christmas gifts

This past Christmas we decided to give our kids an "experience" for their main Christmas gift.  Since they are past the days of asking for much for birthday's or Christmas, we had been struggling as to what to get them.  But here is what we came up with:

 Carter- a trip to Atlanta where there is a American ninja warrior practice facility that people can come pay and use for a day.  For several years Carter has been a big fan of the show "American Ninja Warrior" and has  been confident that he will one day, be on the show (must be 21).  So he was thrilled to, last weekend, go with Allen and a friend and try out his skills.  The timing wasn't the best for him as he had been working out all last school year, but ended up taking the summer off.  Even with that he did great!!  He conquered the warped wall on his first try, he made it up the salmon ladder, nailed the devil's steps and many more obstacles that he has enjoyed watching for so long.  He said some were easier and some were harder than he thought they would be.  Allen also did great but said that Carter was by far superior.

Jared-a trip to Atlanta to watch an NBA game on the 6th row.  He got to pick what game to go to that was in driving distance.  In January
he and Allen set off to watch the Atlanta Hawks play Oklahoma City.  Allen said that our boy that doesn't show emotion much was all smiles and hugs.  They had  a great time.

Claire-she got to go to see the musical Wicked.  She has been wanting to go for a while now.  Claire and I ended up going with my sisters and some of their daughters, so it was a great mom/daughter weekend.  Again, we headed to Atlanta.  She loved the show!!

As I write this I am noticing how these gifts we give to our kids also end up being gifts to ourselves.  Pretty good idea!

middle school basketball

8th grade night

all-tournament trophy 

End of the year awards

Oh, middle school basketball.  There is so much I could say.  There is so much more Allen could say about our experience, but I will try to keep it short.  First, Jared, after "trying out" all summer made the school team.  He wanted to make it this year, so we were happy that he did.  Then we questioned that joy we felt.  His coach was not only a terrible coach (Allen multiple times questioned how he ever got and kept the job), but he also messed with these poor boy's confidence all season long.  Every player was jerked in and out of the game for each and every minor infraction and sometimes for who knows what.  Boys would literally go in the game for less than 20 seconds and get yanked back out because of something they did or did not.  Sometimes without even touching the ball.  So, you can imagine what this did to these kids.  They could never get into a groove and just play the game. Jared was no exception and his game showed it.  He quickly lost any confidence he had and it took him over half the season to gain it back.  We are happy to say that he ended the season playing very good basketball and even made the All-tournament team.  At the end of the year party he won a coaches award, an academic award (straight A's), and broke the school record for free-throw percentage.  Their team, despite an awful coach, was full of talent, and came in second place for the season and at the tournament.  Losing only to the top team all year.  We are proud of Jared and the accomplishments he achieved.  In the end he said he would do it again.  Allen and I aren't so sure.

christmas 2014

We had a great Christmas.  We enjoyed our time together and with family and friends.  This year was the year of trips.  As gifts that is.  None of the kids wanted much for Christmas, so they all got a trip with either mom or dad.  Claire and I will be heading to Atlanta to see the musical "Wicked", Allen and Jared already enjoyed a NBA basketball game (Hawks vs Thunder-6th row, center court), and Allen is taking Carter to an official "American Ninja Warrior" training facility so Carter can try out his skills.  They were all thrilled with them!

the tree was a bit tall and wide.  never could get the star on

first year with a "pretty" tree out front in the parlor

kids gave Allen the complete 9 seasons of Seinfeld (currently on season 5 with the boys)

kids gave me a book

Christmas Eve candle light service

pizza at Big Ed's with the Langford side

bowling with the Langfords

Halloween 2014

Halloween 2014 was cold.  Very cold, and sometimes rainy.  Claire borrowed a friends costume (doughnut with sprinkles) from last year to wear at her school's "spook parade" hoping to win most original, but she didn't.

That night she changed into something more comfortable.  We all went over to our friends subdivision that we have been going to for the last few years.  They have dinner and a fire pit set up in their cul-de-sac where we can all gather and then we walk around with Claire and her friends while the boys go off with their friends "trick or treating"=run around the subdivision. Claire stopped when it started raining sideways and we were all glad to be done early.  

summer 2014 recap

Yes, it's a bit late, but I need to add some more pictures of our summer, so we know we didn't just jump off a cliff and build a raft.

Here is some more stuff we did:

 Claire and Jared swam on the swim team

Carter lifeguarded some meets

and swam in the last one

we had some great days on the boat, when it wasn't broken

enjoyed the farmer's market

went to Met Calf Bottoms in the Smokies

learned this neat trick with a swim cap

welcomed Trey home from his mission

favorite picture of Lisa and David waiting for Trey's plane 

The boys made me nastalgic for the days when they got free ice cream

we climbed the Chimneys 

had some cuddle time

Carter got his boater's license and went out on the jet ski a lot

some fishing

went to the beach with all the Knoxville cousins right after Trey got home

eleven

Claire had a great party at our local gymnastics place, Tatarus.  I can't believe how old she is.  Last year she asked for Rainbow Looms (rubber bands you make bracelets out of) and this year she still wanted them.  A full year of her making amazing creations with her Rainbow Looms.  She makes up her own bracelet designs all the time and makes other great things like Frozen characters, rings, bookmarks, and much more.  She and I cleaned out her room and closet before her bday and packed up all her dolls, barbies, etc.  Then we rearranged her room and closet to make room for all her Rainbow Loom accessories.  She also is very into painting her nails right now and making designs on them.  She still doesn't care too much about clothes.  When we cleaned out her room we packed up quite a bit of clothes she had out grown.  I asked her if she felt she needed any clothes.  "no, I still have plenty" was her answer.  Maybe all that comes at 12 or 13.  I'm fine to wait.

Claire and some of her friends

one of her friends know how much she loves cheese puffs, so he gave her a whole bucket!

lessons learned

A while back I was taking both dogs to get groomed.  Like always, Neo was pulling ahead and Max was cautiously hanging back.  As we got close to the door, Neo slipped out of his collar so I had to grab him and hold him (while he is fighting to get free from my hold).  This caused Max to loop around me in a panic and started pulling in the opposite direction.  So now I am fighting to walk with a leash around me, Max pulling in the wrong direction and Neo squirming in my arms.  And I had the thought, "I hope no one inside can see me.  I am so embarrassed.  Why can't my dogs just walk into a building like normal dogs?".  After dropping them off, I was driving home and I was still thinking about how embarressed I was and then I thought, "they are just dogs...no one cares...the vet understand how dogs are...they know Max and Neo and their personalities. "  And then a flood of memories came to me.  Me with my two other boys. Feeling like everyone was looking at me as I held a way too big baby while chasing a way too much energy toddler.  Wondering why they couldn't just act like normal kids and not embarress me.  I wish I knew then what I know now...no one cares, people understand how kids can be.  

fall break

We headed back up to the Virginia Creeper bike trail for the first part of fall break.  We brought along Carter's good friend, Matthew.  Which ended up being a very good thing or Carter would have rode the trail by himself.  Here is the story:  It all started great our first night; we played games and ate junk food.  But the next morning Jared wasn't feeling good.  He said, "I feel like my stomach is being stabbed by a ton of knives".  Not good.  By time we needed to go, he felt a little better and decided to try.  We were riding the 17 miles that connect Damascus to Abingdon, which is flat and so you have to work instead of coast like White Top to Damascus.  About a mile in Jared stopped for the third time and so Allen decided to wait with him.  The four of us went on.  Carter and Matthew would ride for awhile at their fast pace, then stop and explore/climb until Claire and I caught up.  This was Claire's first ride on her own=slow.  Ended up Allen decided that there was no way Jared was going to be able to make it, so he headed back to the car in Damascus so he could drive Jared back to our rental house in Abingdon.  Good plan except for one thing.  I had the car keys and house with me, now several miles away.  Luckily a man gave them ride back to the house.  Allen left poor Jared on the back porch and then took off down the trail hoping to find me as I was coming his way.  And praying that I didn't decide to turn around.  So, instead of enjoying the ride and the beauty around him, Allen had a great work out biking as fast as he could to me and then right back to Jared.  Carter and Matthew road back with Allen.  And about an hour or so later, Claire and I made it back.  Did I mention she was SLOW?  Oh, and it rained on us for about 30 minutes, but that really wasn't bad.  Thankfully Jared felt much better that night and was able to make it to dinner ( a fun 50's soda fountain place) and to the play we went to.  So, not the best trip ever, but one we will not soon forget.