Busy Fall

This is pretty overdue, but things got busy again.  I really didn't mean to go 2 months without posting anything.  I think we left off at the beginning of November.  We continued with a couple more softball weekends and then basketball ended right before winter break.  Owen competed in his first tournament, but has been fighting a hurt toe after falling down the stairs at home.  It's hard to sprawl without use of your big toe.  Gracie had her first middle school dance and she was Baloo the Bear in the middle school musical.

I think this was in Arkansas, our last tourney of the fall.

Owen decided to join us for this one since he had never been to Arkansas before.

Gracie catching

Gracie's Aces team

Getting ice cream at Braums

Right after returning from Arkansas, Gracie had a Friendsgiving party with some of her classmates.  We spent the rest of the evening out there and thankfully I remembered on the way home that this was happening.  she and her friends had a Thanksgiving dinner together and moms were enjoying the evening, too.

The following weekend Nick entertained Owen and a couple friends at the Mizzou game while Gracie and I went shopping for a dress for her first middle school dance.  I didn't even know about this until a few weeks prior to the date.

Kegan, Owen, and Knox at the Mizzou game.  We ended up winning in OT against KY!!

Next was Thanksgiving

Again, we hosted Thanksgiving for my side of the family.  Chad was going to run the Turkey Trax, like he had done two years ago, but ended up not being able to drive down until Thanksgiving Day.  So, Nick got to run with Owen. :)

Owen and Mom before the race

I won a pie again this year.  It wasn't my best performance ever, but good enough for 2nd in my age group.  I would've won either age group above or below me.  It must be super competitive for the 41-45 age group!

Photo after we finished!

I think Owen ran so he could have a cinnamon roll.

And... Nick did not die.

Family pic on Thanksgiving

Kaia and Gracie... MATCHING!!!

Gracie and River making hot chocolate.

More pics at dinner

It's so great to have everyone here!

Fun times afterward.  We needed to get rid of the pumpkins.

Kaia got to ride Dancer

Gracie even took a few shots.

After a fun day with family, we drove down to the lake the following day to spend more time with the fam.  Then on Saturday we drove up to Newton to see Nick's side of the family.  We spend all afternoon at Josh and Julie's then drove back home.

On a walk with Grandma Deb

Gracie and Owen on a windy Iowa day.

Nice hair Gracie.

We stopped in Bloomfield on the way back to Missouri.

Picture on the sleigh.

Tree farm at Lloyd's

Gracie and Owen in the giant chair

Our 2021 Christmas tree

Here we are!

Year 2 of buying a tree from Lloyd's.  We didn't get to cut it down this year, again, but we found a good one.  Their trees aren't big enough yet to cut down.

More basketball

Gracie's team did pretty well again this year.  I think they lost 3 games (California, Centralia, and Ollis).  Gracie does pretty well and keeps improving.  I think she had 16 points in their game against Versailles.  She probably averaged 7-9 points per game.

Gracie's 8th grade basketball team

Owen starts wrestling

Two days before Owen's first meet, he and a friend were racing up and down our stairs.  He fell and bent his toe underneath his foot, which was pretty bad.  He still competed in his tournament, but I think it was pretty painful and he hasn't gone 100% at practice since.  I'm not sure when he'll do another tournament.  Owen pinned his first opponent pretty quickly.  He went 1-1 at his tournament and was beat by a wrestler who was a pretty good 2nd year 12U athlete.  He ended up placing 2nd.

Watching teammates with his dad.

Owen wrestling his 2nd match.

2nd place

Gracie got to go watch

Moore basketball

I think this was a game against Blair Oaks at the Harrisburg tournament.

One of Gracie's teammates was hurt during a game and without hesitation, Gracie scooped her up and carried her to the bench.

Shooting a free throw against Hallsville

Directing from the bench

Gracie played against a former softball teammate.  This was their first loss against OLLIS.

This is Gracie's boyfriend Hayden.

She let us know that she was interested in someone back in October.

Gracie and Owen messing around at home.

Notice Owen's sniping position

Owen wearing Gracie's grass skirt as a cape.

I'm not sure why...???

Then there is this...

Gracie cleans up well.

We spent a good portion of a day shopping for a dress and this is what we found.

Gracie and a lot of her friends got together to get ready before the dance.

It was a lot of fun.

Mark it down... 1st dance December 10, 2021. Check it off.

Gracie, Brooklyn, and Sadie

Gracie eating brownies of course.

Gracie, Sadie and Hayden

Here she is

Gracie and Brooklyn

The moms

At the dance with Nova

At the dance with Hayden

I think they're tired.

Two days after the big dance, the musical "Jungle Book" was performed by the middle school choir.  It was a lot of fun to watch!  Gracie did great as Baloo, the bear.

Gracie taking a bow

Baloo and Begheera performing

Gracie and Nova post-performance

Gracie and Hayden after the show

Another pic of Gracie and Hayden

Gracie's friend, Adah, came to watch.

Gracie and Hayden frosting cookies

Owen had to miss the musical to go to the Chiefs home game on 12/12.

He was pretty excited and the Chiefs had a huge win over the Chargers!

We finally got Owen's school pictures.

He was quarantined during the first picture day.

A beautiful sunrise!

I think these pictures take us about 1/2 way through December, and a lot more has happened since then.  The last few months have been pretty busy and there is more to update!