Clinton Visit, Basketball, Band Concert & More 12/2019

Basketball for Garrison this  year is 5 on 5 and is exciting!  The boys have improved so much since last year and appear to know what they are doing.  2 games so far and 2 big wins.  We love going to the games and have been out to eat with the whole family after both games so far.

While Amanda and Chad had a date night out to dinner and to Handel's Messiah at the Kauffman Center, we were the lucky ones - Peyton and Garrison  spent a little over 24 hours in Clinton with us, and we made the most of it.  We had a cookie decorating contest - decorated gingerbread houses - played games - went out for Dairy Queen and to see the lights - picnic in the living room - visit to Miss Esther - attended church - and lots of just good old fashioned fun.

We attended Peyton's first band concert - she did a great job playing her Mom's clarinet - they played quite well - we picked them up at school that day and took them out to Freddy's to eat dinner beforehand.

I had a little cancer scare with a cyst on my toe, but after x-rays, a MRI and a nuclear bone scan, it was determined I remain cancer free.  Praise God.  I had a CT on my chest too which was fine.  Pain shots in my back have helped - MRI on my back too.

Mark has been joining us for lunch on Sundays and the Chiefs when they play at noon.  We are enjoying getting to spend more time with him.

God is good, and we are blessed.

November 2019

November has been a busy family month.  Garrison and Chad were roughhousing - like they have many, many times - and Garrison slipped over his shoulder and fell on his neck.  Amanda took him to  urgent care.  After x-rays and placing him in a neck brace, they sent him by ambulance to Children's Mercy South for a CT and observation.  After a few hours, he was able to go home in a neck brace and with physical limitations.

With a snow storm expected for Monday, Grammy traveled to OP on Sunday to spend the night to be there to attend Garrison's Veteran's Day Program at school and to spend the day shopping/lunch with Amanda.  About half way through the program, Garrison started feeling badly, and after Amanda took him to the nurse, the decision was made he needed to go back to the ER at Children's Mercy South since he had about passed out during the program.  After more tests and observation, the doctors felt he was going to be okay.  He didn't return to school - Chad was working from home, so Garrison stayed with him so he could rest.  Amanda and Peggy got in a little shopping after lunch in the caterer at CMS.  We felt so blessed Garrison was going to be okay - he was released two weeks later after not having PE or sports while his neck healed.  Scary.

We attended Garrison's first basketball game of the season - it was exciting.  First year for 5 on 5 - it was fast paced and intense.  They 28-16.  We had an early dinner at Costa Vida.

Peyton turned 11 this month.  She had a Late Over Birthday Party for her friends with Dance Party and lots of food!  We had her Clinton birthday party - Kit Kat Mousse was the dessert of choice this year - Thanksgiving night after they arrived in Clinton.

We had our 15th annual baking day on November 29 - what a fun day!  Ron and Chad played a little golf, although the weather was not cooperative.  We had lots of fun with Pizza Glen for dinner.

Thanksmas for the family was November 30 this year with Mark joining us for prime rib and all the fixings.  We played the Saran Wrap Ball game (a family favorite), pass the mints, pictionary and steal a gift before having dinner together.  Our first Thanksgiving without Mary - we missed her but enjoyed using the table cloth she so lovingly embroidered every year.  We signed it again this year - I will make an attempt to do justice to carry on the tradition.

Thanksgiving - we are so thankful for our blessings!!!!  Thank you God

October 2019 Fun

The last couple of weeks of October have been packed with fun - watching Garrison play soccer and Peyton play volleyball - Mark has been coming every Sunday for lunch and football - he even went to church with us this past Sunday to hear me play the piano - two-piano pieces for the prelude and offertory with Marnie Bellamy.

Peyton had a program at school - picture is of her and her friends.

The Todds took a fun trip to Disney World for 2 days and then on The Dream - Disney Cruise to the Bahamas and Castaway Cay.  They went to Mickey's Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom and also wore their costumes on the cruise.  Fun - fun.

Peyton won the gumball machine decorated pumpkin in a raffle.

We are blessed - God is good.

Day with Kids at The Main Event - Fall Foliage Tour to the New England States

The kids were out of school October 3, so we were lucky enough to get to spend the day with them before we left on vacation the next day.  They chose to go to The Main Event for fun on the ropes, zip line and arcade and lunch at Culver's for fun.

We left on a week long trip to the New England States the next day with BrenDon Tours - our friends Don and Brenda Eaton - and had a great time seeing the Fall Foliage and more.  We flew into Boston and spent the next week on and off a bus with 24 others, seeing the Morse Maple Syrup making, Ben and Jerry's ice cream factory, Morgan Horse Farm, a hike in the White Mountain Forest and a tram to the top of the mountain where 4 states could be seen.  We ate lobster when we stayed in Maine - stayed in Vermont and New Hampshire and had a tour of Boston.  A great week with beautiful leaves and a lighthouse too!

Upon return, we traveled to OP to see Garrison's last soccer match of the season and Peyton's final volleyball match.  They both played well.  We took them out to eat to celebrate Chad's birthday and then back to Clinton to attend the wedding of Raegan Pitts and Nic Cothern.

We are blessed.