Two weeks later...

I am really trying hard not to skip weeks.  I have printed every year of my blog off and the blogs I like best are the ones where I write every Sunday, regardless of whether I have much to say or not.

I signed Jordan up to take an ACT test in the spring.  That was a huge pain!  I didn't know they had so many questions to ask.  Then I wondered why they were asking so many questions.  Then I thought, wow, I have to help all of my kids do this every other year.  Not looking forward to that.

I also signed Kenzie up to take the online driver's ed.  Here in Colorado you have to take that before you can get your driving permit.  You also have to have your driver's permit for a full year before you can get your license.  So, you have to start taking driver's ed when you turn 14.5 years of age.  I would have written that out like this 1/2 but I couldn't get it to look right.

The kittens are getting more comfortable around us.  They still scatter whenever I try and snap a picture of them, but they will sit still for most of the kids.  Especially Riley.

We are still hoping both kittens will survive.  Sometime last week we noticed one was missing a leg.  So we named them at that time:  tri-pod and cuatro.

Since Brad is out for the ski season this year he is taking on some of the home remodeling projects.  His most recent is tiling the bathroom floor.  Yes, we have carpet in every single bathroom and yes, we know it is gross.  Anyway, one bathroom down after these last two weekends.

Jordan had a couple of tournaments these last two weekends.  He did okay both weekends but would have liked to do better.  Unlike the last one, they were both double elimination tournaments.  Jordan seems to do better when they are not double elimination, but most tournaments are double elimination so you got to get used to that.  This last weekend he wrestled at 145 and really should have been wrestling 138, that's where his weight is at.  He can beat the kid on our team who is wrestling at 138 but he is his friend and didn't want him to lose his spot.  His first match was against a kid who is ranked 2nd in the nation.  Oh, and it didn't help that he was sick with some sort of stomach bug that morning.  That's one tough way to start a double elimination tournament.  Lost his first against that kid, won his second and lost his third.  His win/loss for the year is now 7-7.

Christmas break begins tomorrow for the kids!  Woot!  Really, who doesn't love Christmas break.  Brad and I will join them after Tuesday.  So excited to have some down time with the kids.  No wrestling tournaments, no plays, no music lessons, just family time.

1st week of December

It's been a pretty laid back week for the most part this week.  I say most part because Kenzie and Jordan did have quite a blow up fight over being teenagers and that was a dissappointment...but other than that, the week was pretty calm.  As of yesterday, all Christmas decorations are up.

 

Jordan had his first wrestling tournament this past weekend.  He took 5th out of 14 in his weight class.  His first match he got a fun surprise when he broke some of his teeth a little and was knocked out for about 10 seconds.  Here's that link.  That day he won 2 lost 3.  Another link to a tough match he lost the first day.  The next day, after being sick and tired of losing the first day he won all four.  Here's a link to one of the wins.  And finally the last link to his final match where he won fifth place.

And finally, we discovered two kittens from our local feral cat under our porch this weekend.  The more the merrier I say.  You can never have too many cats to take care of any mice on the premises.  The picture is not very good I know but any time we came out the kittens would scamper away.

Thanksgiving break

I, for one, was glad for the break.  I think I was able to get all caught up this week.  For the kids, they had the whole week off from school, but for Brad and I we worked Monday and Tuesday.  Not so bad though considering we got 5 days off after that. 

I feel like during this time I should always mention some things I am grateful for and let me say this year that I'm grateful for my children...really.  They are so amazing and make so many good choices.  I am constantly amazed at the good things they are doing and so glad the issues I am fighting are things like helping with the dishes instead of other things teenagers could be doing.  When I get frustrated with them I have to step back and remind myself of this. 

As for the week's activities they were well paced.  Tuesday night is really when our break began.  That evening we went to the hotel where Ron and Cleta were staying and the kids and Brad went swimming.  I was too tired to jump in.  Waking up at 5:15 to work out and then working a 10 hour + day at the office really beats me up sometimes and Tuesday night I was feeling it.  Wednesday I got out for a quick bike ride, went grocery shopping for Thanksgiving, brought Jordan to wrestling, had a piano lesson, brought Kenzie to voice lessons and tutored a student in math.  Then I came home and made a cherry pie, apple pie, cheesecake and the yams for the Thanksgiving dinner the next day.  Thanksgiving was much more relaxed and slower paced.  I don't think we even got out of bed until 9:00 which is a rare and special treat around here.  And, to make it even more unique we woke up to find our local flock of turkeys in our yard. 

I think if you count the turkeys in one of these pictures there are 20+ turkeys in the yard.  Yes, they visit us every morning.  Once we were up, I began to make my Thanksgiving meal preparations and then, mid-day, the boys went out with Dad, Grandma and Grandpa to the river while McKenzie and I went for what I thought was going to be a 4 mile hike. Note, the word thought.

Unfortunately for me, I missed the trail that took us down quicker and we ended up hiking...6.5 miles.

At least the views were beautiful and McKenzie got the pictures she needed for her digital photography class.

 At times she got a little to close to the ledge for me.

But being outdoors kepts us both happy for the day.

 And we definitely earned our dinner that evening.

On Friday we just relaxed.  We all went on bike rides that day.  Brad took the boys mountain biking and I went for a ride on my road bike.  Believe it or not, I was sore from the hiking the day prior.  Oh and in the evening I got to put up the first christmas decorations.  Not the tree yet though.  That will go up next weekend.

Yesterday Brad took the boys out for what we think will be the last motorcycle ride of this year since the snow is coming.  Kenzie and I went shopping...later, cause I don't like the crowds.   No need for pictures of shopping but here are the boys on their dirtbikes.  I hope you all had a great thanksgiving.  We did.

Ben

 Riley

 

 Riley and Jake

 Jake:

 

Jordan:

Full schedule

We've definitely had a full schedule this week.  I don't know if I told you this or not but the truck we let Jordan drive to and from school broke down a few weeks ago.  So, we have been three weeks without a driver and to be quite frank, with all the kids and I are doing, I am downright exhausted.  Jake's sleeping pictures here say it all.  So exhausted he can't even make it up the stairs.

For the most part we are just doing our normal things...going to seminary, school, music lessons, wrestling, theater, studying...

but we decided to throw in a few extra things this week...like, auditions for the underclassmen gala for Kenzie.  Having been involved with the theater group at the high school, she no longer was nervous for the tryouts.  She went in and played and sang house of the rising sun for her audition and rocked it.  She got the part she wanted...1 of 4 people in a one act musical!  And, from what I hear from good sources, she was the first one they wanted to be sure to grab for the show!  Way to go Kenz!

The underclassman gala is happening in January.  Can't wait to see her perform again.

Another thing we decided to do was go to Farmington to ride and shop.  Always makes for a long day.  Grandma and Grandpa Belt came up to see McKenzie's play and since they were here the boys hit the dessert with their dirt bikes.  Even McKenzie rode for a little on the boy's bike and then rode our favorite 2 year old, Wesley, around on a little 50.

While I'm on McKenzie for a moment she wanted me to post this:

It's a cutting board she made in wood working at school.  There you have it, I posted it.

Ok, back to this week...we also squeezed in a dental appointment for Brad, a meeting with our architect on the building, several interviews for a position we have in our office, a fifth grade play for Riles (sorry no pics) and oh yes, the pouring of a cement pad for a gazebo that will be our barbequing pad.

  

It was a little stressful for us and almost turned into a huge failure because the little bobcat that we had borrowed broke down after two dumps.  Jordan moved the cement with a wheelbarrow from the cement truck to the pad.  He did about 15 loads that way.  I was so proud of him.  It was hard work and in the end, we made it.  Also, in the end, the bobcat worked again.  Great job boys!  More pictures to come as we keep working on this project.  For now, the cement is poured.

Finally, last, but not least we squeezed in another three plays for McKenzie.  Closing night was Friday and Beauty and the Beast was over but Kenz loved every second of it.  Here are some pictures from the play with her in it.  So glad she got to be a part of such an excellent production!