Tree Farm 2023

It's been 20 plus years that we've been going to Dudeck's Pine Country to cut down our Christmas tree each year. The kids have been seeing "the real Santa" there for years and enjoying the day we spend with friends - drinking hot cocoa, snacking on treats, playing football and then venturing out into the "forest" to find the perfect tree. 

Well, it seems the perfect tree has become even more difficult to find. This is because a few years ago there was apparently a drought that affected a lot of the Christmas tree farms and you can tell that Dudeck's was definitely suffering from this the past few years. This year, while still a very fun time with family and friends, we had to resort to cutting off the top half of a really tall tree (the bottom was dead anyway). And, it happened to be the really prickly kind that we said we'd never get again. Not to mention that this tree is dropping so many needles and we haven't even had it a week yet. So next year we may have to change course and find a new tree farm that wasn't as affected by the drought. 

And, I have the perfect new place - Tall Timbers Tree Farm. One of my Facebook friends posted a great picture of this tree farm not far from our house in Michigan that had a super cute store and several amazing trees to chop in the background. 

So next year, I'll be lobbying my very traditional husband (who doesn't like to change traditions) to continue our annual tree cutting but with a slight change in venue! 

The Top Half is "Our Tree"

Sadie made it to the farm too and did a lot of walking!

Happy Thanksgiving 2023!

So much to reflect on and be grateful for each and every year and this year was no different. First, and most importantly, our health. Grateful that we are healthy and have healthy kids and our extended family is doing well with their health too. Getting old is not easy and we are lucky that we are not dealing with big health issues this year. 

Second, grateful to just be alive and enjoying this ride we call life. Losing my two aunts this year was very sad and still seems surreal that I will never see them again. However, both of them along with their mom (my grandma) hold a prominent place in my room and I see them all everyday and remember the Thanksgivings and the many Christmases we sat together sharing stories around the table.

Third, grateful for all that we have and that we can give to those who don't have too. We adopted some families for gifts this season (Peyton picked all people over the age of 70 - she said everyone picked the young people); Austen is putting in volunteer hours for a medical project sending health care supplies to Israel and Gaza; and I am picking our favorite charities to once again contribute to for 2023. Among my favorites are the Butterfly Effect Foundation (for my friend's son, Maddox, who unexpectedly lost his life), our local Humane Society, St. Jude for childhood cancer and of course my alma mater, IU!

So much really to be grateful for this year including my family all getting together at my mom's this year (Tom's family is next year as we rotate). We partook in appetizers, drinks and finally a great dinner with all of my family and hung out for a few hours before heading home and realizing I had not taken any pictures to document our 2023 Thanksgiving! So here we are...Happy Thanksgiving!

That's a Wrap on Falcons Cheer

Peyton ended her rec cheerleading career a week or so ago with a competition and a final football game where the 8th grader cheerleaders were recognized. 

Honoring our "Senior (8th Grade)" Cheerleader

She's been cheering since the 3rd grade and with some of these girls for at least that long. She's made some great friends and had some fun times for sure. Some go to different schools now but next year most of them will be together in high school. And, maybe they'll be cheering together too! Peyton will have to try out for basketball cheer only if she decides she wants to continue to do it as her high school swim season will conflict with football cheer.  

Next year too, we won't have to worry about making it back in town for Sunday games because she has cheer or devoting a whole day to a cheer competition. We'll have two high schoolers then and no games/practices on Sundays for sure. Maybe we'll get up to Michigan more (depends on what Hailey's sports are next fall). This was the first year in forever where it didn't work out for us to go apple picking and do our traditional corn maze. 

Anyway, it was a great final season for Peyton. I was glad she followed through with it and saw it until the end of 8th grade. I was glad she loved her high school cheer coaches and that her favorite part of this whole season was our giant car pool with many of her friends. 

It was a great way to end the era!

The Final Competition

The Squad

Getting Ready to Perform

8th Grade Falcons Cheer 

Halloween 2023

I'm a bit late posting for Halloween but there was quite frankly too much going on around this time. Still I didn't want to let a year go without documenting it. 

Austen should have been playing in the Super Sectional soccer game that night (who schedules a game on Halloween?) but since his team lost early on, we actually got to enjoy a nice Halloween despite the snow that came early this year. And, since he wasn't playing, Austen got to hand out the candy! He parked himself at the front dining room table with his computer and Sadie, and gave out full size candy bars to whoever came by. I think he rather enjoyed it although he arguably would have rather been playing soccer. 

4th grade girls

Peyton told me the week before to order her a mask for her costume from some movie, I think, called "The Purge." Amazon makes it simple. Done. She got picked up by friends and went one town over to start her trick or treating with friends before their dinner reservation. Then I picked all 6 of them up and delivered them home. A great last year of trick or treating for her but I didn't get any pictures! 

Hailey came home for lunch to get into her costume (per usual) before they all needed to return to school for their Halloween parade and parties. It was cold out so I made her a hot lunch of Mac n Cheese (her request) and she donned her Halloween costume and went back for the parade. We had a bit of a snafu with her costume as she wanted to be one of Peyton's old Halloween costumes (a werewolf) but two days before we couldn't find that costume. Hoping it turns up before next year so she can wear it! Anyway, we needed a Plan B at this late stage of the game. I went into her closet and found a leopard onesie (that was probably once Peyton's too). She loved it and so this Halloween she was a leopard. 

They had moved the parade indoors due to the cold which was good although it was my 10th Halloween parade at that school! One more to go next year before she moves on to middle school. Still I got a shot of her and off she went. After school it was home and then trick or treating on the other side of town with two friends and their parents. Tom made some hot apple cider to share as we walked around and off we went. The girls lasted about two hours and then were done. They had had enough of the cold and apparently had gotten enough candy!

We certainly missed trick or treating on our street this year so I think next year we'll stay local. In fact, next year Hailey will be 11 and old enough to go off by herself trick or treating so that was probably our last year of monitoring her and we'll be relegated to handing out the candy. 

Halloween parade at school

I'm 50!

Dear 50, 

Thanks for showing up and ushering me into a whole new decade with lots of attention from my friends and family. It was nice to be loved even though I don't relish in lots of attention (surprising, I know) and truthfully, I dislike people spending money on me (unless it's my husband!). 

Make a wish!

But soo many people wanted to make my birthday special this year that it really made me pause and take in how many true friends I really have and how many family members wanted to really celebrate me. I truly am beyond blessed with so many wonderful friends from so many different areas of my life from high school to college; to my mom friends for each of my three kids; to people I met at my country club the past three years and have really enjoyed getting to know; and to people in my Barre exercise classes in the community that I've know for the past 5 years. 

I'm also very lucky to have family and in laws that I enjoy spending time with although the time is very short right now but who I'd love to grab dinner with and seem more like friends than family. That includes my parents who both made an effort to come on over to celebrate me even though they didn't have to. As you get older you learn life is more about your relationships and your journey in life is that much richer with a beautiful tapestry of friends from all different points in your life who you can take with you on this ride.

So many gifts and cards!

So while 50 might seem like a big number (and truthfully I was always mistaken for being much younger than I was so I'm not too worried about looking older - yet), I'm looking forward to a decade of guiding my children into college and careers, and spending more time traveling with my husband. So bring it on 50, I think each decade gets better and better!

Love, 

Me

PS. I had a great birthday where I started my morning with a paddle match with my awesome teammates. We had a great game despite losing in the 3rd set but it was so much fun celebrating afterwards with them. They bought me cupcakes, sang to me and made me blow out a candle to mark my 50 years. After that, it was home to take out Sadie where I ran into neighbors wishing me a Happy Birthday to a quick meet up and coffee with Tom before heading to my 80-minute massage at the spa. Then it was back home for a bit before my Dad came over and then on to my favorite place for dinner (Davanti) then presents and Sweet Mandy B cupcakes (also my favorite). It was a great day and the birthday festivities continued the next day with my mom coming over and will continue all month with some other dinners planned with friends. Heck, it's really going to last all year with a 50th college friend bday trip and some amazing family trips we have planned. Did I say I was looking forward to 50?!

Celebrating with my paddle teammates