Turkey day

I always love the simplicity of Thanksgiving.  Get together with family, eat amazing foods, hang out chatting, look over the ads for a shopping trip you have no intention of making, play some games, and just have a day to be together.  I love it and I enjoy it.  I was thankful that all my kids were home on Sunday.  I was happy most of them could come back today.  

Madison and Andrew flew to Mesa for Thanksgiving and for Andrew’s brother’s wedding.  I am happy they could go, but man we miss them.  Particularly my little sweet pea who has started really being mobile, so every 5 minutes I find myself looking to see what she’s doing!   We did receive  some pictures of her today which I was Thankful for!   I am also thankful for Madison and Andrew and for their relationship.  

Colin spent today with Spencer and her family.  I believe he was on call, and needed to stay close to home.  He told me he was having a great day and so I’m thankful for Spencer and her family taking care of him!  I am also thankful that he found a great job and is settling in so nicely.  

Preston is growing up and enjoying life.  He has bonded with Andrew and they’ve become “bros” I am thankful for him, and for his sense of humor.

The weather was a little bit touch and go, so I was also Thankful that Cameron made it home today.  He has to work tomorrow, so it was a short trip, but I was happy to see him for a while!    Mallory spent the night yesterday and helped me cook- I am thankful for her help and the time she spends with her little sisters. 

I am thankful for the friendship that these 2 have.  It warms my heart with how much they love each other.  

I am thankful for this little girl.  She loves crafts, and reading which means she and I enjoy these things together.  

I am also thankful for Jim, who works hard and helps me accomplish all my crazy dreams.  

So many blessings!  So much great family!  So much to be Thankful for! 

We rocked the 2 day week!

Having a 2 day school week was exceptionally exciting for the kids (and for their mom).  Monday night, Quincy had a game at Anderson County.  Her team is pretty good, and so were the girls from Anderson county.  They had to earn the win for sure.  The team stopped in Ottawa to eat.  The jr. high doesn't always stop, and I understand, but I also think that the late night trip to eat a meal together is a part of the experience and I am glad they go to do it.  The girls had a great time hanging out and laughing together.  It made for a very late night though!

Not that getting back late mattered too much, since Tuesday at school was a day to mess around.  Saige's class made snacks for themselves and watched a movie.  

Harper's class had crafts and a special lunch with their bolt buddies.  The junior high kids seemed to be just messing around too.  I think they all had fun days!

Cameron and Lauren got snow on Friday last week.  Cameron quit his job as a bouncer, and is only working at Texas Roadhouse now (I am so thankful).  He said this was basically the first Friday he hasn't worked since he moved there. So he had date night with Lauren.  Of course, nothing about Cameron is ever quite how the rest of the world would do it.  He and Lauren drove to Manhattan hill, and scraped the snow off the H and A off so that it said "HA" and then ate at Wendy's.  It is good he is dating someone who enjoys his amusing ideas!

Speaking of date  night, I had a great time with these 2 last night!  It is so rare that we have only one child!  Harper and Saige spent the night with Mallory.  Preston had a band pizza party.  That left Quincy to hang out with us!  I desperately wanted to get my errands done, so that I did not have to go back to town during the break!  We made several stops and even braved Sam's club (it was awful busy).  Quincy then asked Jim if we couldn't take a break and go get Taco Bell.  I don't know how many people know this, but Jim LOVES taco bell.  LOVES IT!  He didn't even think twice, just pulled straight into their parking lot for a little pre-Thanksgiving grocery shopping high quality dinner!  We did manage to knock off my entire list of errands, made it home and got everything unloaded before it started to rain.  Unfortunately, Harper called me from Mallory's house crying because she broke her glasses.  The glasses she was wearing were the back up pair, as the good pair are laying under a roller coaster at World's of Fun.  I guess I am going to town again today!  I should never, ever, ever think I am going to get to stay home!

Langsgiving and last firsts

Today we hosted Langsgiving.  I really enjoy this day!  Always so much fun to see all my aunts, uncles and cousins.  Evie thoroughly enjoyed the food and playing with Hazel!  We have so much to be thankful for!  

I was super excited to see all my kids today under one roof we did miss Lauren)!  It doesn’t happen much anymore!   

Today was also a special day for Saige.  I know this photo will be hard to see what’s going on, but Saige made her first reconciliation at church this morning.  She did a great job!   I’m so proud of her!!   I am celebrating a lot of “lasts” with Saige.  This will be our last first reconciliation.  Some of the lasts I am sad about.  This is not one of them. It’s not that I don’t think confession is  important, but I hate the anxiety it causes on the first one.   We all went to confession with her to try to alleviate the anxiety.  That made Harper a little bit sad, but we are all better for it!  

I am excessively sad that the weekend went by so fast, but incredibly happy that it is a 2 day week!   

Wasn’t kidding

Preston started basketball practices this week.  His coach told them this was hell week.  They had 2 a day practices and it was mostly conditioning.   He told me he was excited about basketball, but dreading hell week.  I didn’t know that it was going to be hell week for all of us!   We had so much going on.  

Quincy had games at Osawatomie and at home.  We had Thanksgiving lunch with Saige’s class.  We had church events, and we had a choir concert.  I lost track of days, events, and my sanity might have even slipped a little bit.  I was sure ready for the weekend.  May next week be more fun!