Happy Thanksgiving 2020!

The Houstons  (especially the littlest Houstons) had requested that the tree be put up as soon as possible.... I think we are all ready for some Christmas cheer after a crazy year!  So almost two weeks ago, we put up our Christmas tree and it has felt so festive around our house! The boys love when we turn on the gas logs and cuddling with them on the couch is definitely my happy place!  So bring on all the cheer, Christmas is here! ;)

We welcomed kindergarten and 1st graders back to our schools in the last couple weeks.  Zander is supposed to start back in person in January (although with numbers rising of Covid cases, I'm not sure this is actually going to happen).  He might be in remote learning all of his 2nd grade year.  I will go in to do lessons periodically throughout the year when students are in the building, so I had Zander help me one day since he is my permanent office mate!  He did a great job reading to kindergarteners (walking around to show them the pictures, rocking a mask and staying socially distant from the students)!

On Sunday night, we got an email saying that someone in Maddox's class had tested positive for the virus.  Since we traced back the last possible time of contact, we went Monday morning (6-7 days after exposure) to get him tested.  He was showing no signs of the virus and we are happy to report his results came back negative!  His best friend, Mollie, showed up to get tested around the same time so we had to document another "fun outing" for these buddies!  He has to stay home with me the full 14 days before he can return to his classroom which meant Monday and Tuesday of this week I was attempting to work from home with both kids!  Zander was still able to get on his Zoom links and complete his classwork.  Maddox did a great job entertaining himself or working with his brother so mommy could be productive.  We even joined Grammy, Grandpa and Eli on Tuesday so mommy had some extra hands and a change of scenery!  I am very thankful it is a short week of work and we only have 2 more days of school the following week before Maddox can return to this class!  

This is what happens when you are trying to work and Zander has been using your phone for his tasks. ;)

Snuggles with Eli on Tuesday morning!

While I'm on a meeting, these boys are bonding over Z's tablet! haha

Got the boys fresh haircuts for the holidays!  Zander wanted his picture from the side! haha

We went to the science center with the Kennedys and Grammy for our first day off during Thanksgiving break! We had a blast!! The animals were so active which entertained the kids and adults!

Maddox bought a new toy while at the science center (using some birthday money).  He got it stuck on the roof right after we got home! Mommy climbed out the window the boys are peering out of in this picture and used a rake to "save the day" and retrieve the toy from this very high elevation!  Just a boy mom doing "boy mom" things! haha  The boys' faces in this picture make me laugh out loud!

We got some additional pictures back from my friend who took our family photos in October!  I just love seeing the pictures of my extended family and my little family of four!  While this Thanksgiving Day we are not able to travel to see our extended family, I continue to be thankful for all God has blessed us with this year.... our family, our friends, our health, our jobs, our home and so many other things... this is truly the time of year to sit back and reflect on all the blessings God has given us and our hearts are so full!  

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus"- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" - Lamentations 3:22-23

November Birthdays!

In the month of November, specifically from the 10th to the 18th, we have quite a few family birthdays.  This has made the boys really excited to celebrate with each family member and of course grab a sweet treat at each occasion!  We celebrated our "first born" first.... Burke turned 11 this past week and enjoys chasing squirrels, going for walks and a good long nap!  We recently found out that the tumors he had removed are cancer.  The vet mentioned possible radiation options going forward.  Based on the cost and time away from us, we have decided not to pursue any treatments past the surgeries we had for Burke.  I am trying to take more pictures of our sweet pup!  He is doing great and at 11 years old, he sometimes still acts like a puppy.  We are so thankful he is a part of our family!

Then, we celebrated Emerson's fourth birthday, complete with yummy cupcakes.  She loves the Frozen book we got her and I hear she reads it every night. ;)  We love this little girl so much!

We made the trip back home to see Grannie for her birthday mid week.  She has a birthday on Veteran's Day so the boys and I had the day off from school/work..... making for the perfect excuse for a road trip west!  

Maddox had his five year checkup and is officially ready for kindergarten!!  I am praying daily that school will be back to "normal" by the fall of 2021.  I cannot fathom him starting kindergarten with remote learning and I know this boy will need to be in a classroom where he can learn to read and write.  Prayers are appreciated for this!  He is a healthy five year old.... he weighs in the 50th percentile and his height has gotten up to the 70th percentile!  He also is incredibly brave..... he didn't even make a peep when he got his flu shot!

Zander has been doing great with remote learning..... he is getting better at being independent... signing onto the live classes through zoom and working through his daily to-do list of assignments to complete and submit electronically..... I am so proud of his enthusiasm, resilience and flexibility.  I never thought he would be learning his 2nd grade curriculum like this but he is rocking it out! He was celebrated this past week with a school-wide bow tie award for his hard work!

On Saturday we went to the zoo to celebrate the Kennedy kids' birthdays!  Emerson and Eli's birthdays are eight days apart, making for a great reason to have a joint celebration.  Since big parties are not an option this year,  we opted for a day at the zoo with our crazy crew!  It was a great way to celebrate #4 and #1..... big milestones for Emerson and Eli!  I think everyone had a blast.... young and older!;)

Check out this comparison picture from 2015, 2017 and 2020.... Linds hasn't changed a bit but where did our Lil' Z go?!

Fall Fun!

We took a much needed break from the "reality" of work and school and enjoyed all things "fall" up in Dobson on Saturday.  The boys were in their happy place as they got to choose which activity they wanted to do and in which order (and they got to do them over and over again if they wanted!).  Their favorites were the apple cannon (which shot apples at a target in a huge open field) and the hay ride that overlooked such a beautiful farm property.  The leaves are still changing colors so the drive there was also beautiful as we soaked up this time of year.  Some of the other attractions that the kids enjoyed included pony rides, a corn maze, corn maze obstacle course bounce houses, a barrel train, pedal tractors, rat races, an in-ground jumping pillow, a pipe slide and checking out the farm animals that live there (although Zander's favorite might have been the kitty cat that was walking around the property... haha!)  We also enjoyed delicious food which included a funnel cake!  Since the county fair was closed this year, it was nice to eat some fair food as I like to call it!  I listened to someone that worked there that commented the weeks in October were pretty crowded and busy but this first weekend in November provided less crowds which meant we were able to do everything we wanted to do without any wait and typically by ourselves!  It was a great day to watch kids being kids... even the big kids (daddy and mommy) had a blast!

The temperature got up to almost 80 degrees while we were there which provided for some unseasonably warmer weather and a quick change into the extra clothes mommy keeps in the car for occasions such as this!

This week we also celebrated a good report card with pizza Friday night.... Zack says I can celebrate this report card too since it has been completed through remote learning... haha!

Spiderman (aka Maddox) was at our house most days this week... this boy is loving a good costume and the ability to dress up whenever he wants to!

We worked from home on Tuesday due to the presidential election.  Since our school is a voting site and mommy voted early, we worked in the living room in our comfy clothes!  It is looking like Joe Biden will be the 46th president of the United States with his running mate, Kamala Harris, being the first female vice president elect in our nation's history.  There has been much controversy with the voting and election process in general.... another reason that 2020 will be a year none of us will ever forget!

Maddox was in his school's newsletter for fire safety week with one of his best buds, Jackson!

We had a full moon on Halloween this year and I wanted to document it.  The last time we had a full moon on Halloween was in 2001 and the last time there was a full moon on Halloween for all the time zones in the US was in 1944.  It is crazy to hear that the entire century will only have six full moons (2001, 2020, 2039, 2058, 2077, and 2096).... making this the only one where our boys will be kids.... the next one they will be adults!  It was also the 2nd full moon in October making it a blue moon.... if you have ever heard the phrase "once in a blue moon" it speaks to a rare event!  Having Halloween on a Saturday with a full moon on the night before daylight savings time made for a very interesting holiday for sure!

On Tuesday, our first born pup turns 11 years old!! This is the same day as our niece's birthday so we celebrated a little early with his "puppy sample" from his favorite frozen yogurt place.  He "enjoyed" us singing happy birthday to him while he scarfed down his sweet treat!  Happy birthday to our "first born"!