Christmas 2015

I love Christmas season.
Oddly enough, it didn't seem as busy and hectic this year as normal.
Maybe because Leila was the only one at home, and she didn't have any extracurricular activities going on at the time.
That's not to say I had all my Christmas stuff done early - I didn't.
Leila has had more doctor appointments lately than normal, and I've been trying to work as much as possible lately.
I didn't even start Christmas baking until the week of Christmas - but it all got done, just like it always does.

Just a few pictures from the season.

Putting up the tree

Santa

School Program

Church Program

Christmas Sunday

Cookies for Santa

Christmas Morning


Once Christmas was over, it was time to clean up and get ready for our annual New Year's Eve Party.
We love our group that gets together every year to send out the old and welcome in the new with games, fun, friendship and of course, food.

Leila and I were ready for the party in our new matching shirts, but everyone needed a nap the next day - even Mousey.

Fall 2015

Fall sped by with our usual activities.

Darrell settled in at Marshall and is loving college life.
He's taking classes, and working part-time.
He got a job as a life guard at the rec center on campus. It works out great for him because the rec center is right next door to his dorm.
He also joined a fraternity. He assures me it's more of an 'academic' one, rather than a 'party' one though - Kappa Alpha.
He's such a social person, I knew it was only a matter of time.


Leila's doing well as a big 2nd grader.

Leila choose not to do ballet this year - which makes me sad, because I love to watch her in it and I think she's very good.
I also know that I can't make her do something like that if her heart isn't in it.
I hope she'll miss it and want to go back next year - but so far, she doesn't.

She cheered again this year. She does love that.
This was her 3rd year cheering.
I'm glad she's found something that she does really like, but I must say that I'm not much of a personal fan of 'outdoor sports', and some of those football games got pretty cold.
Leila was fine - but I thought I was going to freeze.


In Oct, we took a weekend trip to Amish Country with some friends.
I've been wanting to go for quite some time, but we just haven't been able to work it out until now.
David didn't realize just how much is there to do and see.
Now he's much more willing to go back again.
We went to a carving museum that was absolutely amazing, and an Amish comedy theater - plus we had some great food.



The end of the month brought Halloween, of course, and both Darrell (19) and Leila's (8) birthdays.


For Leila's birthday, I let her miss school.
We went to breakfast with 'the girls' and then spent the day - just her and I, shopping at the mall.

We didn't get to stay ALL day though, because we had to get home and get ready for Trick-or-Treat that night.

Darrell didn't come home for his actual birthday.
He had just been home the weekend before to go to Amish Country with us, so he decided to stay in Huntington.
The lure of a home Marshall football game AND Halloween night was just great to miss in comparison to spending the weekend with us.

We went to the traveling version of 'The Price is Right' in Nov.
TPIR is one of David's favorite shows, and Leila used to say that she wanted to be a Price is Right model when she grows up - so when I saw tickets going on sale, I knew we had to go.
It was a fun night out, and I'm glad we went - although it would have been so much better had we gotten on stage and won something.


We rounded out Nov with Thanksgiving and a full house.

Cruise

We didn't get to go on our annual 'girls' beach trip' again this year, so we altered it a little and went on a cruise.
We were missing a few of our 'group', but there were 4 of us that went to the Bahamas in Sept - Leila, my mom, Mandy and me.
I hated to take Leila out of school for a week, but it was the only time we could get it scheduled that would work.
We went on a 5 day cruise to Nassau and Freeport.


In Nassau, we went to Atlantis.
While it was supercool, and I'm really glad that I had the opportunity to go - I have to say that I think it's overrated.
I think it's one of those places, that is a definite to go to, but once is enough.




The port of Freeport itself may not be quite as nice as Nassau, but we went on a tour that was fantastic.
Our guide was amazing.
We toured the island and saw some of the 'out of the way' places - not just the typical 'touristy' stuff.

Boiling Hole

Conch Shell 'Graveyard'


Then we went snorkeling at a place called Paradise Cove and ate conch fritters afterward.

Paradise Cove - where we snorkled










Leila's 7th 'Gotcha Day' was while we were gone this time.
Normally we all go out to eat (Chinese).
We missed getting to do that with Daddy and the 'boys' this time, but we got to spend it with Mama and Mandy in Nassau.
The 'guys' may not agree, but we thought it was an okay trade.


The water was a little rough this time.
I don't know if it was the weather, or if it was because we were in the Atlantic (and I've always sailed in the Gulf before). But it wasn't anything too bad.
And I'm ready to go again!

Aug 2015

Aug brought SO many changes to our household.

The wedding was the 15th, and Austin moved out.

A mere 4 days later, we moved Darrell to Huntington to start his freshman year of college at Marshall.
(Go Herd!)

Darrell has certainly embraced the college lifestyle.
He's quite social and is making the most of his opportunities there.
In fact, he hardly ever comes home.
He joined a fraternity - but he assures me that it's an 'academic' one, not a 'party' one.
He's been whitewater rafting with the Christian group he goes to.
And he's working part-time at the MU Rec Center as a life guard.
I hope that when the semester ends, his grades are as exciting as his new life.

The day after that, was the first day of 2nd grade for Leila.
She wasn't wild about school last year, but so far she really likes it this year.
I'm so glad.
That makes mornings much easier around here.


In one week, we went from a household of 5 to 3.
A change like that definitely changes how and how much you cook!

I'm still working as a substitute teacher, but I'm limited in how much and how often I can work this year.
David changed jobs.
He's still with the same company, but he has a different position now.
He travels a LOT - he's probably gone 3 weeks a month.
That makes it much more difficult for me to work and still get Leila to and from school.
On the other hand, he's much happier with this new job - so that's okay.

Leila was missing the boys so much that we let her get a new kitten.
Yes - we have WAY too many animals already, and YES, we added another to the 'zoo'.
What can I say - sometimes we're just not that smart.
But he's a cute little thing.
Meet Mousey.

Austin and Casey's Wedding

Austin and Casey got married August 15th.

Wedding and reception were very nice.
Darrell was a groomsmen, and Leila got to be the flower girl - a 'job' she absolutely LOVES.






We got to see a lot of family - from both sides.
Our house was really a busy place that week.
We had the rehearsal dinner / pool party here the night before.
Then we had company and out-of-town guests for several days afterwards.

Part of my family


Part of David's family

Siblings

July 2015

I thought that once our traveling was done for the summer (Fl and Chicago), things would slow down.
I was wrong.
When we got back from Chicago, we went straight into Bible School.
It's only 2 hours an evening, but it absolutely wears me out.

Austin and Casey had their bridal shower in July.


We all worked like crazy on the house trying to get it ready in time for Austin and Casey to move into.
We've decided that although we've all learned a lot of valuable life lessons in home repair - this is not something we would like to do full-time.

Darrell went to registration and orientation for college.


We did manage to sneak in just a little bit of fun this month though.
Our Sunday School group went to a water park for the day.
We had a great time and can't wait for our next 'outing'.