A Ton of Fun in 2021: Week 49 Recap

Never did I set out to be a published author. But here we are. I got one of my favorite Christmas gifts early this year...my hardback version of my PR Principles textbook. They sent two copies and it was delightful to have it physically in my hands. I called up my co-author immediately and let her know it came and be on the lookout. So exciting! StuKent has certainly been good to its authors, showering us with love and gifts throughout the year. I'd highly recommend partnering with them to author a textbook if you're looking for a good author/publisher relationship. 

This week's blog is actually being loaded in the order the pictures uploaded to the blog. I hate that part about the blog and the little ability to rearrange them once they get uploaded.  First up is Ava's 10th birthday party they had at a horse stable in Celina. OMG was Olivia excited. This was her first time riding and horse and she couldn't have been more excited. They got to pet and ride the horses, she got to tie-dye a t-shirt and got to hang out with all her friends. A huge day for her (and of course Ava)! 

Saturday found Isaac and his Elida team playing against St. Mary's at their first 5-6th grade basketball game. Jeremy, not knowing how to say no to anyone, again volunteered to coach his team. They have practices every Tuesday and Thursday night, but games are always on Saturdays.  Most of their games are home, which is fun, but they're also all at 2 p.m., making Isaac choose between basketball or swim meets. We all know what will win out most of the season--especially with Jeremy as the coach. They lost their first game 17-4, and Isaac scored half of those 4 points. LOL. Room to grow right?

Saturday morning before all craziness of the day began I took the kiddos downtown to the Lima Christmas Extravaganza. All the businesses were open and had the stores decorated to celebrate the season. We went to the hobby/comic store and they were selling hot chocolate and sugar cookies. We bought some and walked around in a store we normally wouldn't go to, which is the entire point. Joey's had a Grinch and sled out in front of it and of course we grabbed a few photos with him. We ended up going to Pointe of Joy and picking up some cute things and eating a Kewpee before heading home. 

Friday night we got tickets to attend the Holiday Spectacular at the Civic Center. This is the first year since 2015 that our kiddos haven't been in the production. It was certainly bittersweet, but with no show last year and having too many other activities happening during the holiday season, this was something that had to go. We let the kids decide, and they decided that they were going to let this go. Olivia said she didn't know they did some of the things (like the light up gloves in Santa Baby) and it was pretty cool to sit through only one of the eight performances! ONU always puts on the perfect show to set the mood for the season!

Coco bombs are all the rage today. Paying roughly $5 per ball, Ann and I thought they couldn't really be too bad to make and an experience in itself for the kids. Well they were an experience to say the least. We had the molds, we had the chocolate and hot chocolate, we even had the marshmallows. The first ones turned out just fine, it wasn't until we tried to fill them and put them together that disaster ensued. But dang did we laugh. In the end, they tasted delicious, even though they looked like the four year old did them all, it was certainly me trying to salvage something and pretty much had an #epicfail. Good thing I don't have to take these to the fair and be judged.  I think they weren't even ribbon worthy to look at, but to drink were top notch! 

I never in a million years thought I'd be so excited to see a port a pot show up in my front yard. Starting in 2017 with plans, we got ghosted by a contractors who got us to the drawing stages, a second who came and looked and promised to get started by summer who never responded and by a third who turned us down because of workload. Brian from Burden was recommended by my co-worker Joann. Called in Oct 2020- said couldn’t come over to discuss until Jan 2021 and we thought "here we go again." But when he did make it over, he promised he could make this backyard oasis we wanted come true. Skeptical and being burned by so many others I refused to get my hopes up! In our discussions leading up to Thanksgiving he said that we would know it would begin when the port a potty arrive- “shits about to get real” kids had NO idea either so couldn't wait to see their faces when they got home from school. Couldn't be more excited to see the pavers leave. Then they brought in the cool machine that threw stone down before cementing.