Thanksgiving Weekend Fun

What a great weekend! My folks came up for the holiday bringing good cheer, dressing, pumpkin pie, and a new way to play cribbage. It's a tabletop version which Alyssa and Noah picked up quite quickly. I am not a visual learner so I struggled with visualizing the play. They helped us out by taking the picture that will accompany our Christmas cards. I won't post it here since most of my readers are family members and you'll be receiving a photo with your card.

Mom and Dad got to attend the first two games of Noah's Turkey Shoot basketball tournament. The team lost their first game to their arch rivals in a heart breaking contest. I was miffed by the officiating. None of Noah's teammates went to the freethrow line at all during this game. The other team went many times and won by 11 points. The second game was Noah's best of the weekend. He had a double-double, 12 pts. and 16 rebounds. Noah's team ended up with a 3-1 record for the weekend. We got to spend lots of time with our basketball friends whom we'll be seeing every weekend till the first of March. It's a good thing we all get along so well. They're a great group of people.

On Saturday night we went to an Apple Cup party to watch the annual WSU Cougar game vs the Washington Huskies. It was a partisan crowd full of Coug fans. The game was exciting down to the final whistle. Forrest made the mistake of drinking his friend's concoction called a Touchdown. The mixer is Red Bull energy drink. I don't know what kinds of alcohol are in it. But obviously it didn't agree with my hubby and he has asked me not to let him ever drink Red Bull again.

Alyssa and one of her babysitting clients, precious little Chloe, put up my Christmas decorations between basketball games. They did a beautiful job. Forrest put the lights up on the house and the place looks very festive. Alyssa also helped me shop for presents for most of my nephews and my one lone niece.

All in all a very full and fun weekend.

The Future

I had a vision of the future this morning. It was actually a vision of my sister's future with her three boys. Noah had a two brothers, aged 11 and nearly 14, spend the night last night. Noah is as big as the older boy. As I watched these two tweeners and the teen wrestling on my family room floor I pictured my sister's house in a few years. Her boys are 4, 7, and 10. With long legs flailing and big feet kicking I was prepared to be repairing lamps or furniture. The boys plus Alyssa went through a gallon of milk and a gallon of juice in the past 24 hours. I just went grocery shopping yesterday, and I need to go again.

Noah is finally growing again. He went from May through October without adding any inches to his height, he was stalled at 5'4" for five months. He's now grown an inch in the past month. His new basketball shoes are size 13. I'm sure glad I only have one boy to feed. If I had three that eat like Noah I'd have to take on a second job.

Good luck Michelle!

Holiday Plans

We've finally made our holiday plans, and we've told both sides of the family that we're staying home for the whole holiday season, Thanksgiving through New Years. Usually we alternate holidays, Thanksgiving with one family and Christmas with the other. This year we're staying home. Our families are welcome to join us. Noah can sleep on the floor in Alyssa's room and guests can use his queen bed.

We're tired of trying to travel, attend Noah's holiday basketball tournaments, and have some quality rest at home. We often return to work exhausted rather than rested after the holidays. The price of gas, traffic, and the weather can make the journey to see our families miserable.

As a child we spent most of the holidays at home, in Portland, just the five of us. I got to see my friends and enjoy my time off from school. We've spent a few holidays at home during our 18 years of marriage, but we've never stayed home for the whole season.

Another reason we're staying home is that Forrest is going to be traveling for work a lot more in the coming year. The county has tapped him to take the training necessary to become a bridge inspector for the public works department.

So all of you readers who are also relatives, give us a call and let us know when you're coming and Noah can change the sheets on his bed. Happy Holidays!

Missing my Book Group

Book group just hasn't been the same since the bookstore where we met for more than 10 years closed down. The owners couldn't find a buyer who met with the approval of the landlord so the lease was lost and the business folded. It was one of the last independent bookstores around. We started meeting in the food court area of a large grocery store. I went three times. It's too loud and distracting for good conversation. I'm still on the email list so I get updates, and I know what the group is reading. The group is supposed to move to the bookstore at the local community college when the major renovations of that space are complete, but that space probably won't be ready till after the first of the year. I've missed meetings because of my kids' activities, but I could have made other plans and gone to the meetings if I felt like I was going to enjoy it.

I'm reading an interesting book about Medieval Iran right now. It's called The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani. It's her first novel. It deals with the world of the Shah, his courtesans, the royal carpet designers, and a poor girl with amazing talents for design. I'm only 1/4 of the way through, but I know it's going to be a new favorite. An amazing book for a first novel.

Halloween Prep

Just a few photos of our pre-Halloween traditions. Enjoy!

Endings and Beginnings

Football is over. Noah's team lost their playoff game this evening. The coaches praised the boys and thanked them for a great season and Noah cried. He gets emotional when he loses, but this was more about saying good bye to some men he really respects. We'll have the end of season party on the 4th and turn in the gear. His head coach, a big teddy bear of a guy, gave Noah a big hug and said "I love you." That just made Noah cry more.

After the game Forrest and the kids went to a huge haunted house with the neighbor and his kids. I bet they're having a great time. I didn't feel like standing in line in the cold to get scared so I came straight home. It's so nice to have the house to myself. Neither of my kids are trick-or-treating this year, the haunted house is the more mature way to celebrate. This is the first year since 1993 that I don't have to buy or make a costume. We're getting pumpkins tomorrow because I refuse to give up that part of the Halloween celebration.

This past week Noah had basketball tryouts in addition to his football practices. He's exhausted. Basketball practice starts this week so we get no break between sports this year. It will be nice to be inside, warm and dry for a change. Football practices and games were getting very cold and wet.

Forrest and I will celebrate 18 years of wedded bliss tomorrow. Alyssa is babysitting for one of Noah's friends tomorrow night so they're staying overnight while Forrest and I go out to dinner. Forrest and the kids brought me home two dozen beautiful apricot roses today. What a lovely surprise. We're going to our favorite seafood restaurant at the marina. I can hardly wait.

Students

My teaching teammates and I have been wondering why this year's group of children seems to be so much more immature than the average class. They aren't all immature, but there is definitely a higher percentage than usual. I think I have the answer to at least part of this puzzle. In my class more than 3/4 of my students are the youngest in their family. Since I'm married to the baby of his family I do know quite a bit about them. They tend to be coddled, babied, and rescued by their parents.

I have to admit that I've rescued Noah from difficulties at school myself. But my oldest never needed rescuing. A couple of weeks ago I noticed that Noah had left his language arts book in my room after completing his homework the night before. Since I have a break at 9:30 I decided to run the book over to him. I was hoping to just slip in quietly and drop it off in his class. But Noah's teacher, Tom, who is a friend of mine wouldn't let that happen. When he saw me he said, "Look class, Noah's mom has come to rescue him. Our parents do that for us all the time and we need to appreciate them. Noah go give your mom a hug and thank her properly." So with bright red cheeks Noah walked across the room and grudgingly gave me a hug. I don't think he'll ever leave a book behind again.