He’s baaaack!

Preston (#10 in white) had a scrimmage game today against a homeschool group.  It is their last game of 2020.  This is also our last school event for the rest of the break.  Sweet freedom!  

Preston didn’t get to play much tonight.  He missed practice.  Never mind that he missed practice because he was quarantined because of basketball.  Whatever.  I’m not a huge fan of the head coach.  I’m still bitter over the way he treated Cameron.  It will all work out eventually.  I believe in karma.  

Preston and I went from his game over to a little shop that his friend’s parents own in Carbondale.  I am done with my shopping, but his friend told him about something they had that he wanted to get for Colin. I also couldn’t resist buying one of their cheesecakes.  Let’s just say I will be going back for more of that!   I was sort of mean and bought a turtle cheese cake because I thought the kids would hate it, and then I could have a second slice tomorrow.  That didn’t work out the way I planned at all!  They all loved it!  Even Jim thought it was awesome!  I was doing it with the idea that I was helping a small business.  I can go back based on that idea right?  

Having my errands all done, all I have left to do is wrap and bake.  This is the part of Christmas that I live for.  The fun stuff.  The quiet movie watching with the tree lit, Christmas mass, baking with the kids, enjoying a meal.  Today I read a funny article written by a Muslim man who is not going home for the holidays due to the pandemic.  He decided to do an experiment and celebrate Christmas with his Christian roommates.  His conclusion was that Christmas is exhausting.  I laughed because he isn’t even getting the school programs, church dinners, and a multitude of other things that have been  cancelled due to the pandemic!  

A very good start

Christmas break is off to a great start!  We attended mass for the last Sunday of advent, helped decorate the church for Christmas (something my kids legitimately enjoy), and attended the Christmas penance service  (something my children absolutely do not enjoy).    After the penance service, Quincy and I ran a couple of errands and she did her shopping.  Mallory made ornaments with Saige and Harper.  They turned out great, but apparently they tasted like dog treats because a couple of them were swiped off the tree and eaten!     We had Sunday dinner, but without Evelyn it was definitely not as busy!  

Ok maybe it was busy, but not quite in the same way.  We have a lot of dogs here currently!   Jim is spoiling all of them!   I’m gonna need to make a trip to the store for more treats!  

Today we had an appointment to pick up Harper’s new glasses.  I love them!  Picking glasses during a pandemic is not very much fun, as they want you to touch as little as possible so they don’t have to sanitize everything.   She managed to find a cute pair I think!  She also cracked me up when she said they were so clean she could barely tell she was wearing them!   I’m also happy because she now has a good spare pair (the old pair), which is something we haven’t had for a while.  

After the eye doctor excursion, we ran some other errands and hit the dollar tree for the kid’s annual redneck gift exchange.   I was a little bit alarmed at how busy it was.  Honestly, I have never seen the place so crazy!   I think it speaks volumes about the state of our economy.  Quincy couldn’t go with us today because she had wrestling practice. KSHAA has said they can not practice from the 23rd until after the first of the year due to trying to slow the spread of covid.  The good news is that her van was finally finished at the shop and so she didn’t need to share my car!   Also good news -Preston was officially released from his quarantine.  He was happy, and we are all relieved that he didn’t get sick!  

This evening, the Kids and I went for a drive so we could get a glimpse of the Christmas star.  We first had to run for hot chocolate though!  

We were able to see it!  The kids made fun of me for forcing them to go out and look at 2 planets and calling it a star.   Luckily for me, I don’t get my feelings hurt easily!  

We miss our little busy body!  It does look like she’s having a fun time in Virginia!  My office stayed so clean today, but it was too quiet and when I went to the bank nobody gave me stickers and balloons!  I have one more errand to run and then we are all ready!   I am looking forward to having only the fun stuff left to do!  

Bring on break!!!

 

We finally had our last day of school yesterday.  I was beginning to think it wouldn’t happen.  I was blessed to get to drive Quincy’s wrestling team to Council Grove last night.  I say blessed because my new bus boss is one of the coaches. He could have easily driven the team himself, but chose to let me drive instead. I appreciate this more than he will ever know.  If I don’t drive, I would never make it there in time to see all the matches.  I will say that I was worried when the old bus guy retired, but I legitimately like my new boss (bosses).  Things are going well there and I am thankful.  

Quincy had 3 matches last night.  She should have been able to beat the first girl, but inexperience got her in trouble that she didn’t know how to get out of.  She knows now.   The second match was against a girl that I am guessing not many people could beat.  She pinned Quincy in a hurry!  

Quincy went out and pinned her final opponent. I hadn’t forgotten how much I love watching wrestling.  I hadn’t forgotten how much I love the wrestling coach.  My kids have been involved in a whole lot of stuff over the years, but you will never, ever find a better coach than Mr. Erickson. He is constantly teaching, is kind, is extremely knowledgeable about his sport, and is one of the classiest people I know.  It is an amazing privilege to be coached by this man.  

There is so much I love about wrestling.  It is an individual sport.  I know that Quincy will get her time on the mat if I go (unlike basketball where sometimes some kids don’t get to play). It is an emotional sport, you literally put everything you have into it.  It is also a team sport.  And the teammates build friendships that last a lifetime.  I am glad Quincy made this choice and I was overwhelmed with happiness to see her hanging out with her teammates, laughing, talking and even crying together. ( The crying came when one girl accidentally hurt her opponent.  Nobody wants to see anyone get injured.)  

We have heard from our travelers.  They almost made it to their destination.  Evelyn was begging to listen to “Funky Town” which is a direct result of hanging out with Poppy in the mornings.  It cracks me up!  The dogs have settled in just fine, although Maxine only wants me to sit and hold her, so getting stuff done hasn’t happened yet today!   At least that is the excuse I am using at this moment.  I am feeling like the break is off to a great start.  Sleeping in a little, snuggling dogs, having a lazy morning.  What’s not to like?  Breaks are the best!  

Looking forward

This has been the longest week ever.   I felt like I was starring in that old movie “Groundhog Day.”     We have had so much to do, and are running with one vehicle again.  My car is in the shop getting the bumper put back from Quincy’s little shed incident.   The kids have been insane.  The activities should have slowed down with Preston not being able to play, but they didn’t.  And I thought it was Friday when it was really only Tuesday.  I am glad the weekend is within view!  Mallory was here last night and she was saying the same.  I feel like we are all sort of running on empty and looking forward to the winter break!  

Evelyn is leaving tomorrow (with her parents) to go to Virginia to visit her other grandparents.   We will miss her, but are glad they are getting to go.  We will be pet/house sitting while they are gone.  Fingers crossed that we can keep everything alive!  She is such little turkey.  I was trying to get her to say Papa Jeff or Grandma Mona today. She kept laughing and saying grandma Jeff.  She’s too smart for her own good.  Also, Gigi stopped in to tell her goodbye today.  When she went to leave, Evelyn said “no no Gigi- sit down!”  And Gigi did! Bossy much?  

Quincy was talked into picking up Preston’s table after school.  Preston would have done it himself, but he is still quarantined!  We got it all set up and I had to take pictures.   It looks so nice.  I’m so proud of this kid.  He has learned woodworking, engine repair, and a ton of stuff about gardening and plants from working at the vineyard.  Of course his shop teacher at school is awesome too. Recently he even replaced the starter in Jim’s truck!  I just can’t stay enough about how much I love this table.  Also, Preston is on day 7 of a 10 day quarantine.  So far he is feeling fine.  We are cautiously optimistic that he will stay healthy.  

Saige and Lylah ready for break too.  This week has been a struggle for all the little kids.  Waiting for Christmas is hard for kids.  

The grinch was found by the Osage county police.  His punishment was to go to the school and apologize to the children for trying to steal Christmas.  He handed out candy as well.  The kids absolutely loved this.  

One more day and then it’s break time!   

Harper is 11!

Today is Harper’s 11th birthday.  She wanted a Heath cake, which I was happy to make for her, but when I started it, I discovered we had no cake mixes, so she got Heath brownies instead! It was still good!   We had to put off having a friend over since Preston is still on quarantine.  

Harper is sweet, sassy, and a huge help.  She is amazing with Evie (she’s a wonderful aunt Bubba)!   She is incredibly smart and does great at school.  I am very proud of the young lady she is growing into.   Happy birthday Harper!  We love you!  

Such a fun weekend

Friday night, while I was watching Preston not play basketball, Jim attended Quincy’s first wrestling tournament.  I begged him to please take pictures because I fear that winter sports seasons will be cancelled.  He did what I asked! Quincy lost her first 2 matches, but she won her last match with a pin!  Quincy is in the gray singlet in these photos.  Jim also took video. I will have to work on uploading that later, my movie app has to be updated first apparently.   I am very proud of Quincy for trying something new.  She was very nervous but she did great!  

 Colin and Spencer came up for a party with their friends in Lawrence.  They hung out with us most of Saturday.  We enjoyed visiting with them and painting some ornaments.  I had seen an idea on Pinterest.  We all know the stuff we see on that site is never going to work, but we had fun trying.  

We ran into a problem.  Preston played in a game on Thursday, then sat out of his game on Friday because he hurt his eye in shop class.   When we got home Friday night, we found out that he was quarantined due to a player testing positive for covid on the Thursday night team.  He is now quarantined until the 20th.  We have made the decision for him to stay in his room.  I’m sure he is bored, but he does have a tv, his phone, a bunch of video games and room service.   The rest of us do not have to quarantine unless Preston starts showing symptoms.   Fingers crossed that he will stay healthy.  

Today was Evie’s birthday cat party.  She was thrilled.  She loved her kitty litter cake (eew!) and all her gifts.  She doesn’t enjoy having people sing to her though!  Even after all the practices we have done, she still cried.  I cannot tell you how much we love this little girl. She is amazing, funny, a little bit sassy, and a whole lot adored!  I cannot believe how fast the last 2 years have gone by!   I am so thankful that they moved back to Kansas and that we get to be so involved with their lives.  I was also happy to have all the kids except Preston (and Lauren) be able to be together today.   Fun party!  

Last night, Jim and I went to town and did most of our Christmas shopping.  I was worrying that we will all end up quarantined and not be able to get it done.  While we were shopping, we grabbed a gingerbread house making kit so that we could attempt once again to make an actual cute little house.  Saige, Harper and I built a gingerbread village this evening.  We actually had much better luck than normal.  Saige ate a lot of her decorations though!  Not a single one turned out like the pictures on the box, but we feel successful if they just stand up!  

The holidays always make me miss my grandparents.  My grandma gave me this nativity the first year we were married.  Saige insisted on setting it up on some fake snow.   I absolutely love how the kids have always rearranged it.  Even now that they are older, I find the pieces rearranged.  This year has been a lot to handle.  I am thankful for family and some normalcy in traditions.