Happy Thanksgiving!

We really don't have to look too far to find things to be thankful for - family, our health, jobs, food on the table, a roof over our heads, the promise of hope under new leadership - yet are hearts of still a bit heavier this year. Please let us not take the small things for granted and be grateful. Let us be vocal in our gratitude to others!

A beautiful November sunrise!

Brenner's friend lives next to their school,  and B was talking with him as I arrived to pick him up from school. His buddy just found out that he tested negative so the boys were doing a bit of a happy dance!

We have had some great checker wars lately - Brenner has come a long way and we aren't going easy on Miss Nola!

Nola waiting in the car until her basketball game started. New rules limited to one spectator per player so I got to this round!

There was a track up above the courts - perfect viewing and only 3 other people which made distancing easy.

The girls played better but still lost pretty bad. Nola is still a little unsure of positioning - that automatic response isn't quite there yet but she is working on it!

Nola and the others aren't a afraid to have some physical contact. She played hard - had a rebound and some great passes. We celebrated with Sonic after the game - that double cheeseburger was no match for her!

I was off or work all week and it was rainy and dreary. A perfect time to steal Nola's hat that Grandma Val brought from Ireland :)

Brenner bought a blowgun with some birthday money. He also purchased a target and spent a lot of time in the shop perfecting his skill. He did pretty good! Although rules about what not to shoot at were repeated on several occasions!

We stayed close to home on Thanksgiving. As in the past several years, we volunteered to help with the community Thanksgiving dinner run by one of the local churches. Nola wasn't feeling the best so Matt stayed with her while Brenner and I went to help with the curbside pickup. We were grateful that we could help. Please contact your local food pantry this season to learn of their needs. If you can give, please do as there are so many in our communities that may need a little more this year. 

We brought some meals home which meant I didn't have to cook a full meal (yeah for me). I did make a chocolate pie for Nola and a pumpkin pie for Brenner.

Nola has been begging and begging to decorate for Christmas so on Friday we got started.

Brenner "helping". He noted that next year we shouldn't start decorating until December 10 because it's not his thing......wondering if presents are still "his thing"?!

Aw - this guy put on the lights and garland while I was in the kitchen - hubby of the year for sure! I then took a drive over to mom's house to visit with her since we weren't together on Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful visit - love you mom!

The European mount of Brenner's buck was ready and he was so excited to pick it up. Thanks to Austin and Krystee for this birthday/Christmas present!
 

Let's be flexible!

Unpredictable. That has been 2020. But we continue to take things in stride to do our part in this pandemic. We cancelled our Thanksgiving plans this past week after rising cases locally and close friends and family testing positive. We hope everyone heals quickly - our prayers are with you! To the change of plans, Brenner noted "Yeah - more family time." To which I said "Dad and I feel the same way - especially since our getaway trip was cancelled too!".  The kids were super bummed that they won't get their Gresko Getaway - but in due time we will reschedule!

Aunt Theresa and Uncle Chuck sent along some of the gifts that they were to get at Thanksgiving. (Cash for Brenner which he has been using to buy soft serve ice cream at school lol!).

Nola added her new animals to her menagerie.

Puzzle time - Grandma Val - we needed you!

Big congrats to Brenner for receiving a Pirate Award from his math teacher - way to go, B!

Some of Nola's schoolwork.

She draws so well!

The boys headed to work on the cabin and hunt the opening weekend of rifle season.

The only deer they saw - Brenner claims it looked bigger! That said -it makes easy processing for Matt.

While the boys were away, us girls played. Actually, we were super lazy and didn't get out of our pajamas until late in the day! 

Nola build a fort and changed it into a court....the animals were waiting (socially distanced) to go before the judge. This kid - love the imagination.
 

A teenager and an election

Brenner turned 13 on Tuesday. Was something else going on that day?! Ah yes - that election some of you may have heard about! My week began anxious and slowly transitioned into hopeful. It has been interesting to hear what the kids discuss with their classmates at school regarding the election.  Matt and I stress that you shouldn't just repeat what you hear - rather educate yourself and know why you are saying what you are saying. COVID is rampant in our community and surrounding areas - positive cases have hit close to home with family and close friends. We pray for healing and comfort in this time. 

My post-voting picture...just so some who think all Christians are anti-mask, I wanted to show you that some of us are not! Even if wearing a mask was only 1% effective in keeping someone else safe, then 1% is enough for me. (Note this is an extreme example and doesn't reflect the true effectiveness of masks!) #loveyourneighbor

We order takeout from Texas Roadhouse for Brenner's birthday dinner.....the steak wasn't quite 72 oz this time!

Beautiful sunset while I was walking during Nola's basketball practice.

Thanks for the Butker jersey, Grammy Vo!

Our trees were gorgeous and then the wind came on Friday and blew them all off!

Fall party day at Nola's school. This picture is from the hay ride.

Saturday was party day! Brenner asked for funnel cake. Well - break out the Crisco and locate a fryer - I got this! Thanks Aunt Lynnie for the loan!

Brenner said it was delicious! How did he get so tall?! The weather was gorgeous- so perfect for distancing outside with our small group of family and friends. I will not confirm nor deny if I accidentally snorted some powdered sugar while devouring my funnel cake!

Present time - lot of food....he is a teenager after all!

Our good friends Danielle and Kevin gave Brenner a sunflower variety pack. Too funny! He was very excited to try some new flavors.

It was good to see Grammy Vo!

Drystan gave Brenner a PS4 game and they played and played and played - all night apparently.

Brenner couldn't stay awake through breakfast!

Nola's first basketball game was on Sunday. She has her game face on!

Pre-game talk with the coach. We had to wait outside because it was a small space. We waited in a hall with lots of other people (majority masked) for 10 minutes or so. Matt called it the covid corridor!

The tip off!

Nola throwing in the ball....reminds me of me!

By halftime the girls were losing but kept their chins up! The other team was mostly 6th graders and we are mostly 3-4 graders. They kept working hard - go Defenders!

 A beautiful art project (self portrait) that Nola created at school.

Starting the party early

And just like that, October 2020 is over. I am just not sure where it went! Once the snow melted, this momma was a bit happier. I find I need the sunshine more these days! The kids were out of school Thursday and Friday, and parent teacher conferences went really well. Brenner and Nola got glowing reviews from their teachers - not only for their school work but their attitudes in the classroom. A parent can't ask for much more than that! We also celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary on Friday by getting pho carryout. All were happy!

Aunt Theresa and Uncle Chuck sent along some early presents for Brenner (beyond the Hey Dudes that came last week). Thank you all so much - we will miss seeing you at the party but are thankful for FaceTime!

Grammy Vo sent along an early gift as well. Go Chiefs!

Speaking of Grammy Vo, she introduced the kids to pumpkin carving when they were itty bitty. We carried on that tradition this year!

So what do you think of the final products?! A piggy pumpkin and an angry pumpkin (I might be angry with a knife in my noggin too).

We with kids off of school, we got haircuts. I am sporting a new color - a bit brighter and I love it! Nola does too - wanting to fix my hair for me :)

Matt and Brenner set up the deer blind at our friends property. Nola shot three does! With a Canon :) She isn't into harvesting deer but enjoys snapping pictures.

It was youth rifle season and the boys headed out Saturday morning. Looks like serious business. They saw 6 does and 2 bucks but Brenner chose to pass on those.

While the boys were hunting, Nola headed over to work with the horses. They dressed Cash up for Halloween before letting her ride Cocoa.

We felt this year was not the year to go trick or treating. Some friends felt the same way so they brought there kids over for dinner, fun, and candy! The kids pretty much had free reign on the candy bowl, held an air hockey tournament, watched a movie, laughed, and played. Us old folks sat, talked, and drank adult beverages. Probably the best Halloween ever lol!

Despite the late night and sugar overload, Brenner was ready to leave at 5:15 am to head to the blind. Matt can tell the story in detail, but Brenner practiced patience and was able to get this 7-point buck. It took them a while to track it a it was a clean shot to the lung and didn't bleed a trail at all.

Matt was super proud of Brenner. A nice way to end being 12 years old! I am reminded of Matt's saying (or maybe it is Grammy Vo's) - the fun ends when it hits the ground! I was also shocked at how tall Brenner is in this picture - watch out Matt, he will catch up to you soon!