Wow it's December!

On Wednesday, (Nov. 30th) I had to take Cole to the doctor because his ear was hurting.  He had an ear infection....first one in the last 10 years....strange!  Anyway, when the receptionist gave me his note to return to school then next day, I was completely shocked that it said "Cole can return to school on DECEMBER 1ST!"  What?  Where has this year gone?  I guess time flies when your havin' fun!

Thanksgiving this year started with the Hog Jog in Owasso.  Cole and I ran the 5K and I also ran the mile fun run with Austin.  I am proud of both of them!  Larry went for moral support and was the photographer.  It was a fun, new tradition we hope to continue!

Larry helping Austin get his race bib on.

At the starting line!

Ahead of me...big surprise!

Cole and I at the starting line for the 5K!

Believe it or not...this is the beginning of the 5K....my facial expression would tell otherwise!

Finishing...Cole was a couple of minutes ahead of me but I finished a personal best 27:47!

Both boys fell asleep in the car on the way home and then crashed on the couch and chair!

After the race we spent the rest of our Thanksgiving day at Jimmy and Joy's and then on to Ron's for 2 wonderful dinners!  We love spending time with our families.  And of course mom and I had to check out the Black Friday sales.  I wasn't that inspired so we went to Walmart at 9:00 for their 10:00 specials and after price matching from Target and Best Buy we were home by 11:00!  Larry and I then went out later on Friday to do some other shopping.  A great Thanksgiving and soooooo much to be thankful for.  God has blessed me beyond words!

Cole started basketball and has played 2 tournaments and one league game over the last 2 weeks.  They are 8 and 8 and have 2 1st place medals!  Great way to start the season!

1st Tournament and 1st Place!

Tip off Thanksgiving Hoopstarz Tourney 

Cole waits on the free-throw shot. 

 Thanksgiving Hoopstarz 1st Place!

Austin received the Awesome Reading Award in November.  I am proud of him for so many reasons but this makes his teacher mom very happy!

 He looks so happy!  He doesn't like to be up in front of people and the whole school was there!

Christmas is just around the corner and we are ready at home.  We put the tree up on Wednesday before Thanksgiving but got it all decorated on Friday after Thanksgiving.  I have found a new addiction in Pinterest, so who knows what other decorations may make their way into our home!

My mom made the comment "I can't believe you have a crimson and cream tree!"  I responded with it is burgundy and light gold!  It has inspired me to buy a tree after Christmas (hoping for 75% off) to put in our game room and decorate it in nothing but ORANGE and BLACK....Go Pokes! (Today is the Bedlam game so I had to get that in there!)

Our Advent Calendar inspired by Pinterest!  I plan to add pictures of some of our family activities as we do them this month!  Austin is so excited and it is rubbing off on Cole!

I CANNOT HAVE A 12 YEAR OLD!!!

Is it possible? Is it really possible that my first born baby boy is now 12?  I have no idea where the time has gone.  It truly seems like yesterday that Larry and I were trying to figure out just what to do with the small 6 pound gift God gave us.  He was not a sleeper and I spent many nights wondering how I was going to possibly go to work and stay awake for a classroom full of kiddos.  With Larry working nights, it was all me during the night and I spent many praying that Cole would "please go to sleep"!  I can't say I miss the sleepless nights, but I do miss the baby years.  Now I am finding it hard to wake the boy up to go to school.  Oh how times have changed.

But one thing remains.....Cole is still my cuddle-er.  He still unknowingly rubs my arm when he is tired or sick and my mind races back.  Nightly he says "Mom come sit with me" and we cuddle.  I know he will eventually grow out of this, but I hope not too soon.  (I guess it would be kinda weird when he's 20!)

Here are some of my favorite pics of my sweet Cole!

 This was early in the summer....

 ....this was in late July on vacation.  He is my little brownie!

Yes, it is sideways cause he was hanging sideways off the bed!

We celebrated Cole's birthday last weekend.  He got introduced to paintball last winter and has said that he wanted to do his next birthday party there.  It was a little delayed but we finally celebrated!  So glad he had a great time!

 Larry gets ready to go!

 Cole and his friends....Charlie, Alex, Brooks and Riley....getting ready to take on the dads and Austin and Colton.

Uncle Dave surrenders!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEET COLE!!!

11-11-11

Today we honored all the brave men and women who have fought for our freedom.  Our school has spent the last several years honoring veterans with a breakfast and ceremony. The students sing songs, quote verses and make cards and posters for veterans.  The students are encouraged to invite their family members who are veterans to join in this celebration.

For several years, my grandpa, aka Cacaw, came to the Veterans Day Assembly at our school.  Last year he didn't get to come due to his failing health.  Today he watched from heaven with his new body!  As the bagpipes played and the veterans walked in together, I found myself very emotional.  I missed seeing him walk in.  I was and am so proud that he made the sacrifice for our country.  I came home and dug out the "book" that my brother,  Dallas wrote after sitting down with Cacaw and getting a first hand account of his time in the army.  Amazing still!

Julius James Owens 

Stars brought by students with their family members' names on them.

Mr. Anderson speaks and honors our heroes.

Austin and the other 4th graders sang for the assembly.

Busyness!!!

Well, unfortunately I have not had much time to write much.  The busyness of Halloween, Cole and Larry's birthdays, football and now basketball has overtaken all of my free time (if I ever had any).

Halloween went something like this....

Me:  (a week or so before the big night) "Boys what do you want dress up as for Halloween?"

Both boys:  "Nothing...we don't want to go trick or treating."

Me:  (several times as the day approaches) "Are you sure you don't need anything to be able to dress up for Halloween?"

Both boys:  "Yes we are sure!"

4p.m. on Halloween night, Cole gets a text from his friend Riley who wants him to go trick or treating.  Cole says "I will just go as me".....ummm no.  So he quickly became a dirt bike rider.  I was  little sad because this was his first time to go trick or treating without his mommy :-(  But he had a great time with Riley and his mom and brother. I failed to take a picture so I found this one from a while back.

Well, that prompted Austin to want to call a friend and go trick or treating.  So after much drama and a little digging, he became a scary person!   We had a great time in the Vintage with friends.

That's my sweet boy on the far right!

On November 1st, my sweet Cole turned 12!  He is such a blessing to us and all those who meet him.  We were out of school on the 31st so we spent the day at the mall picking out a new phone.  He got a "hand-me-down" when school started in August and has been very responsible.  So for his birthday we upgraded...and since the cost for the monthly plan was the same whether he had a regular phone or an android phone, we caved and he really got an UPGRADE!  He loves to play the games.  He likes it so much and it is so much like an iPhone that he gave his brother his iPod touch.  Love that he was willing to let little brother feel some love!  Dinner was whatever he wanted and he requested chicken enchiladas, fried potatoes and brownies!  So that is what I made!  

Cole and Larry are 5 minutes away from sharing a birthday.  Cole came into this world at 11:55 p.m. on the 1st and Larry's birthday is the 2nd.  And I get asked "Couldn't you wait just 5 more minutes"....the answer was and is NO...I had no epidural and just wanted the pain to go away to see my sweet baby!  And now I am glad they both have their own day!  But Larry doesn't mind sharing the attention!  Especially this year.  It was the big 40!!!

This was at Uncle Ron's for Meme's birthday dinner.  His friend birthday party will be in a couple of weeks!  Paintball Land!!!

Football is coming to an end.  They have 1 more practice and 1 more game.  Unfortunately due to a crazy way of running playoffs in the CFL, we are playing for the Silver Ball.  Larry is not a fan of the way this went, but he is making the best of it by saying he needs to add a Silver Ball to his collection of Gold!  So, on Saturday, we hope to bring it home!