When we lived in Quakertown, we lived in a twin-style house, so there were no windows on the wall that we shared with the neighbor. In our current house, we are in the middle of 73 acres. You would think that there would have been windows on every side of the house, but there weren't. While renovating the 'old' part of the house, Tim put in this window. When I wake up in the morning, this is what I see now:
What a wonderful view!
Ahhhhhh......the holiday season! My season starts with Halloween (I Love Halloween!) and goes right through to whenever I decide to take the Christmas tree down in January.
Last night was the soccer banquet for the high school soccer team. Ethan's JV team won the season! They had a great team this year! Keenan got an award for scoring the most goals - nobody remembered to keep stats this year, but we all agree that it was definitely more than 30 - which is AWESOME! Tyler made All-Conference and All-Region second team! He is actually the first Watson boy to achieve this - WAY TO GO TYLER!!!!
We've gotten some letters from Kyle:
November 12th (MTC) - "I got called to be the District Leader today. I got here and now I'm leadership. My roommates are awesome. My companion, Elder DelaCruz is just like me. Say hi to everyone."
November 18th (email - MTC) - "I will not be using email a lot because of the time limit. You get 30 minutes and then the computer logs off for you. It's retarded. Tell everyone I said hi. I have a lot of stories to tell but right now I have to go and check my laundry."
November 18th (MTC) - "Well being a District Leader is very time consuming. By the time you get this letter I will be called as a Zone Leader. I went to the Provo Temple today and did a session. The Provo Temple is cool. The food was great there. I ate breakfast there. It was great because the food at the MTC sucks. I have given Priesthood Blessing for my companions because some are really, really sick. I was told by the mission president that I was a great example of a leader in Zion. IT IS COLD. Write as much as you want. I have funny stories about the MTC but I'll tell them to you later."
November 28th (MTC) - "The package got here. Thanks. Today during gym I jumped while playing basketball. Of course. Then I landed and my left foot went pop, pop, pop, pop, so on and so forth. My ankle is huge. It sucks. Everything is fine. I've been busy. I'm almost done reading Jesus the Christ. And holy crap, it's a hard book. I'm leaving Tuesday the 1st at 6 AM. So I'll be in Boise when you get this. Say hi to everyone. I have to go to a meeting."
So ---- Kyle is now in Boise, ID. His address there is:
Elder Graeme K. Watson
IDAHO BOISE MISSION OFFICE
1111 South Cole Rd.
Boise, ID 83709
He would love to hear from everyone so if you get a chance, send him a note.
This is a picture from Thanksgiving last year. It was the first time I used my grandmother's plates - it brought back so many memories! These were her 'everyday/all the time' plates and some have cracks or chips, but it was nice to use them.
Thanksgiving this year is not going to be much of a celebration - Tim has to work on some stairs and since the boys are off from school, a couple of them will be going with him. I will probably make a smaller version of what I usually cook - and we will all fit around the table for dinner too!
I won't be leaving for a Disney soccer tournament this year either - I don't know what I'll do with all the 'free time'!
What an awesome game last night! RSL won the MLS final in PKs after overtime! Couldn't believe Donovan sent his PK into the stands...... But, I do have to say that I was very impressed with Saunders. It is hard to switch to a back up goalie in the middle of a game, but he played very well!
We watched the race yesterday too - Dallin loves Jimmie Johnson!
It's raining here again, so I think I'm just staying in today. I'll go through some more boxes and get stuff together for the Swap and Shop that we're going to have at church soon.
Updates - Kyle is at the MTC. He said bye to the other kids on Tuesday morning - Kirsten cried. It was so sad! When he arrived in Salt Lake City, Brandee and Scott picked him up at the airport and they went to Temple Square. (Thanks Brandee and Scott!) They had a great time at the Temple, the conference center and at The Roof restaurant. I think that I would fly to Salt Lake City just to eat at The Roof! Brandee and Scott dropped Kyle off at Jason and Anne's house on their way back to Rexburg. Kyle spent the night there and then Jason and Anne drove Kyle to the MTC. (Thanks so much to the Blood family!! We really appreciate it!) Hayleigh and Kirsten have started a countdown for when Kyle will be home. I wonder how they'll work out the countdown when Keenan leaves and then Tyler leaves? We'll have to put 3 different numbers on the calendar.
Here at home we are doing 'things'.
Tyler moved into the other bedroom so now we just have 2 boys in each room. Their bedrooms are actually pretty clean as of today!
We are finishing up soccer season. Keenan and Tyler lost in PKs to a really good team - after playing OT and sudden death OT. Ethan and Dallin both have games tomorrow - Ethan is here in Statesville and Dallin will be back at our old 'home' fields in Charlotte. I'm sure they will both be muddy messes by the end of the day! Ida dumped so much rain here! But - good news - the pond is FULL again!!
There are some cute new calves in the pastures - one has the cutest little black and white face! They are all so muddy.
It's almost time to take Kyle to the Stake President's house to get set apart as a missionary. It's almost time to make sure he has everything in his suitcases. It's almost time to say 'good-bye, good luck, stay safe, stay healthy and return with honor'. It's almost time to drive him to the airport and make sure his luggage is checked and he's on the plane. It's almost time to have Brandee call and let us know that he landed in Salt Lake City and they are having fun at the Temple and dinner. It's almost time to check with Jason and Anne and make sure that Kyle walked through the doors of the MTC in Provo.
It seems like yesterday that it was almost time to send him off to kindergarten and almost time to take him to his first soccer game and almost time to watch him graduate elementary school and almost time to go to his first band concert. 
THE DAYS MAY BE LONG, BUT THE YEARS ARE QUICK!
I'm married to such an awesome guy!!!
As much as I want to leave his post right there so that I can see it first thing every day, I also want to let everyone know what has been happening around here.....
Kyle is down to the final couple of things to get ready for his mission. We went shopping yesterday and ended up getting him 4 suits in all because they were on a buy 1 get 1 free sale - but NOT each half price - and you know I can't pass up a sale!!!
He still needs a camera, a back pack and a jacket (but Brandee and Scott are going to take care of the jacket - thank you!!!) and we'll get the other things by the end of the week.
Kirsten had such a fun time going shopping with Kyle yesterday! He carries her on his shoulders and makes her laugh and she makes him laugh by saying such silly things - they are going to miss each other! But, 2 years goes by so FAST!!!
Keenan and Tyler have a soccer game tonight - Round 1 of the state playoffs!
Keenan is starting to get ready for his mission - we went to the dentist 2 days ago to start that mess. For the past couple of times that he went, the dentist has been opting not to do x-rays because Keenan's teeth look good. BIG MISTAKE!!!!! He has 19 (yes 19!!!) cavities. YIKES!!! Any donations to the Keenan Dental Fund will be greatly appreciated!
