Catching up seems to be an ongoing challenge these days. I wonder if I will ever be caught up? Not even sure what that really means! Anyway, Carter played flag football again this year through I9 sports with a couple of kids from his baseball team as well as some new teammates. Jeremy had so much fun coaching last year ( I am being serious!) that he opted to coach again with a little help from Coach King, Carter's baseball coach. They easily won their division, outscoring their opponents 185-42. They ended the season with a 7-1 record, losing their only game in the championship game of the 2 divisions. The Championship game is played in Ankeny on the old high school field with AstroTurf and all! Not sure what next year will bring as the the option is there to play tackle (he could have started that this year) with Carter expressing interest in trying this. I'm not so sure Jeremy and I are up for that?
I realized I never posted the kids school pictures! I never take these too seriously since we always do family pictures but I think the turned out pretty good!
So I truly win rotten mother of the year award! You'd never know it by the big smile on this girl's face! I got a call on a FRIDAY afternoon from the school nurse that Claire had come in from recess because she had fallen off the monkey bars. The nurse had her stay inside for the next recess and had given me some info on where I could take her over the weekend if she complained of any pain. I picked her up from school, she seemed fine and really wanted to go to her friend's birthday party at Backyard Adventures that night. I mean I am an OT right? I did my ROM checks, she was fine! I dropped her off and when I came back to pick her up, she was sitting by herself saying her wrist hurt. Aww..You'll be okay, let's go home and put some ice on it! SATURDAY she helped me scoop snow (Jeremy and Carter were gone for the weekend at a wrestling tournament in Oklahoma) but only complained slightly of her wrist hurting. Aww..You'll be okay, lets ice it. So SUNDAY Jeremy and Carter get home with Carter needing to go to the Dr to get a clearance note for his ringworm (gotta love dirty wrestling mats) so at the last minute I had her go along with the boys so the Dr could check out her arm. Yep, sure enough, 2 days later, only because of ringworm, did we realize, yes her wrist was truly broken! MONDAY they put a pretty pink cast on it! Luckily she thinks this is pretty cool and loves all the extra attention she has gotten! Both her gymnastics coach and dance teacher have been kind enough to modify their programs for her so she can still participate in her activities. She goes in tomorrow to have it taken off after 4 weeks! It is getting pretty ripe so I'll be glad to have it gone! Yep, rotten mom of the year!
Although I didn't take any pictures, we celebrated Thanksgiving this year by hosting the dinner at our house! This is the first time we have done this and I think we may have started a new tradition. I have to admit I cheated somewhat and ordered it all from Hyvee!!! It was the best Thanksgiving ever! No grocery shopping, no hours spent in the kitchen cooking, and no dishes to wash! We ordered a hot carved turkey dinner for 12 people with all the fixings for way less than you could have bought all the groceries for and it was YUMMY! Later that afternoon Jeremy and the kids and I along with my mom and sister checked out one of our favorite holiday pastimes, The Festival of Lights and Trees! This is a fundraiser for Blank Children's Hospital with some of the most gorgeous trees! There is always a scavenger hunt for kids to find certain things on the trees as well as a ton of kids activities. This is our traditional kick off to the Christmas season!
Case's favorite treat, filled with Teddy Bears
Carter picked the "Elf" tree as his fav this year!
And of course, we are still mesmerized by Frozen!
Santa was there thank goodness because this may be the only chance we have to see him!
What has also become a Christmas tradition gearing up for the holidays is the annual ugly Christmas sweater party hosted by our friends the Sorensen's for neighbors in our old hood. These are some before pics with our friends the Buschers. The kids all get to have their own party filled with pizza and movies while the adults stagger across the street for some adult beverages and lots of laughs! It's so good to see all of our old neighbors!
Last Friday I was able to spend the morning with Claire and her class at the Des Moines Playhouse to watch the production of the Gingerbread Man. I felt so thankful her teacher asked if I could join them!
Friday night was also a big night for Case as Kids Company held their annual preschool Christmas program. I wasn't sure how he would do with this but he was a rock star and belted out the words to every song. So funny because all week I asked him what they were singing and he kept saying, " I don't know" He knew! Little smarty pants!
And last but not least, we had a very special visitor in our neighborhood this past weekend! Santa came by on the Clive fire truck handing out candy canes and taking last minute requests! Thanks to our neighbor Sonya to alerting us he was coming! If it weren't for her we would have missed him the last 2 years!
I have to say I think I am ready for Christmas! House decorated ( we added another tree this year to make 6!) Christmas cards sent, presents all bought and mostly wrapped! AND.....Santa is bringing gifts this year that don't have to be put together at midnight on Christmas eve! Woo hoo! Maybe I am caught up? :)
