November 17

Elliott had a small writing assignment in his writing class at co-op. He hates handwriting, so he chose to type his paper. He is learning how to "dress up" his writing with adjectives and adverbs.

November 16

We woke up to ice yesterday morning. It didn't cause much trouble with the roads, but alot of trees/branches fell and many were without power. We lost power for just a short while in the middle of the night.

Julia shadowed yesterday at Clay's alma mater. She ended up liking it alot more than she expected. So now we have her choice narrowed down to two schools. 

November 15

Kat's 7th grade youth group went to Dairy Queen last night to celebrate our last night of AWANA until after the holidays! I am looking forward to having Wednesday nights at home.  

Clay really liked the homeschool consortium yesterday. Kat has already picked out a number of classes that she would like to take. Their Algebra 2 class is a high school class. Kat will have to test into it, but I am fairly confident she will pass. She averages a 95% on her Algebra 1 work. The girl has her daddy's math mind. 

Julia shadows at one more high school today and then we need to decide what route for her to take. We would appreciate prayers. 

Also, because we don't have enough going on, we had our realtor come to our house yesterday and we mapped out a game plan for the house we'd like to purchase as well as the plan to sell our house if that deal goes through... because moving at Christmas is everyone's dream (insert sarcasm).

November 14

Life hasn't slowed down. Clay took Julia to another high school open house last night and then they toured that same school early this morning to see how it looks when students are there. Clay said he noticed through four different class windows that most students were looking down at their cell phones. The staff has been very friendly all three times we have encountered them. But still...

Clay, Julia, and Kat are currently checking out a home school consortium. You can take one class or a full load of classes. The teachers all have bachelors or masters degrees in the field they are teaching. This is the current route that Kat plans to take through high school. 

Meanwhile, Elliott, Lucy, and I just got back from a field trip to a dairy farm. It. Was. Cold. Lucy was so cold that she was quietly crying (it was as pitiful as it sounds). They enjoyed the cows and especially enjoyed the cats.

 

 

November 13

Elliott takes a jiu jitsu class at 5pm on Tuesdays, and then assists with the 6 o'clock class. He seems to enjoy helping teach the class.

November 12

 

 

 

After the funeral, the family came back to our house for a meal (someone from the church provided a great meal) and to hang out. It is sad to lose Papaw because he was such a huge part of the family. But we know he's in a better place and he's wanted to be there for a number of years. His legacy lives on!

 

We celebrated Nora's first birthday. She was more interested in the plate than the cake. Ha!

November 11

Today was Papaw's visitation. I would like to say that my kids kept Nora entertained, but I think it was the other way around. Babies are therapeutic.

November 10

 Gus knows when you are sad and need extra snuggles. Really, he wants to be a 60 pound lap dog. 

 

November 9

The world lost one of its best people today. Papaw G was one in a million. He was sweet, humble, hard-working, devoted to his family, ornery, and very loved. Clay loved and respected him above just about anyone else on earth. He always made me feel like I was one of his grandkids. He's now in Heaven probably trying to find something to fix, playing harmonica for Jesus, and harassing Mamaw again.

 Handsome Navy man

 Susie and Pat would tell you that he was the best Daddy in the world.

 He loved to fish and loved the lake.

 

 Never without his harmonica.

  

He had a silly side.

 When Clay and I bought our first house in 2003, he helped do alot of the work to get it move-in ready. He was 78 years old climbing ladders, etc. 

 

 

 Wrangling Julia at Bob and Jessica's wedding in 2006.

 

 Meeting Kat for the first time.

 

 He and Mamaw G used to come play with Julia and Kat at least once a week.

Meeting Elliott in 2009

 

 In 2010 at the lake with the great grandkids. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 In 2011 with Abbie and Lucy.

 The kids enjoyed helping Papaw with his garden.

  He enjoyed playing harmonica at the Fiddler's contest (and winning).

 

 Helping Elliott see what is in his Easter basket (really, it was so Papaw could sneak some candy).

 

 

 

  

 

 Last October, Clay got to spend an entire day with Papaw on the Honor Flight to thank him for his service during World War 2. I know this day meant alot to Clay and is something he will never forget.

 After he moved to Georgia in April 2018, we paid him a visit and got to see all of the Georgia cousins and second cousins.

Papaw was the biggest little man you ever met! He will be greatly missed!