Everly's Turn

 It's time for Sophie the Elf to rejoin society for 25 days. 

Everly is rearing to go and armed with a list of ideas she is hiding under the love seat. We don't clean very thoroughly, so it'll probably be safe there. 

One might wonder, "If the youngest child is the one creating the mystery elf magic every night, who exactly is the mystery magic for?"

The answer would also be a mystery. 

But I don't really care about that...it's Everly's turn, by dang, and she is excited. 

Let the fun begin!

AJ's Family Party - In the Year of Orange

It's no easy task to wake AJ up in the mornings. It's a process.

If needed, I do know ways to speed that process up, but these ways can only be used sparingly or they will cease to be effective. 

I may or may not have urgently knocked and said, "AJ! Hurry...I need you now!" 

Nothing like starting your birthday off with a jolt of adrenaline in the morning!

 But it worked. 

I stand by my methods.

Birthday Cocoa Puffs!

After Laney and Everly left for school, we swung around to Dutch Bros for a special drink. These two cuties made it a special treat!

I was tasked with keeping AJ out of the house so Rebecca could work her magic. She stepped into her teenageriness and requested a big pile of fries for lunch.  Also, she almost peed her pants from laughing so hard at this silly list....particularly #6.

She loved her fun surprise when we got home...even got a little teary.

She set to work on her cake...the first one didn't cook right, it fell apart and she tossed it in the trash. I tried to fix the situation by making a second cake...unfortunately leaving the eggs out of the recipe, turning it into a brownie consistency. She rallied and decided she would emerge from her room and make the best of a brownie situation. 

We called up the grown-up pups...

And did our best to sing our birthday harmonies...no small feat when the kids on the phone try to sing along with us and it's always just a little behind. Still...I love it with all my heart. 

And I love her with all my heart. 

Present time! Laney drew this with their digital sketchpad...it's AJ!

And she got a microscope!

Happy 13th, AJ! 

Rage Clean

 I felt something pop in brain. 

I think it was acceptance/rage switch. 

It's been stuck on acceptance for quite some time.

I'm not mad at the results. 

Not pictured: a clean kitchen, mopped floors, spotless basement and pristine laundry room. 

It's been a day. 

48 hours

Like many Modern Americans, I am more than capable of doing very little of value for great stretches of time. Oh, the languages I could have mastered in the amount of time I have devoted to matching 3 items hour after hour. It takes dedication to get to level 3259, you know. 

And then there are the days that we seem to be able to cram impressive amounts of fun, tradition and activity into a mere 48 hours. It takes all hands on deck, multiple drivers and a steely determination to not pick up that phone and progress to level 3260. 

Let's begin!

Mathew took Laney, AJ and Everly to the WWI museum. He even paid for the tickets! 

We selected the most beautiful, perfect and symmetrical Frasier Fir that ever was grown. It really was a beauty. 

 

And Mathew help load it right into my truck...oh happiness...no wrangling it on top of the minivan this year!

We got right to decorating it...Mark suggested a bucket brigade, of sorts, to get the lights dressed in without anyone having to get dizzy 'round the maypole. 

DO NOT underestimate how much joy watching the glowy lights being passed from hand to hand made my heart happy. Because it actually was my favorite thing EVER. Besides handing out ornaments, of course. 

Glowy lights! Cooperation!

And the Running of the Snow! I feel like it was Kansas's way of saying, "Hey Mat. I missed you dude. Here's some snow....aaaaaaaand,,,,,GO!"

And AJ made a sassy little snowman. He's rocking all the current fashion trends. 

As well as carefully crafted buns! 

Other events I didn't get pictures of:

* Mathew packing up and heading out on his well-planned road trip home. 

*Mathew making it as far as Lawrence, KS before the KIA started making what can only be described as a "death rattle". He made it home and it was determined that the engine was shot. 

*We had it towed back to Lawrence for diagnostics on the off chance they would be willing to replace the motor for free due to a known issue. We began our fervent prayers. 

*We purchased another one-way ticket to fly a very disappointed Mathew back to Idaho 

*Two weeks later, we received word that KIA was going to replace the motor! None of us could believe it! Naturally, we ended up spending another $1700 on other repairs just to make sure Mathew was off to a good start and had reliable transportation in the frozen tundra. He'll be able to drive it home after he visits for Christmas.

And now, if you don't mind, level  3260 isn't going to conquer itself.  

Thanksgiving Surprise

Mathew has been living in Idaho for 2 1/2 years now and has reached a point where he can't stand another minute without a car. We tried in vain to help him find and finance a car, but it's pretty hard for a kid without wheels to get around to acquire wheels. 

Finally, we realized it might be best to buy him a one-way flight home for Thanksgiving and then he can drive the KIA back to Idaho. Bonus...no haggling with salesmen or paying sales tax. 

And bonus!! We got Mathew home for Thanksgiving!

Megan came home for the weekend too. It's great having her go to school nearby. 

Mathew settled right back in and everyone soaked up some brother time. 

I missed my Maf!

We planned to get together with the Flynns, McDonalds, Eberts and Hursts. Our assignment was the stuffing, ham, and a pie. So much better than making everything ouselves!

I made a Pecan Cream Pie and it changed my life. I found my Spirit Dessert. 

It was a warm and cozy meal. I'm grateful for our framily. (That's my new name for our friends that feel like family). 

FRAMILY

AJ has hit the "don't photograph me, you psycho" phase. I'm not worried...this too shall pass. 

Everly is still cool with it. 

Look at these boys men! 

Court and Todd slicing the bird!

The spread of pies....we slacked off on the desserts last year and it is clear we learned our lesson. 

And as all Thanksgivings should end....

Happy Thanksgiving!