Christmas Tree Decorating

Everyone in our house loves having the house decorated for Christmas, but it’s only the girls who are ever willing to help me with it. Thankfully, they both think it’s fun to get the tree up and decorated and to make the house look festive. I always love the final result, but it’s a long day of dealing with the mess as we go along. This year, I’m especially in love with how the tree turned out! We have so many ornaments, and I’m so glad we have a big tree to fit them all. Plus, we even had enough overflow ornaments to fill the tree downstairs!

 

Turkey Day Take 2

Jess, Chris and Cindy hosted Thanksgiving the Friday after Thanksgiving. We had got to see the house but that was when they first moved in, so it was nice to see it all put together. Jess had already decorated for Christmas, and it looked beautiful. I was jealous that I wasn't done with my decorating yet. I love having the house decorated for Christmas, but the process is so long and messy. Instead of doing a traditional meal we did soups and sandwiches. We had chili, chicken noodle and ham and bean soup. We all had way too much to eat. I will be honest; I was a little nervous about how tonight was going to go. Cindy had a sale at the house and had neglected to tell us. I don't think it was malicious, but it didn't sit well with any of us. Steph who has no filter had made her feelings known. Mitch had put his thoughts in a well thought out letter, and I had just kept my mouth shut because I have always and will forever be the peacemaker. I just want everyone to get along and avoid conflict. Thankfully we were able to put that aside and have a good night. No one gives you a handbook of how to handle life with your stepmom and her family after the one that brought you together isn't here anymore. Dad was the glue that made things work and now we all feel that loss.

 

Thanksgiving Day

We had Thanksgiving dinner at the Lutz's on Thanksgiving Day. We ate a little later than normal so that Ginger and Aaron could go to his moms too. It was kind of nice because it was very laid back. We got there around noon and just got to hang out. The kids worked on their Christmas lists per the request of Grandma, Grandpa and Ginger. Thanksgiving dinner was delicious, and the pumpkin cheesecake was to die for! After eating the kids all played and the adults watched football and chatted. At around 5pm it seemed like it was 10pm. I guess turkey does make you tired!

 

First Tournament

Emmy had her first basketball tournament the weekend that I took Caleb to Norfolk to hunt. I was sad to miss the first one but there are plenty of games this season. Emmy was really nervous. We have a little Bryce on our hands. She was nervous and on edge before the games and she needed to be there extra early. Robb is coaching her NYBA team through Norris this year. A lot of the girls on the team have never played in tournaments before and I guess the first game was a little ugly with them losing by 40 points. The next couple games went better, and the girls started to play more aggressively. When I got home on Sunday night, Emmy was tired and beat up. She is one of the more aggressive players and she had taken a little bit of a beating. She took an Epsom salt bath while eating a mac n cheese cup and watching TV on her phone. Self-care at its best. Love it!

 

Decorating at Grimton

Steph and I went out to Grimton to decorate dad's gravesite. Steph joked that we have become rather good at something that we never thought we would have to do at this age. After a couple years of decorating out here we know that we have to thread wire through the hat to get it to stay on the stake. We also have to stake the tree and then wire it to the sign so that it doesn't get blown away or eaten by a deer. I was talking to Steph while she was at Hobby Lobby picking out a Santa sign to bring. She was trying to decide between this one and the one that said Santa Stop here. We were both laughing so hard thinking how that sign might be slightly inappropriate for a cemetery. Last year this would have made me burst into tears, so we have come a long way. Steph and I enjoy going out there. It is peaceful and we get to spend time together. After many trips out here, we have figured out why dad wanted to be buried here, it is really peaceful.  There is never anyone out there. We did see a couple trucks drive by this time but that is highly unusual, and it was hunters that were trying to get a deer on the last day of rifle season. 

We stopped to see Grandma and Grandpa on our way home. Grandpa had recently been in the Norfolk hospital for a GI bleed. He said he was doing better but he looked a little weaker than usual. Right before we had gotten there, I guess the neighbor had called him and told him that there was a truck on fire, and he needed Grandpa to bring a couple of 5-gallon buckets of water. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure Grandpa was more than willing to help I just think that there were probably better options than your almost 90-year-old neighbor who just got out of the hospital. This is probably how Grandpa stays young! It was just the tire on the truck that was on fire and the situation was resolved by the time we got there. Both Steph and I were puzzled about this whole situation. Grandma was doing ok. She was getting around ok and was happy to chat with us for a while. We always get a kick out of Bear the dog. He insists on holding Grandpa's hand while he lays next to him. 

 

Hotel Sleepover Party

Abby's best friend Kaylee decided to have her birthday party at a hotel. All the girls were so excited to get to stay in a hotel overnight, swim and stay up most of the night. Abby has a good group of girlfriends that all seem pretty easy going and they don't have the drama that we hear about so many teen girls dealing with this. We count this as a major win!

They went out to eat at Applebee's. Abby does a good job of figuring out what if anything she can eat and is cool with just getting a soda too. I'm glad that this hasn't stopped her from doing anything that she wants to do!

 

Hunting

This year we were prepared and had purchased Caleb's deer permit the first day that they were on sale. So, this year he could get a buck or a doe. After last year's debacle we also knew that we had to check the deer in at a check station in person. Caleb and Lester went up to Grandpa Jim's to hunt Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Saturday was a little too warm and Sunday was rainy and cold. It wasn't the best hunting conditions and Caleb did not get his deer this year. He also decided that the years they plant corn in the field by where they hunt, they see more deer, and this was a bean year so it's about every other year that he gets his deer. 

 

Winter Formal for the Boys

Winter Formal always sneaks up on us because it’s so early in the fall. Caleb and Bryce always think that shopping the week before is plenty of time. I’ve had to convince Caleb that, being over 6 feet tall, you usually can’t just buy something off the rack. Caleb went to his favorite spot, Emsuds, because the owners—a husband and wife—are really nice and interesting people. Emsud has an amazing ability to look at you and almost always pick the right size. Caleb can walk out of there looking pretty impressive after trying on just one pair of pants and one jacket. They always give everyone free socks too.  The lady, who calls herself "Grandma," brings the boys over and says, "Let Grandma do it," whenever they’re fumbling with the buttons or tie.

Bryce decided to go with a dress shirt and bow tie. Bree went shopping with him to find a shirt that would match her purple dress. Bryce also borrowed a pair of purple dunks to complete the outfit. He discovered that purple looks really good on him, making it the perfect color choice.

Thomas, Brody, Bryce and Caleb

My boys.

Bree's dress was beautiful and her and Bryce looked really nice together.

Ashley hosted them at her house to take pictures and eat. 

Bree might be Bryce's girlfriend but the relationship she has with Caleb is fun. She treats him like the annoying brother she never had. 

I love seeing them all dressed up. 

 

Husker Basketball

Bryce loves all things basketball so he has really been enjoying the fact that Lutz's give him their tickets to go if they aren't able to come to town, Bryce also has a couple friends that typically go to the games. This night they were able to get a picture with one of his favorite players Tominaga. This guy has been pretty fun to watch this year. 

 

Winter Formal

This was Abby's first dance. Her and her friends were really excited about the event. Abby had asked if all of her friends could get ready at our house. I was a little hesitant about this because I knew that it would involve a lot of work, but I do love the fact that they want to host things so here we are. Six girls came over to get ready after school. There was a lot of giggling, hairspray and talking. Once the girls got all dressed up, they came out to the kitchen to snack. When I had asked Abby if she wanted a formal meal or snacks, it was unanimous that they just wanted snack food. All the girls brought snacks and Bob and Susie showed up early to help assemble a charcuterie board and a large fruit platter.

Abby and I had assembled a balloon arch the night before and had put up a white background to take pictures in front of. All the girls looked beautiful! One of the moms ended up being a photographer, how lucky could we get? She took a bunch of photos and we ended with these amazing pictures of these girls. 

Harper, Harlow, Hayden, Abby

Taylor, Mayah, Kaylee

The girls came back at 11:00 pm. They had left the dance a little early because their feet hurt from the heels that they were wearing. They had a good time at the dance, but I think they had more fun getting ready, eating and having a sleepover. They came home, raided the food and crashed. 

 

State Volleyball

The kids all were lucky enough to get out of class for the day and they went to support the Norris Volleyball team at State. They ended up losing to Pius but they played a good game. The boys were in the high school group that did white out for the student section. They had a good turn out of students to support the team. 

Robb and I went and took Emmy and Abby. I couldn't find Abby to get a picture but Emmy and her friend Kenzley sat close to us.

 

YMCA Volleyball

 Emmy played volleyball on a YMCA spirit team with her friends from school. She was determined to learn the overhand serve and wouldn’t consider any other kind. As the season went on, she got better and more consistent, and by the end, she was regularly getting the ball over the net.

Friends

It’s not often I get a picture of the boys with their friends, but I managed to snap one after they all came back to the house to eat chili following a Husker football game. They have such a great group of friends, and it’s been so fun watching them grow up together.