What a Year!

 As 2023 comes to a close, you tend to look back and reflect on the year.

Some years just seem to roll along, but this one - no, it was quite eventful.

From losses, to almost losses, to trips, to new jobs and new beginnings - I'm ready for some calm (although I seriously doubt that's going to happen anytime soon).

 

Just some Christmas pictures to finish off the year.

 

Charlie hoping for some turkey

 

Christmas Tree

Christmas Parade

Lights in Columbus

Gingerbread Houses

Elf Hunt

 

Christmas Eve

Christmas Sunday

 

Varsity Jacket and a Class Ring

Worn Out

Nov 2023

 We went to a concert!

I can't remember the last concert we went to, but we went to an iconic, legendary one last night. 

 

The Eagles - The Long Goodbye - The Final Tour

 

After more than 50 years of sold out concerts, this is The Eagles last tour. We knew that if we didn't go when we had the chance, we would ever regret it.

Those guys might be getting older, but they still put on an awesome show.

 

We drove to Lexington, let Leila miss part of a day of school, and spent a fortune on shirts - but I am SO very glad we did.

They are amazing!

 

 

 Caleb turned 4 this month.  

He is so silly and sweet sometimes.  He cracks me up.

 

Leila will be playing for Own It travel ball again. 

But this year - she's playing up.  At 16, she will be playing with the 18 year olds.  

I have mixed feelings about this.  I'm very proud, but I'm also a little worried.  I have the utmost faith in her coach, but it just seems like a lot.

Both the practice and the tournament schedule is a little intense.  

With David in Maine, the majority of the running is on me.  I just hope she and I are both up to the task.

Oct 2023

 October is full of things, and this year was no exception.

 

Sophomore Homecoming

Leila & Gage

After the Dance

 

 

We took David to the Columbus airport this time and went out the night before.  

We went to a place I had heard about called Jack O Lantern World.

1000's of pumpkins - amazing.

 

And then - Leila turned Sweet 16!

 

We went to Top Golf for her birthday.  

Consider that out of a group of 13 - only 3 have ever played golf before.  

It was still fun, and I think we'd all go back.

Then these girls wanted to go to the outlets to shop - they wore me out.

 

 

New School Year / New Job

 Leila is now a sophomore, she played varsity volleyball this year, and we celebrated her 15th Gotcha Day (at Chinese).

Biggest change in our household though - is that David started  new job ... in Maine!

He left the hospital (PVH - now called Rivers Health) and will be working with a hospital group in Maine called Northern Lights.  

He will be in Maine for 3 weeks at a time, and then will be home and can work remotely for 2 weeks. 

It includes a substantial increase in pay, and will (hopefully) enable us to pay some things off in preparation for retirement.

It's been an adjustment for us all - him the most, of course.

David's new job meant that he missed our trip to Kings Island this time.

We missed him, but we still had fun.  And as a bonus, it was decorated for Halloween.  

However, Leila is NOT a fan of haunted houses.  Even if she ever wants to go back in one - I am not taking her. 

Summer 2023

 Summer was one thing after another.

 

Chris and Carmen just happened to be in the States and were able to come and visit for a day after David's motorcycle wreck.  

 

We took Caleb to Camden Park for the hospital's Family Day.

He loves the rides.  

 

David's shoulder was causing him a lot of pain.  

When he went back to the doctor, and they did x-rays - turned out it was really not healing as it should have.  

They scheduled for surgery the next day.

The collarbone which had been shattered in the wreck was still pretty much in a line at that time, so they had elected not to do surgery on it. 

However, as time passed - those bones were shifting (hence the frequent pain).  

They had migrated and were now in danger of coming thru the skin.  

They put in a plate and (several) screws and lined it all back up. 

 

Original X-Ray

 

X-Ray taken 2 months later

 

X-Ray after surgery

 

In July, we all went to a Reds game.  (It was Hawaiian shirt day!)

Austin and Casey have been several times, but we haven't.

Of course, we had to eat at Frisch's on the way (family tradition). 

Even ran into a friend while we were there.   

 

We ended up with 2 little visitors in Aug, after finding them in the yard.  

They were terribly cute.

We took care of them for about a week, and then sent them on their way.

We finished out the summer with another day trip to The Wilds in OH.  

I've heard about it for some time now - finally made it.

Very cool - I highly recommend it.

The African Painted Dogs were my favorite, even though I don't have a good picture of them. 

And then ... school had to start back.