January Recap

I can't believe it's already the last day of January!  The weather has been so mild that it almost doesn't feel like winter.  I think we hit 65 degrees today, and while I love the warm temps, Mary Lawrence and I were discussing last night that there's no way it can last...we're thinking scary weather is lurking around the corner!

We just ended a fun weekend...Lawrence went on his annual "guys" ski trip, and this year they landed in Breckenridge, Colorado.  They had lots of fresh snow, which was a great surprise because the west has had the same mild winter we've had.  There was lots of skiing, despite their aging knees...

Check out that view!

Mike and Lawrence head up the lift

...there was apres ski in the hot tub...

Best part of the day (at least that's what I think when I
go skiing!)

...plus snow angels (these guys never grow up!)...

This is a tradition when we go skiing!

...and a few nice meals out.

Great friends - this is Lawrence's 14th annual ski trip!

The kids and I held down the fort here at home.  On Friday night John and I went out for Chinese food while Sarah went to the 8th grade basketball game.  On Saturday morning Sarah had indoor field hockey, which she's been playing at Bluegrass Premiere.  Lots of girls on her school team are working out there this winter and it's been a fun way to keep up with their skills.

Go Sarah!

On Sunday afternoon John and Bruce played each other in basketball in the St. Matthews league.  Bruce plays on a team with some KCD boys, and John fills in on the St. Margaret Mary team. 

Perfect photo op - they were right next to each other
during a free throw

Bruce's team won, but there were no hard feelings, and we all headed to Tony Boombazz for dinner.  My mom and dad came to the game, and it was the perfect time for us all to get to spend some time together.  We are rarely all together, so this was a fun way to end the weekend.

These boys are both winners!

The grands are almost as tall as Meme and Papa!

I'm nursing a bad cold right now, and I think my family is probably as tired of it as I am.  They've been listening to me cough, sneeze and well, whine, for a few weeks now.  I went to the doctor yesterday so I'm hoping to be better by the weekend.  After all, someone has a 46th birthday coming up!  

Ski Bunnies

Lawrence and Sarah returned on Monday from their Father-Daughter skiing adventure.  Four days in Steamboat, Colorado brought lots of fun (sadly, not a lot of snow!), and they had a great time skiing and hanging out together.  I'm fairly certain Sarah ate pizza for almost all of her meals, but I guess that's the fun part of traveling with Dad.  Lawrence said she was a great travel companion, and even though she beat him down the mountain time and time again (at least that's her version of the story), I know he loved every minute.  

This was a nice, easy week at home.  Not too much going on, and on Thursday night John and I made a birthday cake for his Spanish teacher, Mrs. Wright (his friends and he cooked up the idea they wanted to surprise her with a cake, and he volunteered to bring one).  While he was decorating it he said he wanted it to be so good that she would "Facebook" about it! This made me laugh, what a sign of the times.  

The Next Great Baker works hard on
his piping

I really laughed when I was on Facebook the next afternoon and she had posted a picture of the class with the cake.  His plan worked - it was Facebook worthy!  

So proud!

Lawrence and I went to dinner up at Hurstbourne last night and had some nice, grown up time.  Today he's on sports pick up detail, taking and picking John up for basketball and baseball practices.  He leaves for his "guys" ski trip on Thursday, so he's praying for snow out west.  Me, I'm loving the mild winter we're having here!  

Nice and Quiet

I can't believe it's been two weeks since my last blog post, but honestly, there hasn't been much to blog about!  We've just ended a nice, quiet two weeks, and I must say it's been lovely.  School started back on January 2nd, but my office was closed, so I enjoyed a day off at home with no one around (not that I don't love my family, but some alone time is nice too!).  The Christmas decorations are down, Boot Camp is back in full swing (boy, it was hard to get up after two weeks off!), and the school day/night routine is back on track.  

Neither of the kids have a heavy sports schedule right now.  Sarah is working out two days a week at Bluegrass Premiere Indoor Field Hockey, but they don't play any games, just practice.  John is working out  at FOCUS Basketball Academy two days a week, along with an occasional game with the St. Margaret Mary guys.  He also just started practicing with his new baseball team, the Gladiators.

Leading stretches at FOCUS practice

Lawrence has started calling a few of the girl's varsity games at CAL (you know he loves calling any game!).  He's done a great job, and we've got to see a few exciting games.

Voice of the Lady Centurions!

Sarah and Lawrence left for Steamboat, Colorado on Thursday for a Father-Daughter ski trip.  He picked her up early from school on Thursday to head to the airport, and they'll be gone until Monday afternoon.  I'll have one of them post some pictures and details about their trip when they return.

All packed and ready to go before
school on Thursday morning

John and I have been having fun while they are gone, watching lots of movies and just hanging out.  Today we have lots of sports to watch...basketball games start at noon, and we'll catch the Saints/49ers game at 4:30 and the Broncos/Patriots game at 8:00.  Can you say LAZY???  It's nice to have a day like that sometimes, because tomorrow after church we have two hours of basketball practice followed by an hour and a half of baseball. 

This slow time has had me thinking about my new year's "intentions"...I don't really have any solid resolutions, but I do have a few things I "intend" to do this year.  I'm so wanting to complete my Heritage/Family history album (of course, first I need to start it).  I've been doing better about not talking on the phone in my car (it's such a terrible habit!), and I have some home projects that I'd love to get done (our storage room is frightening, and I don't even know where to begin!).  Nothing major, but the days go by fast, and I need to be intentional about setting some goals and breaking them down into manageable tasks.  Will any of these happen?  Check back with me soon, maybe I'll have some updates!

Happy Saturday everyone - have a wonderful weekend!

A Happy New Year Surprise

Happy New Year!  We spent the end of 2011 with the exact same people we started it with...the Psimer, Bunting and Evans families.  The Buntings hosted their annual new year's sleepover, and we all had a ball hanging out, playing lots of ping pong and Rummikube, eating (and then eating some more!), and just catching up with one another.  We had a such a great year in 2011, and I can't wait to see what 2012 will bring.

One thing I know it will bring is my parent's 50th wedding anniversary, and on New Year's Day we all met over at Shannon and Joe's and surprised them with the news that we are taking them to the Atlantis to celebrate!  We have all been talking about going there together for a while, and what better reason than to celebrate such a tremendous milestone.  When my sister and Joe were there back in November they picked up lots of swag for our surprise gift bag.  We put it in a new beach bag that was embroidered with "Meda and Louis, 50 years."

Ta-da!  All ready for the beach!

After sitting them down and getting them situated, I brought in their gift and gave them a poem to read before they opened it.  

Here is what it said:

On a September day in ‘62

Louis Jordan and Meda said, “I do”

Two Russell County sweethearts, barely grown

Soon headed to Florida, now all on their own

Though their quarters were cramped and the money was tight

Days on the beach with their daughter became their delight

The Air Force provided a nice, new career

And soon Jordy was headed to Greenland for a year

Back in Kentucky, Meda passed the time

Taking care of Shannon and praying her sweetheart was fine

A few years passed, with college and newlywed life

And there had never been a happier husband and wife

Back to Florida the young family went

Where wonderful days together were spent

When six years had passed, in what seemed like a whirl

They welcomed another baby girl

Soon Jordy set his sights on the FBI

And thought, what the heck, I’ll give it a try!

Of course the Feds knew this Eagle Scout would be a good hire

Someone trustworthy and dependable, who they would never have to fire

To Dallas they moved, this sweet family of four

In their two-story townhouse, they couldn’t ask for more

Soon the call came to head to D.C.

A long way away from their beloved Kentucky

But that didn’t stop them from turning the page

And opening their hearts to a new life stage

Hanover Avenue brought many good years

Lots of laughter and fun, and no doubt a few tears

But the Bluegrass is where they still longed to be

Near their home and extended family

  

To Virginia they finally said good-bye

It was time to give Louisville, Kentucky a try

This was where the family permanently took root

And over the years, their lives bore much fruit

Their two girls grew up and moved out of the house

And the once messy rooms were now quiet as a mouse

Still young and in love, they had lots of time

To enjoy being alone, and life was sublime

The days went by at a nice, easy pace

And when they became grandparents, there were smiles on their face!

As “Meme” and “Papa” they now became known

With four grandchildren to call their own

Babysitting, home projects and more filled their days

And family life is where their hearts always stayed

For their daughters and grandkids they are always around

Their love and support keeps them all on solid ground

50 years have now passed since they said “I do”

But each day together, their love feels brand new

There have been hard times, that’s for sure

But through the toughest of days they’ve helped one another endure

Now the time has come to pack their bags

With sunglasses, swim suits and Atlantis luggage tags

To celebrate 50 years of wedded bliss

Their family is taking them on a trip they won’t want to miss

Some bright, sunny days they’ll spend in the sand

And do lots of fun things the family has planned

Their kids can’t wait to spoil them for all that they do

And for how they’ve shown them to keep a marriage true

50 years of marriage – what a joy

For a Russell Springs beauty and her Jamestown boy!

After they read the poem they opened their gift and loved going through all their Atlantis goodies.  Shannon and Joe had gotten so much - mugs, shirts, jackets, hats, ornaments, pens, magnets, and more!  

Mom and Dad were so surprised and there were lots of hugs to go around.  

Their anniversary isn't until September, but we wanted to give them this early in the year so that we all have plenty of time to synch our calendars and find the perfect date.  And as we told them...it's such a momentous occasion, we think it should be celebrated for an entire year! We are so excited to take them on this trip - hope they love it!