Thanksgiving 2022

Thanksgiving break came at the perfect time! We have had a pretty hectic pace lately, so a few days of family and food were just what we needed. Prior to the break, Emmy had a lot of fun celebrations at school, including crafts and a balloon parade. 

On Wednesday, while Boomer was at work, I coordinated with my mom to watch the kiddos in the morning while I took the PRAXIS for School Counseling. It has been so long since I took a standardized test, and I had some nerves in the days leading up to it. I tried to study in the evenings and in the pockets of time throughout the day. On Tuesday evening, I printed my admissions ticket, set my alarm, and tried to get to bed early. When I arrived to the testing center in Greensboro on Wednesday morning to check-in, I immediately realized that my photo ID was in Boomer's wallet! From our football game the weekend prior, I had put my license in his wallet so that I did not have to carry anything, and then I forgot to move it back over. As panic set in, I pulled all other forms of ID out of my wallet: a bank card, my college ID, my voter registration card. Unfortunately none of these were acceptable. The folks at the testing center said that I could still test if I could provide an ID by 9AM. Time was ticking! I made a desperate phone call to Boomer, and he immediately made his way to Greensboro from Yadkinville - almost an hour away! At the same time, I called my mom and dad in Kernersville to see how quickly they could come with my passport. In the end, both Boomer and my mom arrived at the testing center at the same time around 8:40AM. I tried to get myself together and breathe a few deep breaths. I went back inside and was finally admitted to test. And I PASSED! I received an unofficial score, and I should receive an official score report in the next two weeks. I am so excited to have the PRAXIS behind me. It is a requirement in North Carolina, and it means I am one step closer to finishing my program. I have three classes, my practicum, and my internship remaining. 

After leaving the testing center, I met up with my mom and the kiddos who were close by at the Science Center. I was still on a high of adrenaline and nerves, but once I joined them, I put my Mommy hat back on and had a fun time seeing all the exhibits. Emmy was especially adventurous in petting the goats at the barn. Eli enjoyed the tractor and climbing in the treehouse.  

Our Thanksgiving travels took us east this year as we celebrated with the Kennedys in Surf City. After our multiple trips to Virginia this fall, Boomer's family decided to stay in North Carolina, and his sister Carlin offered to host. While Matt is still deployed, she was very excited to have people at her house for a festive gathering. We drove to Surf City on Thursday and stayed two nights. Our meal on Thanksgiving included salad, rolls, mac-n-cheese, roasted loaded potatoes, kielbasa, chicken wings, and multiple dips. For dessert, we had brownies, apple pie, and Carlin's sugar cookie truffles. After eating, we played a little baseball in the front yard and then relaxed around the tv on the porch watching football into the evening. The weather was a mild, beachy temperature in the mid-60s, and it was very comfortable being outside. The four of us stayed at Carlin's house that night, and Boomer's parents stayed nearby in Rocky Point at Kyle's house. On Friday, we gathered again at Carlin's for more leftovers and football. It was an nontraditional Thanksgiving, but probably one of my favorites to date.  

On Saturday, we traveled back to Kernersville for our Bakewell Thanksgiving. I snapped this picture of the kiddos having a snack at a truck stop outside of Raleigh. 

The Houstons hosted again this year. How did we get so lucky that siblings on both sides of the family hosted Thanksgiving?! We sure are spoiled to just show up! Zack deep-fried a turkey and made kielbasa wrapped in bacon; Mom made her sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, and deviled eggs; and Meg made her broccoli casserole, rolls, and the dessert. Everything was delicious, and we slipped into food comas while we watched football and the kids played around us. From start to finish (minus the ID mishap!), we've had a pretty wonderful Thanksgiving! We have much to be thankful for!

Cheering in the Cold

Boomer and I have managed to go to two back-to-back Wake football games over the last two weeks. We went to last Saturday's game against UNC Chapel Hill and then this past Saturday's game versus Syracuse. Our record is 1-1, with a tough loss against UNC 34-36 and a win against Syracuse 45-35. Both games were night games with some chilly temperatures, but we stuck out the cold to cheer on our team. Go Deacs!

In other happenings, Eli got a hair cut....

and Emmy lost another tooth, which brings the total tooth count to 7!

We also decorated for Christmas! It is a debate in our house each year if we will wait to decorate until after Thanksgiving, but as soon as Halloween is over, I cannot seem to wait too long. All three of my elves helped carry boxes, hang ornaments, and string lights. I love the glow of the tree each evening and the kiddos excitement when we turn it on. There are two days of work and school this week, and then we will be going to Surf City to celebrate Thanksgiving with the Kennedys. We are excited about the holidays ahead!

Enjoy this photo of Boomer and one of his coworkers serving a Thanksgiving meal at one of the elementary schools :)

Our November Birthdays

It has been a fun, busy two weeks celebrating our November birthdays! Emmy's birthday was on Thursday, the 10th and she took cookies to school to celebrate with her class. That evening, we made homemade pizza and opened presents from Mommy and Daddy. Her gifts included a new bike helmet, some clothes, bubble gum, and gem stickers. She reminded me that she really wanted a hugger and a camera...I guess Santa has his orders for Christmas!

Today was Eli's birthday. He had a party at school earlier in the week with the other November birthdays in his class. Then this evening, we went out to dinner at Cracker Barrel with Grammy, Grandpa, Aunt Megan, Maddox, and Zander. We all had chocolate cake for dessert, and Grammy and Grandpa surprised Emmy and Eli with gifts from the CB store. Eli got a new red fire truck, and Emmy got a Belle doll. She has had her eye on this Belle doll since our last visit to Cracker Barrel almost a year ago. Both kids are pretty spoiled! :)

Our initial plan was to go to the zoo for the kids' birthdays on Friday, the 11th, Veterans Day. However, there were thunderstorms all day from a hurricane, so we postponed our zoo trip until Saturday. The weather was much better. In fact, it was a perfect, sunny day with temperatures in the upper 60s. Emmy was very excited about celebrating her birthday at the zoo. 

We rode along with Grammy and Grandpa and met the Houstons and Boomer's parents in Asheboro. We parked in North America and then rode the tram to the center point, called the Junction Plaza. We walked the loop of Africa, where we saw the gorillas, chimpanzees, giraffes, zebras, and rhinos. 

We arrived back to the Junction Plaza for an early lunch around 11AM. Before eating, the kids wanted to ride the carousel. Emmy talked me into the spinning saucer, and I'm glad we had waited to eat lunch (haha!) After lunch, we had cookies and sang for our two birthdays. 

After lunch, we finished the North America exhibits of the red wolves, bears, bison, elk, otters, and alligators. My favorite was the polar bear. Boomer was Super Daddy pushing and carrying both kiddos as energy levels started to dip. For the most part, everyone remained in good spirits, especially when we passed out a second round of cookies and other snacks. 

We had two very tired kiddos after we returned from the zoo. Sleeping angels!

Emmy has been so proud to say that she is 6. Her favorite things right now are coloring, Friday movie nights, pretending to be a teacher or a princess, and learning to read. She will notice letters and words on signs and try to sound them out. She already has a long list of sight words that she has memorized. She loves her Tuesday dance class and Christmas choir practice on Wednesdays. While there are moments that she gets frustrated with her little shadow Eli, she is a nurturing big sister. I love catching sweet moments between the two of them when they think no one is watching. It makes me laugh when she puts her hand to her forehead in exasperation as Eli does something silly or isn't listening to directions. She tries to play school with him, but he is not the most cooperative student. She looks so big when I pick her up in the afternoons with her bookbag on. Sometimes before bed, we will have conversations about the future, her fears, heaven, and her feelings. Right now, she says that she wants to live with Mommy and Daddy forever. She's my tender-hearted, sometimes sassy six-year-old, and we love her so much!

Eli is 3, and he can show us on his fingers. He is a constant chatterbox. He has a big vocabulary, and he likes to be listened to. He will often turn my head and call my name multiple times to ensure he has my full attention. "Hey Mommy, watch this!" is a common phrase I hear. Eli loves Spiderman, Spidey and his Amazing Friends, Lightning McQueen, all race cars, and watching sports with Daddy. He has memorized the Wake Forest fight song, and he will pump his fist in the air when it's time to say "Go Deacs!" He is well liked at school, and his teachers say that he is very easy going. At bedtime, he isn't interested in being rocked anymore; those days seem to be in the past. After reading a book, he will whisper, "I want to go to bed." While Emmy is left-handed, Eli appears to be right-handed. When he colors and eats, he predominantly uses his right hand. He knows his ABCs, and he can count past twenty, although sometimes he forgets 'thirteen.' I love his strut when he takes off to be the leader of our group. He'll swing his arms like a man on a mission. We love our E-Guy!