Reunion, Veterans Day, Snow & Thanksgiving!

It's been a fun (and hectic) fall, but to say that we are excited about Christmas and some extended time off of school would be an understatement!! We are literally counting down the days! We've got lots of fun holiday activities in the mean time to get us by and I'm so thankful for that! 

In the spirit of thankfulness, one of the things I'm really thankful for this school year is that the boys asked if they could ride the bus home from school and I said yes! Because I don't have to go pick them up from school, I save like an hour and a half of time and am even able to sub at the middle school. This pic shows both Mellany and the boys' busses arriving at the same time- it's magical! 

Tomahowl 2024 = Preppy and Emo girls

Mellany and Charlotte came up with this idea on their own and while it wasn't my favorite, they loved it! And they even won the prize for the trendiest costume! Even though I didn't like it that much, it did turn out pretty cute!

So proud of our Mellany and the fact that she was chosen for October student of the month!! She works so hard and is so kind to others and we feel like this award is so deserving! 

At the beginning of November, my high school graduating class got together for our 20th reunion! We had a small number of people but truly had such a great time catching up! 

After the reunion on Friday, I decided to stay in Atchison and go to the Benedictine Football game where my friend Audrey's husband Joel, is the head coach. We had yet to make a game so I was pumped when it all lined up! It was a bit rainy to start but cleared out and was sunny by kickoff-perfect football weather! 

On my way to Atchison, a bird flew into my car and when I stopped to check it out, it was literally stuck in the grill! Thankfully, Joel's brother pulled it out for me after the game! 

The final step to the boys bathroom remodel was finishing Johnny's closet, and it is officially done!!! John did such an incredible job on it and I've never been more jealous of a kid's closet! The last and final step to the project will be carpet!! 

Johnny's school held their annual veterans day program and he even got to help present the flag with his cub scout troop. 

Christmas shopping always requires a stop at Auntie Anne's for lunch and they gave us the coolest "cup" this time to hold everything! 

Mellany got to celebrate Charlotte turning 13! They had the most epic teenager sleepover and then all headed to church together the next morning. This group of girls is just the sweetest! 

The week prior to thanksgiving was a bit of a rough one for us as two of the three kiddos were fighting strep. On the same day both boys were home, Mellany had some appointments and wasn't at school either. It was one of the craziest days of appointments I think I've ever managed but the kids declared it one of the best after grabbing McDonalds for lunch and having a picnic in the orthodontist parking lot!

We had a super quick snow shower the same week as the crazy appointment day and the boys took full advantage! I called the day an absolute success because the boys are both finally able to fully dress themselves! 

Johnny's class read a book about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and then did an activity where they got to create their own parade balloon. In typical Johnny style, his balloon was a chicken. Cutest chicken balloon I've ever seen!

Our trip to KC for Thanksgiving was quite the whirlwind, but we still had a blast! The boys got some bonding time with F and it was seriously the cutest seeing them give each other "high fives" and "pounds"!

We only took one picture on Thanksgiving Day and that was with Gammy. So thankful for her (and all our parents!) 

The day after Thanksgiving, we ventured to Topeka, KS for my cousin Tyler's wedding weekend! It was the most beautiful day and the kids are always down for a couple day stay in a hotel-especially when cousins are involved!!

Staying in Topeka added about an hour and a half to our drive home on Sunday, but it was totally worth it! We cannot wait for more travels during Christmas break!! 

 

Mellany #13

It blows my mind to even type this, but our Mellany is THIRTEEN!!!! Officially a TEENAGER!!!! She's grown and changed a lot in this past year and I'm so grateful God chose her to be ours. We couldn't be more proud of the young lady she is becoming!  

Here's a little bit about our Mellany:

• Mellany's favorite subject is still art! Drawing is her absolute favorite, but loves any medium. She has joined the middle school art club that meets every week and she has really loved being in that. 
• One of Mellany's strongest subjects in school is math and her least strongest continues to be reading. Though she will take any opportunity to read a graphic novel! She would say that her favorite class in general is still social studies; she really enjoys her teacher in that class. 
• She still loves outer space and wants to be an astronaut when she grows up (or potentially in the military)
• Mellany rises to any challenge she is given! It may take her a minute to get her "bearings" but once she does, she conquers!
• She really loves staying home by herself whenever she can. She loves the peace and quiet
• Mellany is really responsible and independent. She doesn't really need help getting breakfast/ready in the mornings anymore and after school she tackles her homework and getting ready for bed mostly by herself.
• She loves having one-on-one time with John and I. Even though she's 13 now, she still loves to snuggle and just needs a hug every now and then. She's had a lot of "big" emotions develop over the past year and thankfully, she has come to us and we've been able to talk through all of it with her. 
• When she goes to bed she still loves for John to scratch her back.
• She loves to cook. Her specialty is (still) pumpkin chocolate chip muffins-she can make them all by herself now (including putting them in the oven and taking them out). She also loves making bubble bread pizza.
• She really loves when her brothers let her "lead/help" them. She loves playing with the boys, but most of the time she can be found playing/drawing by herself in her room or the basement. (with the music blaring)
• She is soooooo good at trying new foods! You can usually tell when she doesn't like something but she does a great job at trying to keep it to herself that she doesn't like it when in public or at friends houses. 
• Her favorite sport is dance! She made the Battle Ground Middle School Dance Team for the second year and still really loves it. She's really grown a lot as a dancer and we even chosen as a Co-Captain for the team.
• Mellany continues to be one of the most friendly, caring and kind 13 year olds I know. She has a true love for people. She will talk to anyone, is really good about noticing if someone might be feeling left out and truly cares about others! This can also sometimes be her biggest weakness, as she finds it hard to see when she's being taken advantage of.
• Mellany loves wearing leggings(or bike shorts), a tshirt and hoodie. For shoes she prefers her Ugg Platforms or Crocs.
• She is about 50% homebody and 50% extrovert and loves to get out....She loves to go shopping, go to the movies, eat out....but at the end of the day, she wants to come back home (just like her mama!)
• We get the occasional attitude but as soon as I point it out, it goes away. 
• She and I started the Gilmore Girl TV series over the summer and have loved having our own show to watch at the end of the day. We also watched (and ready) "The Summer I Turned Pretty" and enjoyed it too!
• Mellany loves to shop! Clothes shopping is her favorite but she also loves finding fun accessories and new cosmetics. She is always happy to go along with me to do some shopping. 
• She's so helpful--and even does things without me asking her to help.
• She loves to accessorize, especially with her earrings. I'm pretty sure she wears a new pair every day. The dangly earrings are her absolute favorite. 
• Playing the piano is one of her most recent hobbies. She has a lesson guide on her phone (yep-that's new too-we've given her a phone to communicate with us and a few friends.....) and plays almost every day. 
• For 4H this past year, Mellany decided she wanted to do a sewing project. We enlisted the help from our neighbor Lindsey and Mellany put together a shirt and shorts for judging. She got a blue ribbon and it turned out amazing!

13 Year Wellness Exam

Height: 5' 7" (She's in the 99% for height!)

Weight: 120 pounds

This year, Mellany has decided she would prefer to start seeing a female doctor. So she now goes to the same office I go to and she really liked her new physician. It was a simple and easy appointment where the doctor asked about Mellany's hobbies, school and friends among other things. Always thankful for a quick and easy appointment.

Celebration

For her celebration this year, Mellany wanted to have some friends over for a "Swiftie Sleepover". They watched the Eras Tour on Disney+ in the basement, had tacos and cookie cake, opened presents and spent the evening just hanging out together. 

On her actual birthday, Mellany performed at a football game. After the game, we let her open her family presents.

Halloween & More...

It's been a busy, but great fall! The weather has actually been really enjoyable and has allowed us to be outside for even longer which has been amazing. We've celebrated Mellany and I's birthdays, enjoyed Halloween and a couple more Cub Scout activities and just tried to soak up all the time outside that we can before winter officially arrives. None of us are looking forward to the cold. We are excited for the holidays (so much so, that the Christmas decorations are up as I type this!) but not for the freezing cold! 

Mellany's birthday present from Gammy came in the mail and she wears these Uggs so well! 

I couldn't help but a take a picture of our home in the amazing fall colors! 

On the weekend of the boys' cub scout halloween campout, Charlie came down with a nasty stomach bug! John and Johnny headed out to the campout while Mellany, Charlie and I stayed home. Charlie was pretty bummed about missing the campout, but was not feeling well at all so it wasn't a huge deal for him at the time. 

Winston was very concerned for him!

Our school does a really great Trunk or Treat and we had a great night for it. I couldn't get Mellany to go with us this year though. 

Another week, another picture of the fall colors! Our trees are seriously the best this time of year!

Halloween!! Ms. Frizzle, A SWAT Team Member, and a Soldier! The boys canvased our neighborhood with the whole crew, while Mellany went into town with some friends from church. 

Candy sorting time!

Headed to our impromptu family picture session! It was pretty last minute, but thankfully our outfits kinda came together. Our attitudes on the other hand were pretty grumpy, so I'm really crossing my fingers that they turn out decent. While I don't always love the process of taking family photos, I'm ALWAYS thankful that we have them!

This past week was the Cub Scouts Rain Gutter Regatta. The boys put together their boats, named them and then did their best to be the fastest. 

Charlie won 2nd place for fastest and Johnny won for the best boat name: "Captain Clucker" (Simon's boat won fastest!) So it was a great night! (Charlie's boat was named: "ChampionSHIP")

Mellany had a doctor appointment on Tuesday which also happened to be voting day. After her appointment I asked if she wanted to tag along while I voted and she happily said yes! I hadn't taken her since she was probably four, so it was exciting for me to be able to show her the process and she was eager to learn all about it! Middle school aged kids are so fun! She even grabbed "I Voted" stickers for us.