Christmas

 We were able to spend Christmas this year in NW Louisiana with Bruce's family.  Unfortunately, our brother-in-law was ill and we were not able to visit with their family in person but we did video as we were able.  For those of us that could visit, we played a lot of games and ate A LOT of food.  It was a wonderful week together.

Christmas visit to NOLA

 Since two of the kids were born in NOLA we have tried to be more intentional about spending some time there when we can.  This Christmas as we traveled to NW Louisiana we took the time to make a stop.  We arrived right before dinner and walked over to Cafe Maspero.  We like to revisit this restaurant because it's where Bruce and I went on our first date.  The kids enjoyed it and it was quiet since the Saints were playing.  After dinner we headed to the Cafe du Monde and enjoyed some beignets and hot chocolate.  We enjoyed some Christmas lights on the walk back to the hotel.  In the morning we went to Camellia Grill and then headed on to Shreveport.  It was a quick stop in NOLA but a very yummy one.

Basketball

The kids played basketball at the YMCA in November and December.  It was so fun to watch each one learn more and improve their skills over the two months.  

Unexpected Surgery

Isaac woke up on Tuesday morning with a stomachache and some tears.  I told him I was sorry he didn't sleep well and rushed off to school.  Bruce asked Isaac if he thought he could go to school and he said he would try.  At lunch time I got a call that he wasn't feeling well.  Bruce picked him up and brought him home.  He slept for FOUR hours.  I made soup for dinner hoping he would eat but he did not. (He told me later he doesn't like chicken noodle soup even when he is hungry, lol)  After dinner, he was in such pain that he couldn't stand up straight.  We started to ask more specific questions about this "stomachache" and after hearing his answers thought we needed to take him to the ER.  The ER doctor confirmed our suspicions that he did indeed have appendicitis and scheduled us for surgery the next day.  

Surgery went well and so has recovery.  One week later he's feeling mostly normal and even got to attend an hour of school to participate in Idiom day.

Waiting for a scan.

Back at home to recover.

Ready for idiom day...when pigs fly

BMS 7th grade Spelling Bee Champion!!

Lillian qualified to enter the school spelling bee again this year.  She said she's never been so nervous in all her life.  I was not able to watch this year but my teacher friends did not let me down.  Isaac and I felt like we knew exactly was happening from his hospital room.  One of her words was salvation!  They tell me she got a HUGE smile on her face and then asked for them to use the word in a sentence, that's her practice time and then she spelled it.  Her final word was disservice.  We are so proud of this young lady!!  

Lillian turns 13!!

As Lillian enters her teen years we wanted to bless her with encouragement and wisdom from women close to her. Thanks to technology, even though her aunts and grandmothers were far, they were able to join us on Zoom. It was such a sweet time with her. 

She also wanted some time with friends so ate cake and drove go carts.

Happy birthday!

Pumpkins

In Florida carved pumpkins don’t last very long. It has escaped us every year we’ve been here, mostly bc I wait until the last minute and then you can’t find pumpkins!! Because of this we have not carved pumpkins with the kids since Eli was a baby. This year I went ahead and bought pumpkins but held the kids off until the night before Halloween to carve them. I wa a pretty impressed with their designs and carving skills.