A HUGE List, we've checked it TWICE!

Jia delivered her very detailed list to Santa. Will all her dreams come true? Only if Dad is handy with the wrench....

PS: Jia to Anna as Anna is lighting a candle: it's okay if you burn down the house, I'll just move to Canada!

Must Read for our Parnham, Sardachuck, Updegrove Families (El too)

To our dear families, I wanted to share this email I received from Katie's teacher:

Dear Lesa and Drew,
What I will tell Katie is that I love to celebrate a birthday and Christmas for days!!! So if the present does not arrive until after Christmas, it will be something for me to look for upon my return.
As I wrote to Katie in my Christmas note to her, sometimes in your teaching life, a student not only walks into your life but also into your heart. Katie walked into my heart. I expect to be in touch with her and cheer her for her successes and dance at her wedding and all sorts of wonderful things. God gave you three beautiful daughters, and I know you are proud of each one. Knowing Anna and Katie has been a privilege. Having Katie with me for three glorious years has been a highlight of my teaching career.
Have a wonderful Christmas.
Love,
Carol Sheppard

Anna's Random Pictures

The Editor-in Chief
BIG deadline tonight

Pretty Jia picture

My dog, Tink

Anna's dog Lola

Jia and Katie are still working hard
in their pumpkin roll factory

The master chef

Bennyfoo ready for college
he has his Stetson collar on!

Katie's usual pose for a picture

Anna had the very expensive yearbook camera at home so she was sneaking around taking pictures of her sisters and her animals.

Poor Jia

Jia kind of looks like a criminal in this picture

This is after the color was a little faded, she was very purple for a while

Yuck

She, she is still her silly self!

Little Jia was running like the wind in aftercare a few days ago. She took a fall and this is the outcome. When she first came home it didn't look this bad, things like this always look worse a few days later. She also has a cut on her head under her hair. Our tough little Jia didn't bat an eyelash. She is a tough one!

ONCE UPON A TIME...

Today is the day we are decorating our
Christmas Tree

Welcome, and thanks for looking at our family's silly good time

Anna and Daddy-of course there is a Stetson shirt and a Gator Santa hat
(and a glimpse of fresh purple hair- Anna's not Drew's)

Jia getting started, she can only hang up the non-breakables
without a little help. When Katie was little she used to call the fragile ornaments
the "glassables" so of course, that's now what we all call them.
(Someday Jia is going to be SO confused)

Tall girl gets the high spots
Anna also volunteered for the dreaded job of putting the lights on the tree

Jia and Daddy
Katie calls Jia "Dad's barnacle"as Jia never wants to be without him

The girls and MA-MA

Katie and "Andrew" which is what she calls him.
She calls me "Mother" she is such a funny kid.

Mother and the rest of the girls
Jia looks like she is plotting something in this one

Anna kissing Albert (University of Florida's mascot)
for good luck

Why yes, I do kiss my dog on the lips!
Tink my blue chihuahua and only son.

Anna and Rex, the most terrible dog you would ever want to meet
see his devil eyes glowing?
He is up for adoption the day after Anna leaves for college
Accepting applications now.

Dad, working hard

Mom helps Jia with a "glassable" breakable ornament

A Parnham photo blog would not be complete without a weird face from Anna

This is our other little chihuahua
Josie
She has some horrible burn scars on the other side of her body
but she is a lover and thinks she is the most beautiful dog in the world.

A rare moment: Katie letting loose to dance with her little sister

Another dance move

Their finale
(you really have to sneak up with the camera to get shots
of Katie being silly so I treasure these!)

All Done!

EVERYONE HAD A LOT OF FUN. THERE WAS GINGERBREAD COOKIES FRESH FROM THE OVEN (THANK YOU KATIE) CHRISTMAS MUSIC AND LIGHTS ON THE TREE (THANKS ANNA) DAD HAD THE LADDER OUT AND EVERYONE THOUGHT THEY HAD TO ASK ME BEFORE THEY PLACED AN ORNAMENT. ANYWAY, A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!

Anna is Silver! But in hearts they are both Gold!

Anna just received a VERY pretigous award. She was nominated as Charles W. Flanagan's choice for The Miami Herald's Silver Knights Award in the Journalism category.

A little history about this award. There are about 14 different categories (English. foreign Language, Math, General Studies, Science, Music etc) Every public, private and charter school in both Broward and Miami Dade county can nominate one 12th grader in each category. BUT they do not have to recommend anyone if they do not think that they have anyone worthy.

It is not a disservice to Anna to say that as educators Drew and I have never seen anyone who has won or received honorable mention, but just the nomination alone is HUGE beyond belief.

Anna has to write up a charity project, go for an interview with educators from around the two counties, interviewers with The Miami Herald and (mom says) find a way to get this information addendum (ed) onto her University of Florida application.

As far as Flanagan High School goes, she will get her name on a gold plaque in the office and at the Senior Awards Ceremony she will be individually recognized for this accomplishment. At the same ceremony Katie will be recognized for her scholarship to Stetson.

We are not sure when this ceremony will take place, they are a little secretive about their dates...

The girls are tired, especially Anna as big yearbook deadlines are coming up. I think the holiday vacation will serve them well.