Thanksgiving in Texas

This year we traveled to Texas for the holiday. It was a marked improvement from last year's holiday where we were saying good-bye to Wes in moldy Army barracks and eating Cracker Barrel hundreds of miles away from home.

This year we are thankful for cousins and all the fun we can have teaching them to play soccer and playing hide-and-go-seek. There might be new word or two that these sweet little ones now know as a result of our visit. 

Evan, Abbigail, Hunter, and Keagan - Toole Cousins

Evan, Keagan, Mallory, and Caroline - Farragh Cousins

We are thankful for our Texas roots and our families that provide "home" when we are constantly on the go. A special thanks to my sister-in-law that introduced me to the specialty drink Lime-a-Rita. I've popped the top to a can already today.

TOOLE family

FARRAGH family

 We are thankful for our two smart, athletic, and healthy boys.

Most of all, though, we are thankful to just be together this holiday season!

Card Carrying Dependent

When you reach the all important milestone of double digits, you must carry your own military ID card. Evan is now a card carrying dependent and more than ready for that first MP to ask to see it.

Weekend in the Mountains

Wes completed his two weeks of reintegration training last week, so we are spending our long weekend in a cabin in the mountains of north Georgia surrounded by water falls and hiking trails.

This morning we hiked a trail to see Anna Ruby Falls. Keagan was not impressed with the idea of hiking to the top of a mountain once he learned that we were using a trail and not "using our fingers" to scale the side of the mountain. We have had some pretty adventuresome vacation trips, but I don't know how he ever believed I would let him repel.

Then we hiked a path around Unicoi Lake. This was more to Evan's liking because without a marked trail he was free to roam and explore. I think he secretly hoped he would encounter a black bear.

We ended our nature hike on the Chattahoochee River. Thankfully we never encountered that bear. 

I would be lying if I told you the weekend trip was planned around a quest to reconnect with nature. I really wanted to see the Alpine Village of Helen, designed to look like a small Bavarian village, and reconnect with my love of all things German. 

After eating spaetzle suppen for lunch and sharing apple fritters for desert, Evan wistfully commented,
 "Germany must be a wonderful place." This clearly means that I must do my best to ensure Evan has the opportunity to see for himself how wonderful Germany can be. Obviously, I must plan a trip to the boys' homeland in the very near future...the sacrifices we make as parents.

Just Call Me an Old Timer

Another school play. I found myself yawning multiple times wondering if the next state we live in will have a fine arts initiative.
Please say it ain't so.

This year's musical was America Rocks and it took the audience through important events in America's history. Evan's class represented the Wild West; they danced the cotton eyed joe and put on a really great performance. It was so good that I felt a little guilty for hoping we were attending our last school musical.

Of course he had to dress the part of a cowboy so I pulled out the duster Evan wore when he was a cowboy for Halloween seven years ago. Seven years ago! Today it fit him more like a vest.

 Look at those chubby cheeks!

At the end of the play, I checked him out of school early and walked him to the classroom to gather his things. Four kids stopped him and asked, "Hey, Evan! Is THAT your mom?" They looked me up and down and then nodded and mumbled, "OOOHHHH."

Evan later told me, "Don't worry about all of that, Mom. They just can't believe I have a mom that's not 23."

Clash of the Titans

In order to prepare for our big tournament, Keagan's team played Evan's team today.

They both played mid-field. When one came off the field, the other did, too.

When Evan beat Keagan to the ball, I cheered. When Keagan stole the ball from Evan, I cheered.

 

I think the parents sitting next to me thought I had a personality disorder because I cheered for both blue and white. They had no idea I had a player on each team. 

At one point they were both chasing the ball down the sideline, I jumped out of my seat to see who would win the ball. In all of my excitement, I didn't realize that I had run onto the middle of the field.

 In the end, Evan's team took the win 6 - 1. Surprisingly, the game was never mentioned again. The boys walked off the field and didn't speak of it.

The next game began, and just like that, the Class of the Titans was over.

Double Digits

Nine short years ago we were celebrating Evan's first birthday in our tiny apartment in Germany.

Today we celebrated his tenth birthday. It is so cliche, but where did the time go?

Ten Things I Love About My Evan

10:  His fear of severe weather. Two tornado warnings within a week and countless hours in the closet, I guess, can do that to you. Don't even get him started with the off-hand reference to an approaching low pressure system.

9: Evan's love for the outdoors. It can be 95 degrees, the boy will be outside playing some sport sweating blood, and it will actually be fun for him.

8: His love for reading - especially when we read something together.

7: Evan's affinity for apples. He eats at least one every single day.

6: Evan's heart for others; especially for the disadvantaged. He's our gentle giant.

5: His quest for understanding right from wrong and defining justice.

4: His competitiveness to win at every single thing he does - even when it gets him kicked out of Sunday School.

3: His opinions. He can argue about anything - even the need for society to rid itself of currency.
Which by the way would lead to less materialism and a greater concern for others.

2: Watching him play his game with such intensity.You'll never see another ten year old with more yellow cards. I call it heart, but the refs seldom agree with me.

1: And the number one reason I love my Evan .....he belongs to me! He's all mine, and I couldn't be prouder!

Happy Birthday, Baby! May all your wishes come true this year!

Pictures Worth a 1000 Words

Last Saturday Wes went to Savannah for Keagan's friendly. After the games, they stopped at a small town on the coast to take pictures.

Keagan entered a local photo contest with these photos of his.

Old County Jail

When they win their first photo gig with a travel magazine, I have agreed to hitch a ride with them as the luggage girl.

Midway Church