First week of 2013

1.  Our sanctuary at church has been timeless and tastefully done.  In the past several years though the thirty year old carpet has experienced some wear and tear and the pews take a little faith when you sit down on them.  You know, faith that the pew is going to hold you up.  The time has come for new carpet, pew coverings and reinforced pews.  The process started this week.  Fred says it looks really good.  Pictures coming soon. 
2.  Our friends from Seattle were in the area this week and they stopped by for a visit.  We enjoyed catching up with them and their kiddos.  It made me miss Seattle and our friends there.  I cannot believe we didn't get a picture!
3.  Several months ago Clayton and I were in the car together.  He asked me what I thought about if I had nothing to think about.  I told him that never happened to me.  He then said, "Well, I think about unicorns."  Alright...Fast forward to this week and we were playing a game of Hedbandz as a family.  I was giving cards to everyone and one of the cards was unicorn.  I put it back in the box and Clayton asked why.  I told him it would be too difficult for someone to guess.  He responded very promptly and all in one breath with, "Unicorns are mythical creatures that live in a magical forest far, far away from here."  Ha!  Looks like someone has had some empty thinking time.  (Click here to see the game Hedbandz.)
4.  Jack is playing basketball for the first time.  He loves it.  He grins the entire game, whether on the bench or in the game.  In fact, he smiles so big I don't know how he sees to play.  It is just precious. 
5.  Andrew is a trip while playing the game Hedbandz.  He has to go last.  If he doesn't he just goes around the table and tells what everyone is.  When you are guessing your card, if it takes too long, he'll tell you your card as well.  It is really funny.

A New Year's Eve Surprise

Our good friends called us up to see if the boys and Fred would want to go duck hunting.  They jumped at the chance!  Our friend provided all the camo, hunting equipment and snacks.  I seriously think they ate the entire time they were hunting.  I told them I would provide the food next time and they quickly declined my offer.  Clayton informed me that nothing was healthy or whole wheat.  I guess my style of snacks are unwanted/unwelcomed in the duck blind.

Here are my sweet hunters (and our good friend's dog, Ace):

Both those duck came home with us.  Fred marinated them, wrapped them with bacon and then cooked them in a skillet.  They were delicious!  I am still finding feathers in my kitchen. Nice.

All in all, even with all the sickness, it has been a great break!  We are going to make each day count in 2013!  And...we are going to count down the days until summer break! 

Christmas 2012

Festivities started for us the Saturday before Christmas in Memphis with the Danley (Fred's mother) side of the fam.  Jack was sick and we debated if we should go or not, but we went anyway.  Even with him sick we all had a great time.  This was the first Christmas without Nana so we felt it was important for us all to be there.  However, on the way home Jack seemed to go downhill.  By the time we got back to Paris his fever was over 102 and he was pretty sick.  We knew at this point that he did not have strep, but most likely had the flu.
By Monday he seemed to be feeling better so we made our annual Christmas Eve trip to Cracker Barrel.  It was lots of fun!  As you can see from the picture below I had not taken a shower and it looks like we consumed massive amounts of food.  In our defense we really just had a lot of plates where we shared food.  Ha!
On the way home we thought Jack was back to himself.  Here's the conversation:
Clayton: (In a very annoyed voice)  Mom, tell Jack that Jesus is NOT God's cousin!
I turned around to see Jack grinning from ear to ear.  Does he know how to push his brother's buttons or what?!?  Too funny!
Me to Jack:  Jack, Jesus is not God's cousin.
Jack: (Still grinning and chuckling)  I know.  

We came on home and were met by my family.  Even with Jack still sick they decided to brave our house:  My mom and dad, my brother and his family, my aunt Christie, Aunt Janice and Mun!  We had quite the crew!!  (Mun and Janice did not come until mid afternoon so they are not in the group shot.)

  My brother and his crew left and everyone else settled down for the night.  What a night!  Andrew was afraid of Santa.  Aunt Janice agreed to meet Santa outside instead of Santa coming in our house to drop the gifts off.   This suggestion satisfied him and he went to sleep.  Speaking of sleep...this 1856 square foot house has never had so many people in it!!  We slept in our bed, mom and dad slept in Andrew's bed, Jack slept on the bottom bunk, Clayton and Andrew slept on the top bunk, Christie slept on the dining room couch, Mun slept on the pull out sofa in the playroom and Janice slept on the couch in the living room.  Just think...I didn't even have to blow up a mattress...Ha!!
Around 2:00 am Santa's reindeer did not wake us, but Jack did.  He was sick, sick, sick.  He  was pitiful.  Poor Janice and Christie, they were in the middle of it all.
Clayton woke up first and then proceeded to wake everyone else.  They came in the living room to one present.  The one present had nine presents inside all coded with different wrapping paper.  Upon opening the big present they had to go on a scavenger hunt to crack the code.  They were pretty excited about this.  I got this great idea from our good friends at church.  She is so creative!

 

The following is Fred's Christmas gift from me.  It is called a "Buff".  Ideally, it covers his head when he is outside without him having to wear a cap.  He really does like it and it provided a few laughs Christmas morning.  

 

Later that afternoon we headed to Memphis to Christmas at the Shackelfords.  We were greeted with a yummy steak dinner. 

After dinner and a delicious cheesecake we opened presents.  Here Clayton is opening his favorite gift...Lego's.  He has worked on them all break.  He loves a Lego!

As part of the boys Christmas present we took them to a Memphis Grizzlies game the day after Christmas.  It was really fun.  Believe it or not, Jack was STILL sick, but when Santa purchases tickets a month before the event he/she does not know if someone is going to be sick. Sigh.
I say everyone had a good time....Everyone was having fun until the Grizz came out.  Upon his entrance Andrew declared he was ready to go home.  He then proceeded to play the "bathroom card".  We went to the bathroom three times until Fred finally told Andrew that the Grizz was in the bathroom.  Andrew stayed in the arena the rest of the game.  Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do. 

While in Memphis, with Jack still sick, we were brushing teeth before leaving.  I looked down, and to my horror, Andrew was using Jack's toothbrush.  Thirty six hours later, guess who was sick?!?  We thought Andrew was okay, but in about an hour and a half he went from okay to wheezing and struggling to get a breath in.  I took him to the doctor in Jackson and they confirmed that Andrew had  the flu and pneumonia.  He is/was a sick little fella.  I bid the staff of the Jackson Clinic farewell and promised them a visit again on the next major holiday since we seem to always visit them while in Jackson for a celebration.  Pretty pitiful, right?!?

Despite all the sickness we really enjoyed Christmas together!  We tried to spread germs cheer everywhere we went! Grin.  I cherish these days while my kiddos are young.  My prayer is that we will remain close as a family as they continue to grow, that in each season of life we will choose to see the silver lining.  I mean, seriously, how many more holiday's will I get to snuggle a sick baby?!?  How many more years will I have to get up with a sick child in the middle of the night, even if it was Christmas.  Isn't this what future stories are made of?!?  I hope we never forget these details.  I also hope that no one else gets sick. :-) 

Six on Friday

We have six this week because my precious nephew is spending a few days with us while his dad (my brother) hunts with my other nephew. 
1.   The bathroom is ALMOST finished!!  We lack the sink top, the mirror over the vanity and the faucet.  We've had to wait three days before we could fire up the shower.  Today is its maiden voyage.  We are pretty excited about it.  (Once all the components are in place I'll try to post pictures.)
2.  Fred and I had a date night scheduled last night.  The sitter was on her way, plans were made and then...Jack got sick. Bummer for everyone:  us, Jack and the sitter. :-(  We have a 9:15 doctor's appointment.  It must be the holidays! 
3.  Clayton got to go with his good buddy to Nashville to see ICE at Opryland Hotel.  He also got to spend about 2 hours in the Lego Store at Opry Mills.  I'm pretty sure it was 2 of the best hours of his life.  (Thanks to our friend for these awesome pictures!!)

4.  After picking up my nephew we went to lunch with Mimi at Logan's.  The bigger boys split a chicken finger plate.  I asked A how many chicken fingers he would eat.  He answered back with a confident 5.  The picture below is all he ate.  The big fella over his left shoulder could not have been more pleased with this lunch.  All is working well for Jack!

5.  This is as close as we've gotten to Santa this year.  The only reason he got this close was to get the present that's in his hand.  I think he looks thrilled, don't you?!?  Andrew is very concerned about Santa coming to his house.

6.  My nephew has been staying with us this week for a few days.  Have you ever seen the book series, Fred and Ted?  That is what my nephew and Jack look like.  They have had a blast together!  I made donuts for them the first morning and everyone was elated!

Five on Friday

1.  The bathroom renovation, turned remodel, turned bigger than we planned, is going along great!  Tile is in.  Paint is on the walls.  If everything continues to move on schedule we should be in it by Christmas! 

2. I have been dreaming of this moment for a long time.  Pretty much since I heard the words, "It's a boy."  I pulled in the driveway, turned off the car and opened the back hatch of the car.  I went inside and said, "Boys, there are groceries in the car.  Get to it!"  In about 2.5 minutes they were all inside.  Now just to work with them on unloading. :-)

 

 

3.  The Hobbit is coming out as a movie.  Clayton saw the preview and was very interested.  We told him if he read the book he could go to the movie.  I put it on his Kindle, but he hasn't really seemed interested...until his friend invited him to his birthday party.  Guess what they're going to see?!?  Yes, The Hobbit.  Clayton read that entire book in a little under a week.  He even got so excited about book that he stayed up past his bedtime to finish it. 
4.  Jack has been under stress because of a "bossy girl" in his class.  He does not like bossy girls.  I tried to explain to him that this was just a defect of our kind, but he still wasn't too thrilled.  I don't know her name, I just politely and respectfully refer to her as "bossy girl".  This week I asked Jack how things were going with "bossy girl".  He replied, "Great!  She lost her voice." 
5.  Andrew does not like Santa Claus.  Someone asked him this week if Santa was coming to his house.  He looked over at me with great fear and shook his head no.  I don't think he gets it. 

1.  I try really hard, but when someone falls (unless they are elderly or seriously injured) I can't help but laugh.  Even my own children.  It's bad.  Fred came in from a run this week with his hand and knee covered in blood.  He had fallen in the same spot that he fell a few weeks ago.  I should be sympathetic, right?  No, I laughed.  Still at this moment I am snickering at the thought of 6 feet 5 inches of man sailing through the air.  Andrew laughs when someone falls, so it must be genetic.  Right?!? 
2.  Helen used to sing when she was working around the house.  While the boys and I were at her "hotel" for Christmas they had a DJ in the dining room.  He started playing Frank Sinatra's New York, New York.  She immediately recognized it and started singing.  I briefly closed my eyes.  Listening to her sing transported me back to when she was at home fluttering around the house cleaning and singing.  Precious memories. 

3.  One morning this week I asked Jack repeatedly to get ready for school.  He was in the back.  I finally asked him what he was doing.  Clayton was at the table and said, "He's in the back looking for a relic from my kindergarten year."  What??  A relic?!?  Sure enough Jack came out of the back with a "relic" from Clayton's kindergarten year. 
4.  Jack has asked several times why we don't hang lights at our house.  While he's at school today Fred is buying lights to hang on our house for him.  I can't wait to see his face!!  Move over Clark Griswold!
5.  Last week at Dairy Delight I asked Andrew where he wanted to sit...meaning location in the restaurant.  He looked up at me and said, "By you."  Be still my heart. 

Lots of updates!!!

Upon looking at the pictures on my phone I realized I am quite behind on my updates.  This may get lengthy, but here goes...

Fred and Renee sent me home with all the leftovers from Thanksgiving.  I took this as a challenge to use them all and not waste anything.  Here are a few of the meals we had:

On the left is creamed turkey over corn pudding with green beans and strawberry salad.  Creamed turkey is kind of like chicken and dumplins without the dumplins.  It is traditionally served over cornbread, but since I had leftover corn pudding I served it over that instead.  Yum!  

The photo in the middle is Turkey and Wild Rice soup, again delicious.  

The far right is leftover pork tenderloin with egg and cheese on a roll.  We ate this for breakfast.  My only regret is that we did not have 2 for each person.  

I made a pot of corn chowder as well, but failed to get a picture.  We also had a meal of straight leftovers and then I froze what was left at that point.  We will have Thanksgiving meal again this week.

What fun for me!  It was truly the gift that just kept on giving!!

 Our bathroom is still underway.  Thankfully, reinforcements came today in the form of Chris Martin Construction.  The picture on the right is the progress they made this morning.  The photo on the left is leftover wallpaper from when we moved in.  When I saw it it made me wonder why we ever painted the bathroom in the beginning...ha...just kidding.  Is that not hideous?!?  But yet, strangely in style?!? 

 Saturday we ran 13.1 miles for St. Jude.  This is our 4th year to run and it is always a joy!  As long as my legs and knees hold up I hope to run for St. Jude in Memphis at the beginning of December.  At least that's what I'm saying today.  Saturday round about mile 9 I was really questioning my sanity.  I relate it to childbirth.  I promise myself I'm not going to do it next year, but by Tuesday, I've forgotten all those promises and I'm left with a feeling of satisfaction.  I got a picture of me and Fred before and after the race.  It was the perfect day for a run through Memphis.

 Last but not least...my favorite part of running long distances...carb loading!!  Yes, I dream about this day.  My running partner and I split the box below (well, and we shared with our family a little as well).  It is from Muddy's Bake Shop (highly recommend!!).  Yes, you are seeing 3 cupcakes, a piece of cake, a macaroon and a piece of toffee.  Worth every bit of training!!  I also had a burger on 2 pieces of thick white bread with a side of macaroni and cheese.  All for the race, of course. hehe!!  My friend told me for someone my size I sure do know where good food is.  My philosophy on food is that food is fuel and if you are going to fuel up, make it good.  I'll see you next year, Muddy's Bake Shop!!

Just a funny story from the race.  It was hot and once you run a half marathon you are pretty yucky.  My friend and I got a tip on some "nice" showers at Auto Zone park.  She even came manned with a towel.  We found these nice showers, walked in and then...noticed they were community showers.  Community showers.  As in, a cinder block room with 7 shower head sticking out of the wall.  Not my definition of "nice".  I looked at my friend and said, "I'm out."  Not doing it.  She laughed and we both left that locker room as stinky as we entered!  Ha!