Thanksgiving Time

Lindi needed to disguise a turkey for a school project so it

wouldn't get sent to the slaughter house!

JoJo Siwa at your service!

It's crazy the amounts of food that is produced ( and consumed) for this holiday!

Casey smoked his very first turkey!

Goodman Family Pictures

This day was bittersweet.

Deep down I think we all knew that this would probably be our

last family picture with Papa in it.

It's so hard watching someone you love struggle.

Who once was so physically strong, use all his energy to get out of the car

and into a wheelchair.

To watch him watch his grandkids run around and play,

 instead of running around and playing catch with the football with them.

You just keep a prayer in your heart knowing that He knows the plan.

Even though it tears you apart and you wish you could have your old Papa back.

One thing is for sure, families are forever.

And Papa is forever ours!

Rusty turns 10!

Any birthday party where I pay money and just show up
 is my kind of party to host!

Rusty chose Fat Cats

Watching them bowl is hysterical.

They are just happy to be out socializing:)

Collin, Weston, Trey, Rusty, Rily, Lily, Dallin, Parker.
Lily is such a trooper to hang with all the boys.

Mini golf then arcade games.

Waking up to birthday presents on his bday!

A visit to the school with Chick-fil-a for his bday lunch.

Good days, Bad days

Unfortunately, Rusty was the receiver of all the bad!

Poor guy had a rough go for about a month.

It started with weeks of a painful bump hanging out on the edge of his pinky toe.

I couldn't tell what it was, I assumed a wart.

I tried killing it with apple cider vinegar.

But the darn thing was rubbing so bad in his shoe,

which is dress code at their school.

I made him an appointment with Dr. Coffey, and cut a huge hole in his shoe

for relief until his appointment. 

It indeed was a wart!

A gnarly one at that.

We had 2 options.

Put a topical cream on it twice daily for 3 months.

Or cut it out.

We chose the latter.

Who has time for option 1?

He pulled out a numbing needle the size of a horse tranquilizer!

And it sure felt like one, too.

Rusty was a champ, hanging in there best he could.

I was surprised how invasive this procedure was!

He was digging deep for gold, it seemed.

Graphic picture of his toe after he cauterized it.

He had another wart on the side of his other foot that he

 took out as well since we were already there.

I was naïve.

His backpack was in the car for him to get dropped off at 

school afterwards!

Lucky Mr. mummy feet got the day off.

Even got a wheelchair ride to the car.

The school allowed him to wear sandals for the rest of the week.

 Della was excited to have somebody to hang out with other than me!
Fingers crossed they don't grow back!

Bad luck, round 2.

It was Sunday morning when he came walking in with blood dripping

down his head!

Yep, unintentionally self inflicted.

Somehow he hit it on the counter?

Still not sure.

He definitely needed stiches though.

We had a small window before church

and important meetings.

Urgent care wasn't open yet.

Our neighbor is a fire fighter so we gave him a ring.

He was at work but said to bring him on down to the station!

Thankful for friends who know how to use needles on faces :)

My second child to get braces!

Phase 1 is always a doozy.

But his teeth already look so much straighter.

He never complained once about pain.

A nice shot of his scarred forehead.

These girls and their blankies.

Lindi is truly addicted. 

Is there a blanket- holic anonymous  group out there?

We are getting desperate.

Della is more because big sister always has one.

That blanket square is half the size it originally was.

It's dwindling fast.

Savor every second, girlfriend. 

Park date with my sisters and cousins!

It's a Monday holiday tradition.

The biggest good day was Casey buying his very first BRAND NEW truck!

It was a long time coming with LOTS of hard work put in by him.
 LOTS.

I can't even think about how much without getting emotional.

Waking up at 4am day after day putting in 8+ hour days.

Working outside doing manual labor in extreme heat, or the cold and rain.

Working every Saturday for 10+ years, the only time he could get

side jobs in while working for his dad.

Which meant missing Saturday morning breakfasts, balls games.

Coming straight home to do the yard work and house projects.

I couldn't have been happier for him.

It was a long term goal of his, to get this truck.

Which made the reward that much sweeter.

He is not a man of many words, but the smile on his face when signing the paperwork said it all.

He puts all of his heart, soul, and energy into providing for us, while NEVER complaining.

I know he is under a lot of pressure and stress from owning his own business.

You would never know it.

Isn't she (he?) pretty!!!

The new truck pulling up next to the old truck.

Lane is a TEEN!

We are in the cool teenager phase now.

Lane turned 13!

It was a party year.

 Two of his good friends have birthdays the same week.

I figured it would be fun to have friends over to hang out.

No presents, which he was fine with.

I didn't realize how many boys he is friends with!

I loved it though.

So grateful for a big boy group with GOOD kids for him to associate with.

These are all his friends from school.

Griffen and Keagan are in our neighborhood, too.

 Scouring for left overs.

I was gathering them for a group picture. 

Instead they busted into a human pyramid!

Lets, move off of the concrete and onto the grass, haha.

The birthday boys. 

Griffen, Quinn Phelps, Lane

Casey got out his flood lights for some football.

This is what teen boys dreams are made of.

On the morning of his real birthday!

He looooves pictures:)

Burger Fi for dinner.

One of his favorites.

Get it, girl!

A special birthday visit from Papa.

This was a big deal because as you can see, he was declining quickly.

He didn't leave the house much at his point,

but he wasn't not going to visit Lane.

 It brings tears to my eyes, knowing just how much he loved Lane.