Week 46--Ezra Turns 1

Monday, Nov. 11th

No picture, but I'll throw a few hockey pix from a teammate's mom from a couple recent games.

This might be my current favorite picture of her!

Or this one!

Tuesday, Nov. 12th

It's official!  Ezra Mae is ONE!

The plan was for the Rambo's to join us for Taco Tuesday, so we added some festive balloons and a DQ ice cream cake and all celebrated our favorite little girl.  Man oh man...what a treasure she is!

Wednesday, Nov. 13th

Renna and I hit Aldi hard for our church's Bag It food drive.  These opportunities always make for good conversations!

I washed Lisa's car while I had it and got a kick out of of the cameras capturing it.

Thursday, Nov. 14th

No picture except for this screenshot, so I'll drop it here.  I thought it was great advice and I'll try to up my game in how to be helpful to others, and obviously this can apply to many more circumstances than just new babies.

Friday, Nov. 15th

Came down the stairs and stopped, missing my sweet Trev's face.  What a great kid!

We sure do love Fridays with Ezra!

Caught a couple hours with Kate!  We could've done about 4 more and still not run out of things to talk about.  I have loved that girl for 44 years!

Not sure how many years it's been (I'd have to check the blog!) but this night was our annual not-for-Amy's-birthday, birthday hangout.  We elevated it from Mulberry to Trattoria takeout and even ate in the dining room!  I so appreciate the effort these guys make for me!

Saturday, Nov. 16th

We didn't have much going for the day, so I offered to grab Harlem to give his mom a break and we joined  a host of others supporting Jason on his senior night football game.  Three of my four boys were there- bonus!

We attended the missions banquet at church where Brent was the guest speaker.  So good to see him and to see him in his element: passionate about people, passionate about ministry, passionate about missions!

Sunday, Nov. 17th

Renna's friend was playing a soccer game not far from the house, so we took advantage of the continued amazing weather and walked with the dog.  It's hard to believe we're almost to Thanksgiving because the weather says otherwise.  The weather says it's still September.

Week 45--Ezra's 1st Birthday Party

Monday, Nov. 4th

Time change kickin' our butts!

Tuesday, Nov. 5th

We went to the LeBlancs for an election watch party.  We were up 'til about 1:20 when we called it a night.

Wednesday, Nov. 6th

As long as it's in the 80s in November, I'll continue to post pictures of my truck thermometer!

I had a lovely nap on the hammock since I was up WAY too late the night before watching the results.

Thursday, Nov. 7th

Hard conversations.

Harlem's dad asked me if I could have him so he could pick up an extra shift, so he had to come to co-op with me.

Friday, Nov. 8th

We had Miss Ezra for the morning and then I spent the evening with Maddy and Anita decorating and prepping for the girl's birthday party.

Saturday, Nov. 9th

Ezra's big birthday bash- a Dancing Veggies theme.  It was a house filled with so much love for the sweetest girl.  Maddy put together a beautiful, fun day with so many babies and babies on the way!  They have such a large, loving, supportive community and it's unreal seeing my little girl in full mama and hostess mode.  She's so capable- always has been- but still impresses me with all she's able to do.  Huge thanks to Mike and Anita for hosting and carrying much of the load of the day!

Here's the video of us all singing to her.

Sunday, Nov. 10th

Nathanael and Tina spent 5 days in San Diego for a work conference.  Hale Financial paid for all the employees to go and their spouses / spouses-to-be.  Lisa thought of every detail, rolled out the red carpet for the employees, and planned the perfect west coast getaway and work trip, including a private sunset cruise.

In the past, when Nathanael has traveled, we are accustomed to a daily "I'm alive" text from him, maybe a picture if we're lucky, so it felt like an epic upgrade to get Tina's daily recap videos!

Church, then hockey.

I attended Micaela's baby shower- got to hang with the Harkness girls as well as Kelly and and some of her gang.  The generation lines blurred.  Then I went down to help a friend in such a sad crisis.  Such a dichotomy of what life is- the beauty of a new life, and the brutal of people lost in their sin.