Thankful...Grateful...Blessed

Thanksgiving Break was a nice reprieve with a few days off to relax and spend time with family.  We did lunch with my parents.  It's tradition for us to play Family Feud which the kids always enjoy.  We also celebrated Matt's birthday which landed during the break.  Shannon made him a delicious jam cake.

Christmas Card Photoshoot with Pap and Nana and their grands!

Celebrating with Nana on her birthday earlier this month!

 

Who doesn't go all out for a 43rd birthday?!?  Not Us!!!  Paul planned a fun day which sort of got busted at the beginning because the weather was pretty nasty on Matt's birthday (Saturday, November 30).  Matt's wanted to workout for 43 minutes on his birthday so he and Paul started the morning with a workout.  Afterwards, we ate breakfast at Chick Fil A.  The plan was to go to the WKU game, but no one wanted to stand in rain so everyone headed over to our house for a little while.  Colvin brought some pizzas over and football was on every TV.  The weather started to let up, so the guys headed to WKU to catch the last little bit of the game.  We ate dinner at El Mazatlan and then to the Flippin' Axe.  Paul rented a party van and we rode around town and landed at 440 Main, Great American Donut Shop, and The Office before Matt and I headed home.

The Pogue Family Christmas was the next day (Sunday) in Louisville.  Since our extended families continue to expand, it's much easier for us to celebrate the holidays the first weekend of the month of December.  We used to rotate where (Louisville, BG, Lexington) the event would be, but in recent years, we've been traveling to Louisville and spending time together at Okalona Church's gymnasium.  It's a wide open space and perfect for a large family gathering.

Five basketball games and a lacrosse scrimmage all in one week.  Isaac and the JV Spartans took on the BGHS Purples on Thursday at the Pit.  It was quite chilly, but we enjoy watching Isaac have fun!

We're running all over the place and doing our best to keep up with all the schedules, eating popcorn for dinner, and trying to maintain some sanity during the holiday season.  Thank goodness for online shopping, or I'm not sure how I'd get Christmas gifts purchased.

 It always exciting seeing your child's highlights in the BG Daily News, Twitter and The Sporting Times.

Miles went to his first Middle School Dance on Friday night.  I think he's such a handsome fella!  He and his friend Bryce joined up with a big group of friends for dinner before the dance.

The teens were treated to Chuy's and got to ride a Party Bus to the dance.

 He had a fun night even if it required a belt and dress shirt.

Karson and I got a quick pic with Santa and Mrs. Claus at SKyPAC's Gingerbread Homes for the Arts Festival. 

November LEGENDS

 November started off nicely. Miles got some golf strokes in at Indian Hills last Sunday, and I was able to get some raking done last Saturday (about .  Miles eyes get super WIDE when he sees me raking because all he can think about it jumping in those leaf piles.  Such a cutie!

 Like October, November is a BIRTHDAY month for our family!  My mom, Matt and my mother-in-law Debbie all celebrate birthdays this month. 

 We celebrated with Meme on Wednesday night (11/13) at Rafferty's. 

The month of November seems much faster than all the others mainly because we are in the full depths of basketball season with daily practices and weekly/weekend games.

Miles's friend Bryce invited him to see WKU Men's Basketball Team play recently.  It always exciting seeing the Toppers play!  It's even better with a buddy!

 Miles has a tournament this Saturday, and also had one last Saturday (SWMS Invitational) and the Saturday before (Allen Co.). His team has won both tournaments and are exciting to watch!  Looking for another win this weekend!

 Miles and his friend since kindergarten, Brady, have grown up playing basketball together.  These two have such a special friendship on and off the court.  We were supposed to have our first game this week, but it managed to snow in Bowling Green and prevent that from happening.  Our boys had a blast playing in the snow.  Even if it  was a light dusting, they enjoyed every minute of their TWO (2) snow days!

No rest for Karson as she catapults into basketball season at the completion of volleyball.  As usual, she is totally busted up.  Her toenails are turning black and broken.  She's got huge blood blisters on her feet.  Most nights consist of icing her legs with wraps.  Tis' the season for getting in shape and basketball does that in every way.  Love my #21 Lady Spartan!!!

PC: Images of Grace Photography

Hug Your Babies...

Our lives could've been radically different this weekend.  While you've heard the phrase, "treat each day as if it's your last," it's so easy to get caught up in the day to day and not have an attitude of peace and gratefulness.   Friday morning started out normal...kids/Matt up early and out the door.  Me off to work as usual.  It was a normal Friday and SUPER COLD.  Miles had basketball practice until 5 PM but had a ride home with a neighbor.  Karson and Isaac were excited about the Costume-Out for the Friday night football game.  Isaac was going as a hippie and Karson was going as nun.  Her friend Jonah was going to be the Pope.

Matt and I rocked those costumes last Halloween.  They were perfect (and warm) for a Friday night game.

 

 I knew Karson had plans to hang out with friends later that night but wasn't sure if she was driving because Jonah left out the front door and she left through the garage to head over to tailgate at the school around 6 PM.  Isaac had left with them as well.  Moments after they were gone, I got a text from Karson stating they had crashed.  My heart dropped, but she quickly followed up with a text that they were fine.  I (thinking she was driving) asked did someone hit you and she said yes.  Matt had already popped up out of his chair but told me her car was in the driveway.  Karson had already had her first "wreck" back in the summer over at Russell Sims on Sunday night May 26 for some sand volleyball and didn't cut the car right and clipped a bumper. She was an absolute mess.  Although her car was driveable, she was pretty shaken up. We told her to call the cops, and she said Jonah's parents were on their way.  I told her dad was coming too.  The wreck was less than a mile from our house on Three Springs Road.  They were behind a 4-Runner and heading towards SWHS on Three Springs Road when the SUV turned right into a gravel driveway off the road but quickly whipped it around and did a U-turn sending Jonah's truck directly in its path.  Karson said he tried to brake and swerve to miss him but couldn't and took the front bumper off the other car and damaged the passenger side and tire of his F150 truck before running into a ditch.  All of them had their seat belts on, and everyone was alright.  Things could've been very different though.  It's such a weird feeling to think...my life could've really been altered greatly in just a few minutes of a careless driver not paying attention.  Both our kids were in that car.

On a lighter note, the sweetest little bundle of sugar was born last Tuesday, October 29 as we welcomed our newest little niece Louise Bradford Deaton into our family.  Miles and I went to see her (in a warm, cozy house) while the others were freezing their tails off at the football game.

 Matt and Isaac were able to squeeze in a quick visit on Saturday in-between Miles's basketball games in Scottsville.

 Miles had his first basketball tournament on Saturday in Scottsville.  There are 16 boys on the 7th grade team with around 60 trying out (earlier last month).  He loves basketball and got a little bit of playing time and even managed to score at the end of first game.

Miles has been a baller as long as I can remember.  Last season in rec ball, his team made it to the championship game, and he was averaging around 15-20 points per game.  The boy can shoot.  The tournament was exciting, and they came out winning the entire thing.   

I love this kid!  His smile is contagious.  He drips sugar and has always been the kindest kid.  I remember his kindergarten teacher telling us one time, the biggest problem we have with Miles is that everyone wants to sit beside him and be his friend - he is such a sweet kid.

Miles got to spend Sunday at church with his cousin and then at the golf course later that afternoon with his Pap and Uncle Seth.   He got that new putter for his birthday and has been anxious to try it out.

Karson's Varsity Volleyball season came to a close last week losing in the Regional finals to Greenwood.  She was super thankful that Coach Embry, her basketball coach, gave the girls Friday night off.  Even a small break is a welcomed one when you have every day commitments to a sport. Though she hasn't been at practice (which began earlier this month), she's tried to make it to the gym each Sunday for shooting practice (even during volleyball and some this summer).

 Quick catch-up on other October happenings:



The boys got to see their favorite NFL Team - the Tennessee Titans play on Sunday, October 27 play the Bucs.  Thank you Uncle David Bradford for always sharing your tickets with our boys.  They LOVE going to the games.

Halloween was chilly and a bit damp but thankfully the rain held off so Miles and his buddy could go trick-or-treating. Miles layered up and went as Jason. Isaac and his friends hung out at the house to hand out (and eat) candy, and recreate the Dale and Brennan Step Brothers picture.

 

We had a pumpkin to carve but for some reason never got around to it, but we did all get to paint pumpkins at Shannon's house which was fun.  Karson made a silly face.  I did a jigsaw theme.  Isaac did a Mindcraft Creeper. Miles did the Tennessee Titans logo.