'Tis the Season to Trim the Tree

Tree trimming has become a pretty easy experience for Adam and I these days.  This year, the boys were so quick when we said "go" that I almost missed getting any photos!  Also, once they each got all of their ornaments on, the tree was so full that I was content with hanging just a couple of my very favorites.  They do a pretty good job of spreading the ornaments out evenly now, too, so, in the end, I just sat back and appreciated the beauty of our tree loaded with memories of Christmases past.  This year I did add an old-fashioned glass buoy float ornament that Tommy gave me from Cape Cod, and my mom contributed a cute little light house that she bought there, as well.  I love this sweet tradition, and I love it even more now that I can quietly and watch my kids share laughter and nostalgia as they place their ornament treasures from the past.

Thanksgiving 2017

It was a quiet and small Thanksgiving for our family this year, but it was wonderful!  Adam and Zac played in the ward Turkey Bowl, we all did a Conlin Family 5k Turkey Trot/Roll/Ride, we ate apple pie for lunch, we played Watch Ya Mouth and laughed a lot, we watched 2 movies, and we cooked and baked, and then we ate and ate and ate.  We were treated to a beautiful Colorado sunset and got to FaceTime with Tommy, Nana and Papa. 

"Life is like an old-time rail journey--delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.  The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride." (Jenkins Lloyd Jones)  We are grateful for this crazy ride and ALL that it has given us!  

The Bits: November 9th Through November 24th

Carrying on with November!

It was a fun night at Ben's cross-country banquet--a lot of laughs and a little sadness as we have to say goodbye to these stellar seniors.  What a great team!  Ben was given his varsity letter and the "Moving Mountain" award for making a significant individual difference for the team this year, coming in as a solid, fast number 4/5 runner for the team.  Coach Young said that after their first race at the Rust Buster a lot of the other 5A coaches were saying, "Well...shoot."  As tradition, the seniors gift the underclassmen some symbolic items--maybe something meaningful, maybe an inside joke, maybe a legacy item from runners of RHS past; Ben was given a nasty, grimy, supercool hat from David Bolt who ran 1000K in it since last track season.  Another runner found it on the ground and gave it to him and it became his lucky charm.  From Connor McCabe he received a tiny RAV4 that was gifted him last year from TJ Barker.  He said, "It looks like a pretty small car, but it goes really fast."

We loved honoring our veterans at the elementary school with our very own vet, Papa!  Tommy and Luke were both able to be part of the flag ceremony and Luke sand in the choir, as well.

Our Veterans: my dad, grandpa and Adam's grandpa.  My dad served in the Navy medical corps in Japan during the Vietnam War, helping soldiers who had been injured and evacuated from Vietnam.  My grandpa George Stanley McKenzie, Jr (Stan) served in WWII in the Pacific.  Adam's grandpa, Calixtus Vandenwijngaert served in the Belgian Army during WWII, deserting after the Nazis took Belgium because he wouldn't serve under Hitler.

When your favorite things at the Favorite Things party are the friends.

Josh loved November's Deacons Quorum camping trip to Rampart Reservoir!  It's fun that he has a camera phone now, because he sure loves to document.

We enjoyed the Hunchback of Notre Dame musical put on by the Sunrise Players, a community theatre program at my parents' new Colorado Springs church of choice, Sunrise Methodist.

So grateful to have my favorite fellow cinephiles here with me during holiday movie season!  The list over the past few weeks includes: Thor Ragnarok, Only the Brave, Marshall and Murder on the Orient Express.

A day in the life.

So grateful for mamas who share their pics with me!  Some cute shots from Tommy's field trip to the Littleton Historical Society.  

Zac has been participating in a PE class this semester called Rocky Mountain High, focusing on high ropes/rock climbing type activities.  They just had their big final field trip: climbing for 4 hours at the Springs Climbing Center.  He had a great time, and has the blisters to prove it!

Zac's soccer season wrapped up with the team soccer banquet.  Zac received his second varsity letter and praise from the coach for his ability to work hard wherever he's placed on the field.  The season wasn't always positive for Zac, due to the style of this coach, but he always made an effort to do his very best when he's on the field and works hard to be an asset to the team.  We are so proud of him for his never-quit ethic and positive attitude! 

Family Home Evening fun with the Barkers!

Shot anxiety is very real for Luke.  We thought trying out this shot blocker would help ease that anxiety, but getting Luke to settle his fear enough to even try the blocker was still quite the challenge.  The smile here was well before the shot entered the room, and I'm pretty sure Luke's amygdala convinced him that the shot could physically jump off of the counter and stab him with no human help.  After 25 minutes of fearful panic and efforts from everyone in the building to calm and cajole him into letting us get it done, we ended up leaving and then returning 30 minutes later, after he begged to get it so he wouldn't get tetanus, to calmly give it a try.  He walked in, had the shot, and was fine.  I recognize that he is in true fight or flight mode, but why can't we get to the "calm down and try" part faster?

Wonder, Justice League and Thor: Ragnarok--the boys have inherited their parents' love of the movies!

Josh participated in his swim team's annual Swim-a-Thon fundraiser over the Thanksgiving break.  He swam 5000m, or 200 lengths, in 97 minutes.  Not too bad for a rookie swimmer!  He's been having a great time as part of the Falfins team and can't wait for his first meet.

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving = Pie Making Day!  Chocolate Chip Bourbon Pecan, Dutch Apple and 2 Pumpkin....

How we feel about Black Friday shopping...even though we scored some sweet deals.

So nice to have the shopping behind us, now let's go fly a kite!

 

 

The Santafication process has begun!