Christmas 2023

Christmas season always starts the weekend after Thanksgiving with the Christmas parade (maybe on paper … but Christmas tree may have already been up before Thanksgiving)

This year we were at the very front of where the parade starts and got more candy than any parade we have ever been to combined!

Elvis made his return bringing candy advent calendars…. 

… and a welcome back note!

Reid usually gets some sort of sickness around this time of year. It always knocks him out, and he always uses at least one whole box of Kleenex by himself.

Kane failed his vision test and had to get glasses!

Boys basketball won the championship beating the undefeated Westwood!

Liam’s Winter band recital

Cougar catwalk!

I had a little procedure middle of the month.  I worked hard all year and saved all my cookie money so I rewarded myself! 

Pajama party and Gingerbread house contest at the Mitzelfeld‘s house.

Sunday afternoon naps

The boys decorated Christmas cookies for Santa

Christmas at the Campbell’s

Mcwhorter Christmas at Richard and Valerie‘s.  If you don’t have an uncle Barry, then I feel bad for you.

Nanny Mack, and all her grands

The whole family

Putting out the reindeer food

Christmas morning we had to wake everybody up to get our day started. Our Christmas morning is really busy.

After we open up our gifts, we went to mom and dad’s to open gifts at their house. Mom and dad got Reid a scooter.

After we leave Mom’s, we go to Ryan parents and do Christmas there

Aunt Maggie and uncle Mark got Reid a Tennessee jersey

Liam was everyone’s gift for Christmas this year

Nana‘s gift to the kids - a new oculus

Learning to play twister

My parents got Liam a keyboard for Christmas

Spending New Years on the couch!

That wraps up 2023!  A year full of love and laughter and we get to do it all over again next year!  Can't wait to see what all 2024 brings!

 

Fall 2023

This Tennessee weather is crazy.  In my mind September starts the beginning Fall.  I remember being a kid and going to the fair and it being chilly.  But not now!  It's so hot outside during the fair these days.  Because of the heat they are now doing the fair pageants inside at the High School.  For the second year I got to take Annalise on stage so that mom and dad could watch and cheer her on from the stands!

She may not have won but she was first place in our eyes!

Following Ryan down the road on his motorcycle and watching him enjoy his time makes me happy too.  While motorcycles still give me some sort of anxiety I know that he loves it and I'm trying to face my fear and participate in the things he enjoys doing.

Motorcycle trip to Nashville for a day date.

Thomas Rhett Concert!

Reid decided it was time to cut all his hair off!!!!  When he said it was finally time I called my friend Katie Solomon who does my hair and asked is she was up for the challenge! 

Cutting off the first braid!  No going back now!

Last braid off!

Now to trim it all up...

I teared up holding this in my hands.  He has only ever had his hair trimmed for the last 9 years! 

Can you tell them apart?

The reality set in that his hair was gone ... a few tears were shed. 

They decided to dress alike and trick their teachers at school the next day!  I believe they succeeded! I also may have given them a heads up and they play along with it! 

I even chopped my hair off too!

Kane cheering at his first CSES basketball game.

Reid was the manager of the boys basketball team. He made sure everyone stayed hydrated and kept everyone in good spirits.

Check out that pyramid!

The Cougar Squad!

Our neighbors, the Mitzelfeld‘s, Halloween party.  Ryan and I were dressed as trailer park trash.

 

We took our camper out to Normandy Lake for Nana and Papa to stay in with the kids. For Halloween, you can decorate your camper and the kids can dress up and walk around and trick-or-treat.

Our pumpkins

Reid decided he was going to cheer with Kane for a cheer or two! :)

This fourth grade year has been the best school year ever! Mrs. Bush and Mr. Johnson are rockstar teachers! 

So proud of this kid and who he’s growing to up to be!

Same for this dude, too. 

Mark and Margaret bought Tennessee football season tickets this year.  We met up with Ashton, Adam and Dylan at Tailgate Brewery for some pregame food and fun.

Jell-O shots! 

Ian and Julia met us down there and sat with us at the game.

That pretty much sums up our Fall activities.  I admit I have fallen off the blogging wagon.  It just easier to throw everything on one post to move on and get caught back up!