted a Meet the Speaker reception. She patiently waited to have him sign her program but was speechless when it was finally her turn. So, she did what any self-respecting Bennis does - she cracked him up!

Not a bad brush with greatness when you're ten!

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Jane Needs a Dog.

Meet Ralph. He's our year and a half old panda hamster. He's adorable and completely docile. He expects to be held, spoken to and pampered. Seriously. Kate named him after the mouse in the book, The Mouse & the Motorcycle. He is a completely and appropriately a little Ralph.

He does this when he notices the camera flash - climbs to the top of his cage and sticks his nose into the corners as if he's trying to smell what's going on.

Goofiest little creature on Earth. But, we love him. (Look at those tiny little hands!)

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Jane's Sacrifice

For the second time in her life, Jane chose to donate her hair to "Locks for Love." She donated her almost waist-length hair to this charity who accepts donations of long hair to construct wigs for women and children affected by cancer.

The last time she did this was in second grade over Winter break. When she returned to school she discovered that the librarian completed a course of chemotherapy which resulted in her loss of hair so she returned to school wearing a wig in a chin length page boy - an exact match in style, length and color of Jane's new haircut as a result of her donation. She referred to the librarian as her "hair twin" for the rest of the year.

Now, in fifth grade, she's just as excited.

And, looks so cute!

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As Jon Stewart Would Say...

enjoy your moment of Zen.

Last of the fall colors in the "high country" (ie, the mountains) - never fails to impress. Never.

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