Christmas celebrations continue with two big events this week:

That's a picture of me with the team I work with. We had our work party at a paint place where we made these pictures. Some of us are great artists. I am definitely not one of them. It was fun though. There were also people there from the other offices in our group, and it was good to see them as well.

After the paint thing, Rachel met up with me and we finished off the night with just the people in the picture (my team), as well as their SOs. We ate and played games and hung out together for about four more hours. Good times. I've got to say, I really love working with these guys. They make it fun and rewarding to show up each day. Besides being colleagues, they are also friends, and in a certain sort of way even a kind of extended family. I feel like the culture and values of our office in Post Falls match my own, and it is fun to see everyone contributing their remarkable talents to make good things happen for our patients. So yeah- we're pretty awesome.

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Here's the next picture worth mentioning:

That's an orchestra and choir in a full auditorium at North Idaho College. Rachel  interpreted the program. She's awesome to watch. I have to say that with or without her I have come to look forward to this concert each year. We know a lot of the people that help put this thing together, and I can tell you that there is TONS of work that goes into this thing. Rachel prepared for hours. The musicians did too. Almost all of this was done by volunteers with no pay. It was advertised as free, but donations were taken with proceeds going to women's/children's shelters. Also, I don't know what it is about Christmas music, but it just feels good. It was an absolutely beautiful show. There was a children's event that was planned for the same time so that people didn't even have to arrange for sitters. What a great night.

Merry Christmas, everyone. Enjoy these pictures from our neck of the woods (taken by various N. Idaho photographers):

Those who read last week's edition of THC will know that we started the decorating process for Christmas. Well, this week was definitely a continuation, with a hefty dose of Christmas activity thrown in. We had 3 different dinners with 3 different groups of friends last week- one out, and two at our home. We also had people over for gingerbread decorating, went to several Christmas-themed events, and bought pretty much all of our Christmas presents. 'Tis the season.

It's been great!

These pictures are from the "Neigh-tivity" event that our church did at a park in downtown CDA. Free hot drinks, choir music, and a petting zoo (including a camel) for the public to enjoy. It's a nice break for busy shoppers. Good times. Also- take a look at Rachel in that picture with Lindsey. Isn't she radiant? I love that girl!

We had a bunch of friends over to build gingerbread houses. Here's Addy's.

School Christmas carnival. Addy and Jack are doing Karaoke in front of everyone. They did good because we practice at home all the time. Seriously.

Rachel and Maren stood in the cold for two hours and rang the Salvation Army bell. I asked Maren how it was. She said "cold." That's all.

Also, not really related, but we have some school pictures to post:

Have a good week!

I do not have acrophobia.

In fact, hanging off the edge of cliffs, often with nothing but my fingertips between myself and certain death, is a situation I am quite comfortable with.

That said, it would not be an exaggeration to say that putting Christmas lights on our house was one of the most harrowing experiences I have had with high places.

The deed was done though, and things turned out pretty good. Merry Christmas everyone.

Team Rachel did the lights in the yard. Team Dad did the roof.

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Besides hanging lights, we also cut down our tree this week and decorated for the season. Handel, Martin, Crosby, and Buble' have filled the air with their swooning music. Apple cider and peach pie keep us satisfied. It's definitely Christmas at the Hazard home.

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This girl is awesome! She's spunky, graceful, and full of personality. Maren had her dance recital this week and she did great!

Enough said.

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Evelyn has joined the rhythm group, Stomp. After watching a presentation at her school, she came to us with a plan about how she could get up early and fit the morning practices into our already-busy weekly schedule. She's having fun, and I'm excited to go to her performances.

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This show has been on my bucket list for a while. When the 20th anniversary tour announced they were coming to Spokane we got online and immediately got some of the best seats in the house. What a great night out with the one I love.

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Have a good week!

Hmmm...somehow, all the kids with awkward smiles turned out blury.

I grew up in a family of seven people. That has grown over the years as people have gotten married and had kids. We are now at 26, with two more on the way (two of my sisters have due-dates). Every single one of these people is healthy. All of the adults have good jobs that they enjoy. Relationships seem to be wonderful, and the family support that each person receives is enormous. Everyone is able to pursue hobbies and personal interests that they have chosen for themselves. The future looks bright.

There is a lot to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving.

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To celebrate the holiday, our family drove down to Utah. While there, we got to spend time with my parents and siblings, Rachel's mom, and some of my extended family as well. It was good to catch up with each of these people. The kids spent time at a trampoline house, ice skating, and climbing the hill next to my brother's house. It was a lot of fun. 

Have a good week!

If you could be any animal, what would you be?

"A bunny!"

"A dragon!"

"An eagle!"

A silence ensues, giving us each time to imagine ourselves in our transformed states. Suddenly, our reverie is broken up by Lindsey’s high-pitched voice, simply overflowing with enthusiasm.

"A BANANNA PEPPER!"

Oh, the dinner conversations we have at our house.

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We got a call from Maren's principal the other day. I don't know whether to be disappointed or proud.

Turns out that someone on the bus was bullying her. She asked him nicely to stop. He wouldn't. She tried to get the driver's attention. He didn't hear her. She asked again. The kid persisted.

And so she tried to rip off his face.

That's what the principal said.

Following the eventful bus ride, both kids were brought into the office. The principal asked Maren what happened. In a calm and collected voice (as recalled by the principal), Maren said very matter-of-factually, "I grabbed his cheeks with both of my hands and pulled as hard as I could."

No lies. No excuses. No apologies.

The whole story came out from there. Nobody ended up getting in trouble, since both kids were at fault. Needless to say, nobody is going to mess with Maren on the bus anymore.

That's my girl! I mean- we don't condone violence in this family. Yeah. Like I said, I have mixed feelings on this one. Either way, I'm proud of her for telling the truth.

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Speaking of Maren, we had a little scare last week. She had been feeling a bit yucky lately. Symptoms lasted long enough that Rach decided to take her to the doctor. From my end, here's what the night looked like:

"Hey love, could you pick the kids up from their classes after work? I'm taking Maren into see the pediatrician"

A little later...

"Hey love, would you mind making dinner? The pediatrician told us to go to the ER for a CAT scan. We won't be home for a while."

And later still...

"Hey love, they are admitting Maren as a patient and putting her on IV antibiotics. She has a 'deep throat abscess' and it looks like we'll be here for a couple of days."

All said, Maren was super brave through the whole ordeal. She was in the hospital from Monday afternoon until Wednesday morning. During this time, they poked and prodded her with needles almost continuously. 

I was especially impressed with her when the nurse came in to give her a shot while we were visiting her. Calmly, she looked at her siblings and said "you might not want to watch this next part because it really hurts and I'll probably cry." She then held out her arm before she was even asked, and let the nurse do her thing. She cried a little bit, but then it was over and she was back to her chipper self.

What a champ.

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On Friday and Saturday I had my study club. I didn't do any surgeries this time, which made it sort of relaxing. It was still nice to socialize with other doctors in the area though.

We're also looking forward to our trip in a couple of days to Utah for Thanksgiving. It should be fun.

Have a good week!

A few pictures from one-on-one outings that Rach has had lately with some of the kids

First snow of the year!

I don't expect that it will stay long, but it's a start. To celebrate, we now have these:

Ski stuff for the whole family- let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Here's a few other pictures:

Here we are in front of the set for "Wait Until Dark." Rachel got us the very best seats in the whole building. Also, before the show, we went out for a really nice dinner. What a fun night!

Rachel with some of the people in the "mom's group" that she organized. Some of these people also came to our house last week for a fun potluck dinner. I love that she makes stuff like this happen.

Have a good week!

Happy Halloween!

My favorite holiday of the year. Here are some pictures:

Addy and Jackson both had to do pumpkin book reports for school. I think they did a great job.

Carving Jack-o-lanterns. Nothing too elaborate this year.

Costumes. Ev was Ginny Weasley from Harry Potter (it was originally Hermione, but then she changed because she realized that her and Ginny both have red hair). Addy was Crookshanks, the cat, from the same series. Jack was a Power Ranger. Maren, a pumpkin. Lindsey, a witch. A few days before Halloween we went to a party/concert/trunk-or-treat thing, and then lots and lots of trick-or-treating on the night of. We have so much candy in our house!

Tomorrow, Rachel and I are going to see this play. If it's even half as good as the old Audrey Hepburn film then it should be a fun night.

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Besides Halloween stuff, we've been busy getting all our kids outfitted for skiing. Last week we went to a swap and got skis/boots/and poles for Rachel, Evelyn, and Me. We also got a lot of partial sets for the other kids. Oh...And helmets (for the kids)- which is a pretty novel concept for me. We're going to another swap this weekend and hope to complete the ensemble. I'm also busy building ski racks for the garage for us to hang all the new gear. We're doing season passes at a local resort where a lot of our friends go- passes that we won't actually get until spring, but we hope to be ready by then with all the stuff.

No more cabin fever in winter!

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I think I mentioned it last week, but I went to a dental conference over the weekend. It was good- basically just an update on some of the new products and techniques that people are using in the profession. It's crazy to me that probably the majority of the stuff I use/do right now was not even taught when I entered dental school ten years ago. It's definitely a field that requires an ongoing education. I love that!

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Have a good week!

Throwback to our pumpkins in past years. We don't have the free-time now that we did then!