Officially a Tradition

A couple of weeks ago we got together with the Merrows for our now Annual Holiday Cheer get together, complete with dinner, craft and holiday movie. If you remember last year I was in charge of the craft. We had lots of fun and laughs making these.

 This year we switched, I cooked and Amy was in charge of the craft. She was the smarter girl and combined craft and dessert.

I didn't realize until now that the younger kids sat on one side,

 and the older kids sat on the other. Noah and Jacob are actually the same age. Joshua is oldest and Brady is youngest.

 Joshua couldn't help but to taste test early.

 Though, technically he had plenty of frosting on his cookie. 4 parts frosting to 1 part cookie...ewww.

 Jacob went heavy on the sugar and held back on the frosting...shocker.

 I, of course, had to show them how it was done...what? it was dessert remember.

I look forward to next year's get together...I better start looking for a craft now.

This was the movie choice this year. Amy's husband had actually never seen it. Even though it is on each year in marathons there are still parts that are new to me. A Christmas classic!

Thanks for visiting ♥ Michelle

Cheers

Isn't it amazing how an object can be so tightly connected to a memory. One thing I have gotten from the disgusting show Hoarders or my old time fave Clean Sweep, the object is not the memory. The memory is within us, in our mind and in our heart.

It doesn't make it any easier, however, when something happens to said object.

The other day we had a Brady Bunch comes to life moment. Santa, still don't know what he was thinking, brought an indoor basketball hoop for doors. Daddy stuck in the kitchen which I knew was not a good idea. All day Auntie kept discouraging its use while we were cooking.

Never one to listen on first or second or third, who am I kidding, request, Jacob kept playing. In slow motion the ball (not nerf mind you) bounced on to the counter and into my wedding glass which was housing the remnants of my chocolate wine.

Crash, two pieces....frustrated screech, remorseful cry...

What do you mean broken? you say. It looks perfectly fine to me, you say. Well the next day I went to pick it up and the chocolate wine acted like glue...held that sucker together.

So the point of this post? The object is attached to the memory. The broken, dirty cup has yet to leave my counter. I just can't be the one to throw it away, just as I couldn't throw any of my babies' blankets away.

Thanks for visiting ♥ Michelle

A Breakthrough

Several years ago Joshua's school had an evacuation. They were unable to even get their backpacks which had his lunch. This was back in the day when his anxiety was still quite bad. As he nervously went through the lunch line, not knowing what to do, the lunch lady snapped at him, "It's just like at your school".

Joshua came home that day vowing never to buy hot lunch! Wouldn't you know, he never has despite my intermittent encouragement.

Fast forward 4 years later...the boy bought hot lunch! And has the last three days in a row. Everyday that passes I am more and more proud of that boy!

Thanks for visiting ♥ Michelle

A village

The boys were more excited to decorate for the holidays than I had energy. Normally I decorate the weekend of Thanksgiving while everyone else is doing their Christmas shopping. This year Thanksgiving seemed so early, and then the next weekend was our anniversary.

So, Jacob took it upon himself to get the ball rolling. He went up into the closet and enlisted his brother's help in dragging the tree downstairs. He wanted to put it together too, but I told him that was on Daddy this year.

 I told them the rug needed to be cleared and vaccuumed before we could put it up and Joshua was all over that. I took the camera out to capture that too (doesn't happen too often) but he freaked out and dropped the vaccuum and took off out of sight. So after a freak out of my own I explained to him that I just wanted to capture memories. "Mom how is a picture of someone vaccuuming a memory?" Someday he will be thankful for the little 'memories' captured in pictures and in this blog.

Several days later when I gathered some motivation I took out the villages. Today I plugged them in after I noticed Jacob had attempted to first. As you can see, the kitty is a fan. I had to let her know that this was not ok! We'll see how that goes over.

 Jacob had asked if he could put some cars near the village...to which I of course said, "no". You can see what my word means in this house!

Thanks for visiting ♥ Michelle

1-1

I am happy to report that Jacob and his team did a 180 degree turnaround this weekend. They went from a 30 something to 9 loss to a 31 to 22 win. Jacob was much more aggressive and was really into it as you can see from the pics.

He had a couple of fast breaks but didn't score. He definitely was an asset to the team today.

Joshua's team also won this weekend. They are 2 and 0.

Thanks for visiting ♥ Michelle

Happy 11 yr Anniversary

Nothing last a last minute getaway... Jim and I decided on Monday that we should go away on Saturday for our 11 year anniversary. #10 wasn't too good, so #11 took its place. We really don't take enough time for ourselves and we thought it was important to do. With the help of Auntie Chris and childhood friend Amy we were able to get away.

We found this chair along the way. Who doesn't want to sit in a chair that makes you look small :)

 I'm still learning to take self portraits as good as Auntie Jeanne...no double chin, but man, look at that nose!

 I really wanted a room with a Jacuzzi tub, but I didn't want to hang out in a bathroom. Way cool.

 Ironically this was the exact same cabin we stayed in for our 5 year anniversary. We didn't even request it, it just happened. Now if we go there again we'll have to request it.

 It was a cool looking place. A big bed to jump on (yes we both did) and rafters to hang from (only Jim did that, I'm not that strong).

 I got to go shopping at the outlets in Tilton and Conway. I had never been before. What a treat to have your hubby let you shop and not complain. He actually pushed me into buying these boots. Pink, I love them!

 This pic was on our way up as well. We went around the back side of Winnepesauki.

It was a great weekend and I can't thank you Amy and Chris enough for making it possible.

Thanks for visiting ♥ Michelle

#00, #33, #40

Tis the season...basketball season that is. It is keeping us very busy. This year Joshua is playing on two leagues, a recreational league and a travel league. We were up to 6 or 7 practices a week between Joshua and Jacob, but now that games have started we are down to 4 or 5 (plus 2 games).

Joshua has grown by leaps and bounds. He is becoming more and more confident and agressive. He is a team player and really tries to pump his team up.

Jacob isn't as excited about playing. I think a big part of it is that he doesn't have anyone on his team that he knows. He is kinda the opposite of Joshua. Usually he is confident but on the court he seems real reserved. He also complains about having to go to practice. I was hoping they would both keep playing but I think next year I will give him the choice and perhaps find another winter sport, maybe indoor soccer or wrestling. I tried to get them to do wrestling the last two years since they love to fight and wrestle here, but neither of them were having any of it.

Joshua has won his first two rec games. Travel games haven't started but I'm sure it will be a rough season because it is their first year playing together against teams that have been playing together for a while. Jacob's team is a young team...a little rough. Hopefully things will get better.

Thanks for visiting ♥ Michelle

You win!

Friends are a lot like kids...they break you down and break you down until you give in!!!

So here goes (Kristy).

After my dad passed away I started wearing his wedding band on my middle finger. As you can imagine, 30 pounds lighter, it gets a little loose particularly when my hands aren't swolen. I am more aware of it now that it has a lot of movement.

Yesterday I grabbed the laundry from the dryer and dumped it onto the couch. As soon as I did I felt the ring slide off with the clothes. I quickly moved the laundry around but didn't find it. I folded it up hoping to find it. As each piece got folded I started to second guess myself. Had it fallen off earlier? I had given a lotion massage and washed my hands. They are real slippery when I wash them and it could have fallen off. I was starting to get a sick feeling in my stomach.

The funny thing is my dad didn't even wear the ring when he was alive, he was divorced for several years. But to me it has a different signifigance. It is a little piece of him that I carry around with me when I sleep, when I'm away, all the time. It rarely comes off and when it does I think about it the whole time.

You'll be happy to know I found it under the couch. It had slipped rather quickly through the cushions. I put it behind my wedding rings because they aren't going anywhere, but now I need to decide what to do with it since that just seems a little weird. I had it on my thumb today, I might try that for a little bit until I lose more weight that is :)

Thanks for visiting ♥ Michelle