75 posts tagged “family”

Bah Humbug:

1. The Steelers football season is basically over for this year.  They have to give another team a turn ;)  We have so many injured players that it's just pretty hopeless.
2. It causes me great stress to just be mailing my Christmas cards.  I know that's probably odd but I like to have them out at the beginning of Dec.  Dumb computer crash!

Merry Christmas:

1. A friend and I made a shopping trip today to buy Christmas presents for a family whose having a rough December.  It's a single mom of 5 and she crushed her wrist in a 4-wheeling accident so is unable to work.  I have to say it finally got me in the holiday spirit!
2. Our entire house is carpeted!  Well, except for the theater which we don't plan to finish for a year or two.  By the end of Monday, the rest of the flooring will be finished as well as the kitchen counter.  We have 2 working toilets, too!  (I'll post some more pictures soon).
3. We've made plans to go back to Jamestown January 1-3 to move the rest of our furniture.  Could still use some prayers for that house to sell.  Anytime now would be just perfect!!
4. We'll be moving in after we get our things.  There will still be little stuff to do but we can do that while living there.  I finally feel like I can get excited!!
5. My grandma, aunt & uncle, brother & girlfriend, parents, and cousin's family will all be here for Christmas.  I love a big Christmas!  Ray is thrilled to not have to pack up every single present and travel this year.

Dinner at the South 40

 

 

Yesterday was my mom's birthday.  The whole crew got together for supper down at the 40.  This is my brother and his new girlfriend.

Today at work, we did her birthday lunch with the office crew.  We go to the Cattle-Ac and have lunch, champagne, and cake!  My mom was wearing the new coat from my dad and necklace from Ray & Amy.  We got her a scarf but it didn't go with that particular ensemble.

I sure hope I look that beautiful at 65!

 

Thumbs Down:

1. A woman looked at our house last week and just loved it.  She brought her husband to see it on Monday and he was very quiet except to say one of the bathroom's needed remodeling and they'd already done a lot of that on their current house.  Our realtor is hoping the woman just needed some time to talk her husband into it.  I'm afraid it was a woman who thought she needed a new house and her husband didn't. 
2. I was a crabby patty today.  It's not very often that I'm in a cranky mood all day but this was one of them.  Several little things that put me in the mood. 
3. My great uncle passed away.  He was my step grandpa's brother.  Grandpa died when I was 12 but he lived in town and I spent tons of time with him.  Out of his 3 brothers, this was the one I was closest to.  He and his wife have lived in AZ the past 10 years and had just moved back to MT to be closer to family.  I've made at least 3 trips to Billings and wanted to stop and see them but always had other things to do.  Now, I regret waiting.  I'd also like to go to his funeral tomorrow but it's not going to work out.  He has such a twinkle in his eye.

Thumbs Up:

1. We really are making good progress on the house.  We've started painting the basement even though we don't plan to totally finish the basement right away.  The tile is done in the foyer and Lily's bathroom floor and shower.  Ray's started hanging interior doors and putting on base trim so the carpet installer can come.  2/3 of the kitchen cabinets are done.  I need to get pictures of some of the lights Ray's installed because they are gorgeous!  We're very tentatively hoping to be in around the end of the month.  (No laughing, mom).
2. There's no school tomorrow so Ray's taking the boys hunting.  This will be Cody's first time going as an official "hunter" since passing Hunter's Safety.
3. The 1st quarter is done at school.  Cody really struggled the past few years but is finally taking school more seriously.  There is still room for improvement but he made the Honor Roll so we're very proud.  All his teachers had great things to say.  This is Jace's first year to receive letter grades and he earned all A's and B's.  He's also suddenly taken a huge interest in reading.  He's always hated reading but is now reading 300 page novels!!  Lily is also doing well.  All of the kids' teachers are very impressed with their transition into new schools.  It truly has been amazing and we couldn't have asked for the move to be any smoother.
4. Cody has started Middle School wrestling and his first tournament is Saturday.  Wrestling is such a different environment here.  In Jamestown, Cody was teased a lot for being a wrestler instead of playing hockey or basketball.  Here, wrestling is huge!  Last night, they had a photo shoot for their team poster!!  He's best friend here is also a wrestler and a super, nice kid.
5. Though the weather in October was awful, November is off to a gorgeous start.  It's even supposed to hit 60 tomorrow.

 

We were very disappointed in the strict height guidelines on the rides here.  Lily's been going down the big slide in Jamestown since she was 3 and by herself last year.  Here, she can't even go down it with us!!  She also needs an adult for the Sizzler and Bumper Cars.  I tried sending her on them with my cousin's 13 yr old daughter whose taller than me but that wouldn't fly either. 

Jace & Katlin were brave enough to go on the Hurricane which spins around really fast and then goes up and down, but only once!

We went to the rodeo Thursday and Friday night.  We haven't been to a full rodeo in years as we only got bull riding in Jamestown.  It was so much fun!  Last night was "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" night.  Every person who went to the rodeo wearing pink had $3 donated to our local breast cancer programs.  I don't think I've ever seen so much pink in one place and definitely not at a rodeo!

Ray only went to the rodeo the 2nd night.  The kids and I went with my brother and dad the first night.  My brother insisted Ray come last night because he thinks people assume we're his wife and kids and it makes it hard for him to get chicks.  So, I made signs yesterday for him and I to wear that say "I'm not his wife" and "These aren't my wife or kids".  He thought it was pretty funny.

 

 

 

Thumbs Down:

1. I stunk at golf league again this week.  I also golfed Monday and Wednesday and apparently my problem is nerves at women's league because I golf much better when I'm not at that!
2. My Great Aunt Betty passed away this week.  She was 84 and had Alzheimer's so it was a blessing but always sad.  She looked a lot like my Little Grandma so I always felt closer to her when Betty was around.  I'll be going to Billings with my parents for the funeral tomorrow.
3. Big Ben being accused of rape by some gal in a civil case because the DA won't even prosecute.  I don't buy it for one second.

Thumbs Up:

1. Lily had her 1st sleepover of the summer last night.  It worked out especially well because then the boys and I went golfing.  After that, Cody babysat Jace while Ray & I met my parents down at the Pub.  My mom's best friend and husband were in town for the first time in 3 years. 
2. They've finally started roofing the house and the stucco guy should be coming soon.
3. It's been a pretty uneventful week so I can't think of anything else!

Friday night we went to the opening ceremony.  There were activity and food booths.  The kids all got autographs from the Billings Outlaw arena football players.  They also had fun with the dunking booth.  There was continuous entertainment and the the kids got to walk the track.  They are in the maroon shirts and you can see Jace.

The most exciting part was when 5 skydivers jumped out of a plane over the field and then all landed right in the center.  I was amazed by the accuracy of their landings!  The USA women's fencer who won the gold lit the torch at the conclusion of the ceremony.

The first game was early on Saturday.  The team was really tough and we lost 0-10.

The next game was against another Billings team.  We were the only out of town team so knew it was going to be tough.  Ray's dad and family arrived in time for the 2nd game.  They picked a good game to watch because we won 10-0 and Cody scored 4 goals. 

After watching a 15 yr old team last spring, Cody's been practicing a flip throw-in.  I didn't think he was confident enough yet to try it in a game but he did it in the first two games really well.  Unfortunately, the 3rd game is the one I tried to get on camera and it didn't go as well.

The 3rd game was against an all girl team.  They were big, rough, and tough!  It was also about 95 degrees and miserable.  The game ended in a 3-3 tie even though they outplayed us a lot.  I think we were saved by our goalie and a penalty kick that scored a goal for us.  Because both teams had won and lost 1 game each, it came down to total goals to see who would play in the championship game.  We beat them by 1 point!!

After the game, the kids spent time at the pool while we played pinochle with Ray's dad and Amy.

I was a little shocked that we were the only adults present at the pool and most of Cody's team was there.  We were extra glad with our decision when the fire alarm went off.  We hearded the 20+ kids out onto the patio.  Apparently, some teens pulled all the fire alarms so it went off 5 different times.  The kids swam some more Sunday morning before we went to the championship game.  Unfortunately, we were playing the same team that we'd lost to Saturday morning.  I thought Jace did a great job keeping up with all those older boys since most of them were 11 and 12.

We lost 0-12 but still won the silver medal.

 

 

 

We are off to Billings this morning for the Big Sky State Games.  It's kind of like the Olympics for Montana and there's even an opening ceremony tonight.  The boys are playing on the soccer team.  It's mainly 11 and 12 yr olds but Jace made the team as a 9 yr old and is actually one of the starters!  He and Cody are 2 of the 3 forwards.  Ray's dad and family will be meeting us there to see the boys play for the first time and my cousin from AZ is there whom I haven't seen in several years.

We're also going to some places to see granite countertops today which I'm very excited about!

P.S.  (Am I the only one who can't insert another bloggers name anymore)?

What vacations would you most like to take in the next five years?
Presented by Intel, Sponsors of Tomorrow.

1. Take the entire family to Pittsburgh for a Steelers game.
2. Take the family on a road trip through Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah to see family and ending up at the Grand Canyon where we can see more friends and family.
3. Another trip to Jamaica.