Our Thanksgiving Celebration

Many of us here in Missouri are orphaned, with no blood relatives to speak of, so we decided to have our own down-home family experience together. We had a great time. The kids spend so much time together, it is similar to having cousins around (Well, except the fact that my girls seem to like the boys attention).

There were enough of us that we ended up having it at the church. We made sure to have enough food that there would be leftovers for everyone to take home. It just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without leftovers in the fridge the next day! I spent the day worrying the turkey would be dry (or raw), making rolls and pie. Moss spent the day playing football with all the other guys from church. So I guess you could say it was a true Thanksgiving experience.

The last of Fall

We thought we should hurry and get a few pictures in the leaves before winter finally set in. We had the most wonderful weather which ended abruptly on Thanksgiving. It literally went from a very nice 70 degree high to a miserable 40 degrees in one day. I am grateful that Fall held out as long as it did, but winter and cold have to be my least favorite season by far!

Jacob is almost 4 and very imaginitive. We are having a good time together while the girls are at school. He does miss them and whenever we go out he asks, "Are we going to get the girls?" His favorite things include rockets and jets. He is strongly influenced by having two older sisters, and plays "puppy" and "kitty" with them.

Mary is 7 1/2 and in second grade. She loves her teacher Mr. Wade, and is super focused on her school work. She loves math and is always asking questions, trying to memorize new facts. She is a big helper around the house these days unless it gets in the way of her schedule. If I don't set the agenda, she will make one up for herself and then I am out of luck!

Sweet little Brooke is such a joy to have around the house. She has her sisters wrapped around her little finger. They will do anything for her as long as she gives them hugs and kisses. She is becoming very verbal and saying all sorts of new little phrases. She spends her days pushing chairs and climbing. I have to be very careful what I leave on the counter any more.

Anna is nearly 6 and in the throws of Kindergarten. She still denies that she enjoys school and I am not sure that she does, but she has a wonderful teacher and is doing well. She is showing signs of being an artist. She will spend all her free time drawing and coloring if she is allowed to. I must say she is quite good at it. She is still an avid animal lover, mostly of dogs and horses.

Trip to New Orleans-our first "real" vacation

Between poverty and children, our chosen path in life, Moss and I have never had the chance to get away and have a "real" vacation. We were very willing to take the opportunity afforded us to adventure down to New Orleans alone, together. While this type of experience is not necessary to our overall happiness in life, I am convinced that it does in fact promote it.

We have the University of Missouri department of Ophthalmology to thank for making it financially possible. Moss did some research with an attending and his abstract was accepted for the academy. His department has a financial incentive for anyone who is willing to go through this process. Moss finished the research and created the poster for the academy. He was only obligated to stand by the poster for 90 minutes of the entire convention, so we were free to do whatever we wanted.

My parents in their unfailing service to us as their children flew over and stayed with the kids. Needless to say the girls were essentially kicking us out the door. They could not wait for their fun with Grandma and Grandpa to begin, uninhibited by us. I was worried (or maybe hoping) that Brooke would have a hard time without me, but it was in vain. As soon as I was gone she was glad to be in on all the fun.

We stayed right down in the warehouse district and accross from the french quarter. In our business of life we failed to plan ahead, but did our best to get a taste of the history and cultrue of the area. We ate in little local restaurants, looked in all the little shops, and enjoyed all the roadside entertainment. We were told that we had to walk down Bourbon St. to have the full experience, but I would have to disagree completely.

On the last day there, we took a ride on the steamboat Nachez. It was nice to be out on the mississippi, and they gave a narrative about the area and its history. We really had a nice time together.

32 years and still partying

Just when I thought I was past the age of real birthday parties...I was convinced otherwise. I was told to dress in pajama's, and to be ready at 8pm. I was a little nervous that I might be the only one in p.j.'s. Yes, it was very reminicent of my days in young womens. My friend Angela showed up with a blindfold, and took me away. When we arrived at the party, there was a big shout of "surprise". Fortunately, we also celebrated the birthday of another friend, Shelley, and I was glad to share the spotlight! Lisa had planned ahead and had asked Moss all sorts of questions about me and our dating days, etc... and then we ate and played games. Lisa is a champion leg wrestler, and so we ended the night with some indian leg wrestling. It was nice to get a little taste of our youth again. It was hillarious, and Lisa held her own! (I did manage to beat her the second time.)We had a lot of good laughs and learned some new and interesting things about each other... I think Moss was joking when he said "have her back by midnight" when I was leaving, but I barely made it. There is no doubt that women need each other. I am so grateful for all the many wonderful friends I have been blessed with wherever I have lived.