February

And with that February is over.  It never fails that come this time every year, I’m beyond craving Spring.  We probably have 10 inches of snow on the ground today (as result of the last 2 snow storms) and all I want to do is fill my house with tulips and candles with the scents to represent spring, maybe even do a little decorating for Sprint.  Oh what I wouldn’t give to be on a beach with my toes in the sand…just feeling the hot sun.  I tell you these feelings get stronger and stronger each year. 

So with all the snow we’ve had the last two weeks, we’ve spent a lot of time indoors and we are all itchin’ to get out of the house.

To recap Febuary:

Hello Zac Brown Band concert @ Sprint Center…one of the best times ever.  I knew a few of Zac’s songs prior to the concert and liked them, but now Super Fan am I.  I love live music and realize we need to incorporate that into our life more often.

Charlie finished up his basketball season.  He had such a good little team.  When I say good, I don’t necessarily mean talent, although they were talented, but overall they exhibited really good sportsmanship.  Most of them passing the ball (which is kind of an oddity with 7 and 8 year olds) and congratulating each other for a job well done.  They had their end of season celebration last Sunday, and KC Wolf came and spoke to the kids.  As much as Charlie loves mascots, I was excited to see what he had to say.  KC wolf shared a little bit about his job and what it’s like to be a professional mascot (can you imagine?) and he also shared his personal testimony and his relationship with Christ.  It was a great way to end the basketball season.

We have one more weekend of basketball for Mac and then we will transition to baseball.  I think we are all looking forward to the transition but with the weather we’ve been having the thought of mid March doubleheaders is making me a little nervous.

So I’ve mentioned the snow…um yeah…we’ve seen our share of it in the last two weeks.  This week, we got about 8 inches, last week we got about 10- 12 inches.  Unfortunately all of the snow won’t put much of a dent in the drought we’ve been having but at this point I think most people will/are happy with any thing they can get.

A couple of weekends ago, we headed to Ft. Scott to visit Alicia and Giacomo.  Loved Loved Loved our afternoon together.  I’m so inspired by their story and really their bravery.  Alicia met Giacomo when she was in Italy studying abroad her junior year of college.  After her graduation, she headed back to Italy, they got married and they have lived their until January.  In January they flew back to the States, for good to settle into life here in America.  I admire and respect them so much and can’t wait to spend more time with them.

And so March comes in like a lion…looking forward to a good one and sending happy thoughts to mother nature that she’ll decide to mix in some sun and maybe warmer temps to balance the gray and cold. 

January recap

How is it that we are into our final week of January?  How is that yesterdayy was 70 + degrees outside today it rained and was about 40 and we are supposed to get snow tonight/morning?  Why is it that I did not go for a run yesterday or this morning?  Why so many questions to start this post?

If I could sum up the month of January, I would sum it up in that it has felt calm and somewhat relaxed.  Although we have been busy, and really who isn’t busy,  January always feels like a welcome reprieve after the holiday rush. 

Our month has been full of basketball, basketball and more basketball.  It’s a very good thing I like basketball.  Mac has played in a tournament every weekend since Christmas and Charlie’s games started the first week of January.  Charlie is playing in the Upwards program again and I can’t say enough good things about it.  He is really enjoying it and we are enjoying watching him play. 

In addition Mac went to his first school dance as did Charlie (80;s theme.) 

 

Martha and Ken came for a visit.

I’m obsessed with project life, wrapping up 2012 and starting 2013.  I love that this project can be what YOU want it to be and the system is flexible enough that you can make it simple or more ‘advanced’.  I’ve done a little bit of both.   If anything it’s a good way to get pictures off the computer and into an album.  I think I’m going to go with the seafoam edition this year, but I haven’t pulled the trigger yet.

My oldest is obsessed with Ramen noodles,  if we let him he probably could survive off of ramen noodles and sunflower seeds.

Mac took the SAT on Saturday at Rockhurst high school.  As result of his MAP scores he was eligible to participate in a program that Duke offers.  He didn’t think it was too bad…i’m interested to get his scores back. 

When your oldest son tells you that we have to make this recipe, you run to the store to get the ingredients.  These brownies were a fail, I suppose we should have been cautious since the recipe was in sports illustrated.  Ha Ha!

christmas 2012

Happy New Years Eve!  It is with much sadness that I realize the holiday season is coming to an end.  Why is it that this point in time every year makes my heart hurt just a little?  We are having a rip roaring new year’s eve.  I have been in my jammies all day, we are having a taco bell feast for dinner and bets are on the table as to who will make it to midnight. :)

christmas was different this year…my dad’s absence was and is overwhelming at times.  That being said, i tried my best to be present…to be thankful for this wonderful life, this wonderful season.

we decided to do lignts on the outside of our house.  charlie has been asking for years and this year we finally bit the bullet and went for it.

We trimmed the tree. I thought seriously long and hard about getting a real tree this year, but opted not to.  Maybe next year.  Of course with trimming the tree comes a large hot chocolate with extra marshmallows.

we celebrated Christmas with the Thompson a little earlier this year but as usual it was a grand time.  mac was one of the narrators for the play, and charlie was a wise man.  there is talk about bringing back the talent show next year for the next generation…that could be interesting.  :)

once again we opted to build a gingerbread house.  i take the easy way out.  this house was pretty much assembled, we only had to decorate it.  I think our decorating skills are getting better and better each year. we incorporated some firsts into our traditions this year and due to their success, i hope we are able to incorporate them into our yearly tradition.  we attended the nutcracker at the kaufman center for the peforming arts.  this was our boys first experience with the fine arts and it was well received.

  

we also attended midnight mass at the cathedral.  the cathedral was beautifully yet simply decorated.  the music before and during the mass was beautiful.  I’m so happy we started our christmas celebration by attending this service and focusing on the reason we have this season.

  

we got home from mass and the boys had no problem getting to sleep.

Santa arrived

Christmas day we woke up about 6:30 and savored the arrival of Santa and just being with each other.  We had brunch for my mom, niece and nephew.  Later we went to Lawrence and spent the afternoon with some of the Thompson clan.

And with that Christmas day was over.  We spent time with my side of the family on  Thursday and Friday.  Many good times catching up and then traipsing all over Kansas City to entertain the kids.  Trying to go Fritz’s at Crown Center with 20 people on the Friday after Christmas may not have been the smartest idea but we made it work.  :)

Reflection

nearly a week a go, another school tragedy took place in our country.  unfathomable events, little children and teachers and administrators impacted.  i honestly feel like i’m still processing what happened friday…so sad.  friday i attended charlie’s school assembly and all i could think about was newtown, and those families, friends a community impacted by unexplainable evil.

there is a movement across the nation to do 26 acts of kindness…are you in?  this week, my family will be participating…will you?

also, passing along this article.  we must continue to pray for these families, the community our nation really…

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/2012/12/pray-for-this-priest/

embracing the camera

might just be me, but when i look through childhood pics there just aren’t that many of my mom or to be honest either of my parents.  there are the typical posed pictures at the holidays, maybe a birthday, but not that many of normal day life of us as a family. 

i’ve read many a story about how important it is to get in the picture but man, for me it’s hard.  i just really don’t like pictures of me.  yet, it’s more important for my boys to have pics and memories of me being in the picture. 

these pictures were taken at Thanksgiving (i know behind much) and while it’s somewhat posed, i love it.

i thought it would be fun to share some of the pics taken in an effort to get this one….love these boys, love being their momma.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was spent at our house with us and my mom.  My brother bailed at the last minute and with much trepidation I faced thanksgiving day.  Wednesday night I prayed that I would ‘choosejoy’.  That I would focus on the good things about this day vs what I was missing.  Jay and I cooked the feast and I think we had a good time preparing the feast.  I had the sides, he cooked the meat.  Our menu:

Pork Roast

Sweet potatoes

Mashed potatoes and gravy

Rolls

Green bean casserole

Dessert

Pumpkin pie and homemade whipped cream

Brownies

All in all I’d give us 4 out of 5 stars.  Everything was fantastic, except the mashed potatoes.  Something just wasn’t right with them.   I’m not sure how you mess up mashed potatoes but I’m here to tell you that it can be done. The pie was homemade if you call homemade being a store bought crust and following the recipe on the libby’s can of pumpkin.  It might be the best pumpkin pie I’ve ever had.  Homemade whipped cream…I mean really why wouldn’t you?  So super simple and so good.  Brownies were made since Charlie does not like pumpkin pie.

I convinced the fam to take some pictures.

 

Later that evening Mac and I headed to the plaza for the lighting ceremony.  This was our first experience.  I’ll be honest, I think I enjoyed ‘getting out’ as I did the actual lighting ceremony, but I would do it again, hopefully with the whole family next time.

Friday morning after my work out, I headed out to do a little black Friday shopping.  I selfishly did some shopping for myself and picked up a few items for gifts.  Later Friday morning we headed out to Arkansas where I honestly spent the rest of the weekend, drinking coffee, reading, sleeping, eating more than I should (like red velvet cheese cake…unreal.)

thankful day 4

today i’m thankful for God’s grace.  thankful for a savior who suffered the cross, so that i may have eternal life with Him.