Cross Country Banquet

Another Cross Country season is in the books for Rex, and I personally am so glad that he's been on the team these last two years.  I wish we had pictures from his last meet....it was pouring down rain and really cold.  Brrrrrr!  We had lots of blankets and a stroller and a friend who cuddled Bart and a really good parking space for quick and easy runs back to the van.  It was a great memory, and I'm proud of Rex's perseverence.  Hoping he will run next year, too, but we'll see!

A couple of photos from last night's fall sports banquet at school...

Coach Swick and the middle school cross country runners.

Rex got the award for "Perseverence."  We love watching him run and hope he continues to enjoy this sport and get better every year!

The Chalkboard Legacy

This month on Facebook, I posted this picture of Tom standing in front of a double-sided chalkboard that we were trying to give away.  We were successful, and said chalkboard now has a new home where four fabulous little people can enjoy it for years to come!

The day after I posted it, Hoffbeast's sister commented and asked if that was the chalkboard that used to be at their parents' house.  Indeed, it was!  I actually had forgotten that fact, but it was a fun memory...knowing that my husband and his siblings had used it, our kids had used it, and now another family was going to have the joy of drawing and writing and scribbling all over the thing!

That thing is sturdy!  It's lasted for half a century....not bad for a chalkboard!

Ho hum.

The unexpected is always around the corner. How thankful that He is our rock, our stronghold, our fortress...and because of Him, we will NOT be shaken. (Nothing horrible happening here, folks. Just things like the realities of living in an old house, parenting challenges, and details of life. But sometimes even the small challenges can seem overwhelming when they are lumped together...and they are lumped together at 2319 today.)

What an incredible autumn day! You couldn't ask for any better weather on Oct. 25...it's beautiful!!!

This weekend, we went to Madison to see Grandma Enid, and outside her place, there was a lovely fall display, complete with mums and gourds and cornstalks and, of course, lots of pumpkins!  We had to take advantage of the setting for a little brother/sister photo shoot!

Wedding pics galore!

My handsome nephew...

...now a husband!

It was a beautiful setting...

...and an absolutely gorgeous day!

The perfect cake (Seriously...doesn't this look like it should be on the cover of a wedding magazine?)...

...and fabulous dancing for old and young alike!  (Here, my great-niece, B, gathers rose petals on the dance floor while Beth leaps in the background.)

It really was such a wonderful day all around....I am very thankful for the way everything went and for the fact that Stacy is now an official part of our family!

Before the ceremony, Beth and Bart wait with Grandma....isn't my mama so beautiful??!  I hope I look like her when I'm her age!  Love you, Mama!

Helping usher Rex with his boutonniere...he took the job very seriously and was fabulous in his first-ever usher job!

Rex is poised and ready for Grandma as Pa starts the walk down the aisle.

I love this picture!

Richie and Stacy used a fingerprint tree as their guestbook...great idea!

My girl....what can I say?!

Giving a toast was fun....I really am so glad to have Stacy as a NIL now.  That's Niece-in-law.  :)

I love this pic of Beth, too....also love that Richie's Aunt Rhonda is laughing with my great-nephew, T, in the background.

My youngest nephew, N, along with Bart and my great-niece, K.  Bart and K are just two days apart.  Bart is older, but K is doing absolutely everything before him!

Without a doubt, one of my favorite pictures taken of Dad in a long time...love you, Daddy!

The kids enjoyed the dance SO much...maybe more than the adults!

Last but not least, one of my fave pics of the day....me and my beautiful sister.  Becky was absolutely glowing as she walked down the aisle with her son....it was such a special moment.  Bek, I love you so much....Congratulations on your new daughter!  :)

Jester's Corner: ALS Ice Water Bucket Challenge

Okay, friends...my creative son has been asking me to post this for awhile now--which I said I would do but just keep forgetting. Rex draws a comic strip called "Jester's Corner". (He has changed the name this time around.) Yes, we are a bit late to the party, but awhile back, one of our SITC students challenged all project staff and students to the ALS ice water bucket challenge. Rex took up the challenge in this interesting way. Comic backstory: set in medieval times, Dr. Tech is a character who is ahead of his time, kind of a gadget-guy. In this strip, Dr. Tech has accepted the ALS challenge...keep watching, as there is more to come!

Installment #2 in the Jester's Corner ALS Ice Bucket Challenge saga...straight to you from our Artist in Residence. (It should be noted that the characters involved have a Roadrunner/Wile E. Coyote relationship, where they always try to "get" the other but never do.) Enjoy!

Installment #3: This is where Rex gets some of his friends in on the Challenge action. I think this one is a little easier to read than the above one, but bottom line, he is challenging M and L to give to either ALS or another great cause...

And now, for the last installment....as he says, we hope you've enjoyed!