Other Random Updates & Happenings

 As we look forward to the Thanksgiving holiday next week and seeing so much of our family gathered in one place again, we do continue to just stay busy around here with a lot of random day to day activities.

I continue to walk several days a week, as the weather allows.  Last Thursday was one of the last sunny days in our area before the rainy and windy weather moved in.  I do not look forward to the dark and dreariness of the winter months so I made sure to walk a longer route and soak up as much of the sun as I was able.   

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On Friday of last week, the high school football team competed in the Regional championships and they won for the first time in school history.  (They recently moved down to the 5A division so that helped).  This week they will play at home in the semi-state game.  I didn't go to the game because it was wet and cold, but Noel and Melayna went on to cheer the Tigers to victory.

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On Saturday we went to the library for the first time in a while.  The kids don't often get to go once they start school because the library hours are more limited, but we went for a while last week and I sat in the children's area and read a book while Nolan played with their magnetic blocks for a while and then while I was hiding out back there, the children's librarian came over to ask where we've been and how everyone has been doing.  We've been going to our library for over 18 years so they literally have watched all of the kids grow up and it's always so nice to just sit and talk with them.  We do have the best library!!

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Later Saturday night,  Melayna met up with two of her other friends and they headed up to Fort Wayne to compete in the Fort and Fitness 5K.  Since they were doing it in the dark - and all for fun - they didn't worry at all about their times.  It was simply for completion -- and the large Crumble cookie that Melayna ate right before the race would attest to that.   She would later admit that it wasn't the smartest choice and she was paying the price about half-way through the race.  LOL

Laynie is in the middle between Bronwyn and Maggie.

Oh, I forgot that they stopped at Target to pick up their running pajamas before the race as well.  And then they stopped at Panda Express on the way home.

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On Sunday night, Melayna had to work at the nursing home, but Noel, Nolan, and I headed back to Franke Park again (same place where the 5K was the night before).  This time we took our bikes and we were able to ride through the "Fantasy of Lights".  It's been a part of Ft Wayne for several years, but this year was the first time that they opened it up for just bike traffic and it was a great way to ride through the 3 miles of Christmas lights without worrying about cars.  Since we met up with some friends and we were enjoying the conversation and fellowship so much, we rode the loop twice and then stopped to take some pictures together.  It was a beautiful fall night and we enjoyed it so much, we may plan to do this event every year.

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On Monday night, Nolan started back at the pool with the Aquatic Club.  The swimming team has been going since October, but Nolan was in the robotics club and didn't want to be in too many things.  He finally decided that he was ready to swim again so we started that this week.  The coach and his friends were all very excited to see him again.

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The school hosted their Roller Skate Night that is hosted by the PTO on Tuesday night and Nolan asked if we could all go to that.  Normally I take him and read a book while he skates, which is fine with him, but this year, Melayna and Noel chose to skate with him.  (I still sat and read my book and prayed that no one got injured), but they all had a really fun time skating together.

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Nolan was suppose to go back to club swim on Wednesday night, followed by his weekly Bible night at Splash, but just as he was walking out the door to go to swimming, he told me that he wasn't feeling very well and that he just wanted to stay home.  Sure enough, he had a slight fever, so we left him on the couch and then we headed off to Melayna's XC awards night instead.

She received another chevron for her coat and a certificate.

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This is how Nolan stayed Wednesday night and all day on Thursday.  When that boy lays around, you know he's not feeling well. 

We tried to play a couple of games on Thursday night together but he was really struggling.

Thankfully he was feeling well enough to go back to school today and hopefully his cold will pass quickly.

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It snowed on Thursday and Friday.  Not enough to accumulate on the roads or cause havoc driving, but enough to cover the grass and the back porch.  The first snow is always so pretty -- but I'm just not quite ready for the cold and wet weather of Winter.

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In other Nolan news, the teacher sent home an order form highlighting some of Nolan's recent art work and told us that this company makes all sorts of art projects, key rings, and other accessories using Nolan's design.  Great Christmas gift ideas perhaps?

Here is what Nolan drew:

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And here is the filter that Nolan used to talk to his sister the other night.  She screenshot it while they were talking and then sent it to me later.  We all agreed that he looked slightly creepy with those extra blue eyes and skinny head!!

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These pictures are less creepy... and much cuter.  I usually get pictures that pop up on my "memory feed" throughout the year and these two of Nolan came back this past week.  It's always so bittersweet going down memory lane....