Weekend... will they ever slow down?!

Friday:
after a busy week... we were tired again, but had so much going on for the weekend.  Including getting together with Hummel's and Daughtery's.  Originally, it was going to be an adult night out - but the sitter cancelled... so we all just ended up on Hummel's for pizza.  It was fine... kids were rowdy (and tired)... and so were the parents!

Late night. 

Saturday:
I don't know if I could have packed more into Saturday!!!
Up and at em...  first tree up.  We put the new tree up in the basement - got it decorated (kids' stuff) and it's so pretty.  Kayson was tired and crabby... so he wasn't very interested in helping.  (Noticing this a lot lately, which hurts my feelings!)  But we got it done. 

Then off to the first game of basketball...  Ryan's mom joined us, so that was nice.  It was a win, and Kayson did really well.  Super proud of him.  

Back home... grabbed a quick lunch, then continued with the next tree!  Our upstairs one is now up... and I did most of that, which is good with me.  I love that tree and it's just so pretty.  :)  We then had about 2 minutes to sit... and then back for the last basketball game.  Another win... not as pretty, but it was a good game. 

and finally back home for a bit.  
We ended up meeting Showalter's out for Mexican, then they came back to our house for an hour or so.  Unfortunately, my kids (specifically Kayson) was owly and him and Cora fought like cats and dogs... lots of stomping and yelling and hitting.  I was so disappointed, and embarrassed.  So frustrating.  After our friends left, I gave them a stern talking to, but unsure that it set in...  K was still mad - mad because he got in trouble all because it was his sisters fault.  *sigh*  Tough being kids, tough being tired and having to do the 'right things'.  Not a very fun night...

Sunday:
Church... and then back for our last game of basketball.  Unfortunately, it was a loss...  things weren't clicking, so we were back home for the afternoon.  I got some more decorating done, groceries done, laundry done...  and finally relaxed a little.  

What a weekend...  just non stop!
and I'm pooped!  Thankful for a short week...  where MAYBE we can catch up a little. 

Do they looked pooped?

Apples and caramel for the win to wrap our busy weekend.

Mostly Ryan finished this 1000 piece puzzle.  So cool!

Cora 1st Grade Fall Conference

Cora's 1st grade conference is in the books...  and to be honest, both Ryan and I had NO idea what to expect from it.  We actually went in a little nervous... and even Miss Miller said - "you two look nervous!"  ha.  Makes me laugh. 

Cora read a little, for like 1 minute... then she was off to the hallway.  Miss Miller started explaining that Cora is doing amazing!  (Talk about a relief).  She said that she was a little worried at the beginning of the year - due to so much talking, and so many reminders for Cora - but Miss Miller said that Cora has really turned it all around, she knows the expectations, and is super pleased with her.  Phew!  

Cora is catching on to everything... hardly ever needs help...  and according to Miss Miller - is a "joy" to have in her class.  Cora is ALMOST reading at the 2nd grade level, which is exciting. And about the same for doing math as well... so she's beyond where the expectation is right now.

We are thrilled to hear this... and relieved.  Yes.  ha.  Cora's a challenge... likes to be the boss... and likes the last word... so we do worry about her at school, but it sounds like everything is going well.  Very happy and proud!!

Kayson 5th Grade Fall Conference

Today was Kayson's 5th grade fall conference...  only one more Elementary conference.  Crazy.
Kayson showed us some of his favorite pieces in his leadership binder...  which was fun to see a few things, and hear him read some things.

Then he left the room... and Mrs. Scheetz told us all about her thoughts about Kayson.  In a nutshell, he's doing awesome... He reads amazing for her, (with no fight!), he enjoys math and is succeeding at that, he really enjoys science and social studies too - which I love to hear. 

Mrs. Scheetz really raved about him, which makes us smile and so happy. 

Weekend

Friday:
By Friday... or really by Thursday, we were all pooped.  The week before and losing Bill and Murphy... and the funeral...  had all caught up to us.  I felt it hard by Friday morning.  I just wanted to sleep!!!  We all felt the same. 

Friday night we stayed in...  had some plans to get together for supper with friends, but I cancelled - there was no reason for us to push it.  I made supper... we just stayed in. 

Saturday:
Basketball tournament --- 8 am and Noon...  two different locations.  I always think that's weird, making us drive to different places...  but whatever!
Games were tough - especially the first one.  We got beat bad... unfortunately.  But the second game was much better, which was fun. 

We ended up getting a new Xmas tree for the basement, so that was fun... will be putting that up next weekend.  I did an errand - tried to purchase a few Christmas items, but really - I got a few things for Santa to give, which are super boring.  I'm just not into the shopping thing... and to be honest, everything is so darn expensive.  But I better get moving on it. 

Saturday night we were going to do dinner with our friends, but they ended up having a sick kiddo...  so we went out on our own.  

Sunday:
Ryan and Cora went to church... K and I went to basketball.  Unfortunately, it was another loss for us.  The team struggled with a few things - mainly rebounding.  So we were done after the first game unfortunately.  

K and I went out to church and had lunch...  then our afternoon was pretty boring.  Groceries, and just laying around.  I needed a quiet afternoon, I finally feel a little recouped from our busy couple of weeks.  

RIP William (Bill) Jo Taylor

Bill Taylor, Uncle of Ryan, passed away Thursday, November 7 at Mercy Medical Center in DSM surrounded by his family, he was 55. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer just a short 2 weeks before...  experienced one round of chemo, and was in the hospital the following day... and never returned home.

Our hearts are hurting so badly.  Bill was an amazing person, Dad, husband and role model to thousands of people.  We are all in disbelief and just ache for him to be here... and ache for Joni, Colby and Jenna... and Grandma... and his brothers... and family, friends, community. 

We 'celebrated' his life Monday evening (which was amazing to see the turnout at a local bar), where everyone had a Coors Lite for him...  and then Tuesday we buried him.  An amazing and sad service at the community college in Creston (SWICC).  The gym was packed with hundreds of family, friends, and colleagues.  I don't even KNOW that many people.  Bill touched so many lives... always a helper, always the fun one. 

Life is not fair. 

Not only did Bill impact our lives...  but this is just a glimpse of the hundreds of others he touched as well.  I've never seen anything like it. 

RIP Murphy Jones

I've talked a little recently, or at least know... our Murphy hasn't been living his best life for about a year or so.  I honestly have been pretty stubborn and just wanted him around as much as possible - he ate, he drank...  but honestly - he was blind, couldn't hear well... and was not doing well.  

I have always wanted a sign - with Quincy, he was sick with cancer, and there was nothing we could do.  I wanted a terrible sign like that... and unfortunately I got that sign last night. 

I had went to get Kayson from basketball...  came home to find Ryan on the floor with Murphy - thinking he had a seizure.  I sat with him, and Murphy was very uncomfortable...  couldn't really sit still, etc.  I just looked at Ryan and said - "this is my sign."  

We lost Bill at this same moment all of this was happening... so there were lots of tears and hearts hurting in our house.  (Cora was asleep, so she received the devastating news this morning). 
So because everyone was with Bill at the hospital, Ryan stayed home with the kids, while I took Murphy to the ER vet.  

The people/workers were very kind and sweet...  within about 20 minutes of being there, Murphy was up in heaven with Quincy and Bill... and Mom.  My heart hurts so bad right now.  I almost can't even believe he's gone, and I had to do that to him.   

I love that dog so much... such a sweetness to him.  The most timid Yorkie you'd find!  

Murphy on left - Quincy, right

Uncle Bill

Oh Uncle Bill. 
It has been a very long week for him, Joni, Colby, Jenna... all of us.  

Unfortunately since Saturday night - Bill has been in the hospital since then, and he will not be leaving.  The pain from the cancer is just too awful, that they've decided to put him on a pump of medicine, to keep him comfortable...  he will not have another round of chemo...  it's just too terrible. 

Everyone has been at the hospital pretty round the clock for the last 5 days... it's been tough, everyone is exhausted, and praying so hard...  and at this point, we are praying for peace.  

More to come... 

Cora - Lost #5 & #6 teeth

Holy crap.  Our daughter FREAKS out when it's time to lose a tooth!!!
Her top right one has been wiggly for awhile... like all the others, and last night she was SUPER quiet when we got home...  she didn't say much, didn't want a snack... all odd things.  I worried she wasn't feeling well... then out of the blue, she says - "My tooth is really loose."  Ok then --- let's get it taken care of.

Well... 3.5 hours later - after so much bawling and hyperventilating… all the crazy things... it was getting so close to bedtime, and I just couldn't handle it anymore.  Ryan layed her down and I pulled it out.  In 1 second.  Holy crap!!!  ha.  She was happy... for about 2 minutes, then realized the other one was loose too, and bleeding!!!

I finally got her to go to bed... not touching the other one.  It would have been way too much.

So this morning... it was bothering her again, which I understand.  And Ryan handled it - with a few words, and less than 5 minutes - the tooth was out!  THANK GOD!!!  :)

Poor girl.  I know it's exhausting and scary...  and she kept telling me last night that she was so frustrated and disappointed.  What a sweet thing.

We now have a much happier little girl, who looks quite funny...  :)

Weekend - Basketball beginnings

Friday:
Ryan's been busy...  feel like he really hasn't been home much at all.  So I actually cooked Friday night - but we still didn't sit at the table together.  ha.  We picnic-d it a little...  but it was a fairly good night at home. 

Saturday:
Ryan worked...  I did a few things around the house, we had the morning free. Cora played amazingly... which has been awesome.  Just this and that. 

Then we had our official start to basketball.  We had 3 games Saturday afternoon - 2, 4 and 6 (luckily the tournament was running ahead of schedule, so that was nice).  The boys did fine... first game was a little rough - possibly nerves and just trying to figure things out.  The two other games were wins, and seemed a little bit more put together.  Kayson did well... doesn't play much (or at least I didn't think so)...  but he also has a lot to learn, and I know he was nervous.  But regardless, it was a good start, and now K knows what to expect.  For me - basketball is not my thing - so this could be a long season for Mom.  :)

Saturday night after the games, we grabbed supper with Mike and JeanAnn... then unfortunately we got the call that Uncle Bill was coming to a DSM hospital to be taken care of.  He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a couple weeks ago... and things are just not going well.  He's struggling... in so much pain... and has started his first round of chemo.  Mike, JA and Ryan went to visit him and sit with Joni...  rough night.  We need all the prayers we can get for that guy - for healing and strength.  

The kids and I went home and got them to bed... they were pooped. 

Sunday:
A busy day...  Ryan went back to the hospital to give Joni some of my clothes...  Kids and I headed to church.  Soon Ryan joined us.  We enjoyed church...  good service and a good crowd, which was nice. 

Following church - our musicians played an amazing concert for us, showing off their talent.  It was beautiful.  Ryan left early to go watch Jenna play ball nearby... and make another stop at the hospital.  Kid and I hung at home... a quiet afternoon.  Cora was wiped out due to the time change... super crabby and just off.  We tried to play, but that was sometimes a struggle.  

Finally the evening came, and we had plans to meet up with a baseball family, the Parker's.  And man, that was needed... what an amazing family.  Such good people, and their kids are amazing... and we just had a great little hour. 

Then finally, bed - Cora was asleep about 7:20.  K about 8:30ish.  

It was an exhausting weekend... lots going on with activities, and lots going on with emotions.  We worry about Bill...  and just pray this chemo does what it's suppose to.