2012,  Baby Shower,  Brayden,  Charlotte,  Family,  Football,  Hanleigh,  November

So Thankful!

Trent and Brayden attended their first Y Guides longhouse, which is an overnight trip to a local camp where they fired BB guns, used a bow and arrow for archery, zip lined, climbed a rock wall, played games, toasted marshmallows, and had amazing father/daughter bonding time. From the pictures and the stories, it sounds like they both had a fabulous time! We went to the remaining NCSU football games and wrapped up the tailgating for 2012. The pack’s record gave them entrance into the Music City Bowl in Nashville on New Year’s Eve (we’ll be watching it on TV). I attended my annual employee foundation Board of Director’s meeting which was bittersweet. I’ve served on that board for six years and it was time to pass the torch to new members. It was such an amazing experience to be part of making such a positive impact on the lives of those who experience financial hardship due to unforeseen circumstances beyond their control. We attended Brayden’s school fall festival, which was quite busy, but full of good food and smiles! I attended Jekyll & Hyde with Aunt Patty as well. That play was morbid, but the singing was out of this world!

On a sad note, my stepmother, Barbara, lost her fight with cancer and passed away on November 11 peacefully at a hospice center in the company of her sister and my dad. She had a beautiful service later that week where the pews at church were full of those whose lives she touched. Brayden made her the most beautiful card that said, “Dear Grandma, you are an angel”. I gave it to dad when I went to visit Barbara at the hospice center and he read it to her. It was so touching. My heart aches for him as I know this has to be extremely tough. Even though they both knew this day would come, I’m sure it doesn’t make it any easier when that time arrives. She is in peace now, which is what is most important.

I attended a college friend’s baby shower and two birthday parties…in one day. That was a busy one. We also had Trent’s parents visit with us during the Thanksgiving break, which was so wonderful. We always eat so well when they visit and the Thanksgiving feast was so delicious! It is so great to see them, but most importantly, have the girls get to spend time with their grandparents. They have so much fun together. Trent and I even got to attend a football game sans kids and go out in downtown Raleigh, which was great. We don’t get too many date nights, so that was awesome! We concluded the month by picking out, purchasing, and decorating a Christmas tree (which we normally don’t do until early December)…ahead of schedule!

We had Brayden’s mid-quarter review at school and her teacher said she wished she had 23 Braydens in her class. WOW! Talk about accolades! She also mentioned that Brayden is reading and doing math skills at the end-of-grade level. She had a perfect report card as well (all 3s). We couldn’t be more proud and honestly, weren’t that surprised about the reading and math skills. She impresses us every day with how well she is doing!

Hanleigh continues to think that everything is hers and it’s becoming more evident that sharing things isn’t her forte. However, she continues to be one of the happiest kids I know and it doesn’t take much time at all to turn any frowns upside down. We do a LOT of laughing at our house.

Brayden-isms

  • We saw some construction workers near our house and one of the people was just standing around. Brayden said, “That guy is the boss.” I said, “How do you know?” She said, “I know what bosses do. They don’t do anything.”
  • Brayden said that our neighbors “are going to be so mad because Romney lost the election” and then she informed us that, “I voted for Obama because he likes ice cream, his dog, and basketball.” At one of the football games, we asked our friend’s kid, Aidan, who he voted for in 2008 and he said “Obama, because he advertised on Nickelodeon”, but that he voted for Romney in 2012 because “he knew better this time.”
  • We asked Brayden what she wants for Christmas to which she replied, “I already told you. I don’t care what I get for Christmas and don’t want anything really. I will be fine with whatever I get.” So humble.

Hanleigh-isms

  • There is a boy in her class that she tells us about by saying, “I no like Luca. Luca pushed me.”
  • It was bedtime one night and Brayden was going to the bathroom. Hanleigh walked right up to her, pointed at her and said, “You going to go to sleep. I gonna watch a show.” in this little sassy voice.

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