December 2022 Part 1

I mentioned before that Rylee became obsessed with Stranger Things this year (our favorite was Season 3 and we are Team Steve just FYI) so, of course, we had to go to the Stranger Things store.  We bought a few things (a tshirt, 2 Scoops Ahoy keychains, a coloring book), but mostly it's fun for the photo ops:

From horror to holiday: we went to the little Christmas Tree museum again this year.  There were lots of cute trees...

We also got a very awkward family photo.  I'm not sure what looks weirder: Jon sitting in the chair or Mrs. Claus trying to strangle me from behind.  Lol!

December was also JA Biz Town for both Jace and Rylee.  Rylee said the 8th grade version was not fun.  She was 31 years old, single, had one child, and was Asst Manager at Toyota.  She had to manage her budget basically.  No cute or fun stuff like the 5th graders get to do.

Jace, however, loved it.  He was CEO of Channel 10 News (which was ironically Rylee's job when she went in 5th grade).

At one point, he gave an on air interview that he didn't prepare for/just winged it.  He did awesome talking about teamwork and such.  Honestly, I think this kid could be a good politician.  Lol

He had fun doing all the other things at JA Biz Town, like adopting a dog...

getting insurance and his health checkups...

More on December later...

November Recap 2022

 Before I get to November, here are a couple of interesting stories I forgot:

Jon had jury duty in August.  He was selected for a case and had to go back the next day.  Luckily, they were able to finish that day.  It was some very Jerry Springer-esque stuff with two women fighting over a bum of a guy!  He actually enjoyed it in that respect.

I got called for jury duty the next month, but mine was cancelled due to Hurricane Ian.  Jon boo'd while I cheered when I got the call.  (I'm deferred for one year so I'm expecting to get called next Fall.)

Speaking of Hurricane Ian, we were lucky and it wasn't much of a storm for our area.  Although we lost power right away (insert Jon's conspiracy theory that they divert power from our neighborhood every time we have a storm because FPL uses the stadium next door to house all the emergency trucks and personnel).  Jon was up at 3:30 am hooking up our generator.  Jace came down and rested with me in our bed.  The real point of the story is that little Princess Rylee slept through the whole thing!  She strolled downstairs at 9:30 am like nothing was amiss!  (We got our power back that afternoon so it wasn't too bad, just a lot of work for Jon!)

Lastly, our oven broke and Jon was too cheap to buy a new one.  He decided to fix it himself.  It was an early release day so Jace, Rylee, and Emily were there.  When he took the door off, a spring shot out and punctured his hand.  Rylee remembered Rule #1: never panic.  She helped him get it wrapped up and called me to take him to the emergency room.  (Jace was on his device in the other room and was totally clueless as to what was happening!)  In the end, it only required to two stitches.  And the emergency room bill cost more than a new stove... just saying.  :)

It was a year for stitches.  Emily's dad had cut up his hand a few weeks earlier on his fighting robot "Rotator" (if you watch the TV show BattleBots).  His was pretty bad and he required a lot of stitches.  (This is a pic of Rotator and Carl is on the far left.  He and the team signed this photo for a friend of mine's son who is a big fan.)

Later in the year, Emily passed out in her bathroom and ended up with stiches in her eyebrows.

Gaga and Papa flew in right around Halloween.  It's always nice when they are back in town!

November

Speaking of Carl, November was his 50th birthday so we went to a fancy outdoor party at their house.  Rylee did our hair and makeup:

We figured Jace would hate a dressy dinner party so 

he got to stay with Gaga and Papa for the night.

A cute pic of Rylee and Emily:

I might need to set this story up.  Our neighbors used to have two wolves, a coyote, and two foxes.  The coyote ate the foxes.  They sold or got rid of the coyote.  The were trying to breed the two wolves, but then they found out that they were illegal so they gave them over to the Florida Wildlife people who took them to a sanctuary.  So they were left with just their wolf dog.

It escaped twice this Fall.  One time I think it just walked out the front door.  Jon was home from work so he went all around the neighborhood looking and rode over to the stadium and ended up finding it about to get on the Sawgrass Expy.  He was able to call the neighbor and they got it in time.  

This is from the second time it escaped when I think it just jumped over the fence.  The kids, Jon and I were riding our bikes and helping them corral it and get it back.  The thing is so fast that it's not easy.  You have to read this message from the Ring doorbell community.  Our friend's Pete and Amy sent it to us.  It's hilarious!

We were not the people with the chicken, but we were the other people!  Lol.

I don't remember too much else about November.  I know we spent some fun Saturdays with Gaga and Papa.  We had a nice Thanksgiving together and a week off of school.  We went to Top Golf, mini golfing and bowling.  I'll leave you with some pics of the kids from their awards ceremonies for first quarter. 

Rylee got straight As (plus she had 4 high school credit classes this year):

Jace got straight As and won the special award from Coach for PE.  Coach said he picked him because whenever they play head to head challenges, Jace always shakes the other person's hand and is such a good sport whether he wins or loses.  :)

Way to go, kiddos!

October 2022

 
Fall is football season.  We had so much fun watching the games with Pete and Amy at their house.  We even had a breakfast football get together for the London game.  Pete, Jon and some of the guys went to the Vikings vs Dolphins game too.  They had a great time, but man was it expensive.  Parking alone was like $180!

Rylee still loves playing her guitar and ukulele.  

She also started a little side business for her crochet.  She is multi-talented!

We babysat Ralphie one weekend when Pete and Amy were away.

Fall is also golf season for Rylee.  Both Rylee, and her teammate Shannon, made the championship tournament again this year.  Jon and I took the day off of work to attend.

Both girls golfed really well and beat their scores on the course from last year.  

They both finished in the top 10, but I can't remember the exact placing.

Since I wasn't at work, Jace went home with the Moraes family.

They fed him and got him ready for Boo Bingo at school.

Jace wore his Pokemon costume from last year.

Rylee loves attending Boo Bingo as well.

She went as a pink lady.

I had to attend because I'm one of the new Bingo callers.  :)

It's always a fun night.

We also had a costume day at school.

I had a couple of Harry Potter costumes (my classroom is Harry Potter themed).

This is me, Jace, and Lilou.  More on her later in the year!

Rylee and I watched all 4 seasons of Stranger Things this fall as well so we did themed costumes.

Rylee was Eleven.  Jace was Mike in his Ghostbusters costume.

Jon was Hopper and I was Joyce.

You can also see our roofing sign.  We got a new roof this year.  Not cheap!

Of course, Jon and the kids carved pumpkins.

Jace picked a pokeball.

Rylee stuck with the Stranger Things theme.  :)

For trick or treating, the Moraes family came over and walked the neighborhood with us.  It's not the big affair of years past, you can tell that the neighborhood is aging, but it was still a fun time.

Sept 2022 Recap

So I have a whole year's worth of photos and memories to share...  I'll do my best to only hit the highlights.  :)

September was Rylee's 14th birthday.  We celebrated on the day and she had a sleepover with her besties on the weekend.

Rylee and Emily made great friends in Ariana and Moksha in middle school.  Emily and Moksha will be going to different high schools, but I'm confidant that they will all stay friends.

As much as I love these girls, they aren't the easiest to host for a sleepover.  Emily's a pescatarian, Ariana is lactose-intolerant, and Moksha has many allergies and dietary restrictions.  :)

In other news, Jace ran for Student Council Vice President.  

He came up with his campaign slogan: JP for VP!

He gave a speech in front of the whole 5th grade class and did great.  

The kids were chanting JP for VP!  He won in a landslide!  Good job, Jace!

August 2022 Recap

 We had a little bit of time before we left for Florida so we went mini golfing...

...and to the fair with Papa.

We took a final pontoon ride on Agate (with Rylee as captain!).

Then it was back to reality with Rylee in her last year of middle school and Jace in my class (for half the day anyway!).

Rylee and Emily are enjoying their last year together as well

 since they will be attending different high schools.  :(

We got our Covid boosters at the beginning of August in hopes of staying healthy (since this was our first year going to school without masks).  It worked for everyone, but me.  Three of the five 5th grade teachers got Covid the second week of school.  It was my first Covid experience and luckily it wasn't bad.  It was mostly 5 days of catching up on Netflix!  Lol  

All four of us have had Covid now (I was the last hold out).  Jace has had it twice actually (he just had it again in December).

July Recap - Cedar Crest

Cedar Crest was an amazing time as always.  We missed Gaga and Gypsy though.  Hopefully they will come this year.

The kids and dogs both love tubing. Lol!

The girls... 

The boys...

Recreating a classic pic with Rian :)

Rylee and Meg brought their ukuleles.  Rian brought her recorder.  

The boys handled backup "whoo hoos"!

"Build Me Up, Buttercup!"  

The men...

Cedar Crest 2022!

We are so thankful for this week with our "family!"

July Part 3 - Cousin Pics

We always do a big cousin photo shoot on the last day.  The kids actually get a kick out of it now and request certain photos.  So much easier than in the old days when we we had to bribe and/or distract them with snacks!

Love these kiddos.  Even if they are all growing up way too fast!  Nick graduates from high school this year.  :)