Chapman had her annual Spina Bifida clinic appointment at CHOA. Maryn wanted to tag along for support....a blessing in Covid is that these two have become the best of friends. Cha's appt was great, all is well with all things SB related! While at the appt, the girls began asking about going to the aquarium. I was skeptical. We haven't even been inside a restaurant since the pandemic began. But, after talking it thru with Ryan, and talking to the girls about how we would have to wash our hands and do sanitizer constantly AND not touch everything we saw, we gave it a whirl. We had the best time and we felt totally at ease inside. The crowd was minimal, the sanitizer stations were every five feet, people had their masks on appropriately....it was a good day with these two precious littles of ours! The highlights included seeing the big whale sharks and having the penguins interact with the girls - they would follow their fingers up and down the glass wall and it was so neat to see!
MK
She doesn't appear much on social media....and I rarely get a pic of her doing anything because she runs away when someone even looks like they may take a picture....sigh. However, on this day, I asked her to take a selfie and I was shocked when she said OK! Made my day!
In other news, this girl is SO glad to be back in school 5 days a week. She amazes me everyday....straight As in school, ballet at least three times a week plus she teaches a ballet class, AND she recently made the middle school cheer team which adds practice each day after school plus games! I seriously don't know how she does it all! She has strict rules for us when we watch her cheer - NO PICTURES, lol. So, I am choosing to throw it back to her 5th grade year in cheer club for the blog photo.
Pryce's football season took us to Chattanooga, TN this season. We had a great night of watching P's team win their game and then we spent the following day exploring Lookout Mountain. Of course, on our way home, we made a pitstop at the Cheesecake Factory, ordered takeout, and settled in for the drive. It was a lovely getaway!
One week later, our number 14 played his last high school football game ever. And it was a good one, one that our family was able to attend - grandparents, cousins, aunt and uncle - and we WON! P's Freshman-Junior years of playing were not always winning teams. And that was fine but it was hard to watch our guys put all they had into a game they all loved yet they would get pounded each and every time. We did have some wins over the years but nothing like this year.....this year, we only had ONE loss the entire season! And it felt so good! To see those smiles and to ride home with our P talking about how he made each play successfully, it was fun!
And then, sadly, P was exposed to Covid which meant he had to sit out for his last home game - he wasn't even allowed to attend. Gosh, what I would have given for him to be there. We watched from home instead and the team won by a field goal. It was exciting and I hate knowing P missed out. Stupid Covid.
Halloween 2020
In true Drafts fashion, we were down to the wire with carving pumpkins and deciding what costumes to wear. It makes me laugh a little. Amidst ballet rehearsals, it all came together and we had a great evening. Different, but same. Different because we typically walk from house to house into a section of our neighborhood called Mitchell Park. Mitchell Park is like what you would see in the movies. The kids are everywhere, the adults are everywhere trying to keep up with the costumed kids, food trucks, decor, haunted houses, big screen movies, streets blocked off by police....it truly is a lot of fun for everyone and it is a site to see for anyone who hasn't experienced a "movie-like" Halloween. However, this year, we chose to forego Mitchell Park. Instead, we did our cul-de-sac and then we got into the car and drove over to the other side of the neighborhood and went house to house there with the three younger girls. They honestly loved it this way! Less walking in our hilly neighborhood and more candy - who would say no to that?! Ha! And, the best part for them, was reading all of the clever little notes families left out with their candy - most homes had a table or a basket on their porch filled with candy for the trick-or-treaters to choose from. It was great fun for the girls and then we spent the rest of our evening doing the great candy trade!
Meanwhile, C was away at school, P spent some time with us and with his friend, Maggie, and then took off to another friend's house for a bit....and our MK spent a fun-filled evening with her friends!
Of course the Boo Bucket made an appearance too! #tradition
Gran. She loves and has always loved witches. She would dress-up each year during her teaching years. She was so excited this year to have trick-or-treaters for the first time in a long time! She and my dad still live in my childhood home they built when I was just 6 years old.
2020 Election
P voted for the first time :)
The Land of Forgotten Toys
Maddox and Maryn have been working hard on their very first Augusta Jr. Players musical show together! Again, same but different. This show was done virtually with most rehearsals being done online. Then, the children went in small groups to a studio and recorded their songs together - socially distanced at all times! Then, they had three nights of scene recordings....again, small groups except for the entire cast for the last night. The girls felt like Disney stars - headphones, "cut", "action", "take two!"....what an experience! We are so thankful for the director, Roy Lewis, and to the Augusta Jr. Players for continuing to push through Covid and create ways for theatre to stay alive when it seems as though it is an uphill battle. Ironically, the show's lesson is that even in trying times, THERE'S ALWAYS A LIGHT! So proud of Mads and Maryn. And it was a lot of fun reliving some of my younger theatre years with them!
Augusta Players 12 Days of Christmas
Maddox and Maryn have been busy! They submitted a video of the two of them singing Rocking Around the Christmas Tree and they were chosen to be one of six acts to film a holiday commercial for The Augusta Players. So much fun for them!
And more girl news....these two! Thankful we are homeschooling so they have stress-free days and then finish up their evenings with friends doing what they love! They decided to add tap, jazz, and voice to their lineup!
And then other Fall randomness....lizard catching, block building, dentist visiting, Halloween dress-up with friends, carousel riding, feast having, baby playing, kitty cat drawing, candy for breakfast....and driveway playing! Missing C lots as he has transitioned well to being away at college....Freshman year he came home every two weeks, Sophomore year he came home every three weeks, and Junior year, well, we are lucky he comes home every other month! Glad he loves it and is thriving but this mama can't wait to have him home for Thanksgiving and Christmas!
