Thankful

"Why don't they call it 'giving thanks day'?"  Addie asked.  "It sounds so weird to say 'thanks-giving'."   She is always very literal and doesn't like it when things don't make what she assumes is the very most sense.

THANKSGIVING 2012

Today I hosted my very first Thanksgiving.  Never have I been in charge of what would be served at the meal, nor provided the place for it and, aside from the two Thanksgivings I spent as a missionary, I have always been surrounded by tons of family.  Even last year we spent it at Jason's aunt and uncles house and it was overflowing with love and family, and we simply brought a few items to add to the smorgasbord.

I wish I had my sister Nancy's ability to start writing about something she seems to just be beginning to feel or wonder and then beautifully, thoughtfully, and concisely share her conclusions that are always very enlightening.  I am quite positive that won't happen in this blog post.  But something magical happened today and I'm not exactly sure or why, I just know that it did.

Even if we'd only had our little family, it would seem like a fine sized Thanksgiving dinner for most of the world.  But that didn't feel like anything we've ever been accustomed to.  So, we invited Jason's cousin Casey (who recently moved to the area from New Mexico) and her family (husband and three children), the VerHoefs (an awesome family in our ward whom we love) and the missionaries.  There were 8 adults and 13 kids.  That felt a little more right.  As Thanksgiving was approaching I kept thinking I might get overwhelmed but instead I kept feeling kind of excited.  I'm sure it helped that the food was prepared and provided by all three families.  I took some time yesterday to shop and make my table look nice.  I thought, "This is my table.  I like it."  Addie and I made place cards because they were cute but also for me to keep track and not feel worried about where people would fit.  I arranged them on the table to view how it would work out and I thought, "This will be the perfect way to fit these people into my home.  I like it."  I rearranged some things and put up a few more pictures.  The kids were great at cleaning this morning and Grace helped me get some things that have been sitting in the living room since we moved in put away--or at least stored in a different spot until I can decide what I want to do.  I looked at my living room thought, "This is clean and spacious.  I like it."

Casey showed up at noon with her family to start cooking with us since they are currently renting an apartment with a very small kitchen.  And because, of course, it is nice to be together.  The elders and VerHoefs arrived around 3pm.  Everything went smoothly.  Elder Smith said every single thing to eat was the best thing he'd ever eaten (like he could even know that...or wait...maybe he could?).  Jason smoked two turkey breasts and the VerHoefs cooked a turkey in the ground and they were both magnificent.

Of course there was plenty of crying from babies, but mostly the kids got along very well and were so happy.  The colors on the trees have just now changed here in Texas and we had loveliness all around outside.  After dinner, as the kids jumped on the trampoline, the adults lounged about and it began to rain a little bit, although the clouds were only scattered.  A completely arc-ed double-rainbow appeared in the sky and the sun came through the evening sky somehow turning everything reddish pink. I commented on the lighting.  We all commented on the lighting.  It poured through the windows into the house with such a warmth.  I have rarely seen natural light like that.  It was all a bit surreal and magical.

Sarah (VerHoef) said to me, "Thank you so much for inviting us.  We loved being in your home.  Just the feeling here, with the music instead of loud football and the table and the company...I don't know, but Wes and I were just saying that there is such a nice feeling here and we've really loved it."  I felt that way too.  And I liked it very much.  Nobody was in a rush to leave so the kids played hide and seek, had baby races, played Clue, and occasionally hit each other with light sabres until nearly bedtime.

I have logically been able to tell myself that feeling "at-home" here is something that would just take some time and would come little by little.  I hadn't felt much of it in my heart--only the feeling that this is the place where we should be.  I don't know exactly what happened.  Maybe somewhere there is a "Guide to Feeling at Home for People Who Have Never Really Moved Away from Home".  Maybe there is an entire chapter on the importance of holding traditional holiday events in your new home with your own little family as the hosts instead of being tag-alongs at other homes to help you feel at home.  If not, maybe someday I will write that book.  Because somehow, having this day in my home with the 6 people who truly ARE home to me helped me take a huge step forward.  And for that I am so grateful.

More Football

I can't resist sharing a few more photos from the season.  Andre won this little football after being named Defensive Player of the Game.

 Here are a few of the "tackles" that got him the award:

I love his stance and the look on his face after he got that flag. 

 This tackle was even more fun to see:

 Nice try but you're not getting past Andre!

Here's one last sequence. A handoff to Andre and he's running...

He looks a little worried, but he knows what to do.

Can this kid get him?

Nope.

How about this kid?

 Sorry guy, Andre's too slippery!

 And he runs it in for the TOUCHDOWN!!!

 

Now, wasn't that fun?  Yes.  It was very fun.  And now we will enjoy our winter with only a few scrambled nights of hotdogs, a quick verse of scripture, prayers and late bedtimes rather than having it be the norm.  Whew!

Football

Last Saturday Andre had a playoff football game.  His team, The Longhorns, beat their opponents soundly.  They had their second game the following day, Sunday, so we did not participate.  That evening I received good and bad news and it was the same news.  The Longhorns had lost Game 2.  Bad news because, well, they're a great group of boys who played really well all season and hoped to make it all the way to the Superbowl.  Good news because football was OVER!  We've been going to practices Mon/Wed/Fri evenings and then games on Saturdays.  Usually I stay at the practice the whole time due to a couple of disturbing incidents at the park where he plays (not amongst the team--a story for another day).  Anywho...its been a very busy autumn and I'm grateful to have our weeknights back.

However, I really do love to watch my son participate in sports.  He has such a natural ability and it is so fun to see his brain just click when he is told to do something and also to see his little body do what he wants it to do.  This might be far too many photos for you all to enjoy, but...well...never mind...who wouldn't enjoy these?  Beautiful Fall afternoons and some flag football.  Good times!

Jason bought Andre a very nice mouthguard which actually fit him at the beginning of the season.  I knew it wouldn't last (and I found it shriveled in the dryer a week or two in) so when I found some other youth mouth guards on sale for $1.50 I stocked up.  Regrettably, as you'll see in many of the photos, it was difficult for Andre to actually keep these in his mouth.  But isn't he so cute?

 Here Andre is making a diving tackle.  This was the #1 team and Andre saved a touch down here by getting this kid's flag just at about the 10 yard line.

 Things went Andre's way a lot of the time.  But of course, not always...

 Sometimes the games looked more like tackle football than flag.

 Here is a fun sequence.  Last play of the game.  QB Nate winds up for a pass to Andre who is headed for the endzone:

 He's just stepped over the endzone line.  Where's the ball?

 Here it comes...

 Will he catch it?

 He's got it!!!

 Touch down!!!

 And a confident victory walk off the field as the whistle blows.

NINE is Fine

 Adelaide turned nine on the 12th of October.  Grandma Sharon was here and her Cox grandparents arrived just after she got home from school.  She chose to eat at Chile's.  Paul and Vicki met us there.   Afterwards we had fun little party over at our house and---again--I neglected to take but these few photos as evidence of the fun people we love who came to party with us.  Paul and Vicki came back to the house, Pam and Craig had arrived from Houston and Aaron, Jack, Olivia, and Josie joined us as well as the Boucha family.  I don't know that I've mentioned the Boucha's on this blog yet, but Casey is Jason's cousin on his dad's side.  She is married to Brian and ever since we visited them about 9 years ago in Denver, we have adored them and wished that we could live closer to them.  They recently moved to our area with their 3 little ones and we are so happy!

Anywho...here is our sweetest deedle bug with her cake.  She requested red velvet.  I hope this is the best year ever for Addie.  She has been through a lot but is thriving and seems happier than I can ever remember.  She loves her teacher at school and is very smart.  I believe that the things we have been doing to help her emotionally are really paying off.  I adore this little heart of my hearts.

 And speaking of adorable...the Boucha's son Brody is about 9 months older than Miles.  They are the best of buddies and scream in delight when they greet each other.  I am so happy for Miles to have such a great little friend.  Here they are being way too cool for shirts at Addie's party.

EIGHT is great!

Andre turned 8 years old on October 9th.  What an awesome child I have been blessed with!  Andre chose to go to "Babe's Chicken Dinner" to eat.  It is fabulous Southern comfort food.  Of course he ate ribs.  We then had birthday cake and presents.  Jason splurged on Andre and got him a 3DS.  Someday my kids will read this and a 3DS will sound as silly as an Atari 2600 does now.  But anyway, its the latest cool thing in kids gaming/electronics.

The following day my Mom arrived to pay us a visit!!!  I was so happy, as were all of the kids.  I miss my extended family in Utah so much.  Just having her in the house brought me a great deal of peace, despite the stress of additional parties, baptisms, and having to re-plumb the kitchen sink myself on Friday before guests arrived.

I'll get back to the other festivities of the week but first want to cover the most important.

Andre was baptized on Saturday, October 14th.  His other grandparents, Guy and Debbie, had arrived the night before, so they were able to be there with us.  He asked each of his grandmothers to speak (Debbie on baptism and Sharon on the Holy Ghost).  I was very touched as Andre's eyes stayed fixed intently upon them as they spoke and he nodded his head in agreement and was all together as sweet, humble, and awesome as could be.  He was truly excited to get baptized.  The Allred grandparents gave him his first official set of scriptures with his name printed on them and a cool scripture case.  That night I found him asleep with his arm across the open book--Genesis chapter 3.  

Of course his father performed the baptism and confirmation.  I wish I'd been coherent enough to photograph all of our awesome friends and family who came to support Andre.  Besides grandparents coming from Utah, he also had Aunt Pam and Uncle Craig come from Houston, Aarison, the Hastings, Vicki and Dima, the Bouchas, the VerHoef family and others whom we dearly love.

 After the bishop held his baptismal interview with Andre, he came out and told me how impressed he was.  He said that Andre was much more prepared for baptism than most kids his age and that  he was amazed at some of Andre's insightful answers.  The night before his baptism, Andre carefully set out his suit and other items he'd need for the following day.  The whole service was a very spiritual time for me.  I hope it was for him.

Andre is only 8.  He throws his clothes everywhere and only some of his pee gets in the toilet.  He throws a small fit if he misses a spelling word and I force him to practice it.  He has man BO if he forgets to put on deodorant.  I only tell you these things because otherwise I might swear he is the closest to a perfect boy you could ever find.