Thanksgiving Break

As I say year after year, this is one of my favorite holidays.  I really like Christmas, and I enjoy the depth of meaning that Easter holds.  But Christmas is weighed down by all the expectations of presents.  And Easter is a day squeezed into a Sunday with school the next day, so you just feel busy.  But Thanksgiving is just a time to eat and be with those you love and be grateful for life.  (I know there are negative things associated with it in our past, but we aren’t really celebrating history at my house, we are celebrating the present.) 

Wednesday off school is a great idea.  It gives me time to get things ready to go.  It gives the girls time to just settle in.  Settle in they did.  Our house was a wreck.  While I didn’t take a picture this year, here is last year’s pictures, and it pretty much looked the same way.

I made deviled eggs (for the first time ever), baked up these peanut butter brownies (don’t miss the frosting on these – and I don’t even like frosting!), helped Ellie with her jumbo 3-chip cookies for the sale, and made sure Madison got started on her pumpkin muffins for the sale.  I also did some laundry, cleaned the floor, and watched a movie.

Thursday, we headed to the Thanksgiving Day service and sale.  It is a great time.  I was a little unsure of two things this year: 1) It was back at the church after numerous years at being at the Sprunger Building (auction center).  I wondered how it would go.  2) Our auctioneer that we had had for some 50 years had retired, and we had two new bucks. 

Never fear.  Things went well.  The fellowship hall seemed to fit us just fine.  The auctioneers had fun with the bidders, and our new announcer of items (not the technical term, but it is what she did) did a great job.  I bid on some things, but nothing too outrageous.  There were some pretty high bids going on this year though.  Tentatively, we raised about $17,000 for the recipients to split. 

    

Head to mom and dad’s for the meal.  Hang out at the table.  Proceed outside to make quick work of the leaves.  Head back inside to have dessert.  Talk. Eat again.  Return home for the night.

This year, we brought Megan home with us.  The girls had a great time playing together on Friday before heading to see The Grinch.  There was a tense moment when we barely made it in to the movie.  In fact, they told the people behind us that the movie was sold out.  I would have had some disappointed girls on my hands! 

We dropped Meg off after the movie and went to our next event.  Eating leftovers with the Brickers. 

This was a relaxing evening.  We were surprised to see Kristin still there.  Mark was there.  And Greg and Maggie decided to show up too!  It had been awhile since we had seen this side of the family.  It is always laid back at their house. 

Saturday, Jeremy went to the men’s breakfast.  I went to Tracy’s Brunch – 9th annual! 

I ended up taking the girls to see Small Foot at the dollar theater that afternoon as well.  It was a much more complex story line than The Grinch.  But still a good movie. 

Sunday, we met Gloria for a Thanksgiving meal out.  She had been gone in Minnesota.  It was good to catch up and hear how some more of the family is faring. 

Tomorrow, we are back at it, but I am thankful for this refueling time to carry us through til Christmas.  I have the Advent Calendar/Activities ready to go for Friday.  Also, a fun time for us.

Adventures with Daddy

The girls heard that Jeremy was headed to Ashtabula on Wednesday – the first day of their Thanksgiving break.  They thought this sounded like a grand adventure for some reason and wanted to join him. 

We explained it meant waking up at 3:45am to go pick up Grandma and take her to the airport.  This just made it even more exciting because they could SURPRISE Grandma in the morning. 

We also explained it would require sitting in a car for about 5 hours. It’s fine, they assured us.

So, Wednesday morning, they snuck out of the house and headed on their adventure …. while I slept soundly in my bed.

First stop: Grandma’s house.  She was surprised and blessed by this amazing send-off crew.  Speechless for a moment even!

Second stop: Airport.  Apparently this went well.  I heard little about every little stop. 

Third stop: Jefferson Diner for breakfast.  This was another reason the girls were so excited – breakfast out! 

Fourth stop: The Pennsylvania state line… just for fun!  Madison hopped out for a photo.  And to be TWO places at ONE time!  (Ellie stayed in the car – not in the picture mood apparently.)

    

Fifth stop: Taking pictures in Ashtabula for work.

Sixth stop: Home by about 11am.  To play and play and play.  With only one breakdown.  And more energy than you should have if you wake up at 3:45am. 

It was a great idea.  And a good memory maker.

SNOW!!!

I know, I know.  It is only November.  You’re not ready for snow.  Really?  But it is so pretty as it rests on the tree limbs.  And it is so fun to play in! 

We were gifted with a 2 hour delay on Thursday of last week.  It was marvelous.  Mostly because I had slept through/didn’t set my alarm, so I wouldn’t have been LATE to school.  Instead, I still happened to be sleeping when they made the very late call to delay school.  Score one for me.  The roads were fine on the way to school.  And the landscape was beautiful after the snow fell on the icy fence rails and tree limbs. 

Ellie said, “Mom, I made a giant snowball a recess today!  The snow is perfect for rolling up.  I want to go out to play. Will you come to?” 

Of course. 

I yanked up my snowpants (busted the zipper trying to zip them over jeans, belt, and sweatshirt), pulled on my boots, and slipped my hands in gloves.  And we headed out. 

The snow was perfect for rolling.  Rolled up off the grass like rolling up a rug. 

We got wet – snow was wet, and my boots are apparently not waterproof anymore.  But it was worth it. 

An hour or so and four snowmen later, we headed inside to put on some dry clothes. (There really are four snowmen.  Madison wasn’t happy with her initial attempt at Olaf, so she crushed him.  We decided it would just be a melted snowman and added to some sticks to the little pile of snow.)

    

It was good.  Bring on the snow.  Bring on the sleds.  And maybe we’ll even get to bring on the skis again this year!

November Randomness

Little things are sprinkled throughout the month that don’t really need a whole post, but it is fun to note and remember.  Here are a few of them.

One night we went to the library for a talk about Wolves.  They actually talked about wolves and foxes.  It was very interesting.  Also, they brought a wolf (named Luther).  So, cool!

Madison had a birthday party at a salon.  Pretty fancy stuff.  The girls had a lot of fun getting nails and hair done.  Here was their “glamour shot.”

Some artwork happened – nothing amazing necessarily, but fun to look at.  Ellie did the girl on the whiteboard.  Madison had to disguise a turkey for school.

    

There were two nights of performances at our house based on a book about the pilgrims’ experience on the Mayflower.  The first night was a little rough.  The second night, they prepped by prerecording some parts to be played in the background.  Their outfits were less authentic night two, but it was fun to watch. This is them with “Aunt Mary” in the picture.

School pictures – This was a good year for both of them

Fall Party

Every year, Luke and Steph have a fall party.  It is a gathering of friends and family.  Over the years it has gotten pretty big.  This year they decided to keep it to immediate family and a few close friends with a total of 40.  It would have been a difficult decision considering family takes up 24-28 of those people.  I enjoy the time we have to hang out, explore the woods, share a meal, and hang out around a campfire.  A smaller number was a more intimate setting for everyone.

The next night they generously allowed their home to be the site of our Sunday school fall gathering.  If every single person would have come, we could have had almost 90 people.  (It is a ever revolving door of attendees…)  It ended up being more around 40-50, I think (but I am really bad at estimating numbers).  It, too, was a good night to be together as a chruch family, to get to know one another outside of the church walls, and to hear about how life was really going. 

Here are just a few glimpses of fun for the kids at both parties:

         

It is good to gather in small numbers and large.  In fact, it is, I believe, vital to building relationships and community.  So, here’s to fall. 

Now, bring on winter and find ways to party inside … or on the slopes as you sled!

Turkey Trot

The first weekend in November there is the Rich Delessandro 5K, but I just call it the Turkey Trot.  I don’t know if that is its official nickname, or if I just say that because there is a mascot turkey that runs around.  Sandy convinced me – after MONTHS of needling – to sign up.  I finally did.  I had done it last year, but was just feel less motivated this year.  In the end, I am glad I signed up for it. 

Marilyn, Sandy’s mom, knitted (crocheted??) these super cool hats for us.

Saturday rolled around, I shuttled kids to where they needed to be – Madison: birthday party; Ellie: grandma and grandpa’s.  (Jeremy was helping a friend frame a house in Columbus this day.)  And I headed up to the starting line. 

I found Sandy and Rachel arriving about the same time as me.

Then, it was time to begin.  I had a good time; it is always so much easier to run with a group of people and with people cheering you on. 

    

I was able to finish with a better time than I did last year (I completed the race in 33:15 with a pace time of 10:43).  This year, I completed the race in 32:50 with a pace time of 10:35.  Hey, every little bit counts!  I also felt stronger, and less winded, than I did last year. 

Yeah for us!  And a shout out to Sandy who started 5K with this one last year, and walked 18 5Ks in 2018 (maybe 19).  So cool!

     

Trick or Treat

I know it is mid-November, but I still think it is worth posting about Halloween.  This year, I used the blog to look back on all the costumes my kids had been every year.  It was a fun journey from cows, pumpkins, purple dinosaurs/monsters to ballerinas, turtles, and flower fairies to name a few. 

This year, Madison originally wanted to be a Native American.  She saw soem fabric with a Navajo style print and really liked it.  I felt a bit of a dilemma – was this cultural appropriation? did I care since her intent was non-malicious?  Ugh. So. Much. Thinking.  To top it off, Ellie picked to be a cowgirl.  Now, I had a cowgirl and “Indian,” which made it worse.  Lucky for me, the topic of Native Americans came up in a discussion with Madison and we were talking about how the pioneers treated them and took their land.  She said, “We did that to them?  I don’t think I want to be a Native American anymore.”  Dilemma solved by my sensitive soul. 

So, what did they go as?

Trick-or-Treat #1 – Gettysburg Area

Madison was invited to a birthday party with an extended inviation to families to come trick-or-treat afterwards.  Although it was a bit misty, Ellie really wanted to go to walk house to house.  Madison went as a witch.  Ellie as a cowgirl.  (Not super excited to take a picture at her big girl birthday party with her little sister…)

There was a large group of girls who piled in and out of the covered pick-up, while the parents walked behind enjoying their time as well. 

 

Trick-or-Treat #2 – Living Water Church

This is the one we do every year.  It is a trunk or treat in that (usually) the cars are decorated in themes and people pass out candy.  With the rain, they moved the event indoors.  It was still nice, just a little crowded!  This time Madison went as a gypsy.  Ellie went as a cowgirls. 

    

Grandma Yoh joined us.

And we visited Grandma and Grandpa afterwards at their house.