Thankful

I can't believe it has been over month since my last post. We got busy again and there is so much more that I need to include, but this is a start for Thanksgiving. The pictures are a little out of order, but I'll just go with it and work backwards. We hosted for Thanksgiving again this year, and had a lot of fun with family. That weekend constisted of the Turkey Trax again for Owen and me, family time eating turkey and ham, getting our Christmas tree, and the last home Mizzou football game. Here we go...

Owen insisted that we cut down THE BIGGEST tree.

We have never had a tree this big in our house before.

Of course it will (not) fit.

Do you see how wide that is?

It was a workout just to cut it down!

And carry it back to the truck

Nick broke the top off so we saved it as a souvenir.

On the way out to the tree field

Family pic

It was so windy

Trying to get it up was not easy, either.

I have never seen Nick struggle so much.

AND... we ran out of lights.

But it's not too big...

I don't have a finished pic yet, because we waited to get more lights, then bought the wrong color and took them back. Then settled on having different colors of white lights, because that's what we had. Then the kids lost interest in putting decorations on the tree and we got busy, so there weren't very many evenings that we were home to do that. It is finally decorated, but I don't have a pic still.

Last home Mizzou football game

Nick and I drove separately through the snow because I had to meet with a tennis recruit a few hours before the game. Yes, it snowed more than was predicted. Roads were not good driving to the game, but ok by the time we went home.

Nick and the kids driving to the game.

Gracie and Owen watching the game from the tent.

Family pic!!!

We were lucky enough to know a guy who had access to a tent with heaters. It was not a warm day.

The North Endzone Project would be started the Monday after this game and they did a groundbreaking ceremony prior to kickoff. The contractors and their crews were pretty excited to get underway.

Nick with the guys he will be working with for the next 2 years.

The game was fun, but the kids and I only stayed until about 1/2 time then watched the rest from home. It quit snowing by the end of the 1st qtr, but got colder and windier.

Back up a few days...

Thanksgiving

I was very reluctant to run the T-day 5k again this year. Running has not been going well, and my heel had been hurting, but Owen said he wanted to run it. I knew I probably couldn't beat him again this year, let alone place in my age group. However, I'm so glad that he talked me into it and wanted to run. He did beat me, by about 45 seconds, but I ran better than I have for a long time, at least for a 5k. It was a little chilly, but not too bad, I got to see some people I know, we got a sweat in on the holiday, and I ended up getting a pie again. It was a great start to our day.

Owen and I getting ready to run.

Year #4 running this.

Here are the pics from 2024, 2023, 2021, and 2019

Little Owen at 9 years old.

A lot changes in 5 years.

Chad "ran" with him the first year, Nick ran year 2, and the past two years Owen ran his own race.

He keeps getting bigger, faster, stronger, and apparently I keep wearing the same race day clothes.

BONUS!!! A couple of my students came to watch us finish!

They both stayed around for the holiday because they are international students; Italy and Mexico.

I was so happy to see them; they made my day!

Sono i migliori!

Ellos son los mejores!

One more picture.

He makes my day, too!

I wonder if this was his last one with me, since he met his goal of beating me...

Back home for food and family.

A couple different angles of the whole family.

Have to get the .5

I had to document Gracie doing the dishes.

She actually offered.

And helping with the potatoes.

Enjoying the time.

We had a great day of eating, sleeping, watching football, and playing a little bit outside. But it was a little chilly, so we didn't spend a whole lot of time outside.

Later, we all went to see Moana together!

I don't remember how long it had been since I went to a move in the theater!

OK... Rewind to a week prior and Gracie's crazy weekend.

I really can't believe we did this. Back at the end of September, we knew that Gracie would be playing softball in Florida the weekend prior to Thanksgiving. At that time there were no basketball games scheduled before Thanksgiving, so we went ahead and booked flights. Less than a week later, we learned that games were added for basketball both Friday and Monday of the same weekend. Long story short, we adjusted flights and Gracie ended up flying out by herself for the first time early Saturday morning. Miraculously, she made it to every scheduled competition that weekend. I still left of Friday on our original flight and met her at the airport in Ft. Myers the next morning.

1st SBC game vs Fulton

Friday, 11/2 7:30pm

Sprained ankle during basketball game

Left for St. Louis 11/23 1:30am

Boarded flight 4:30am, Departed 5:00am

She said she had a whole row to herself.

Changed planes in Charlotte, NC. Departed at 8:45ish

Arrived at the airport in Ft. Myers 10:47am

Arrived at field 11:30am

First pitch 12:00pm

Doing ok here in the 2nd game on Saturday approximately 4pm

Still smiling.

In between the 1st and 2nd games, we checked into the hotel quick and then headed back to the field. There was a decent walking trail around the sports complex, so I got a few miles of walking in between games. It was a beatiful day, but a little chilly as soon as the sun went down.

I don't think she was processing well at 8pm after 3 games with only a couple hours of sleep.

She had at-bats in all the games and played in 3/5 games.

Saturday was a little rough hitting, but Sunday went much better.

We went straight back to the hotel, she showered, and went to bed. Games started early the next morning at 8am.

Much better after getting some sleep

Hitting was much improved with a little rest.

Gracie had a whole entourage in attendance.

My parents sure have some fun friends!

After going 6-0 and winning the tournament, we got to enjoy some beach time. The last game ended by noon, so we had all afternoon to play!

We ate a late lunch at the beach and headed back to the hotel for a little bit before heading back to watch the sunset. It was as close to perfect as we could get.

Another fall closer in Florida.

I will do this as long as we can.

My freckles came out again!

A picture with the grandparents.

I love that they want to do this with us.

Very thankful for my parents.

Awww....

I snuck this one in.

The girls at sunset on the beach

I snuck this one in, too.

Perfect.

So, it was a whirlwind of a weekend. It ended on a high note with Gracie hitting a grand slam right before spending the afternoon and evening at the beach, and out to eat again for Mexican food.

Then Monday morning came.... Left the hotel at 5:30am, boarded flight around 8am, departed 8:46 or something like that. Arrived back in KC at 10:45am, and busted tail to get Gracie back to school so she could play another basketball game that night. Ironoically, their game was canceled for that evening due to a water main break at the opposing school. I was not that disappointed to not have to drive 2.5 more hours to Crocker that night. And... this definitely was beneficial for Gracie's ankle to heal a little. Although she was definitely going to wrap it up and play the best she could. Instead, she got an ice bucket during her weights class and the coach would not let her practice that day. Probably a good choice.

I have a few more pictures of random things between the end of October and Thanksgiving. A lot has happened since then and we are into wrestling and basketball, preparing for Christmas, which is in a week... Ahhhh!!!