Winter Sports: Basketball!

We've been busy since we rang in the new year!  The boys have started back to basketball.... enjoying practices throughout the week and games on Saturday.  It was so much fun cheering on the boys and their cousin, Emmy, to three wins in their first week of games!  They have since had a second weekend of basketball and had three wins again (I got the highlights of Z's game from another parent)! ;)  Daddy, Uncle Boomer, and Grandpa are helping coach the kids' teams which means the whole family is committed to Saturdays at the basketball court!  Zander missed his game yesterday due to a fever, lethargy and cough that started on Friday.  The doctor said it isn't strep or the flu so we are just waiting out the virus! He has started feeling better today and now Maddox is under the weather.   We are praying the germs leave quickly and are thankful the symptoms are manageable with some pain medication!  We are also thankful for the long weekend and having an extra day to recover tomorrow before heading back to school. Daddy still has to work but I think the rest of us will be taking it easy.  Zander starts back to soccer next week so we will be juggling multiple sports until March!  Prayers appreciated ;)

Both boys won in the Ninja Warrior Night last week in Awana.  They had the fastest times in the inflatable obstacle course (Z for 3rd-5th, M for K-2nd).  These boys are definitely competitive and athletic!

I was able to have two social gatherings this week in spite of the hectic pace that has started in the new year.  I got to see some of my best friends for dinner and celebrate a co-worker and cherished friend's 50th birthday party with many of my colleagues.  Since we were celebrating M's teacher, he got to tag along. ;)

Hello 2024!

As I say every year, our favorite week is the time we get off of school and work between Christmas and New Year's Day!  Daddy is home and we have fun doing little daily outings and knocking things off the ongoing yearly to-do list.  The boys enjoyed a swim at the YMCA pool on the day after Christmas (Tuesday)!

On Wednesday, we went for a foggy, misty hike at Pilot Mountain.  With the questionable weather, we opted for a closer and shorter (3 mile) hike compared to previous years going to Stone Mountain.  I promise there is a mountain overlook behind our family picture! haha

On Thursday, I loaded up the boys to head back home to see two of my best friends and all of their boys.  These are two of my favorite #boymoms and I love any chance we can get together.  It is so cool to see the friendships developing between our boys as well over the years.  We spent the day with the Greenes on Thursday, playing at their new home.  On Friday, we spent the day with Ginny and her boys, going to a climbing gym and indoor soccer field.  With the colder temperatures on Friday, these were perfect activities for our busy boys!  While we had fun, daddy painted our front living room and it looks so good! :)

We had a low-key day on Saturday, continuing to leisurely check off things on our to-do list and eating a delicious dinner at Out West.  We enjoyed our family day for sure!  For New Year's Eve, we hosted our normal NYE crew for a low country boil (made by Zack) and some delicious sides and desserts.  I love that we can spend the last few hours of each year with some of our very best friends!

Daddy went to bed around 9:30/10:00.  The boys and I made it up until midnight to watch the ball drop and welcome in 2024.  This was Maddox's first year making it up to see midnight and Zander's second year staying up to see the new year!

I finished out the year with running over 1,000 miles!  Even with turning 40 this year, I am still staying active and enjoying the exercise (and "me time") whenever I can.  I actually made 1,050 miles during my 39th year (July 2022-June 2023).  A goal for 2024 will be to read through the entire Bible, changing my focus from my physical health to my spiritual development.  I'm excited about this new goal and to move away from running so many miles, using the time to read God's word (while maybe on the elliptical instead). :)