Panthers vs. Jets

Ben's second game back in action!  We had many visitors in this weekend.  20+ family and friends.  Lots of kiddos running around and having fun.  Lots of grown ups having fun too!  We came out with a win.  Next week is a rematch with New Orleans only at home.  And for a chance to the playoffs!

Ben doing what he does best...making holes!

Sweet friends!

Move Part 1

It's been a wild weekend.  About 2 weeks ago WE SOLD THE DOUBLE-WIDE!!!  Such a blessing, such a huge answer to prayer.  You see, we found out in September that we couldn't get our CO (certificate of occupancy) for the new house until the trailer was off the property.  (It's a long story, but it includes many layers of governmental red tape and deficiencies.)  Regardless, we were a little antsy to get the thing sold before January when we would be returning back home.  So obviously we were beyond thankful and thrilled for it to sell.  With the sale though meant all of our contents needed to be moved out ASAP.  So that's where the girls and I were all weekend.  It wasn't supposed to be all weekend, but you know, sometimes things don't always go the way we want it or plan it.  Sometimes little ones get sick vomiting the night before you're supposed to be meeting movers.  Sometimes you have to push the movers back a day and do the whole pack and move in one day instead of breaking it up.  Sometimes the finish time doesn't finish at the time you thought it would, so you have to stay an extra night.  Sometimes you get a text from your friend in the morning telling you that your car door is open and you realize it has been all night, and it rained.  Nope, not really anything went the way I wanted it to over the  weekend.  But you know what did?  Friends.  Friends prayed.  A lot.  For Lindsey to stop puking, for Whitney and I not to get it, for safe travelling, for a smooth move.  Lots of praying.  Friends sent texts and called just to check on us, to see if we needed anything.  They stopped by to chat and laugh with me.  Friends came to rescue my girls from a day of being miserably bored with me and the movers.  Friends were there to hug my girls at Christmas party at school.  They were there to give us a bed over night and feed us.  Friends were there to give me a towel to dry my rain soaked car.  Our friends, every single one, near and far, new or old, are amazing.  Special, special people.  We are so blessed to do life with all of them!

The old d-wide.  We're going to miss this thing.  Lots of memories and laughs here.  Funny enough, we are all a little sad we won't be staying here anymore.  The blocks are already busted out underneath and it'll be moved sometime in the next week or so.  Ben made the point that we weren't there when it got moved in and we won't be there when it gets moved off.  Hope the old girl isn't offended. :)

The girls had "sticker collections" on their walls in their rooms

The movers worked ALL day to get it done.  It just seems surreal that we are finally moving our stuff into our new house.  It seemed so far off, but now it's here!!!

And one last goodbye...sniff, sniff...

Goobers

Here's a taste of a day in the life of Ben with his friends at work.  They really are just a bunch of goobers.

Oh Christmas Tree!

Tree Decorated!  We let the girls pretty much do it all on their own this year.  Daddy just got a few of the high spots.  He's good to have around for things like that! :)

Turkey Day

While the girls and I were home getting the food ready and waiting for Grammy and Grandpa's arrival...Here's where Ben started his Thanksgiving day.  More treatment...

Still looks like the game this weekend is a no-go, but possibly next week?  We didn't take any pictures of Thanksgiving...BAD!  The girls had a surprise visit from their friends Elle and Lucy on Friday though.  They were super happy about that!

Reading

New books from the library make this girl happy!  And focused!

Gobble Gobble

The 1st grade Turkey Day performance!  Whitney was so excited for this big day!  And excited Grandma and Grandpa were there to see it!  Sweet girl wanted to be the turkey "soooo bad", but she wasn't picked.  The music teacher had them all practice their best turkey moves in class and she selected the winner.  We were so proud of her though, when she told me that she didn't get it, she said she was a little sad, but that she was happy for the girl that did get it.  And she laughed and giggled when it was that other little girl's turn to show off her best turkey moves during the program.

After the program, we went back to her room for a feast and a special reading of "Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving." 

San Fran

Well, remember that big game against San Francisco?  Well, we won!!!  Huge win!  Bad news is, Ben sprained his MCL that game.  He texted me at half time saying that he had hurt it, but that he was going to try to finish the game.  He did, which was great, but an MRI the next day confirmed the sprain and he's been hitting the treatment hard and heavy.  He even did something called a PRP (platelet rich plasma) injection.  They took his blood, spun it to separate the layers and injected the platelet layer into his knee to promote faster healing.  He has seen progress, but unfortunately he's missed the last two games and most likely this weekends too.  Slow and steady wins the race!  Good news is, the team won a ginormous Monday night game against the Patriots.  And a tough game against the Dolphins.  So we might just need him to take his time and be ready for the...dare I say it...the playoffs?

Ben hooked up to his ice machine which compresses and ices at the same time

Panthers Beat the Falcons

Big win!  We beat the Falcons.  Now, they aren't doing very well this year, but still they are a good team and we beat them!  5-3!  Big test next weekend at San Fran.

We also spent the weekend we some great friends!  Makes us miss home even that much more, but makes it so sweet when we do get back!