Turkey Vacation -by Jared

Jared here... I decided to steal the computer away from kimmy and write about the last few days. We took off for Georgia to visit Uncle Dee aka Brother Cassian and the rest of the Fam for Turkey weekend. We left at the ripe hour of 12:30 am stopped for some coffees and hit the road. The boys stayed awake for quite some time and seemed not to be aware of the early hour. I certainly was and will look forward to the day when they can drive that early hour and let their old man and mom sleep. I don't remember what time it was but I reluctantly gave up the wheel so Kimmy could drive. I tried to sleep and got about 40 minutes or so in before I took over. I felt somewhat rested and the mountains were giving kimmy fits. As it turned out we were pretty much through the worst of the mountain driving. We bought a GPS and had a lot of fun with it on the way down. It helped to keep me awake through the night and I'd freak kimmy out as I pushed the buttons on the GPS and drove at the same time. But it was quite handy and a fun toy. I down loaded a different voice for the GPS unit than the standard choices. it was an Elf named Elfred who would randomly say funny little phrases. So he and I talked off and on. We stopped at the Lego Store in Lawenceville GA just north of the monastery where Uncle Dee lives. We had fun walking through the store..the big kids had more fun than the little ones. Then we headed south via the GPS...seemed like a good idea but the traffic was nuts. And at about 5pm we arrived at the monastery. Uncle Rick had already arrived but that was it. We had a fantastic weekend eating and visiting with cousins and nephews and other various family members. Jacob got sick later that night puking his guts out most of the night. Poor guy. Next day he was good to go... possibly something he ate. We met more monks this time than last and had a great visit with all, Father Matthew and the Abbot Father Francis Michael were the first to visit the family at the house besides Br. ET (Eutropius I think...ET is easier) who is the guest house caretaker. However we saw less of ET this year than past. He didn't have to watch us try and steal his pet rooster this year. Uncle Dee and I took the turkey over to have warmed and while waiting I was treated to a tour of the bottom level of the Monastery. Lots of beautiful empty computer boxes. We then ventured up to the infirmary to visit a few monks, Fr Elias, Br. Tom, Br. Mark (I think that was his name...) who worked in the infirmary and he didn't like Uncle Dee's shirt one bit. I guess it's a long running joke between the two... monk humor. And I met a couple of other monks who's names I forget, but it was a great tour to those secret Monk places. I heard the Abbot Francis Michael say to Br. Elias "you look good in black and white"...the monks habit is black and white... more monk humor. Uncle Rick made off with a weeks worth of fudge and fruit cake from the store, and he brought many Stars odds and ends to pass out. A fantastic oil changing sweatshirt to boot. So much goes on in 5 days it's hard to remember everything. Bottom line is we had a great time with family and hopefully everyone comes back next year. The house we stayed it was full but it was a good full. Kimmy, I and the boys all slept on the glassed in porch. It was cool but very comfortable for sleeping. We had a good tour of the monastery and nice walk through the glass shop and met Br. Mario....not sure where Luigi is but maybe next trip. It was great catching up with all the family members again. And once more congratulations to Kristin and Rob that 9 months will fly by...that was just a joke. at least I think it was....it's more like 8 months. HA... teasing. We said our good byes and headed for indianapolis on Sunday. We decided to take two days getting home and I took monday off work. We made it to Indy in about 8 to 9 hours. Monday we gave mom and dad a quick crash course on downloading pictures and file management on the computer and then took off at 11am for home. As we stopped along the way the temperature dropped. We arrived home at 4:30pm. When we had left for GA I had set the furnace to come on at 55F. When we walked in the door of the house the temp was 49F... furnace didn't come on..switch is a little sticky...so now the pellet burner is going 90mph. The room with the pellet burner in it is about 60 now but back here in the bed room it's about 54. The boys are in the sweatshirts and my toes are numb. So I'll let Kimmy add some pictures as I've ramble on for too long, not to mention I need to put my hands in the pockets of my new oil changing sweatshirt I have on as my fingers are freezing.

Home sweet home... house feels just like the porch in GA. Now I'm off to steal Kimmy's slippers.

Pictures:

Wednesday







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Monday

The boys slept in until 9:00 again. We played Christmas music during breakfast. Jacob and Adam both enjoyed playing with the Little People Nativity set. We watched Bob the builder. Jared met us at Jacob's school for a Family Festival and art show. Jacob was very excited about this and especially about Daddy coming to his school. They had all the kids artwork hanging up on the walls in the lunchroom. After lunch we went to Jacob's room and he showed us some of his favorite things in there. We went home to drop off the car and then drove to the grain elevator for chicken food. The boys said hi to the man loading the food. The man asked us to wait so he could go inside and get suckers for the boys. We stopped at meijer for a couple things and then went to Best Buy. Jared got his Christmas present early, a GPS. He's looking forward to using it on our GA trip. At home I tucked Adam in for a nap. Jared checked out his new GPS. I worked on packing the car with Jacob's help. He was so funny and wanted to pack everything in plastic bags. Jacob added things to my check list and told me what he'd wrote. We woke Adam up just before dinnertime. I gave Jared a haircut. This evening we took a drive so I could practice driving a manual and Jared could play with his GPS. I sure had a hard time taking off after stopping on a hill. We got home around 8:30. I gave the boys a quick bath and then tucked them in bed. Jared went to bed at 9pm.

The boys slept until almost 9:00. Even though they slept in both of them were cranky this morning. There was a lot of whining/crying. Adam was picking on Jacob, like laying on the car mat he was playing on or messing his cars. He kept crying, "I'm tired" over and over. This morning I did some packing for our GA trip. I was running behind for school and then also had to take a long detour out of my way due to construction. One road I turned down was a dead end so I had to turned around. I pulled in the parking lot at 12:30 exactly. Adam had taken his shoes and socks off and thrown them all over the van. There were no tears from Jacob when I left him at school only a sad face as he walked to the lunchroom. Adam and I did some shopping while Jacob was in school. We got back to school early and watched Jacob having a great time playing outside with his friends. He was really excited to tell me about the new outdoor playhouse which has a gas tank. At home I tucked Adam in for a nap after reading a book. He acted like he wanted to go to bed. Jared got home around 4:45. He and Jacob played the Tonka game on the computer. I worked on hemming some jeans for Jared. We woke Adam up around 7:00, after we'd eaten dinner. I had his dinner ready on the table but the dogs cleaned his plate. So he just had a sandwich for dinner. This evening we had a great time putting up the Christmas tree. I turned on some Christmas music for us to listen too. The boys were so excited they were running in circles. They loved "forklifting" the boxes from our bedroom closet to the living room. Jacob set up the nativity set while Adam got out the Little People Nativity. Jared and I spread the branches on the tree. The boy sure enjoyed seeing all the ornaments and putting them on the tree. Then they put on the candy canes. They helped until it was all finished. The boys then enjoyed eating a candy cane. We hung some light-up things in the window and then went outside to look at them. The boys were tucked in bed by 9pm

Early Thanksgiving

Kids drawing names for Christmas giving.

Jacob trying Kenzie's pixter game.






It was very foggy last night and even still this morning on our way to church. After church we went home just to change clothes and get a few things. We got to Mom's house around noon. I did my afternoon run. The rest of my family arrived around 1:00. The kids were all so happy to see each other and they play so well together. Papa gave the kids little retractable tape measures, which they had fun with. My parents neighbor was harvesting corn in the field next door so we went outside to watch the combine ("Frank") up close. All the kids waved at the farmer. Dad and Jared watched the Colts game until dinner. The meal was wonderful – thanks Mom! Adam cleaned his plate. Jacob only took a few bites of potatoes and turkey but loved the roll. After dinner (and the Colt's game) Dad and Jared went to the basement to play some pingpong. The kids also went down there to play. Then Kenzie had the kids all come to the table for an art project. She had them cut out and decorate faces. They glued on yarn for the hair. We watched some old home videos of Kenzie and Hailey when they were younger. Hailey got to feel the baby kick. Mom, Mel, and Misty also got to fell him moving. The pies were yummy. Adam loved the chocolate pie, Jacob wouldn't try it. What a great day spent with family. We got home around 9pm.

Time to wake up Daddy.



Tale our picture Mommy.


Bedtime reading.


I got up at 6:00 to do my am exercises. After I finishing I went and cuddled in bed with Jacob as he was laying there awake. After Adam woke up we all went down to wake up Daddy. After getting our Sat am drinks/donuts we found a parking spot downtown so we could sit and watch the Christmas parade. The boys filled their bags with candy. There was so much that even the boys got tired of picking it up. We all had fun and enjoyed watching the parade. We stopped at Walmart and then Best Buy before going home. The boys ate a late lunch and then we went outside to enjoy the beautiful day. The boys watched Daddy changed the rear light bulb in the van. Adam rode the tractor on Daddy’s lap as they took the trash down the road. Jacob collected eggs in the hay and then climbed to the top of the hay pile with Daddy. Adam climbed about halfway up before coming back down. We went inside around 3pm and I tucked Adam in for a late nap. It took him awhile to fall asleep. We got our tie die shirt done for the GA trip. Jacob helped me make dough for rolls and some choc. chip cookies. Then I made an apple pie. Tomorrow were celebrating Thanksgiving with my family. Adam woke up around 5:30. I did my afternoon run before dinner. I got the rolls done and made another pie after dinner. Then I worked on folding and putting away the laundry. The boys played with legos. They were acting very tired. We tucked them in bed a little early, around 8:30.

Bedtime story with Daddy

Sleeping in their house.

Jacob pushes the wheels to move around.



The boys were up around 8:00. We lay on my bed and I read several books with them. During breakfast we watched Bob the Builder. We did some more reading on the couch as Adam kept getting us more books. While I did some cleaning the boys had fun drawing on the dry erase/chalk board. They made a house by the piano and asked me to come lay in bed with them. Then Jacob wanted to play school. Jacob asked to be the teacher and so I asked him if he was Miss Laura or Miss Tiff. He replied, “No, I’m Miss Jacob.” We had fun and continued playing school after lunch. We went outside for a while and I gave Sammy his shot. His swelling is nearly gone. The boys and I had fun kicking around the soccer ball. Inside the boys warmed up with some hot chocolate. I vacuumed the house while the boys played with their tools. At 3pm I tucked Adam in for a nap. Jacob hurt his foot by stepping on the tool box. We watched a Baby Einstein video and then played with playdoh. Jared got home around 4:30. Adam was awake around 5:30. We went out for dinner at Fazoli's and then walked around the mall. It was around 9pm when we got home. While tucking Jacob in bed he sang a song called, "Five more sleeps til GA."