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We had a very quiet Thanksgiving. I invited a friend from work and her husband over, so they weren't all alone, and that was about it. Food, friends, football and basketball... oh yeah, I watched my second Star Wars movie too. I think we were all fat and happy by the end of the day.

I had the boys make our "table cloth" for dinner... wrapped the table in brown packaging paper and gave them markers to write what they were "thankful" for. It ended up being a family project...the boys were slow to start, but once we nudged them a little the ball got rolling.

I'm thankful for...
(in no specific order)
...health, transportation, Aspen Music Festivals and Schools, 'Merica, sports, guitar, Plexus, Jaxon (guitar instructor), education, Pi and Pie, food, cousins, beds, colorful Colorado, siblings, teachers, grandparents, Riley, Reece, money, jobs, water, house, The Middle (Reece's TV obsession), skiing, my family, peaches, Jake-who can cook...and is from HR, Kansas Basketball, art, my parents paying for my DC trip, Ouidad...there's more here, I just can't remember or read it. :) 

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Would you believe me if I told you I had never watched any of the Star Wars movies??
I know what Star Wars is and I know many of the characters...I've just never sat down and watched the series. I even got Jake this super cool Blue Ray DVD set a few years ago...but it was a gift for him to enjoy.

Well, Jake has purchased advanced tickets for us to go see the new movie in Denver on the IMAX screen...guess after 33+ years, it's time to catch up. Being a mom of boys, I think it was bound to happen. So here we go...

I forgot I had this little story saved away....I forgot to blog about it, but it was funny. Again, it shows how much I don't know about Star Wars, and what being a mom of boys can be like. I think this is from last January or February.

• I don't remember how this got brought up one morning, but Jake revealed he has dreamt about flying a Tie Fighter. I, having never seen Star Wars, had to ask what that was... Reece rolls his eyes in disapproval of me. My boys educated me on what a Tie Fighter (I may be spelling this wrong...again, not into Star Wars) and I had to give Jake grief that he was a grown man dreaming about such things....Reece interjected, "Mom, it's just what men do!" 

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This kid is a hoot! 

I am thankful for...
You guys putting a roof over my head.
Why?
Because if I did not I would be homeless and cold!!!
You pay all the bills for me.
Thank you!
Love, Reece

Jake is his hero: My dad builds many things for me and my family to help.

Jake will always have that on me...I can't build anything! ;)

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Riley's 8th grade came and went so quickly... they literally cram the season in 6 weeks. The boys play before Christmas break and the girls play afterwards.

Riley played a lot of point/guard...Even though Riley is tall to me, he's not nearly the tallest in his class. He is, however, one of the youngest...which may be part of that. Riley had fun and always kept his head up. He never missed a practice and has really worked hard on his shooting. I loved every minute of watching him play this year.

Riley's team picture. He is front row, far right.

 

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Showing off those left handed skills. :)

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Riley made the Honor Roll this in the first semester. He's made it several times, but this year his new principal made a big deal and had a special ceremony for all the kids. 

Riley's a great student, but sometimes guilty of doing the bare minimum...he and I have had this talk many times. Riley says he wants the Principal's Honor Roll, but hasn't been able to get there yet. At his P/T conferences we had great discussions about a few simple things he can do to bring those 3's up to 4's. We will see after Christmas break how seriously he is about improving. Either way, I can tell the teachers really admire the kind of kid/student he is, and they kept telling me what a great role model he is... and for this I'm very thankful and proud.

Riley and Celia showing off their Honor Roll certificates.

All of the Honor Roll recipients...this was a good chunk of the 8th grade. :)

Riley could have had the perfect attendance award...sadly, he missed a few hours going to the doctor for his knee. He may not have a paper that shows perfect attendance, but he was pretty darn close to it. Not a single sick day...he generally has at least a couple days out due to pesky fevers. The only change this year is the Probio5...and I know it's given his immune system a huge boost. I'm not saying he won't get sick while on it, I just know it's really helping! :)

hᎪᏢᏢᎽ hᎪᏞᏞöᎳᎬᎬᏁ

Jester Reece

Napoleon Dynamite is his duo tonight...aka Nate.

The boys freehanded their pumpkins this year... Reece made the goofy face and Riley carved out BOO!

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Reece wrapped up another season of soccer. And the fall weather truly spoiled us. His final game was at 9am and the temperature was around 30 degrees. I was bundled up, however when that sun comes out it heats up fast. Maybe not temperature wise, but it leaves you taking layers off every time. His team didn't win any games, but watching the improvement all season long was worth it.

Back row: Jake, Tom, Angel, Javi, Reece, Leo
Front row: Johnny, Sebastian, Luke, Ryu
(Missing: Noah)

Reece and Luke...quite the duo.

Throw-in king!