Thanksgiving - and Thankfulness

Thanksgiving has ALWAYS been my favorite holiday. ALWAYS. Time with family. No pretenses. No gifts. No trying to outdo or be better than anyone else. Just thankfulness and family. This year changed all that. Oh, don't get me wrong - this Thanksgiving was filled with cousins playing together, having fun, but it was overrun with other crap too. So, as I sit and think over my (used-to-be) favorite holiday, I wonder how thankful we really are. By we, I mean all of us. I have recently mentioned to a lot of people that if we looked at things through other people's perspective (thank you Mr. T), we could alleviate a lot of our problems. When we chose to look at things only through our own perspective, we become selfish. We think what "we" want, what "we" would do, how "we" feel, and not at all about what the intent is/was.

I spent some time with some really GREAT kids this weekend. And I love them all so much. Each one has amazing traits and characteristics, and is irreplaceable. Without each and everyone of them, our family would be incomplete. As you can see from these pictures, they all love each other so much and long to be together.

We did have to take a detour to the ER/Urgent Care, as Grace was under the weather. Coughing, sore throat, fever, stomach ache, head ache. The doctor said it was a virus and sent us away, but I believe that this poor kid really does have strep throat. We will see. Everyone is a little down/under the weather, but I am guessing that a good part of this is emotional exhaustion. Hopefully, Thanksgiving can be redeemed. Maybe next year will be better. Maybe next year will be at home. Heaven only knows. But I sure hope it does.

The End of Volleyball Season

Today was Jadyn's last volleyball games. The team struggled, and by struggled I mean REALLY struggled, through the season. But they ended up winning 2 of their games, including their final game of the season. Jadyn totally surprised me. She has always been a little clumsy, but oh so cute, so I wasn't sure how she would do. But she rocked it!!!! Her serves were AMAZING! Totally impressed and proud! She even had the game winning serve in this last game! Super exciting!!!

Spook and Shine (Grace's Gymnastics Meet)

What a Good Kid!!

When I got home from work today, my card tables and chairs were in the kitchen. It was kinda weird. I asked around to the kids and no one claimed to have done it. Jacob had already left with his friend, so I called him to ask. He told me that he brought them up. I asked him why and he said that he was trying to get all the stuff on the list I left him done. I told him I did not leave him a list. He told me there was a list on the counter that said "TO DO:" on it. I said, "That's my list of things I need to do!" What a good kid! I didn't even ask and he took the initiative to do whatever he thought I needed done. Love that!!!

The Perfect Gift!

I was talking with Jadyn this morning about a gift for her friend's birthday party. This was the conversation:

Me: What do you want to get Skylee for her birthday?
Jadyn: I don't know. I have to go to the store to see what there is.
Me: Well, you are her friend - don't you know what she likes?
Jadyn: She likes ME!

Well then, you it is! Can I just stick a bow on you and call it good? Silly Jadyn. 

My First Work Award!!!!

Fighting the Tears

Just picked Jacob up from the first day of practice. They received their uniforms today, and since the numbers only went up to 42 (and he could not get his "44"), he chose to get #20 to honor his friend, Foster, who did not make the team. I love this boy so much! I am so proud of the man he is growing into.

15th Anniversary

Yesterday was our 15th wedding anniversary. How blessed am I that God has given me a husband that loves me despite who I am? Most days I am a hot mess. But Greg is the BEST man in the world for me, and I know without a doubt he is a gift straight from the hand of God. I love him desperately, and never tell him enough. I am extremely proud of him, and never tell him enough. I think he is a great dad, and never tell him enough. Are you sensing what I am? I need to tell him more.

We both worked yesterday. My workday started with Grace's conference. Then, after work, I had to go pick Jacob up from the last day of basketball tryouts. I was sitting in the car, letting Krystel talk me through the waiting. You would have thought it was me trying out instead of him. After I picked him up, we had to go straight to Jadyn's conference, then immediately to Grant's conference. Then we rushed home, where Greg was waiting for me. I had to quickly change clothes, as we were going to dinner at Ciao Amici's. Wow! Was that a GREAT meal! Then we rushed home to finish homework and get kids off to bed! What a wonderful 15th anniversary!! I almost didn't even notice that I was supposed to be going on vacation (to Palm Springs, CA) this morning. Thanks Ebola, thanks.

Oh yeah, I guess I left you hanging. The best anniversary present? JACOB MADE THE TEAM!!!

Basketball Finals

Jacob's Fall Basketball Team finished in 10th place out of 14. For the finals they played the 7th pace team. They started off behind, but then came back with a vengeance, so that with 10 seconds left the score was tied 30-30. Hartland gets the ball. Ryan passed to Brett, Brett passed to Foster, Foster slid it to Jacob, who was waiting under the basket for the game winning lay-up!!! Can you say "Screaming Mom"??? Yeah, that was me! They won that game and went on to play the 2nd place team. Needless to say, they lost that game. Their top five players were all WAY over 6 feet tall, so we started in a deficit. Our boys fought hard all season long, and I am VERY proud of them all!

Halloween - My LEAST Favorite Time of the Year

Every year I tell my kids that I will by them all the candy they want if we skip Halloween. Every year they don't buy into it. Dang it. So here are some pictures from this year - and of course, IT SNOWED!!!! Why not, right? Halloween AND snow, like peanut butter and jelly.  Also, in here are some pictures from my class at school, Grace's gymnastics class and Grant doing "candy math" problems.