Less is More in 2024

 Got a text this morning from Matt basically saying one of his goals for 2024 is "waste less."  For everyone this sort of means something different.  Waste less money.  Waste less food.  Waste less time on a wide variety of things.  The list goes on, but I like the idea.  I've tried to be fully engaged over the holiday break.  I don't want to waste any time.  When your grown children leave for college and are gone for months at a time, you cherish the moments when they are home. The house is louder and more alive.  The laundry is always going.  Grocery runs are more frequent.  The pace is different.  I'm fortunate having a job where I am off for two weeks during the break.  What a treat.  We binged lots of television, went to some bowling matches, watched the SWHS girls basketball tournament, worked lots of puzzles, and enjoyed our time together.

I didn't take as many (less) pictures as I probably should have, but the memory of the time is planted in my brain.  

My favorite memory was taking a road trip to Lexington to visit my Mamaw Pogue.  She lives with my Aunt Linda and Uncle Ronnie and is absolutely precious.  It was a treat seeing her, and my aunt fixed us a wonderful lunch when we arrived.  Mamaw gave us a house tour of her bedroom and sewing room for all her quilts.  She makes the most beautiful quilts and is so proud of them.  For Christmas, my aunt Linda asked everyone (back in October) to send her pictures of all the quilts Mamaw had made for our respective families.  She grouped and printed all the pictures together in a large album and gifted it to her for Christmas.  

The quilt above is my childhood Strawberry Shortcake blanket.  It's truly my most prized possession from my Mamaw.  It's barely hanging in there and something I could never replace.  This blanket got me through lots of times in my life - sad, happy, scared, etc.  Blankey was there for me.  Karson, being the first everything, had TONS of blankets gifted to her as a baby.  Guess which one she chose as her favorite and has accompanied her the last 21 years, MY BLANKEY!!!!!  At one point, Mamaw had to re-sew the ribbon border back around it. We're extra careful with it these days and try not to wash it very often.

 

I didn't include all of her baby quilts, but these are the larger quilts she has made through the years.  I also have a few that my great-grandmother made as well.  

 

We ate, visited, played cards, and left with some of Mamaw's treasures she wanted to give us from her curio cabinet.  I came home with a cardinal music box, two magnolia flowers and some smaller ceramic flower baskets.  I also have a couple of things from Matt's late Granny and Mamaw.  It's special for them to share their things with their grandkids.

 

Karson finished up her junior year in nursing continuing to maintain her 4.0 GPA.  This semester she begins her senior year with graduation on Friday, December 13th!!!!  It will be here before we know it.  She is still sorting through ideas and plans for her journey after nursing school.  Whatever she decides, and wherever she lands, I know they'll be grateful having her.  I got these special pictures (below) yesterday as she kicked off the first semester of her SENIOR year!

 

To start the holidays off right, we had a friends dinner at Garcia's Restaurant downtown.  It was our first time there but will not be our last.  What a beautiful venue and delicious food.  We ran into lots of friends while we were there too, guess they've been keeping the place a secret!  HAH!

My dad and his barbershop group had a Christmas show at Greenwood Park.  It's always a festive event that gets you into the holiday spirit.

Because Christmas landed on a Monday this year, we decided to celebrate with the Deaton family a little earlier with Debbie hosting on Saturday, the 23rd.  The picture below is literally the only one I got that day.  Seth gave all the kids cozy house slippers which they immediately put on.

Christmas Eve (Sunday), we celebrated with my parents that morning.  I don't think any of our parents are hard to buy for, but it's sometimes challenging thinking of something they might like.  When trying to figure out what to get my mom, Karson and I wandered into Barnes and Noble one afternoon.  I know mom likes to read and thought maybe a new book or two.  It was like a lightbulb came on when we walked in, and Karson suggested getting her some new reading glasses and board games.  She said they always like playing games with Meme when they go over to her house.  There is a game called Telestrations which we settled on and Karson had played before.  We also purchased the game Mind the Gap.  We had a blast playing Telestrations and quickly realized that some of us are better artists than others.  If you ever get the chance to play it, do it!  Mind the Gap is a fun generational trivia game too.

Christmas Day - we relaxed most of the day at home.  Seems like it was the first time that the kids slept in later than normal.  Have I mentioned our youngest son has been working at the bowling alley since early November?  Over the break, one week he clocked 33 hours and the next 22.  Needless to say, he's been tired mainly because of the late night shifts (not so much the actual hours).

 

Both Miles and Isaac got new guitars.  Miles wanted a new electric Harley Benton, and Isaac liked a 12-string Takamine at Kentucky Music.  I love that our boys are musical and know how to play an instrument. Karson wanted a handful of different things for Christmas this year.

 

The kids surprised us with some thoughtful gifts including an engraved journal for Matt and a hand-painted ornament for me.

Miles is such a goof ball, and I love this picture of him wearing some of his gifts.

  

 

Our tradition of constructing clearance Gingerbread Houses continued this year.  Karson and I scored some Wilton brand houses for $6 at Bargain Hunt.  Oddly, these houses were already constructed so the only task was to decorate.  I'm not sure these are "true" GB houses.  The kids didn't complain and had fun icing and decorating them.

Who are these grown children?  Love them both very much!

New Years Eve was spent with our friends Weston and Larie eating at Novo Pub and winning a few extra dollars at The Mint.  Afterwards, we went over to Southern Lanes since Miles got off work and he, Isaac, Evan and Elizabeth were there ringing in the New Year bowling.

The grind began last Tuesday for me and Wednesday for Matt and Miles.  Bowling started back up, and we had our Spartan Invitational on Saturday.  It was a special day as Miles and the team managed to make it to the final round but came up short winning the runner-up spot.  I was extra proud of Miles and his performance.  He did very well.

Karson left for Louisville on Sunday, and Isaac will leave next Sunday.  Ugh.  We plan to celebrate Isaac's birthday later this week at Kyoto!  Hard to believe he is already 19.

Always Lots to Be Thankful For...

 and having all three kids back under one roof is top of the list!  What a treat to have all of our family reunited over the Thanksgiving holiday.  Our super quiet house was full of life again.  Both Karson and Isaac made it home on Tuesday.  Isaac left as soon as he got up that morning and was home before lunch.  Karson arrived a little later that afternoon.  Miles had a match in Owensboro that night against Daviess County.  We didn't really get to visit much with either because we left right after work.  Isaac had planned to go to a movie with Pap and Seth, and Karson had homework to do.  Later that night, they went to hang out with their cousins.  Isaac and Evan hadn't seen each other for months.  

I had to work on Wednesday but fortunately got off early and was able to spend the rest of the afternoon with the kids.

Prior to the break, about two weeks total, we were all cursed with Flu B.  The weekend we celebrated my mom's birthday (Nov. 13), Miles had a 102 fever that Saturday.  Since he recently got a job at the bowling alley and was supposed to start working that weekend, he powered on despite the fever (probably not the best idea).  He did not want to call in sick already.  His fever continued to Sunday, and he had to work again.  By Monday, he was exhausted and stayed home from school to recover.  His fever broke around lunchtime. When I got home that Monday night, I was very achy and having some respiratory issues.  I did Live Health Online and got albuterol called in to assist with breathing.  Miles told me on Tuesday that he needed to go to school and couldn't miss anymore.  He went Tuesday and Wednesday.  Wednesday night, he had a match in Owensboro but was having a lot of pain in his calf muscles.  We didn't think much about it. One of his teammates had a massage gun and applied some icy hot to help with the pain. He wasn’t getting any relief.  My mom rode with us to the match.  Bowling was painful the whole night, and he could barely move.  It was weird.  Matt had come home from work Wednesday and felt terrible.  However, he had the flu shot so again, we didn't think about FLU.  Miles was in so much pain that he wasn't able to go to school the next day.  Matt stayed home too.  I told Matt if he felt like it, to please take Miles to Graves Gilbert Urgent Clinic.  At this point, it was day six with symptoms of something.  Neither felt like going, and so by FORCE, I made Miles go with me when I got off work.  He knew they were going to swab him and was anxious about that.  I needed to know it was nothing major since he wasn't getting any better.  After an hour, we got the results back, and the PA said it was about the worst case of Flu B.  We all knew we'd had it by this point - each of us with different symptoms. There was nothing we could do, but wait it out. I ran to Kroger and got us some Vitamin C, fruit, and Gatorade to stay hydrated.  Miles slept for about three days straight and had to miss two bowling matches.

Happy birthday Meme, glad your present wasn't the flu.

Bowling has been such a fun, new experience.  Miles bowled his first 200 in a match and also got his new jersey.  The team ordered him another ball along with a three ball carrier.  Many bowlers travel with lots of different balls, and we are adding to his collection constantly it seems.

 

 

  Thankful he has a job where he can get all the free bowling he wants since he loves the sport so much.  He and Isaac had a ball during the break.  He even bowled a 220 one night.

 

We celebrated Thanksgiving with my family at mom's and with Matt's family at the Warehouse.  Like usual, we were completely stuffed.  It's all worth it though to get to spend time with everyone.

Paul brought his nice camera and took some family pictures.

  

Scary and sweet faces with the girls at the Warehouse. 

Like October, November is a month of birthday celebrations in our family.  We celebrated Nana on Sunday since everyone was still home.  Miles, being the worker bee, wasn't able to come to the party.  We missed him but are proud that he's committed to his new job and working hard.

 

Looking forward to having all the college kids back again soon!  Come on Christmas!!!

Mr. Spartan and New Sporting Adventures

Golf season came to a close, and we put a stamp on the 2023-2024 season Monday night with our end of the year banquet.  It was a bit challenging finding a time to meet with all the school activities at South; otherwise, we would've done it a bit closer to the end of the season.  Miles was a wee bit irritated by the October 30th date, but I will get to that a little later.  

   This year we graduated one Senior and have a lot of rising younger players who are quite talented.  South hasn't had a strong golf program for some time.  By "strong," I mean we aren't posting any scores that are competitive with other teams in our area.  Beneath our Senior are five Juniors, including Miles, who will be big contributors next year.  Miles loves the sport of golf.  This season, more than others (and because he was able to drive), he spent lots and lots and lots of time practicing and playing.  This is what it takes to be good and compete at any sport.  However, you also need a good coach and consistent lessons.  Golf requires lots of science and precision.  You have to be ALL IN or you won’t see improvement.  At the banquet, our coach challenged the parents and team to be ALL IN and invest in their personal game next season.

    Miles received the Mr. Spartan award.  We are proud of his continued achievements with golf and are looking forward to his Senior year which will begin in the blink of an eye.  

 

Why was Miles irritated with a Monday night banquet?  After the close of golf, he wanted to get a part time job and make some money, like most teenagers do.  I'd seen a Facebook post from a friend where the "orange tent" Halloween Express was needing workers.  While I knew this would be temporary, I also thought it would be a great opportunity for him.  I reached out to my friend, and he started working there almost immediately. While he's mainly covered weekends in October, this Monday and Halloween night, they needed his help.  When I mentioned the banquet, he said "what, why are we having it on a Monday?"  I said well it's pretty important and you can't miss it.  Monday after school, which for him ends at 1PM, (also banquet night) he went to work until 5:15, came home, changed, went to the banquet for two hours, and then went back to work until almost 11PM.  He also worked until 10 PM Halloween night.  I wouldn't particularly want him working on weeknights that late with school, but this is a temporary gig.

For the workplace, he needed some Halloween shirts.  I found this Goosebumps Frankenslappy at Five Below.  The other two kids loved it so much, we had to go back and get two more.  I found a fanged/Vampire SpongeBob at Old Navy. My boss loaned me his Camp Crystal Lake Counselor shirt.  And, he has an orange Halloween Express STAFF work shirt as well.  

His favorite job perk: free bowling for him and his family. The orange tent is located in the parking lot of Southern Lanes Bowling Alley.  He also gets free drinks at the snack bar, 1/2 price concessions, and a nice discount in the Pro Shop.

Miles + Free Bowling = HEAVEN

Last night at 10:30PM when he hadn't made it back home yet, I texted to check on him and he told me he was bowling.  New sporting adventures begin for Miles today.  He has officially placed his golf clubs in storage and replaced them with some Strike Force shoes and a Storm bowling ball.  The team captain at South reached out to him last week and asked him to join the bowling team.  He texted me last Friday and asked about his physical.  I told him to text his dad, eh-hem the principal, to let our athletic director Ashby know it was on file with golf.  

That Friday night we'd thrown together a small celebration for Karson's 21st, and Matt made the grandest of announcements to our family.  He said I'm not sure there has ever been a prouder moment for me as a dad, not the birth of all three of my children or their many accomplishments, but it was when my youngest son sent me a text at school to ask the athletic director to put his physical on file because he was joining the bowling team.

  Made! His! Day!

He's so funny.  Some of Matt's best memories are from his start as the first bowling coach at South when he began teaching.

A few of his favorite bowlers, Bryce and Kaleb!

Let me go on the record with this one, bowling is WAY cheaper than golf, at least in regards to the equipment needed.  I might eat my words.  I also realize we aren't all in like some bowlers which I imagine have multiple balls, shoes - take lessons, bowl in leagues and tournaments, etc.  

I ordered Miles's golf shoes off Amazon for $40.  He did need a bag and a ball.  We ventured in to the pro shop at Southern Lanes on Saturday.  The gentleman in there, Alex, could not have been any more helpful.  We told him we were newbies and knew nothing.  Miles had no idea what kind of ball he needed or how fast he could throw it.  Alex closed up the shop and came out to watch him.  Eventually he settled on a 14 pound ball which we purchased that day with his discount along with a bag.  He is still needing a spare ball.  From what I gather, you need one of those to pick up pins that your regular bowling ball won't get.  It also has three holes in it generally while the ball we purchased on got two drilled in it. I'm assuming I will learn all of this at some point.  However, I could purchase ten bowling balls for the cost of one driver and golf lessons so that's a blessing.  

Fun fact: we'd planned to do some family bowling on Sunday, but when Matt went to look for his stuff, he couldn't find it.  The only thing we could figure is that he'd left it behind at some point at the bowling alley.  He wasn't so much concerned about the ball but really wanted his skull shoes.  I told him to check in the pro shop when we got there - odds not in his favor.  Alex to the rescue.  He found it stored in the old nursery with all his stuff still in there.  Hilarious!  Matt had to have the finger holes redone and glued but was pumped by the find.

 Matches begin next week, and his first team practice is today.