The Kassel Family Project Life 365

Laura attended an online class to work on the “Citizenship in the Nation” merit badge today. She still has a couple of requirements to finish, but she is glad to nearly be done with one of the merit badges that is required to attain the rank of Eagle Scout.

It was a great day for one of the best bike events of the year – Cranktivus!

It was such a fun day riding around Columbia collecting food for the Food Bank of Central & Northern Missouri. We bought ham, canned vegetables, potatoes, cookies, and applesauce at five different grocery stores.

Laura could not ride this year as she was working at a band competition, but Jack, a friend from Troop 706, rode with us. Jack was stunned that he could earn service hours just for riding his bike. It was also the first year that John rode nearly 17 miles and did not complain! I think Jack needs to join us more often…

When we returned to Walt’s Bike Shop, I was amazed at the amount of food that you can carry when riding a bike or pulling a bike trailer. This is the ham pile.

This is the everything else pile.

The final tally is not yet in for the amount of food and monetary donations, but all I could do was smile when looking at these piles. Cranktivus is quite simply the best bike event around.

I made ornaments for the kids on Shutterfly today.

I am looking forward to them finding these in their stockings on Christmas morning!

John performed this evening with the West Middle School Eighth Grade Band at the Shelter Insurance Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

The band played “O Christmas Tree” as the lighting happened.

The tree was so pretty and the band sounded great as they played lots of different Christmas songs. It was a fun evening, but it was also another reminder that this is John’s last year at West Middle School.

This is a lovely site to see. Our Mustang automotive loan is officially closed. The Mustang is paid off!