Will's Game, SNOW and Our 2020 Tree

Will created a game for us one night. He had post-it notes all around the house and we had to do whatever he wrote. If we did it correctly, we got to keep it as a point. Whomever had the most points, won. It was fun. He had things like read a book, jump up and down, hug someone, all sorts of stuff.

Then we had SNOW. I couldn't believe it. They say it all the time, but I never believe them. It snowed pretty hard (for us anyway) all day. I think this actually happened on Nov 30th. So if we get snow, it definitely doesn't happen THAT early!

This was a really cool cloud one morning It's called a shelf cloud.

Many days I take Marty to pick up the kids. He absolutely loves it. So yes, I've become that person in the pickup line with my dog. He gets so excited when he sees the kids. His tail just goes crazy.

Lee found a really great MTSU store. It's locally owned and they have just about anything you could ever want at really great prices. We bought Christmas gifts for the kids. :)

Then we got a lot of RAIN. We have a one-lane bridge near our house. There are signs about it flooding, but in the summer there is sometimes a small trickle of water. So people always ask us if it really does flood. The answer is yes. (The bridge is about 5-6 feet up from the normal water level)

Then it was time for a Christmas Tree! We headed to our usual tree spot- Lowes! And picked out a nice Frasier Fur.

 So 2020, right? (with masks!)

Ah, the good old trusty van! I'm always hoping she makes it one more year! :) 

Tree decorated. Kid dressed as an elf.... Christmas is upon us!

 

Thanksgiving In Georgia

We headed to Georgia for our "Thanksgiving Tour" again this year. We might as well while we can, right? Who knows when things will be completely shut down again.We are so glad we did. I'm so grateful that we are taking a chance and making these memories. We would have missed out on so much if we hadn't. And just like the girls trip, we've been home for weeks and no one has a single symptom. So I'm even more grateful we 'took the chance.' 

The kids were supposed to get out of school on Weds. But because the schools were short on teachers and subs (mostly due to contract tracing) the school system gave the kids Mon and Tues off as well. Which worked out nicely as Mom and Dad were coming back from Anna's on Monday. They came by our house and then we all caravaned to GA together. 

Before we left, the boys had a lollipop tasting with the leftover Halloween Candy. They were funny. "Ooh this one is good!" "Ooh! This one is gross." "Oooh, this one makes your tongue blue..."

Once in Ga- we had probably the busiest Thanksgiving we've ever had. I wanted a new kitchen table, so so Lee and I headed to Ikea on Tuesday morning to buy it. I took a picture of this place setting because it's NAVY and I love it. :)

And look at my new, cool plant!

When we got home, we started ripping up carpet in the treehouse at mom and dad's. (They were going to lay down vinyl floor in it's place.)

We took a break to pickup Dad's new tablesaw from Jeff. That thing was heavy! (Says I who took the picture...) It took all 3 of them to push it up onto the trailer and a lot of laughter.

Mom turned on the table firepit for the kids that night. It was chilly, but it was fun.

On Wednesday, we started laying the floor. It's the same as the one we have, so Dad and I are experts by now. (eye roll) The kids enjoyed the day on the hammock. The hammock is beloved by ALL grandchildren. It's funny how they all ask for it and then spend hours and hours on it.

On Thursday we headed to Carrollton so spend Thanksgiving day with Lee's family. It was wonderful as well. Cindy always makes the best meals. 

The kids are always worn out on the way back to mom and dads!

On Friday we finished up the treehouse. We moved the tv and furniture around and we laughed at Dad's "method" for moving the pinball machine (he may be getting too told for this method. Sorry Dad.) It looks great though. Mom, Dad, Lee and I went on a "date" that afternoon to Costco, to buy a new loveseat for the treehouse and a few other errands. It was fun to doall that together.

Mom kept saying Marty could not get on the couch, but Dad kept calling him up there. He finally said, "Ah, there;s a blanket, and he likes me!" haha. Marty snuggled right up to him. We kicked off the Christmas season by watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

Saturday it was time for us to head home. Between the stuff we bought at Ikea and stuff Dad was having us take to our house for Anna... .we needed the trailer. So we loaded it down. We didn't lose anything either, so that was nice.

We usually bring the van, but it doesn't have a trailer hitch, so we took Lee's car. Marty wasn't really a fan of the truck area so he climbed his way up to the kids laps. He really travels well, he just likes to be on someone.

 It was a wonderful Thanksgiving! We were busy, but a good busy!

The start of November and Lee's Birthday

The Halloween Haul. We always put it in one big bowl. Anyone can eat whatever they want whenever they want (for the most part.) In a few days everyone is over it and no one eats anymore. 

I subbed two days in Tyler's classroom. The 2nd day I brought a craft. The kids were cute and were so excited. 

Talana and I get out and bike ride as often as we can. The weather has been wonderful lately! 

Amy fell asleep at piano lessons one day (one of the boys were in their lesson. They all go back to back.) She rarely naps so it was a testament of how exhausted she was! 

I subbed in Will's class another day and got this sweet letter from Madden Moltz. 

We celebrated Lee's birthday! Karen came into town that weekend and we had a great time with her.  We started the day with Chick-fil-A (one of his favorites) and ended the day at a local restaurant named Toots. 

Sarah's (Last) Girls Trip

sniff, sniff! My little hiking group will be having some changes! Trista will be getting married and moving to Florida and Talana will be moving to New Mexico. We were able to squeeze in one final girls trip- because we had to! (Yes, even during COVID. gasp! Fear not- we've been home for weeks now and no one came down with anything.) We went to Gatlinburg and it could not have been more perfect. We didn't do a hike but drove to a few places. 

We left town early and got to Gatlinburg to do a little shopping. We pulled over into a parking lot to watch President Nelson's message on gratitude to everyone. It was amazing. And to be sharing that moment with some great women was also amazing. We ate lunch, went to a few shops, went to the grocery store and got into our cabin. 

The first night we had a little gift exchange. I gave everyone matching pj bottoms and someone else gave everyone socks. (there was also chapstick, favorite pens, wooden bowls, flour sack clothes, etc)

The next morning we headed out to drive around Cades Cove. I died laughing at Trista and Kristen who came out of the house with gobs and gobs of "stuff." They are not minimalists. (I had my purse, jacket and a water bottle)

Cades Cove is always really pretty. You could not have handpicked a better day. It was stunningly beautiful.

Look at that sky!! Ahhh!!! Beautiful.

Cades Cove is 11 miles around and you go pretty slow. You can also get out at certain places and look at old cabins and such. Supposedly there are bear sightings, but I've never seen one so I always tell people they aren't really there. They just keep the rumor going so tourists keep coming to the Smoky Mountains. 

After Cades Cove, we drove over to Clingman's Dome. I've always wanted to go there. It's a half mile, basically straight up, walk to a stunning view of 8 states (on a clear day.) We wanted to see the sunset from there and Trista told us it took her an hour to climb a few years ago. So we booked up there, not wanting to miss the sunset, only for it to take 13 mins (I timed it.) She said, "oops! last time I came with my little nephews. I guess they walk slower." haha. So we stared at the views for awhile and then watched the sunset from the parking lot. It was another gorgeous view so it didn't matter "where" we saw it. 

 While up at the top, we ran into a friend, Heather Williams, from church. She was there with her daughters. She wouldn't let me take a picture with her. so I snuck one.

Again, look at that sky?? Can you even???

Clingman's Dome is actually on the Appalachian Trail. We didn't see any through hikers but I made sure to get "on" the trail so I could say I've been "on" it.

That night we had planned to go to dinner. But it was a weekend in crowded Gatlinburg. So after sitting for a good 30 mins in traffic, we ditched that idea. Instead we went back to the grocery store and picked up whatever we wanted. Pizza, enchiladas, cheese dip, mac n cheese- I think someone even got sushi. It was delicious. It was probably safer than being at a restaurant anyway. While none of us are on the 'freaked out over COVID' level (obviously or we wouldn't have done the trip) we are trying to be smart about our choices.

Trista, Talana and I bought the same TN shirt so we had to get a picture.

That night Talana and I (who shared a bed. The others had their own) stayed up until 3:30am just talking and laughing. It was a lot of fun. Talana is kind of known as the "pulled together" one of the group and when she realized she had this getup on (with all the colors and patterns)- well, it was pretty funny. 

It was a short trip and we all headed back home on Sunday. Lee had to speak in church so I listening to the streaming of it from the car. I texted him, only to have the kids respond with this photo. They are cute.

It was a really excellent trip. It couldn't have been more perfect. I'm so glad that we all decided to go, despite all that's going on in the world. I would be so sad if I had missed out on this final adventure with these awesome women. We've all hiked together for 5-6 years. I am really going to miss this little group. (insert CRY!!)