We Made it Through the Semester!
I believe that the last post was right after Gramma Deb visited and right before Thanksgiving. It has been a busy month since then and we have thankfully gotten to do most of what we planned. The fall semester was crazy, but we made it through. Gracie got to play basketball, go to school, and perform in her musical. Owen has gone back to school and has continued to go to wrestling practices twice weekly. We had Thanksgiving at our house with my parents; Annie and Chad decided not to drive down. But hopefully we will see them again soon. I had thought about driving up there a week ago, but they had quite a bit of snow the day that I planned to drive, so I decided to stay home. Some things are just working against us this year.
Gracie and her friends getting together for a Thanksgiving dinner.
Basketball
Gracie's school basketball picture this year
This isn't the actual school picture, but it's the whole team.
Gracie and Sadie warming up for 2nd half.
It looks like Sadie is meditating n top of Gracie.
Gracie executing a layup.
Thanksgiving
We had some fun with the family on Thanksgiving Day. Mom and Dad drove up for the feast and mom ended up wanting to try shooting some guns. Fun times.
Owen and Gracie waiting for dinner to be ready.
Here we are...pretty good family picture.
Nick showing Grandma Kate how to shoot.
Taking aim
Grandpa Tom wanted a turn too.
Owen experienced the "kick" from Nick's gun.
Cleaning his gun afterward.
Christmas! It's coming!
We wanted to cut down a tree again, as we have done since I can remember. However, there were no tree farms open near us, so we went and picked one out at Lloyd's this year. It is actually a beautiful perfect tree.
Gracie checking out the wreaths.
Our house, all lit up.
It only took a few weeks for half of the lights to short out. :(
Go figure.
Our tree this year.
All decorated
Out at Lloyd's getting our tree.
Here is the silly pic
Aladdin!
The middle school chorus was actually able to perform their musical this fall! I kept holding my breath every day, hoping that the quarantines would hold off... and they did! Gracie was Jafar in the musical and did a great job. She was so excited. They streamed the show online, but Nick and I got to see one of the shows in person. It was so fun and I'm so glad that Gracie enjoyed doing this.
Sadie, Gracie, and Hayden after the first show.
Last pose after their final show.
Another pic of these three.
Gracie and Sadie on stage.
Beautiful morning runs
I have to admit, I have not been as good at getting up in the mornings to run as I used to be. The kids are older now, and I'm not quite as restricted in when I can go. However, I never regret it after I go early in the morning. I week ago, I got up pretty early and saw a meteor shower while completing a 7 mile run at a pace that I can actually be proud of. Back in August when I started running again, I was thankful to be running. Period. I didn't care what my pace was... just hoping to be able to keep doing it. I have gradually been able to push it a little more, slowly and look at that... Hoping to get an 8 miler within the next week.
YAY!
Another morning after one of my runs.
This is our house and barn...the barn is almost sided finally!
We went to the Magic Tree again this year, but didn't stay for long.
It was in the middle of the week, so they didn't have all of the activities that we have gone to in the past.
We were in line to go through the VU light display, but decided against it.
Instead, we took an evening to drive over to Warm Springs Ranch to see the Budweiser Clydesdales and light displays at their ranch. It was pretty fun to go through.
Entering the Ranch
One of their trailers.
Pretty awesome
Another one of their barns
A few more basketball pictures
During what ended up being their last game, Gracie did a pretty good job of rolling her ankle, but played the rest of the game. I'm not sure if she would have been able to play anyway the rest of the week. However, she got up and went to practice and was intending to play.
Pretty cool picture taken by another mom.
You can see all of our starters in this pic.
Gracie has improved exponentially in the past couple months. I am no longer afraid when she starts to dribble the ball down the court.
Shooting some free throws...something she can keep working on.
An abrupt end to the semester.
All of Southern Boone is virtual until they go back January 5. Luckily the last two days of classes do not require much for the elementary and middle schools. Owen said that he gets to make up his class party when they get back. We were notified Thursday that the middle school would not be in-seat for the rest of the semester. Then Friday, the elementary schools did the same. Owen is expected to check in both Monday and Tuesday, but other than that, I think it will be a pretty easy couple of days.
Gracie and Hayden spent most of Friday and Saturday together making cookies and keeping themselves entertained. Hayden showed Gracie how to use the decorating bags for frosting.
Gracie made a huge mess.
Five days away from Christmas. It has been such a strange year, but we are doing our best to make the most of it and keep doing the things that make us happy. I realized that there are not many pictures of Owen in this post, but he has not gotten to do his wrestling meets like he usually does. He was signed up to compete in KC this weekend, but it was canceled. Thankfully they have been able to keep practices going. He is scheduled to compete in Odessa on the 27th and we are hoping that actually happens. He really wants to get a match in.
I have been working from home off and on. My supervisor is pretty flexible and I can stay home with kids when needed. Owen had virtual learning for two weeks after Thanksgiving and finally when back on 12/14. However, that only lasted 5 days. We're thankful he got that time, though. Our school district is doing the best it can to keep kids in school, rather than virtual learning.
We are looking forward to Deb's arrival on Tuesday this week and she will be spending Christmas Eve with us! Again, it will be very strange this year not attending a Christmas Eve church service. We will have to get creative!
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