December 19

These photos are from the youth group Christmas party a couple of weeks ago. Kat doesn’t just hide when I take pictures! 

Kat had plans to go out with friends last night. I told her she had to clean her room first because 95% of the mess was hers. PS -she had just cleaned it Friday evening, was gone until 10pm Saturday. This mess was made in an 18 hour span. I think the Tasmanian Devil came to visit. 

Clean again. Man, teens are gross!

December 18

Elliott competed in a wrestling meet yesterday. He won the first match, got pinned in his second match, pinned his third opponent, and then got pinned by his fourth opponent after the kid knocked the wind out of him. 

Clay and Lucy went to the mall and got some Christmas shopping done. Julia worked yesterday. Kat spent the day with her friend Ruth. She attended Ruth’s family’s Spanish-speaking Catholic mass and then attended a large Mexican Christmas dinner afterwards. I love that she gets to experience new cultures. 

Julia got mail from UK yesterday allowing her to sign up for one of the Merit Days in March. She had planned to go to orientation in June, but because they recognize her “potential academic strengths”, she gets to go to orientation in March and get signed up for her Fall classes early (before current students). That is pretty cool. We are very proud of her! 

December 17

Lucy moved the elf. Turd.

The kids had friends come over to hang out. Kat went to the mall with friends. Julia finished up her last day of school so she is on Christmas break too. 

December 16

We almost have our first puzzle of the winter completed!

Elliott had woodworking yesterday and then wrestling practice last night. Julia had school. Kat went thrift shopping with friends last night. Lucy hung out with Ava all evening. I went grocery shopping. It’s crazy how many time a week I am at a grocery store and we always seem to be out of food! Our grocery budget is more than our house payment ever was. 

December 15

Clay took yesterday off work to take Lucy to see the play, “Best Christmas Pageant Ever”. Both enjoyed it.

They also went to Ollie’s Trolley for lunch

This boy is finally hitting a growth spurt! A couple of days ago he looked taller to me so we put him next to the growth chart. He usually grows two inches per year. He has grown two inches since his birthday! We spent a little while yesterday clearing out the size 10/12 clothing from his dresser because they don’t fit anymore.

I have my yearbook layout organized and color-coded. 30 pages completed… many many more to go!

December 14

We went to a Christmas party/homeschool open gym yesterday afternoon. 

December 13

Clay went to the toy drive event at the gym

Lucy decided to rearrange her room-again! Since I have  to help her move the bed, I told her the bed needed to stay in this spot until summer. I have a feeling that the rest of the furniture will be moved before Christmas break is done. Girl likes to rearrange her room!

December 12

Lucy made Oreo truffles for her birthday dessert.

We went to Texas Roadhouse for her birthday dinner.

Elliott was gone most of the day at a wrestling tournament. He went with a teammate and his family since Lucy wanted us both with her for her birthday. He pinned his first two opponents and then lost by points to a teammate in the finals. 

December 11

Happy 11th Birthday, Lucy!!!

We celebrated Lucy’s 11th birthday with friends. She did all the organizing, I just implemented her plan. She wanted her friends to watch a movie (the Grinch) and have a hot chocolate and popcorn bar, then they played three games (candy cane hunt, save the Sour Patch kids, and the flour game). We topped it off with pancakes for lunch. 

Lucy got this net for her bed and was excited to put it up.