Thanksgiving

One thing about having the size and layout of our new house is that it easily provides the opportunity to host large groups. Since we hosted the Phillips side of the family last year, we thought it would be nice to host the Manchan/Lindsay side this year. With Dad's health also failing, we figured it would be a good opportunity to get everyone together. With the last minute change in plans for Micah's family to come, we had everyone here except Asa, Theresa and Ellie.

We did have to call an ambulance for Grandpa on Friday to take him to the hospital.  The boys were excited to see the fireman and the ambulance arrive at our house. Grandpa had dialysis on Thanksgiving day and didn't look good since coming home from that appointment. We thought he had a stroke. He ended up being in the hospital all weekend through Monday night. They drove home late Monday night (with a quick sleep stop in Thousand Palms area) before finishing the drive in the morning.

The night before Thanksgiving we had Cafe Rio catered at the house for everyone. We had a very simple straightforward traditional Thanksgiving menu that everyone helped to cook. It was great to visit and catch up with everyone. It was the first time that all the cousins (minus Ellie) could be together and they had a blast. We took a few quick family pictures and then played games and hung out. Friday a few of us spent the afternoon shopping at we met up for dinner Saturday night at a local restaurant. Overall, with the exception of Dad landing in the hospital for the entire time, it was a fun filled week with not too much drama, so I would say it was a success.

Forrest, Genesis, Micah, Calee, Jared, Michaela

Forrest, Genesis, Micah, Mom, Calee, Jared, Michaela

Aurora, Tevye, and Danica

My brothers were very helpful with some electrical projects while they were here. As Forrest called it, they were doing man projects together. I think it was fun for them to work together and I benefitted from the results. Three new fans hung, help with my Christmas lights and some electrical plugs switched. Thanks!

Tevye played football with the kids. 

Thanksgiving Meal: Jared, Forrest, Genesis, Dad, Mom, Ricky

Michaela holding Odette

Kolissa, Micah, Tevye, Dana, Talicee, Caden. Front (L-R) Aurora, Danica, Calee, Vance, Lincoln

Dad

Me and Bam Bam (tradition is that she spend a few hours with us on Thanksgiving. She was a super good sport to help take pictures for us)

Mom and her kids. 

Miranova, Logan, Aurora, Danica, Caden and Lincoln

Logan was reading Miranova and Rory a train book. 

Best cousin buds. Lincoln and Caden

Grammy with Odette

Logan wanted his picture with the firetruck. I figured it was a good way to capture the memory of our Friday afternoon excitement. 

Smores by the new fireplace in the backyard. 

Tony was able to join us on Friday afternoon. Tevye and Calee. 

Saturday morning hike at Estrella Mountains

The weather dropped pretty significantly during the week and our pool heater was trying to catch up. The kids got a couple of days of swimming in but it was a chili 85-87 degrees. 

Dinner at Black Bear Diner. Mom later came from the hospital to join us. 

Ipad, Minecraft buddies. Lincoln and Vance

Getting a little fresh fall air.

Ricky took some quick family pictures. 

Vance, Lincoln, Caden, Logan and Danica ready for breakfast on Thanksgiving morning. Grammy made her famous breakfast burritos. 

Field Trip to the Zoo

I don't get to volunteer in the boys' classrooms as much as I'd like to. Really, it's hardly ever since I took the new job at the beginning of this school year. I do however, love to go on the field trips with them. I think those are some of the opportunities to build great memories. I didn't get to go on Logan's field trips last year (I don't remember why) so I was set on going this year. This field trip was to the local Wildlife Zoo. I was so excited to go and spend the day with him and because there were so many parents there each chaperone's group was very small. Mine consisted of Logan and his best friend in class, Kayden. It made for a really pleasant day. We completed their assignment which was to write about animals and their habitats in their workbook. We had a nice lunch together, fed a few animals and enjoyed learning outdoors.

 Kayden and Logan

Micah and Kolissa were in town and they decided to also take their girls to the zoo so we got to spend about the last hour of the day with them in the aquarium section. (Kayden wanted to be in all of the pictures including the family ones!)

Visit from Micah

We decided to host Thanksgiving for the Manchan side of the family this year. I was excited, but admittedly stressed, to have all of the family together. I also knew it was likely that it would be the last time many of the family members would see Dad, since his health is declining rapidly. I knew that Asa wouldn't come. He has decided that he wouldn't attend any event that Mom was at, so it's unfortunate for the rest of us but it is what it is. I also didn't think that Micah would be able to come because Kolissa just had baby Odette two months prior and Micah has a hard time getting time off work. To my surprise, about two weeks before Thanksgiving he called me and said they wanted to come because he had gotten the time off work. We were super excited and overjoyed at the thought of seeing the new baby and her adorable sisters. It would be the perfect opportunity for the cousins to play together. Micah asked that we keep it a surprise - so we did. Nobody else knew he was coming. They came down the Monday before Thanksgiving and stayed until Thursday night. It was wonderful to have them and to see baby Odette. 

Fall Soccer Season

Logan just finished his third season of soccer. This year they moved up to the bigger fields and incorporated a goalie. Logan has been wanting to play goalie ever since he started soccer and this season was his chance. He played goalie for about four games. He had quite a few great blocks and played some great defense when he wasn't goalie. We worked on being more aggressive and learning actual positions on the field. He stayed with the same coaches and many of the same kids. Their team name this year was the Stormtroopers and they came in first within their bracket but second overall. 

Back row: Coach Preston, Coach Dave

Middle row (L-R): Parker, Carter, A, Logan, Marshall

Front row: (L-R): Lucci, Javie, unknown, unknown, Max

One of my favorite memories from the entire season was that coach asked someone to say prayer after their last game and Logan volunteered. This picture is of the two teams praying together as Logan offers up the prayer.

Medal time! Logan is #2 getting his trophy from Coach.

Lincoln is a super proud and supportive brother!

Saturday = Soccer, Service and Some Entertainment

Saturdays are always a fun day that I look forward to. It's time that I get to spend with the family and usually we try to pack a lot in. Sometimes it's cleaning and putting the house back together, sometimes it's shopping, sometimes it's a fun activity, an event for the boys and some days it's all of those things. Either way, it tends to be my favorite day of the week!

Because we had family in town, Logan got some extra cheerleaders at his soccer game.  Auntie Genesis, Auntie Michaela and Uncle Jared all came to watch.  

My friend Lisa decided to host a service project at her house that we got to participate in. We went to the store and brought items and gift cards for turkeys so the boys could make meal bags for the less fortunate. The kids decorated the bags as the first step. 

Then they put one of each item in the bags. 

It was such a good experience for them. I try to teach them that we are very blessed. We have been fortunate to not have to go without basics. I want them to appreciate the blessings we have and service is always a good way to do that. 

We ended the day with mom and boys going to watch Trolls and then we met up with Daddy for dinner. I love fun, productive, meaningful days with my family!

School Fun Run

The boys' school big annual fundraiser is the fun run. They gather pledges based on the number of laps they run during the designated timeframe. The fun run team comes to the school for the two weeks before the event and gets them pumped up and teaches them character traits along with the excitement of gathering pledges. They were super excited to get their prizes from their pledges. The fun run happened to be on the same day as Lincoln's birthday. Since I was meeting Lincoln for lunch, it happened to be at the same time the Logan was running so I stopped in to see how he was doing. Unfortunately I don't have pictures of Lincoln running but he did an awesome job and I got to see the laps marked on his shirt when I saw him for lunch. In total, the boys raised about four hundred dollars for their school and they had a ton of fun. It was a success!

Logan's class with the Fun Run team.

Logan running.

Logan during the mandatory walk lap.

Lincoln's shirt with all of this lap marks. 

Logan's team after the run. 

Logan came home and created the fun run track with Legos all on his own. Such a creative kiddo!

Happy 9th Birthday, Lincoln!

How is this adorable guy already 9 years old!?! He is tall and handsome. He's already to my armpit and I'm sure he'll be to the top of my shoulders by the time school is out. It is crazy to me to think that in another 9 years, he will be in college. Where does the time go? Lincoln is incredibly smart. He is doing very well in the 4th grade accelerated program. Over the last six months, he has become an avid reader. He loves good novels. Every night he asks to stay up and read. He is also very talented when it comes to math. He enjoys creating and solving his own very complicated math problems, just for fun. He's a well mannered, kind, caring, kiddo who is a great student. 

Lincoln is currently in swimming class and has advanced to a Shark level II. He is like a fish in the water and his long lean body allows him to cover ground quickly. Lincoln is also involved in Cub Scouts and is currently a Bear. He really enjoys the different activities they do and earning his belt loops. Lincoln also loves football. We love watching NFL games together and rooting for our favorite team...the Cardinals. He still wants to be an NFL player when he grows up.

His favorite foods include Philly steak sandwiches from Subway with pepper jack cheese and banana peppers, also hamburgers from McDonalds, medium buffalo wings and ice cream. He also loves chocolate! He loves music and loves to dance!  His beat boxing skills are definitely improving. Recently he is all about Minecraft, Yugi-yo cards, and bay blades. He is an incredible builder in Minecraft on his iPad. 

Lincoln has the ability to be incredibly sweet and caring. He loves to give hugs and kisses to us all the time and one on one can be super helpful. Lincoln tries hard to be a good big brother, but, sometimes he struggles to have patience with him. We are working to teach them that "brothers are best friends" and that his little brother looks up to him. I am certain it will be easier for them as they get older but for now it can be a challenge. 

We love him to the "moon and back" and "no matter what!" We are so incredibly blessed to have his sweet spirit in our family. I can't imagine life without him. While I miss having a tiny little guy to cuddle, I am excited for him to continue to learn and grow and do great things! Happy birthday, love bug, Lincoln Bear!

Birthday morning!

Lincoln's best friends - Thomas, Jimmy and Lincoln at his special birthday lunch that I got to join him for. 

Lincoln chose Melting Pot for his birthday dinner. 

Auntie Genesis and Uncle Forrest got to attend the dinner with us since they were staying with us for the week. 

My Vote

I don't typically post or write much about politics and specifically how I vote, but I wanted to write this post so that one day when my boys are old enough to appreciate it, they will have the opportunity to read this and know where I stand. 

I have grown up with a respect for the office of the President and a love for our country. I was taught that we are fortunate and blessed to live in this land. My favorite holiday next to Christmas is Independence Day. I get emotional when I think about the hardship that those that came before us went through to ensure that we had this incredible land of the free that we have today. I do also have a son named Lincoln. Yes, there are many things that have gone wrong. Yes, we have parts to our country's history that are not steller. Yes, there are laws I don't agree with, leaders I don't like and injustices that occur but bottom line is the USA is a chosen and blessed country. 

It has been a long eight years with Democrat President Obama in office. His speeches of hope and change were simply empty promises.  I didn't vote for him and frankly don't care for him but regardless, I still respect the position. I was excited to see who would be able to come rescue our broken, morally damaged and bankrupt country in this election. This election year is one for the history books. 

In the end, it came down to Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. I, like most Americans, was surprised that those were my two primary choices for President of the United States. Surely there were more qualified and better suited people who could run and win this election - but apparently that wast the case. Not this time. This was now our reality. I wasn't thrilled with some of the things Trump had done but I am tired of politicians and our government getting wrapped up with lobbyists, giving all of my hard earned money to programs and people who don't truly need it and creating a culture and society of laziness, freebies and greed. I decided I can deal with the fact that Trump was going to say some things that were probably not appropriate but I appreciate the fact that he isn't trying to be overly politically correct and calling things the way he sees them. Yes, some of them are mean but we as a county have gone so far out of control with politically correctness, that it's starting to impede on our freedoms of speech and our ability to choose for ourselves. I like the idea that he is not a career politician and that he can run a business. I also really like and respect his children. I think they are incredibly smart and they have a more well rounded view of the world and working families. 

I was (and am) absolutely disgusted and appalled at most everything Hillary Clinton has done. I would love to see a woman in the White House but honestly, as a woman, Hillary is the absolute last person I would want representing women and taking that honored spot in history. We as women can and deserve better. I will not dive into all of the things that she has done since that has been hashed out in the media for the last year and a half and I'm tired of it but it's there, in all it's nasty filth and distain, if someone chooses to look for it. I remember as a young girl when Bill Clinton was President and the Monica Lewinsky drama happened. I clearly remember thinking that as a woman I wanted to see Hillary have a backbone and stand up for herself and she didn't. It was clear to me she stayed in that relationship for the power and money. That is not how I wanted women to be represented and I was disappointed in her as a first lady and further disappointed in her since. 

I have hope for the future. I want our country to be a place where my boys can grow up and feel safe, obtain a great and affordable education and live the American dream of owning a home and securing gainful employment while raising a family of their own. This country is a divided one. More divided than I've ever seen. I know it can be better. I saw touching and marvelous patriotism in the aftermath of 9-11. It's unfortunate that we had to go through that to see such moving human kindness in my generation but it's something I will never forget. I think this country needs a hard look at it's roots - get back to the basics and rebuild a country that stands as one nation under God and as the beacon of freedom, heroes, and opportunity.