Friday, February 22, 2008

Update

Three inches! That's how much rain is in the gauge this morning! It's been drizzling since yesterday morning, a fine, slow drizzle, beautiful to see in the middle of this drought. The birds were bursting their little lungs with singing this morning, and a whole flock landed in our yard! It's truly amazing to see so many creatures all alike and all together, pouring from tree to tree.

Well, that's a nice thought, but it isn't much of an update. Let's see, what's new around here? Oh yes: Jesse, Samuel and Christopher played in the Solo Festival (piano competition) last Saturday and they all received the highest possible score: Superior! And of course, I must mention that Chris received a Superior plus! We're so proud of all of them. And I (Abby), having spent four days at the DMV, finally got my driver's license! Yes, I've had the permit for a year, but after my sixteenth birthday, I was old enough to get the real license to drive alone. Of course, having spent four days in a government-run place like that, I feel like I'm nearly eighteen! But everyone is happy to have me driving, especially Jesse, who is pleased that I am now able to shuttle myself to and from the grocery store for eggs and milk and that-strange-spice-that-he's-never-heard-of-but-is-absolutely-crucial-to-my-new-recipe! (BTW: not all grocery stores stock ground Coriander seed!)

But aside from those two things, nothing is really new around here, except, of course, the rain!

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Ice Skating

Last Saturday, we went ice skating as a final celebration of my (Abby's) birthday!

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Photos courtesy of Daddy!

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Isn't this a great picture of Jack?

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Nathan caught on quickly.

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The Kawell Klub!

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Here is another cool picture. Sam looks like he's imitating Christopher!

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A photo finish!

Saturday, February 09, 2008

Abigail's birthday

Abigail turned 16 on the second! Here are a few pictures.

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Waking the birthday girl!

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Mama and Mrs. Wheatly talk during gift opening.

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A mini dvd player from the boys!

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A puppy and kitten calendar!

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Blueberry and whipped cream cheesecake for dessert.

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Happy birthday!

Friday, February 01, 2008

A Kawell school day

This is a writing assignment that a good friend of ours completed after spending a school day with our family.


With eight people under one roof, the Kawell household is constantly booming with a cacophony of sounds. With the ceiling shaking above us and the dryer squawking loudly, Abigail Kawell, the only girl of the six sibling, explained that breakfast is usually the most clamorous time of the day, because the radio is blasting and everyone is yelling over each other. Everyone else agreed with her. "Someone’s always talking… or making music,” shouted Mrs. Kawell over the sound of someone playing the piano. Even as I’m writing now, she is calling out across the house, asking who is where and what they are doing. Between the melodies of piano practice, the stomping of feet, the drone of school lessons, and the humming of a vacuum, I managed to ask everyone’s opinion on the noisy, chaotic days in the Kawell house. To sum them all up, it’s not peaceful when you live with eight people, But they all agreed that they enjoy it.


By Ashley Tucker