Saige is 6!

Saige has been counting down to her birthday since September.  She was so excited to finally turn 6!   She takes the birthday thing very seriously!  Since Madison has been on cake duty for the past who know how long, Saige was sort of concerned about it.  Mallory baked her a cake and let her help with the decorating.  The cake had the consistency of sand because of the crazy amount of sprinkles she decided were needed!  

We were able to FaceTime Madison into the singing.  Colin face timed her this evening. She felt pretty cool!  

This little girl brings so much joy (and sometimes drama) into our lives.  She is very sweet and sensitive.  She tends to have her feelings hurt easily, and wears her heart on her sleeve.  She enjoys art and her pets.  We love her like crazy!  Happy birthday sweet girl!  I hope your 6th year is amazing!  

Fall leadership conference

Cameron had an opportunity to attend the FBLA fall leadership conference in St. Louis last week/this weekend.   He was happy to be selected and was excited to see old friends and make new ones.  

He said the trip was great. He got to see lots of stuff and took some amazing classes.  On the way home, 10 miles from being back, the charter bus hit a deer.   Nobody was hurt, which was the good part.  The bad part was they were stuck on the turnpike and the bus wouldn't start.  Luckily they were not far away and some of the parents rescued them.  They got home around 5 am this morning.  I guess Mallory and Madison aren't the only kids with a charter bus horror story!  

Because of the time they got back, I actually had a chance to speak with the sponsor before I saw Cameron today.  Mr. Salyers said the trip was great, even the part where Cameron asked a homeless person for directions.  The directions happened to be spot on though, so he forgave him.  Cameron tells me he was not sure the guy was actually homeless....just a rough looking native.  

I asked Cameron if he had any pictures of his trip and he texted me these little gems. Apparently he made good use of his parent's money.  

Goings on

This has been a pretty hard week for us all.  Madison's  move got us off on an emotional start.  Tuesday, our friend and Jim's maintenance man at work was killed in a car accident.  He was a friend of mine's little brother. I have known him my whole life.  He was also our landlord when we rented a couple years back.  He was a good man and will be missed in our community.  

This was also city council and city court week for Jim, which never makes for an easy time.  We got through though, and had a few of those moments where we reflected and are thankful for all of the gifts we have been given.  

Life never stands still.  Even when we are grieving and sad, we have to keep moving.  Actually, the activity is one of the gifts I am thankful for.   It would have been an easy week to get caught up in my own thoughts and feelings and just been a bum.  We just don't roll that way.  Quincy had a game.  She played really well but their team got roasted by a tiny little team of quick, accurate girls!  

Funny story, because it was desperately needed this week, check out Quincy's socks.  I won a gift basket from a drawing they did after the Kaw Valley farm tour.   It was delivered this week and contained lots of amazing things.  One of the things was a pair of alpaca wool socks.  Quincy latched on to them and proclaimed them her new "lucky" socks.  Since her team got roasted, I'm guessing they are not that lucky.  I am also not sure how she stood wearing something so hot while playing!  They remind me of something my Grandpa Carl would have worn!   

Saige got a package in the mail.  It was from Madison but Saige kept saying it was from "Simone in Oklahoma."   I finally figured out she was saying someone in Oklahoma, which Harper had read on the return address label.  We are now straight that it was a gift from Madison for her upcoming birthday this week!  She loves it!  

The little girls school had reading theme week. They were not very excited about any of the themes except rock star day.  I crack up at their idea of what a rock star wears.  I offered to paint their faces like Kiss, but they were not going for that!  Apparently, in Harper and Saige's world, rock stars wear a ton of glitter!   

The religion ed classes are hosting a children's mass this weekend.  I almost fainted when Harper volunteered to be a reader!   She sounded great in practice!   

The chickens enjoyed the Halloween leftovers!  

I hope the coming week will be a lot less sad and a little less chaotic!  

Done

Preston got his cast off today.  The break looks good.  He is not supposed to lift, pull, push or put any weight on it for another 2 weeks.  Since that is the case, and wrestling season is only 3 more weeks, we made the decision to drop out of wrestling for this season.  He was pretty bummed about that.  He was excessively happy about being able to properly wash his hand though!  

With 8 kids and this being our first ever broken bone,  I feel incredibly lucky.  

Other events

Cameron went to a college visit to KSU on Friday and spent the night with Colin.  The boys both came home on Saturday, and Saige was exited to show them her loose tooth.  This lead to a plan of extracting the tooth.  I could be wrong, but I don't think it should have bled quite as much?  She was very excited to lose her tooth and even told Jim the tooth fairy "gave her actual, real money!"   Our little baby is growing up and looks like a big kid!  

Our whole house was a sad place after Madison left.  Harper and Saige were especially sad.  They had a little baking therapy with Mallory yesterday!   Madison is not the only baker in the family!  I will say that when lunch time rolled around and Harper asked "who is going to cook for us now?" I didn't know whether to feel sad or offended!  ;).  Kids!  

Apparently, not only have I been dismissed as a cook, but the on the hair cutting duties as well!  Guess I better find some new books to read!  

Arizona bound

It was a bittersweet day here at our house.  We said "see ya later" to Madison who has decided to move to Arizona.   Nothing in my time as a mother could ever prepare my heart for having my kids leave home.  She isn't the first one to go, but she is the first one to go far away.   Miles cannot diminish our love though.  You want to see your kids go and do things with their life.  As a parent that is what we are supposed to be striving for.  I just wish she wasn't going to be so far away.   

We love you Madison!  The hole you left here in Kansas is not one that can be filled.  I hope the road leads you back here someday.  Until then, we will be so happy for technology which will make it easier to stay in touch.  

Quincy Intense-y

Quincy had a game last night.  I get a kick out of the way she plays.  She is pretty intense.   She had a few fouls, and a couple of steals.  I like it!   On the way home we were discussing and she said the fun part is stealing and keeping people from scoring.   

I am happy with how much improvement the girls have made!   They did not win, but they looked like they were starting to understand how to use their plays.   Can't wait to see how much more improvement they make as the season goes along!