And we're back!

Well, after a busy couple of weeks, the Allison's are slowly getting back on track. Here are just a few of our recent happenings. Oh, and by reading this blog, you are also giving me permission to brag for a moment about my perfectly awesome children! Of course, I will slowly but surely provide pictures to go along with our little update, but hopefully this will hold you over in the meantime.

1.  We went on a cruise and celebrated our 10-year anniversary! With the exception of Logan's seasickness on Night #1 (the boat was extremely rocky due to a developing tropical storm in the area), the kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves. We visited St. Maarten and St. Thomas, but had to skip Coco Kay due to the weather conditions. They all want to go on another cruise for their next "birthday party".

2.  The week we returned, we played our final flag football game and held our end-of-season party. The Raiders were undefeated with the exception of the game we missed while we were on the cruise. They missed their defensive coach and their star defense duo!

3.  Also the week we returned, the Dragon System held a belt testing. The boys successfully demonstrated their forms, fighting, board breaking, and self-defense techniques and were promoted to the next level. Logan is now a brown tip and Gavin is a green belt. Gavin was awarded a double promotion for excellent effort and progress (the only one in the school!). I am a proud Mama!

4.  Also the week we returned, the boys were selected for the "Iron Man" boys local competitive gymnastics team. So the Allison's will now be adding competitive gymnastics 4 hours a week to our booked calendars.

5.  On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, we bought a long-overdue new car to replace the 1998 Civic that I purchased as gift to myself when I graduated from college the first time. Jay took it for a test drive and brought it home to show us. Though previously owned, it was love at first sight (especially when we saw the low mileage). "Do you think the 3 car seats will fit in the back seat?" Jay asked me. "Of course!" I replied. So, back to the dealership he went to sign the paperwork. When the car came home under new ownership, we placed the 3 car seats in the back seat. Or tried to. They don't fit. So we are on a feverish hunt for the skinniest car seats in America.

6.  We enjoyed a quiet, relaxing Thanksgiving at home with the family and my parents. We started the day early with our annual tradition of Turkey Trotting and ended the night early with plenty of food and spirits. We needed our rest for our 3AM Black Friday wake up call.

7.  We celebrated Jay's 37th birthday on Monday with a visit to a local hibachi restaurant. The kids loved the "drama" that goes along with the full hibachi experience and enjoyed trying to catch shrimp in their mouths.

8.  This weekend, we will continue our annual tradition of a holiday visit from Craig, Christi, and family. They come into town the first weekend in December for our downtown winter festival. The boys are marching in the parade with their TaeKwonDo school while the rest of us will bundle up and wait outside for hours and hours to see Santa on the firetruck at the conclusion of the parade.

I guess that brings us up to speed. It's a busy life, but it's a wonderful life.

Merry Christmas!

Wordless Wednesday: Birthday Boy!

Serenity

"God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference."

Wordless Wednesday: Mama's Boys