Okay, so thanks for sticking with me. This is the end of the Turkey day posts! Whew! I'm tired again just looking at all this!
Since I was in town for almost a week I took the chance to go see my sister, one of my very best friends. Renee' is one of those girls who just makes you laugh when you're together. I love it. Her kids are cute, she always has something for me to help her with so I feel like it's a two-way friendship, and she is patient with my shortcomings and loud about my strengths. Who wouldn't want a friend like that?!
Anyway, so when I got to her house I got to play with my niece. I don't get to see her often and she's so little - only a few months older than Alexandra. It was so fun. Sara was a bit hesitant at the beginning, but then she totally filled her responsibilities as a niece and climbed up on my lap. I was having little one withdrawals since Ally is such a cuddly kid and Sara helped me feel better. I sure enjoyed getting to know her a bit more. She probably won't remember me since she is so little, but it'll make our next visit easier. Then I felt even better because my sister said that Sara isn't always so excited about new people. Made my little mommy/auntie heart flutter with happiness.
I'm loving being an auntie!
We also went back to the temple two more times to finish the work of sealing my family together. It was so wonderful, especially the last part when the whole family finally became linked from great grandparents to my little ones. Now my oldest daughter, Evelynn Sophia, is sealed to the woman whose name she bears, Sophia Zychal, my great-grandmother who I loved very much. It was a touching and especially spiritual experience for all involved. (Okay, yes, for those of you wondering, a tear or two did escape, but that's it, nothing more)
While in town I did take the opportunity to do some errands. I know that sounds funny, but WA is still our permanent address for a reason. I took the chance to make some calls and found out that my WA teaching certificate will be valid until I need it, whenever I end up needing it. I was really relieved to hear it because I don't think I will be using that certificate for a while. Don't want to lose anything in that area that I can help.
I also met with a great woman from the school district where my permanent address is located. She was amazingly helpful in giving me some guidance with my homeschooling. I have done a lot of research in state and federal standards for my kids schooling. Being a teacher myself helps with the lingo and navigation of educational information. Anyway, so the CVSD liaison I was working with was great in helping to understand what the district could do for me and my kids. (We're in a unique situation with homeschooling since we are not in any one location for more than a few years. No one wants to take us on as a responsibility since we aren't able to have actual face-time. Thankfully, I'm working around it.)
Finally, I was able to fix our voter registration. We've been missing votes for elections because they continued to send our ballots to our permanent address instead of our current one. Hopefully, it's all worked out now - Chris HATES missing the chance to vote. It's a huge deal for him and for me too.
Okay - so eventually, we did all get to actual celebrating Thanksgiving. I was especially grateful for a double celebration! Two families, two turkeys, lots of yummy food, and no one to have to watch over or put to bed. I so enjoyed myself. We all had a great time and I felt truly loved surrounded by my family on both sides.
The second turkey day celebration was so much fun with so many people. I loved it! My family so huge!
The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally a no go day for me. I'm not a big Black Friday person. I hate getting up early in general, let alone to go....shopping of all things. I also don't enjoy big crowds of people fighting for things they really don't need or huge parking issues and traffic jams. But, just this once, I had a little money, the time since I had no kids, and a great companion whose enthusiasm for shopping mirrored mine, my big little brother, Jimmy! He had come into town just the day before due to finals at school in Vegas. I was glad to get to see him a bit before I had to go.
We hit the mall to get some personalized ornaments for my little ones. I was given some beautiful ones for my first two, but was not gifted with the last two. I got them myself and Jim helped me pick them out. I'm not so girly though both the babies for which I needed ornaments are girls. I also picked up some other little things, but then I was done. Mom, however, decided to be extra kind and took us both to Kohls. I'd never actually been to the store before to buy anything so she offered to help supplement my wardrobe. It was awfully generous of her and I will be honest, it was kind of fun. We went to lunch afterward. Then I got to go home and take a NAP! It was awesome!
I love how adventurous they are. Anyway, so I took lots of pix and vids and had a great time. The kids even held a little concert of their own at the same time at home. I loved it and included the shots here. When I went out with my Fosburg family my kids picked up Rock Band at home. Don't they look great? I was shocked at how perfect they looked at being great drummers!
Then of course, I had to send lots of pix and vids to Chris. He so often gets to go do fun things when he deploys and TDY's, not that I would tell him not to. It made saying yes to this unforgettable concert easy. He was a bit jealous. I kind of enjoyed the envy for once. Even now as I'm doing this he's avoiding the screen. It cracks me up since he was encouraging me to take this trip as a sort of thanks for being so good while he's gone. I did appreciate the event, even more so since he couldn't be there. (I did have a moment during the concert when I REALLY missed him. That's what happens when you marry someone you love to spend time with. I just love doing things together and this wasn't one of them.)
Well, that's it. I flew home the next day and though flying that far is always a bit tiresome, I did meet some really nice people. I love talking to people on the plane when they're kind. Without kids, I got to work on my people skills a bit more. (Building relationships is something I'm still working on personally.) I also enjoyed getting to see my kids when I got home. I was home quite late for us, but Chris brought them all out to Columbia to pick me up. They were SOOOOO cute in their jammies with their big smiles. Ally almost jumped out of her car seat to get a hug. I loved coming home to that! My sweet husband knows just how to get to my heart: my little ones and a great big kiss that showed he missed me! Wonderful.
Since I was in town for almost a week I took the chance to go see my sister, one of my very best friends. Renee' is one of those girls who just makes you laugh when you're together. I love it. Her kids are cute, she always has something for me to help her with so I feel like it's a two-way friendship, and she is patient with my shortcomings and loud about my strengths. Who wouldn't want a friend like that?!
my sweet nephew, Dominic, and niece, Lily Pendergrass
little Sara and Renee'!
While in town I did take the opportunity to do some errands. I know that sounds funny, but WA is still our permanent address for a reason. I took the chance to make some calls and found out that my WA teaching certificate will be valid until I need it, whenever I end up needing it. I was really relieved to hear it because I don't think I will be using that certificate for a while. Don't want to lose anything in that area that I can help.
I also met with a great woman from the school district where my permanent address is located. She was amazingly helpful in giving me some guidance with my homeschooling. I have done a lot of research in state and federal standards for my kids schooling. Being a teacher myself helps with the lingo and navigation of educational information. Anyway, so the CVSD liaison I was working with was great in helping to understand what the district could do for me and my kids. (We're in a unique situation with homeschooling since we are not in any one location for more than a few years. No one wants to take us on as a responsibility since we aren't able to have actual face-time. Thankfully, I'm working around it.)
Finally, I was able to fix our voter registration. We've been missing votes for elections because they continued to send our ballots to our permanent address instead of our current one. Hopefully, it's all worked out now - Chris HATES missing the chance to vote. It's a huge deal for him and for me too.
Okay - so eventually, we did all get to actual celebrating Thanksgiving. I was especially grateful for a double celebration! Two families, two turkeys, lots of yummy food, and no one to have to watch over or put to bed. I so enjoyed myself. We all had a great time and I felt truly loved surrounded by my family on both sides.
little sister, Katie Woods - she's so fun to hang with
mom - always busy with something - love her cooking
Katie's husband, Erik and dad - such a guy thing to do, frying a turkey
The second turkey day celebration was so much fun with so many people. I loved it! My family so huge!
Beckie's husband, Jed, little bro, Jim, and daddy - ooooh, food!
awesome nephew, Eric! He loves to eat almost as much as his dad!
Quel, Matt's wife - my sister by marriage and by need to photograph
everything! She's such an inspiration and the only reason
I take as many pix as I do! (just blame her next time)
my niece, Lanie Spencer and the biggest chocolate cake any of us
had ever seen! Yes, we all love Costco in my family
- She got the first piece lucky duck!
aren't they cute! I love my parents so much.
my little bro Jim - he's abt 250lbs and 6ft. tall so I go with
"big little brother" - he's also one of my best friends -
seriously I don't know any other girl he'd go out with on
Black Friday to a mall!
That night I got to do something extremely special. My mom and dad Fosburg took me to a Transiberian Orchestra concert. Chris and I LOVE them! It was fantastic. We had so much fun together. They even took me to a great Japanese restaurant where I got to try some new foods.
oh look, another set of parents who are both cute and in love!
aren't I so lucky?
rockin' little Liz
super smart Joe
awesome Evelynn
Then of course, I had to send lots of pix and vids to Chris. He so often gets to go do fun things when he deploys and TDY's, not that I would tell him not to. It made saying yes to this unforgettable concert easy. He was a bit jealous. I kind of enjoyed the envy for once. Even now as I'm doing this he's avoiding the screen. It cracks me up since he was encouraging me to take this trip as a sort of thanks for being so good while he's gone. I did appreciate the event, even more so since he couldn't be there. (I did have a moment during the concert when I REALLY missed him. That's what happens when you marry someone you love to spend time with. I just love doing things together and this wasn't one of them.)
I know - so silly, but most of these were sent for Chris from my
phone. besides, it was fun to do and to see again.
wasn't it amazing?
I loved the falling snow and the amazing show the group put on.
One of the craziest songs turned the whole stage red with dragons -
reminded me so much of Chris and how much he loves fantasy stuff.
the guy was so close I could almost touch him -
a little odd for me, but fun nonetheless
1 comment:
Sounds like an eventful holiday. I'm glad your certificate is still good too not that you need it right now but it never hurts to know that you do have it if you do need to use it. Looks like a lot of fun at the concert too I'm a little jealous too but I'm glad you had a great time with so many of your family.
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