Annual Saints Game 2017

Uncle Charles is so kind to give me and B his tickets to one Saints home game every year.  We normally take two kids but this year we changed it up and invited another couple with us.  Since the game was on Christmas Eve, we were in Hattiesburg for the holidays and it was easy to invite J& L Cook with us since they would also be in Hattiesburg for the holidays. We decided to make a fun night of it and the four of us drove down to New Orleans December 23rd.  We had hotel reservations at Le Meridian and walked around together before grabbing dinner.  It was very cold that night but really fun to hang with J&L. 

The game was at noon on the 24th so we ate breakfast together and chatted before walking to the game.  Our hotel wasn't too far so that was nice not to have to worry about traffic and parking.  We just checked out of the hotel and put our luggage in the car.  The game was fun (as always) and since I'm writing this 6 years later, I cannot even remember if the Saints won the game (LOL).  I just know we had such a good time with J&L.  

After the game we drove back to Hattiesburg and joined the family at Bonnie's house for her annual Christmas Eve party.  Gram and Granddad kept the kids while we were in NoLa. 

COVID - 19

I started this post in 2020.  It's almost 3 years later and a lot has changed.  We don't have to wear masks anymore (except to doctors offices) and we can do normal things like eat out, movies, and go to sporting events.  I'm pretty sure everyone in our family has had covid at least once even if we didn't test for it.  P/V have both had it and bounced back after a couple weeks.  We didn't get the vaccine but respect anyone who does.  It's a personal choice. 

What a few months it has been.  This world wide pandemic has taken the world by storm and totally changed how we do life. It started in March, in China I believe, but spread to the US and flights were cancelled, people worked from home, and then school was basically cancelled after Spring Break.  Teachers did their best to have "online" school, but it's not the same.  Even my school didn't return after Spring Break and I had to host zoom classes for the remainder of the semester.  It's been a wild ride. 

First we had to quarantine to our homes and neighborhoods.  We could walk outside but had to socially distance ourselves from others at least 6 feet apart.  Restaurants, the mall, businesses and the movies all closed.  Bryce started working from home and I had to facilitate my classes and help the kids maneuver their online school with limited devices.  We requested another device from the school and were approved so we had 2 laptops instead of 1 plus R used her Kindle.  The older 3 kids were pretty independent, so I just had to work with E everyday.  We finished the school year out online on June 4.   Since everything had "shut down" and become remote, we decided to take our family vacation early and we flew to NC for 10 days.  J/K Gillam sold their house in Raleigh and bought a house in Oak Island, NC.  We stayed with them and basically went to the beach everyday after school was done.  We were in NC from May 22-June 2.  It was the best (and cheapest) vacation. 



So fast forward and it's summer now (2020).  B is still working from home and the only summer activity is E's gymnastic class. There's no VBS, no pine cove, no Civitan Camp, and no swim team.  i9 Sports cancelled their spring/summer seasons too.  CG just went back outside after doing virtual only for 8-10 weeks but they still have a virtual program.  I've been doing outside camps 90% of the time but occasionally I'll hop on a virtual workout.  It's just crazy to me how things have changed.  We don't see P/V as much anymore trying to keep them safe/healthy since they are high risk.  I've been doing V's grocery shopping for her and dropping them off.  They don't come over for dinner anymore either. 

It's just a weird time and we are so over it, but we have to comply with the rules.  We have to wear masks when we go in a store or business and we have to stay 6 feet apart from others too.  I don't know if things will ever go back to the way they were, but we still only get our food to go from restaurants. 

group picture before looking for crabs

Bree's favorite donut place

Our flight to NC

Cheapest tickets EVER! 

Our daily set up

One afternoon we went kayaking

tie-dye t-shirts

Ice Cream

Vacation!

Halloween 2017

I think Halloween is so fun.  We decorate and I usually buy soap for the teachers as a little happy.  I look forward to when my kids are older and we can go to haunted houses together.  We've gone to Sea World the past couple of years for Halloscream and that's always fun too.  I like getting scared.

This year we had dress up and Halloween costumes I bought last year on sale, so we didn't have to buy anything for this year's Halloween.  The kids had 4 different opportunities to dress up but I'm not sure I have a picture from all the nights.  Let me recap.

Tuesday October 24th was our school's Spirit Night at CFA Greatwood.  Kids could dress up and participate in the costume parade and contest.  I had to work a shift for PTO so I was going to be there anyways.  We were there from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm. 

Cheetah girl, Frankie-stein, Captain from Star Wars, sky landers

Thursday October 26th was our school's Bootastic Math & Reading Night that is held every year.  It's a lot of fun and the teachers do a great job putting together activities for the kids to enjoy.  Kahoot was the biggest hit this year.

Saturday October 28th was our annual block-party.  B was unfortunately out of town so he had to miss it but we had a good turn out. Frank got on the microphone and announced to everyone that they were expecting in June!  I love our cul-de-sac and maybe next year, I will try and plan a cul-de-sac Christmas get together where the kids can draw names and exchange gifts. 

Oliver as Mickey Mouse

Old School Bobbin' for Apples

Frank brought out the fire pit because it was cold.

Tuesday October 31st FINALLY Halloween.  We met the Parles and trick-or-treated with them in Greatwood.  It was a little rainy and drizzled on and off for the entire night but the kids didn't care.  They all four came home with tons of candy!

Rapunzel

Angry Bird

Black Power Ranger

Frankie

My People

Date Night to Texans Game

B & were lucky enough to be invited to a Texan's game last minute one weekend. When I say "last minute" I mean I got a text inviting us on Saturday afternoon for a Sunday night football game.  We asked a few people to see if they could watch the kids but no one was available until we asked Anna.  She "owed" us for watching her kids at some point so she said she could watch them for us.  She offered to just let them spend the night because it was going to be a VERY late night, but with school and work, we decided to just pick them up after the game. 

October 8th, 2017, the Texans hosted the Chiefs for SNF.  We were invited by Pat and Barton.  I work with Pat at Logos and we've become friends.  We eat lunch together every MWF and sometimes talk on the phone.  I really like Pat and she's probably my best friend at Logos.  She teaches Algebra 2, but we always talk about math in general.  She and her husband, Barton, have season tickets.  They usually take their 2 daughters but since it was a late game, she said she didn't want her girls to attend.  Lucky for us, we found childcare and met them at NRG stadium around 5pm.  They tailgate before every home game and have parking passes too.  We ate some tailgate food and talked with Pat's friends and family before entering the game.  The seats were soooo good.  I mean the third row from the field in the end zone.  B and I have never had seats that close before.

I was so excited to see DeShaun Watson & JJ Watt.  Unfortunately, this is the game that JJ Watt broke his leg.  It happened really early in the game and he never returned.  The Texans fought hard though and made it exciting all the way to the end.  We had a blast!
 

Those guys behind us....haha

This guy kept leaning back in my space!

We are in the background of this picture.  This is from TV when Anna paused it and took a picture because she could see us.