Mexican Train

We always like to get in a family game when Nick is here, we have been teaching the younger boys how to  play Mexican train.  We were able to squeeze in a game the day after Christmas.

It is only a 4 player game so Ryan and I are usually partners.  The boys have come a long way in their game playing skills, especially Nick.  I can remember him almost always coming in last, he came in a close 2nd to Don!

Our Christmas

We were looking forward to spending some time with Nick this Christmas.  He is stationed in Fort Carson, CO.  He flew in on December 22nd and came over to our house on December 25th to spend the night. Justin and Ryan came over as well on the 25th after lunch from their dad's.  Santa had been to our house.

I love the spirit of Christmas and the togetherness of family.  The stress and craziness before I could do without but I love that we all come together as one family and spend some quality time together. They grow up so fast but it is nice to slow down for at least one day.  Nick is 18 years old and in the Army living across the U.S. from us, Justin is 12 years old in 7th grade, the age you become more interested in your friends and Ryan is 10 years old.

There were smiles from everyone, good food, good conversation and good dessert.  Isn't that what it is all about!

And some family pictures of course.....

Getting Ready for Christmas

Christmas has come and gone.  It was a little different this year because of Ryan's surgery.  We made grandma Sinnott's butter cookies the week of Dec 9th so Ryan could enjoy them before the tonsils came out.  We did squeeze in a lot before Dec 17th.  Got our tree and decorated it.  Made our gingerbread house.  Note the dog by the tree seems to peeing on the tree...Ryan's idea!

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Miss you Dad!

Our annual tradition....our Christmas trip to the cemetery.  My dad loved Christmas, every year we go out and put a miniature tree on the grave site.  Makes me sad that he is not here with us...Dad we miss. 

Who needs those tonsils and adnoidoids?

My poor sweet little guy has had strep throat 9 times since last September 2012, not to mention the flu and mono.  After the 6th or 7th time we scheduled his surgery.  I knew we couldn't make it without getting strep again but because of the recovery time we had to wait until Christmas break so he wouldn't be out too long from school.  He had it 2 more times since then but the day finally came to get those things out!  He was so brave, me, I was nervous, he had never had surgery before.  We got there at 830am and filled out paperwork.  They make you pay even before the surgery has taken place, well actually they called me 3 days before and asked for payment and I said no way!  Sorry I am digressing!  I had a little word with the financial department about paying for something that hasn't even happened. 

The staff was just great, the nurses were wonderful.  The anesthesiologist even came in and talked with us and told us his story about having his tonsils out when he was 14 years old in Belarus in the late 1980s.  He said his parents weren't allowed in the hospital and they only used a local anesthesia, holy cow, so glad we live in the good ole USA!

Look at him so happy in the picture above, this is after his 'happy juice'.  Surgery went well and Dr. Puri said that they looked bad when he removed the tonsils.  He looked so small when we came back to see him, he was all curled up and was just waking up.  He had a bad reaction from the anesthesia. He doesn't remember ever vomiting before, so the first time we didn't quite make it to the toilet thankfully I had just taken off my new suede boots! Slippers and socks can be washed!! Poor kid was sick the first day.  But little by little he has been feeling better, day 5 the scab came off, that caused more pain but right now we are on day 11, he was able to enjoy Christmas dinner and is starting to eat more and more!  His friends were great.  His best buddies and Alex and James came by to see that their friend was ok.  James and his mom came over with balloons and a container of ice cream!  Alex and his mom came over with a gift card to Cold Stone Creamery!

So glad we are on the mend and hope that strep doesn't come back again!!

A Christmas Carol

Justin's 7th grade Language Arts class read a Christmas Carol and then each student had to write a speech accepting an invitation to Mr. Scrooges' Christmas party.  They had to make up a character and then write about 'their family' and what they did.  They presented it in front of the class and parents.  They had to be that person.  Justin was Mr. Cornelius King and he was a wealthy older man, who was married to Beatrice King, they had no kids.  Cornelius made birdhouses for a living and had inherited his money from his father.  Justin got the idea from my dad, since my dad loved to make birdhouses.  He did an awesome job and took the part very seriously, dress shirt, tie and even gray hair!

 

He wore one of my dad's favorite hats for the presentation. 

Recommended 2nd Degree Black Belt

Well it is official I have a recommended 2nd degree black belt in the house. Ryan has been taking karate for almost 4 years.  He worked for 2 1/2 years to get his 1st degree black belt and now a 1 1/2yr later he will be ready to test for his 2nd degree black belt in February 2014.  He has shown great commitment and dedication to karate and has made some great friends along the way.  When he was 6 years old and wanted to take karate I explained to him what commitment meant, apparently I did a good job explaining and he did a great job understanding it because here we are 4 years later and I couldn't be prouder. Below is Ryan getting ready to smash his boards for recommended 2nd black belt testing with his buddies, Alec and Blake Houff.

 Always silly after belt ceremony with his friends.

 

 

Let Me Run

Ryan and his friend Alex ran their first 5k this past weekend.  They were on the Waxhaw Track and Field team in the spring and ran sprints, did a Triathlon this summer and joined Let Me Run through their elementary school this fall. It is a great program for boys.  They met twice a week after school, the program is to build relationships, live a healthy life and be courageous to be themselves.

So proud of Ryan and Alex for all their accomplishments.  They announced each boy's name as they crossed the finish line and each one got a medal for finishing the race.  There were  over 600 boys from different elementary schools in the area.  It was a great day!

 

Unexpected Bobcats

The day after Thanksgiving, boys are home from school, nothin' to see at the movies, so we decided to meet Don for lunch.  Got a tour of Family Dollar and Don's friend from work had 4 really great tickets to the Bobcats game that night they wasnt using.  Just our luck!  Dinner in uptown Charlotte, and great seats at the game against Milwaukee Bucks. We were 10 rows from the floor and it was FREE hat night too! Some good family fun!