The Week of Thanksgiving

On Friday night (November 20th), Tanner had a game!  I am so glad his basketball season has started.  He has worked hard for months and now the fun part begins.  Parker had a football game the same night actually.  He played in San Angelo, and Brian was able to make the journey to watch it.

Aub and I made a date night out of it.  We got Blizzards and headed to the game.  Afterwards we stopped by Chic Fil A.  This was really my first post Covid adventure.  It felt so great to be part of my kiddos lives in a more active way.  Every peep I made to cheer on Tanner or the team, Aubrey would shush me.  She was mortified by my every move.  Silly teen.  I finally told her she could sit all alone and be embarrassed by that if she wanted.  Ha!  She stayed.

But back to Tanner...he did well.  He got to start and played about 3/4 of the game.  Grandpa slipped onto the court and took some awesome pictures.  Their team won.  Here are some amazing pictures Grandpa took.  

I love how Grandpa just walks on the court like he has authority to be there.  His pictures make my kiddos so happy.  Their friends LOVE them too.

Aubrey was able to spend a few days throughout the break with Lauron.  Yea for a cousin who is your best friend as well.  I was so happy for Aubrey to get out of the house because she quarantined the whole time I was sick.   Her school is online, and we stayed away from church and family events.  They made Christmas cookies and did sleepovers and watched movies and had a photo shoot and more.lots of other things.

La had a ice skating show off at the mall.  She did fabulous.  Aubrey and I were able to watch her.  Here she is w/ Christian.

How cute is this for a Thanksgiving gift?  The Armstrong family gave a ton of the boys on the team a super soft, embroidered, Permian blanket. Kendyn is on the team and shattered his leg during the first scrimmage.  It was awful.  He and Parker have been friends since elementary.  Park and other football guys have spent more time at Kendyn's the past few months.  Anyway, super nice and thoughtful. 

Parker's 18th birthday was last Sunday.  We celebrated at home and then at the Birds for our Sunday night gathering.  Aubrey gave him some Dr. Peppers.  Tanner and Parker exchanged XBox games in September to celebrate each others b-days. (2K and Madden).  Brinley was able to call and chat with him which is a fun birthday gift.

We gave him more data for his phone, some Nike shorts, a stretchy Trump key chain and some treats.

I love these two together.  There is a lot of teasing and joking around.  

And just for fun, here they are when they were 12 and 10.  Britney sent me this last week.  The saying not to blink when raising kids is so true.

We had a great time celebrating our 18 year old baby boy.  I especially loved sharing with the family silly things he said and did as a little guy.  (He was the heart throb of kindergarten.  He loved to tease his siblings.  Almost every Sunday when I would get dressed up for church, he would sweetly tell me how beautiful I looked.)

Here are a few picts from Sunday night.

Brit, Char and Park.  They gave him money and a card.  With Thanksgiving a few days away and Covid spiking in general, we decided we better start masking up.  It's kind of the pits.  

Thanks Gram and Gramp for the gift! (money and a card)

The Vores gave him some salmon pink running shorts.

Kerry came extra prepared.  He's joking around.  But that very night he texted to say his friend's dad tested positive.  And he had been hanging out w/ that friend all day before he came over to the Birds...so masking up before T-giving worked out.  (Adam Bird was exposed the next day at work so they didn't come to T-giving.)

Charity, Jake, Erin, Jeff, Gram and Parker.  It was nice to have Erin in town w/ her  husband of just a few months, Jeff.  He seems really nice.

Aubrey and Parker with Ella.

The day after Thanksgiving, Park and friends went over to Midland to watch the Lee vs San Angelo game.  Park was surprised by how calm it was in the stands.  He asked Bethani if it always felt this way.  She said yes.  He is used to being IN THE BATTLE and on the field where there is action behind the action.  I think he will miss playing football and have some great memories from these years.

Poor Aub...she finally got out of quarantine, but Breena was exposed to someone at school.  So it was a bit before they could hang out again.  Luckily, Breena came over one time during the holiday and they had a great time together.  They played volleyball, made a tic tok video, and made/decorated Christmas sugar cookies.

After Thanksgiving Brian and Tanner took down the Christmas boxes, and Aubrey and I decorated.  Whew, that is a lot of work and our tree is not up.  Honestly, I think I am done.  If Brian and the boys want to do the tree, go for it.  I feel too busy and divided with work, church and home responsibilities.

We got a little pre-Christmas package sent off to Brinley with some decorations for her apartment.  We have also been working on her big package which I will send tomorrow.  Some of the things we are sending her way for Christmas: an engraved wrap around ring that has IBM (Idaho Boise Mission) and CTR  (Choose the Right) on it.  I was a little disappointed on how little you could see the engraving...but...., a green dress, a slip extender, several new fabric masks, a box of one time use masks (gotta love Covid), note cards, colored pens, two sunflower necklaces (one to share w/ whomever she wants), a little photo book w/ about 50 pictures of family and mission friends in it, stocking stuffers and more!  

We also did a 12 days of Christmas countdown for her and her companion.  Aubrey helped me a lot w/ that which was awesome and really appreciated.  She helped me think of fun gifts and come up w/ scriptures and type little papers out to tape to each gift.  Those countdown gifts were: fuzzy socks, hot chocolate, lip balm, mittens, bracelets, stockings, gingerbread houses and other gifts I can't think of right now.  I hope they enjoy their countdown activity.

On Saturday, Brian and I were able to drive up to Lubbock to watch Tanner play in his 2nd basketball game.  He did great!!!  He was more aggressive in this game than in his first one, and he played well.  He scored 11 points and Mojo won.  Woot woot!

I was wishing the temple was open.  That is just what we do when we go to Lubbock.  Hopefully one day soon it will be open again.  I did get some Christmas shopping in though.  Brian was cute and told me a couple of times to take as much time as I would like.  I am not a huge shopper, but since we have many gifts to buy, it was nice to knock a few out.

Home church!  We are back to it as of a couple of weeks ago because things are spiking on our area.  I love it.  Last week Parker and Brian gave the talks and did a great job.  Aubrey picks the songs and plays the music.  She used to conduct but now she just sings.  This week we listened to a conference talk about becoming more Christlike everyday.  Next week Bri asked me and Tanner to speak.  I love the closeness I feel with my family.  I love the spirit that lingers in our home.  I love sharing the gospel together.

(These picts are from afterwards)  

Tanner, November 22th

Tan-the quick changer, Park and Bri, November 29th

Thanksgiving Day

On Wednesday night, Brinley sent a message in FB messenger inviting us to a mission zoom devotional and game event the next morning.  We were so happy about that opportunity.  I was going to be making mashed potatoes and green bean casserole for 20 that morning.  Our family has Thanksgiving at noon so that families can meet up with their other side of the family if needed that day.  

Bri also went over to Kerry's around 8:30 to "help" him fry turkeys.  Adam Bird, Nate and Scott McKown ususally head over but they were all out due to Covid.  (Adam was exposed.  Nate decided not to travel and Scott has it.)  My dad headed over with the same intentions as Brian, but they both said there wasn't really anything to help with.  I think Kerry probably appreciated the effort though, and it's nice to hang/help out with family.

Uncle Kerry...there was only one turkey fire this year.

The boys went to the annual Turkey bowl at 9:00.  They didn't have much to say about it.  They are both super athletic, and I did give Parker a little reminder to let everyone have fun playing.  (Aka...this is not the Super Bowl...but he kind of rolled his eyes and smiled and said, "it's obvious you are not very competitive Mom.") Hope everything went down good on the field.

Brian got up extra early and made the casserole and peeled all of the potatoes.  It was a wonderful Thanksgiving surprise, and I love him.  It made it much easier to enjoy Brinley's mission zoom gathering at 10:00.

Sisters Gwilliam & Maycock in the middle.

Aubrey and I logged on right away and enjoyed the devotional by President Nygaard.  One thing he focused on is not comparing ourselves to others.  We will be happier with our efforts and with those around us when we focus on just doing our best.

Here are a couple of phone picts from our meet up.  Dad and the boys came in and listened part way through.  When the games started, I logged off to quickly get dressed, but Aubrey stayed on.  I loved that Pres and Sister Nygaard had a $50 gift card to Walmart for the winners.  You could tell those missionaries were all about that.

We headed over to Kerry's at noon and he had everything set up so nicely.  We usually have 50 plus at Thanksgiving...extended family plus a few friends and missionaries usually.  This year we really tried to keep it small.  We didn't invite any extras...which was terrible.  It's nice to invite our single friends from the ward or a family we minister to.  Kerry spread out the seating, and we wore masks except when eating.  Gotta love Covid.

We held our breath when we took off our masks for this picture.  Mostly we are really trying to protect my parents and especially my mom.  She is delicate and has asthma.  Actually the whole King family plus me and Brian have already had Covid....so we counted that as a win.  Six fewer people who might be spreading it unknowingly.

Left-rt: Holden, Kerry, Quetta, Gram, Brian, Erin (me), Parker, Aubrey, Tanner, Lauron, Chris, Ang, Jeff, Erin, Laurel, David, Danielle, Ashley, Emily, Isaiah, David, Kate, Charity, Jake (Davidson), & Grandpa

Erin, Jeff, Kate, Jake, Charity

Aubrey & Lauron

David, Laurel (my 1st cousin), Danielle & Ashley King

The missionary table is a little tradition.  We set out cards and coloring pages and everyone can send a little family love their way.  This year our missionaries are: Brinley, CJ King and Benjamin Vore.  We also had a box for Dylan Hill who is serving in the Marines.  (This is Kerry's girlfriend's son.  He is great.  Really friendly and cute with kids of all ages.)

Kerry & Gram hanging out.

Grandpa sending some letter love.

David Martin (Ang's brother) keeping things real!

Grandpa and Danielle (his great niece)

Selfie time....Me, Aub & Gramp

Quetta 

The teens disappeared inside the house for an hour or two and then showed up for round two of food and some dessert.  Tan, Holden, La & Aub

David & Kate

Hold and Aub

Brian and I stopped by the Birds on the way home.  We missed them.  They didn't come because Adam was exposed at work a couple of days before.  The kids wouldn't give us the time of day because it was their screen time opportunity. (Ipads and TV).  I felt badly because Brit had been napping.  However, it was so great to visit with Adam and Brit and hear about their Thanksgiving day.  She also fed us pie and sent us home with leftovers.  (When you gather in a big group leftovers can be scarce. The Birds had a full turkey and ham plus all of the fixings with just the six of them.  They were awesome to send us w/ a dish of leftovers and to make us feel like we were doing them the favor!) 

Covid pie!  Brit always brings the pies and so we didn't have any at Thanksgiving this year.  Well, we had two store bought ones, and Quetta's delicious banana pudding.  Anyway, Bri and I enjoyed some of Brit's divine chocolate and lemon pie.  So yummy.

And now back to Brinley.  It really was fun how were able to start and end our Thanksgiving with her.  We did the zoom meeting in the morning, and she was able to call that evening.  We heard all about her amazing time with Kris and Eric Gwilliam!!!  It was such a blessing and made my momma heart so happy.

The mission basically got shut down this week due to the rise of Covid the past couple of weeks.  They aren't allowed to eat in members' homes or hang out with other missionaries on p-day or throughout the week.  Brinley was feeling sad about spending the entire day stuck in their apartment.  I'm sure Sister Maycock was feeling the same way as well.  

Anyway...Bryn reached out to Sister Nygaard and asked if they could go to her Aunt and Uncle's house on Thanksgiving.  And she said Yes!!  I am just floored that they were given permission.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Nygaards for that.  

I called Kris on Wednesday night to see if they were even in town.  They were.  She was so cute and sweet about having Bryn and comp come.  This is family.  I am getting teary as I write.  I love that Brinley felt comfortable even thinking about going there.  I love that it didn't feel awkward for me to make the phone call the night before the big day.  We both knew Kris and Eric would welcome them with open arms.  LOVE them for their graciousness and love.

The "sisters" could go but had to wear their masks the whole time...except when eating six feet away.  (Crazy, crazy Covid...am I really having to write this?)  Kris and Eric set up this cute little table for them.

Here they are with the fam.  Max, Sister Gwilliam (aka Bryn), Sister Maycock, Jack, Henry, Kris and Eric.  (And another cool aside.  They found out Sister Maycock's dad and Eric served in the same mission under the same president.)

Their daughter, our niece, Macy is serving in Indiana.  I wish she was serving right here in the big O.  We would have loved to have her over for Thanksgiving.  I hope she was well taken care of this year too.

And here is Kris's sweet Instagram post which sums up many of my feelings as well.  Happy 2020 Thanksgiving.