Harper (and Clayton) had a concert

Clayton and Harper had a concert tonight. You already know I am a giant fan of our bands, our band teachers, our band program, and music education in general.  These kids sounded amazing tonight.  I was so impressed with some of the pieces they played.  

I wasn’t their only fan!   I thought it was adorable how Evie made a poster for her auntie.  

I am so proud of Harper. She rocks!  

Snow- nope

Yesterday’s storm left us with an official 7 inches of snow.  Now, I was raised on a farm.  If you are raised on a farm, it taints your opinion of snow.  When other kids would come back from a snow day, they had been sledding, drank hot chocolate from a secret recipe their grandma developed, and made cute snowmen with little carrot noses.  I won’t say as a kid that we didn’t do these things as well, however our snow days looked a little different.  Snow meant cattle and  calves, chickens, rabbits, and whatever other creatures we had at the time needed extra care. Breaking through icy water, bedding things down, and dad running the snowplow so the milk truck could get up the driveway.  No, i never had to do all these things by myself, but chores took a noticeable amount longer, parents and grandparents who farmed together, were a little bit grumpier, and they were all very staunch in their belief that animals in your care must be taken care of before people inside the heated house.  And while I do not mind work, and completely agree with these viewpoints, by the time you were done defrosting animal water, feeding calves in the frigid cold, and bedding everything down, you truly weren’t in the mood for a jovial trip sledding, and building snowmen just seemed like a torturous activity.  These attitudes about everything being worse in the cold, and even worse still in the snow, have carried over into my adulthood.  Nothing is worse for me weather wise than stupid, disgusting, idiotic snow.  It makes everything harder, slower, miserable.  Driving takes longer, chores take longer, walking becomes dangerous, motorized things don’t work they way they should….everything is annoying.  I used to think if I never had to go outside, I might be able to read a book, eat some soup and then the snow wouldn’t be so bad.  I resend that statement.  It is never going to be a thing I like.  I just can’t.  Sure, I can see how some people  might find it beautiful.   I will even admit I don’t mind making soup and being forced to stay home for short periods of time, but sooner or later the reality will crash in.  

This morning, I got up early.  I was secretly hoping that Father Jo would cancel mass.  He has cancelled for much less.  He must be getting used to living where there is winter (he is from India- this weather isn’t his favorite either!). No such luck.  I woke everyone up.  I snapped a few photos because I wanted to remember the first big snow of the season, and I got myself ready for church.  I should have gone out early, before I showered to clear off the car.   I didn’t.  I went out damp, couldn’t get the trunk open to get my long scraper, and ended up soaking wet, freezing cold, and more than a little annoyed.  We loaded up and headed to church.  A 15 minute drive in good weather. The township I work for had bladed our roads.  We then hit the county road.  Nothing had been touched.  It was a little slow, but my Nissan handles snow ok.  But then, the mass air flow sensor decided to do its thing.  Thankfully, Jim had left the stuff in the car.  He got it taken apart and were only a couple minutes late for mass.  This was Harper’s last day as sacristan.  We got her duties all finished and headed home.  Car still not running well, I talked to Jim about using the truck to get to my shift at the liquor store later in the day.   Once home, Jim was being nice and cleared the truck off for me.   He couldn’t reach it all, so he then decided to take it for a drive down the road to blow the rest of the snow off.  I’m not entirely sure what happened from there,  but next thing I know, he is walking up the driveway, the truck is buried in a ditch, and he isn’t feeling really happy. Knowing what I do about the truck, there is no good way to hook onto it to yank it out, so we made the decision to call my friend Jagger to come with his tow truck.   Jim went out to meet Jagger. They were able to get the truck yanked out, but then Jim slipped and fell.  When he came back inside, he was back in the state of pain and misery we have worked so hard for a month or more to get him out of. He was finally making some progress, and it legitimately made me sad to see him back in agony.  Pain meds back out, hot rice sock back out, we got him settled in the recliner.  He seems a little bit better this evening, but we definitely didn’t need anything setting his progress back.  Did I mention I hate snow?  

Only after getting home from working my shift did I get in a little bit better mood.  Who could be annoyed or upset with cute little granddaughters around?  Well, that and there was hot food waiting, and Madison made cake.  Life is good, even if it is a little annoying once in a while.  

Snowy Saturday

Preston headed back to Manhattan today. He wanted to attend the farmAgeddon game (KSU vrs Iowa St), and was excited about attending a snow game.  I got up early and baked cinnamon rolls for his trip, and made sure he had some other food since the dorm cafeteria won’t open back up until Monday.  I was a little worried.  We were hearing the snow had already started out west, and the roads weren’t great.  Although  it was barley coming down here, I just don’t like sending my people off in questionable conditions.  (He did listen to me and texted when he got there to say he made it).

Side note - this kid busted his hump while he was here.  He started off by telling me he doesn’t have projects in Manhattan and had been sort of missing fixing stuff.  I told him I needed help winterizing the pool filter and pump.  He took care of it.  Jim was excited that he burned the huge pile at the end of the driveway (with help from Cameron), and he was amazingly helpful with picking up and removing furniture for me.  I knew when he was moving last August I would miss him around here.  I wasn’t wrong.  I miss his help with projects, and his way of hanging with the girls, as well as our political and historical conversations.   He’s a good kid.   

I sincerely enjoyed the last week.  The gatherings, the kids being home, visiting with family, the food, all of it.  My heart is happy.  

As Preston was leaving, I told the girls we should go do Harper’s sacristan duties before the roads got bad.   We took care of that.  The roads over were clear. The roads back were snow packed and a little slippery.  Happy to have that done, and wanting to hunker down with a good book and a bowl of soup, we went ahead and did the evening chores a little bit early.  Saige was bound and determined it “wasn’t cold” and she rolled around in the snow.  Before chores were over, she realized the error of her ways!   

We spent some time bedding everything down for the night, made sure everyone had a drink and some snacks, and noticed that Coco seems to really love trotting around in the snow!   He’s such a pretty boy.  

Heard a little from Cameron and Lauren.  Got to see Cameron’s new beany headlamp.  I’m impressed, and a little jealous.    

I have never really liked snow.  Or the cold.  But I have noticed none of my kids seem all that phased by it.   Colin and Spencer were hoping for snow, since they are on a skiing trip.  Colin said today they finally got to do some skiing. 

I am rapidly seeing my little Thanksgiving break slip away.  While I’m thankful for the time off, it always makes me sad how fast breaks have to go by.  

A day off….

Ten years ago, when we bought the house, we purchased a sectional sofa for the living room.  I loved it, until the first time I wanted to move it.  It was heavy, hard to unhook, and hard to keep clean due to stuff falling between the sections and then having to unhook it to get them out.  The recliners almost immediately stopped working. The dog ripped a hole in one section, Jim accidentally hit it with a chainsaw (Yes- a chainsaw) and one of the seams was ripping out, there was some sort of bar that came loose and poked you in the buns when you sat down.   I realize having 10+ people living here, most of whom were children, as well as multiple cats, 3 dogs, a couple grandkids, a few grandpups, and most of the neighborhood children in and out, there probably is no reason for me to complain about it- what piece of furniture could withstand that type of abuse?  Needless to say, I was still disappointed in how it wore, how it looked and I hated sitting on it, because it was flat uncomfortable.  As I was cleaning last week, I threw out to Jim that I wanted to get rid of it and purchase something else.  I had found a couch and loveseat that I liked at Menard’s on a great sale.  He didn’t immediately jump for joy at my idea, but he didn’t say no either.  On his birthday, we ran to look in Topeka.  Menard’s furniture was all put in the loft to make room for Christmas decor.  Disappointed, I suggested we look next door at this furniture place I saw on the way in.  Jim told me that he thought they wouldn’t be affordable, but we could look.   They were having a Black Friday sale, and I found 2 sets that were not only affordable, but that I thought were also extremely comfy.  Unfortunately, he had a text from work, and  was very distracted.  We left empty handed.  I was disappointed, but it gave me some time to decide, and think about if it was a necessary purchase.  

Wednesday, I looked into the financing at the place we looked. I was approved, and part of their promotion for Black Friday was 60 months interest free.  I mentioned it to Jim at lunch, and he told me I could do whatever I wanted.  Since I was taking Harper to the orthodontist, I stopped by and had Harper sit on the 2 sets I liked.  Harper told me one set was “cringe,” but she approved of the gray set.  And so, on a whim, I agreed to buy it.  Jim had urged me to get the delivery service, but when I found out it was $200 I refused.  So today, I conned Preston and  Quincy into helping me.  We moved the old brown sectional, burned that baby, and ran to pick up the new stuff.  When I tell you that Preston, Quincy, Harper and Saige worked their buns off, I am not kidding.  

It took two trips to town, but I am so happy with the new set!   Jim picked out an end table and an awesome lamp to go with it, but it will not be here until next week.  I love this!   Now my goal is paying off this, and my car so we can do flooring.   I’m sure Jim will love my new plan!  

Cameron and Lauren made it back to Baton Rouge.  I’m happy they are safe.  Preston returns to Manhattan tomorrow.  I have loved having the kids round this week.  I am sad that it went by so fast.   Tonight, Preston is hosting a Friendsgiving for his high school buds.  Quincy cooked their turkey while Preston helped me run back and forth to town. I have missed some of these kiddos as well.  There are so many kids I have gotten attached to as they grew up, and then, as our kids leave, I don’t see the extra ones anymore.  I am always happy to see them.

I’m thankful that I had this day off to accomplish getting things done before the weather turns ugly tomorrow.  I always love a day when I get paid to do my own junk!   

Thanksgiving

We had a great thanksgiving.  I did a pretty bad job of taking photos, and we missed Colin and Spencer, who are on vacation in New Mexico, and Lauren who (understandably) spent time with her family in KC, but were very happy to have the rest of our clan, my parents, Jim’s mom, and my sister join us for all the traditional turkey day foods. 

We also had a craft, some online Black Friday previews, and a lot of chatting.  I love Thanksgiving.  

I was sad to take Cameron back to KC so he can leave very early tomorrow to head back to LSU.  It is only a couple of weeks before they will be retuning for Christmas break though.  Safe travels (I am glad they are leaving a day earlier than they originally planned due to bad weather that is supposed to be rolling in).   

Colin and Spencer look like they are having fun, and the scenery sure is pretty!   

The babies and dogs seem to have had an exhausting day!  I am thankful for all these people!   Thankful for our family, friends near and far, for hot food, good conversation, for the amazingness of grandkids, and happy days to tuck into my memories.  

Happy birthday Jim!

Today is my main man’s birthday.  He seems to have had a good day.  He even got Little Caesar’s for dinner!   

Since I knew all the kids were going to be here for dinner, we had a little birthday party for Jim yesterday. I told Evelyn I was going to make Poppy a cake, and she got very excited.  Then she got very sad and pathetic and said “Poppy needs a piñata at his party.  He has never had one before!”   The way she said it was just so overly sad and pathetic.  Now, I am not sure of the accuracy of her statement, Jim may or may not have had a piñata before.  She was so serious and sad about it, that I ran over to dollar general after I put her on the bus and found the cutest little bitty dog piñata.  I bought it, Preston helped me stuff it and find a rope to hang it from. It was raining, so we had to  hit it inside the house.  It was mildly dangerous in here for a while.   Jim was pretty excited about it, so I think Evie made a great request on his behalf.  

Jim is one of the best people I know.  He is sweet and smart and loves rules and order.  He is a safety man.  He is a statistic and planning person.   He is basically all the things I need to keep myself organized and in line.  He busts his rump to make sure we all have the things we need. He rarely says no to things the kids or I want to try, and is always our biggest fan.  I can’t say enough about what a great man I married.  We love you Jim!  I hope your day was great!  

Langsgiving and surprises

So you’ll have to sort these photos out. I can’t get them to load the way I wanted them to.  

As the tradition goes, Langsgiving is the Sunday before Thanksgiving.  My girls all helped me clean the house.  Jim and Preston helped as well.  We managed to get things cleaned up and food cooked and I was excitedly expecting to see a great number of my aunts, uncles and cousins.  I was also super excited because all of our kids and their significant others would all be in the same place.  A rare treat.   

We all attended mass, where Father Joe requested that we take a couple of photos of Harper and Saige for an upcoming bulletin featuring the confirmation candidates.  The girls were not super excited about his ideas, but we did it anyway.  

We finished with mass, I gave each kid a job to do and I set about tacking a few things I had left on the list.   As I was down making a bed for Cameron, Evie came in and told me “today we are having a surprise party for you grammy!”   I said well if you are having a surprise party, are you supposed to tell the person?  She was like ohhhh right!  Haha.  Then I went in to say well today we are having Langsgiving.  She said well my mommy said it’s your surprise party day!   I laughed and then headed upstairs, where I was given a backdrop for a surprise anniversary taco party.   I was pretty surprised!   

We dove into Langsgiving with all the traditional food, all my kids, both grandkids and lots of family in attendance.  I enjoyed seeing everyone.  It was a crowd!  

And then a few more people stopped by to eat tacos, and carrot cake and wish the old guy and me a happy 30th!   I was indeed very surprised.  Evelyn sure knows how to pull off a party- she even made sure to taste test all of the cupcakes, mints and cookies!   Jim and I are so blessed.   Thank you to my children for this amazing surprise!   And thanks to everyone who either stayed extra long or drove out to wish us well.  

And thanks Camryn and Amy for capturing the whole crew for my Christmas card photo!   I am legitimately impressed that there is a picture where everyone is looking at the camera, and nobody is flying the bird.  Success!  

I think both events were amazing.  I feel overwhelmed with blessings and love for these people in our lives.