November has been a whirlwind month, beginning right after Briley’s state track meet. The kids were eager to dive into Christmas as soon as the calendar flipped, but I managed to hold them off for a week before giving in. Out came their little trees, and Christmas music quickly filled the house. Watching their excitement as they decorated, built their own Christmas villages, and added their unique touches to the season brought some needed joy to the house.
Sadly, the month began with the loss of my Grandma Karen Early. She was a woman who could light up any room with her smile and laughter. The ultimate hostess, she and Grandpa Mike knew how to entertain and feed a crowd. I have so many fond memories of spending summers with them in Colorado Springs, especially the late-night conversations I shared with Grandma Karen after Grandpa had gone to bed. We talked about everything—football, politics, books—and she’s the one who sparked my love of reading by introducing me to John Grisham books as she had all of them. She will be deeply missed, but I take comfort knowing she’s in good company in Heaven.
We made a quick midweek trip to Baring for her funeral. Though it’s never ideal to reunite under such circumstances, it was wonderful to see the entire family again. Sadly, it seems there have been too many of these gatherings lately.
The weekend brought a much-needed change of pace when the Taylors visited for a Chiefs game. We bowled Saturday night, followed by dinner at the Brawners’. On Sunday, we joined the Knoblauchs for a trip to Oklahoma City to watch the Thunder take on the Golden State Warriors. Luke had promised Atticus and Baylor he’d take them to games featuring their favorite teams—Warriors for Atticus and Lakers for Baylor—after Autumn passed, and he kept his word. The girls weren’t about to miss the fun, so they came along too.
We arrived in OKC a couple of hours early, checked into our hotel near the arena, grabbed dinner, and got to the game in time to watch Steph Curry warm up. Steph is Atticus’ favorite player, and seeing him in action was a dream come true for him (and Baylor too). It was the first NBA game for all of us, and the atmosphere was electric. After the game, the kids even got to shoot free throws on the court. Back at the hotel, the adults enjoyed some downtime while the kids burned off their energy. It was a memorable trip, and we’re already looking forward to watching the Lakers play in April.
The following week brought another big event—Finley’s much-anticipated 5th-grade musical, Seussical. She starred as the Cat in the Hat and absolutely nailed it. She worked so hard, learning not only her lines but seemingly everyone else’s too. She was beaming with pride, and I know her mom was watching from Heaven with a big smile.
That weekend, I started decorating for Christmas—a task that Autumn and I used to share. She always handled the inside while I focused on the outside, but this year, it was all on me. I added extra lights and decorations to make things special for the kids, even adorning Autumn’s angel statue with greenery, lights, and a wreath. For her grave, I put together greenery and berry planters and a tree with solar lights and bows. The kids joined me and we all decorated her grave together. The inside of the house, Autumns territory, was a bit more challenging, but I took inspiration from Briley and photos of Christmases past. The new tree we picked out together last year turned out beautifully, with a charming old-fashioned vibe I know Autumn would love. When Briley described the house as “homey,” I felt like I’d done it right.
Finley and Atticus have stayed busy with sports this winter, Finley with indoor soccer and Atticus with basketball. Soccer wrapped up for now, but basketball will pick back up after Christmas.
With the kids off for the entire Thanksgiving week, we headed home early to spend more time with family. The Bobziens had just moved into their new house, so I offered my newly acquired decorating expertise to help them get ready for the season. We caught a few basketball games for Miles, Bennett, and Carolina and even got to show the kids Kirksville Middle School—the place where Autumn and I's story began. Unfortunately, they were less impressed than I’d hoped.
Thanksgiving kicked off with four celebrations in three days. First was my mom’s family gathering in Baring, which was much livelier than I expected—a festive time to reconnect with everyone. That evening, we joined Julie and Jeff for dinner, where the kids were thrilled to hang out with Amity, Billy, Asa, Kelsey, and, most importantly, little Seger. He’s such a happy baby, sure to keep his parents on their toes. I also tried my hand at making noodles for the first time, and to my relief, they turned out great.
The next night, we celebrated with my parents, joined by Grandpa Tom and Julie and Jeff. Finally, on Saturday Mike and Karen hosted their Thanksgiving feast, which might have been his best yet. He smoked a turkey and pork loin, both of which were phenomenal. I contributed Autumn’s apple pie, and it was a hit too. By the end of the week, we were all very well-fed.
After Mike’s celebration, we did a quick Christmas with Amity and Billy since they will be in Whitefish this Christmas. Then we took the kids and their cousins to Kirksville’s Hometown Christmas Celebration for some ice skating. It was cold, but the kids had a blast, and the city outdid itself with the festive decorations and events.
We wrapped up the month by heading home for Briley’s banquet. Her hard work in track continues to pay off—she was named to the Kansas City Cross Country First Team All-Metro Team, an incredible honor. We couldn’t be prouder of her!
0 comments:
Post a Comment