December is always a busy month getting ready for the holiday hustle and bustle. I wish it could be more simple. I wish people could just do lots of random acts of kindness, give to charities, love and serve one another, rather than all the gifts.
This month we made many trips to Ames. We caught ourselves coming and going all the time. Some nights more than one of us were driving to town and sometimes two trips at once. We joke about moving to Ames, in all honesty, I would like to move to the suburbs when we retire.
Mark's been making two trips a week to Huxley to his new chiropractor. He schedules them so he can help take Luke to taekwondo. Luke has been doing taekwondo this month on Thursday nights with the addition of a weapons class. It makes for a late night, class from 5:30-6, and another 7-7:30. He is learning how to use a staff. Luke is really impressive and he took to it well. The others in the class are much older and more experienced. The instructor worked with Luke on his first day teaching him many moves and Luke picked up on it so fast. A lot of the moves reminded me of my days in baton. At home I showed the kids some of my moves and some of the different baton twirling. They were quite surprised and impressed. I actually surprised myself that I could still do some fancy moves.
Youth group finished the year with Christmas parties. Jake's group wore ugly Christmas sweaters. Jake found an ugly womens sweater and Grandma helped add the Christmas touches. Youth group wrapped up for the season on the 6th, making one less trip to Ames. However, we made up for it by going another night to celebrate Mark's birthday, going out to eat at Hickory Park. He also requested a birthday party at the house with his parents. Karen and Orrie got us our very own Tregger smoker grill for Christmas and that was our chance to try it out. I attempted prime rib, Mark's request. It didnt go as well as it could have, but we had a nice meal in the end. Jayden and Luke made the birthday cake. #44
This month we got back into Spanish class on Fridays.
Luke has been attending the 4H rifle discipline. He really enjoys going and we take turns getting him to Fort Dodge. Grandpa W and Mark help him during class.
I signed up and attended a 5 hour gun class on a Saturday in order to get my permit to carry. I learned a lot, mostly about laws.
This week we brought home a cat, helping out some town friends. I am not sure how the cat will adjust. After the first morning here, it scaled high up into the rafters of the shop and later fell. A couple days later our neighbor brought her over in a live trap. He told us he has caught it multiple times. We decided to shut it in the arena, the only place without any escape.
Jake drew with his mentor and mechanic Nate. The two of them are funny to listen too. They joke with each other and argue over what makes a good vehicle. You would never know they are 20 years apart.
The first week of December, Jayden finished both her college classes and slowed down her horse riding to a couple days a week. She likes to have jobs around the house and is easily bored. She will clean my house, organize, run errands, cook dinner, do laundry, just about anything. She has wrapped most of the Christmas presents for me and enjoyed it. She has been riding along to Ames just to get out of the house. Her and Jake enjoy working at Overflow and have tried to work more this month. I helped a couple times myself. Jake really looks forward to working and does his job well.
We had plans to get a real tree agin this year, however when we went to a tree farm all they had were small skraggely trees. The kids and i decided to put up the fake tree. We will be having Christmas at our house for the first time this year, so that means lots of cleaning and preparing. I even got Mark to help with a little house cleaning.
This month I helped in the toddler room at church. I had Jake help me and play with the only little boy. He sure liked playing with Jake, I think they both got a kick out of each other. Our church had a free showing of the Grinch for the community. Our connection group met for dinner before and we invited a neighbor family to the movie. Our new associate pastor Joey took on the role as Grinch and played his part very well. Our church provided everyone with free popcorn and hot cocoa. Joey's wife Andrea shared a poem that rhymed along with the movie adding the extra closing with birth of Jesus.
This month we made many trips to Ames. We caught ourselves coming and going all the time. Some nights more than one of us were driving to town and sometimes two trips at once. We joke about moving to Ames, in all honesty, I would like to move to the suburbs when we retire.
Mark's been making two trips a week to Huxley to his new chiropractor. He schedules them so he can help take Luke to taekwondo. Luke has been doing taekwondo this month on Thursday nights with the addition of a weapons class. It makes for a late night, class from 5:30-6, and another 7-7:30. He is learning how to use a staff. Luke is really impressive and he took to it well. The others in the class are much older and more experienced. The instructor worked with Luke on his first day teaching him many moves and Luke picked up on it so fast. A lot of the moves reminded me of my days in baton. At home I showed the kids some of my moves and some of the different baton twirling. They were quite surprised and impressed. I actually surprised myself that I could still do some fancy moves.
Youth group finished the year with Christmas parties. Jake's group wore ugly Christmas sweaters. Jake found an ugly womens sweater and Grandma helped add the Christmas touches. Youth group wrapped up for the season on the 6th, making one less trip to Ames. However, we made up for it by going another night to celebrate Mark's birthday, going out to eat at Hickory Park. He also requested a birthday party at the house with his parents. Karen and Orrie got us our very own Tregger smoker grill for Christmas and that was our chance to try it out. I attempted prime rib, Mark's request. It didnt go as well as it could have, but we had a nice meal in the end. Jayden and Luke made the birthday cake. #44
This month we got back into Spanish class on Fridays.
Luke has been attending the 4H rifle discipline. He really enjoys going and we take turns getting him to Fort Dodge. Grandpa W and Mark help him during class.
I signed up and attended a 5 hour gun class on a Saturday in order to get my permit to carry. I learned a lot, mostly about laws.
This week we brought home a cat, helping out some town friends. I am not sure how the cat will adjust. After the first morning here, it scaled high up into the rafters of the shop and later fell. A couple days later our neighbor brought her over in a live trap. He told us he has caught it multiple times. We decided to shut it in the arena, the only place without any escape.
Jake drew with his mentor and mechanic Nate. The two of them are funny to listen too. They joke with each other and argue over what makes a good vehicle. You would never know they are 20 years apart.
The first week of December, Jayden finished both her college classes and slowed down her horse riding to a couple days a week. She likes to have jobs around the house and is easily bored. She will clean my house, organize, run errands, cook dinner, do laundry, just about anything. She has wrapped most of the Christmas presents for me and enjoyed it. She has been riding along to Ames just to get out of the house. Her and Jake enjoy working at Overflow and have tried to work more this month. I helped a couple times myself. Jake really looks forward to working and does his job well.
We had plans to get a real tree agin this year, however when we went to a tree farm all they had were small skraggely trees. The kids and i decided to put up the fake tree. We will be having Christmas at our house for the first time this year, so that means lots of cleaning and preparing. I even got Mark to help with a little house cleaning.
This month I helped in the toddler room at church. I had Jake help me and play with the only little boy. He sure liked playing with Jake, I think they both got a kick out of each other. Our church had a free showing of the Grinch for the community. Our connection group met for dinner before and we invited a neighbor family to the movie. Our new associate pastor Joey took on the role as Grinch and played his part very well. Our church provided everyone with free popcorn and hot cocoa. Joey's wife Andrea shared a poem that rhymed along with the movie adding the extra closing with birth of Jesus.
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