Mizzou Gymnastics Pink Out!

 Ella studying the program before the meet

The view from our seats

We are so excited to be in Columbia and to be able to watch the Mizzou women's gymnastics team compete.  Since Ella has really taken an interest in gymnastics it is great to be able to take her and show her what gymnastics looks like on a college level.  Missouri's first meet was a pink out in honor of breast cancer awareness and they took on the number one team in the nation, Alabama.  Ella and I had a fun time watching these girls compete.  I think it is something she is wanting to do more often this season.  Plus it made a great Mommy daughter date! 

Christmas #3 and My Mom's Birthday

SInce Jono and Laura spent Christmas with Laura's family in Kansas we had Christmas three times this year.  We went up to Kansas City the weekend after my mom's birthday and celebrated both events.  It was a fun evening and the kids were so excited that Christmas  was still continuing.  
Ella and I also made her first trip to the American Girl store.  You should have seen how wide her eyes got when we walked in the door.  Caroline, her new doll, needed a special brush and she also got a new outfit.  I think Ella could have stayed in there for hours looking at all the clothes and accessories.  

Ella at the American Girl Store

 Trying to get a good photo of all three grandkids

 Caroline, Ella and Laura with their braids

The back view of their braids

That afternoon Laura taught Ella how to braid hair and all three of them were sporting braids that night.  She was so excited to learn and has been working on braiding ever since.  

End of the Year Snow

 Ella and Mommy enjoying the snow!

 Getting ready to go sledding

 Sam starting the snowman

The kids showing off their snowman

We had our first measurable snowfall for this winter from December 29-30th.  The kids were super excited and I didn't mind the snow since we had no where to go! They took full advantage and spent some time outside playing in the snow.  They sled, made snow angels, snowballs and snowman.  I don't know what we will do when the lot next to us gets a house on it but for now it is a great sledding spot.  The snow was nice and wet which made for great packing and a super cute snowman.  It was a fun way to spend a day of winter break! 

Paine/Lewis Family Christmas

 Ella opening her gifts while Grandma watches

 Gathered around the Nintendo

 Ryan and Sam trying out the old school games

 A happy Kylie above and happy Ella below

Let me just start by saying that I love spending time with my family!  As we get older it is always harder to get everyone together but I am so happy for the time that we do get to spend.  Christmas was at my mom's house and it was filled with stories, laughter, lots of hugs, kids running around, games and puzzles, too much food and this year Scott's birthday present, his old school Nintendo.  The boys were gathered around the Nintendo either reliving their youth or introducing the games to a whole new generation.  Did I forget to mention gifts?  You know it is a good celebration and about the right things when the gifts are the last thing on your list.  It was truly a Merry Christmas. 

Medley Family Christmas

Christmas with the Medley family was at our house this year.  It started out Saturday morning and lasted until Sunday morning.  I hope everyone enjoyed themselves, I know my family sure did.  After a small snafu with the turkey that was going to be for our lunch still frozen, we had to make some adjustments but everything turned out well.  We ate some Shakespeare's Pizza for lunch (which is always a hit) and had our turkey dinner a little later than originally planned.  I will say that John smoked a delicious turkey and that might have to become a new tradition.  
We carried out our old tradition too of baking and decorating sugar cookies.  I really like this because no matter how old the kids get they still like decorating cookies and every age can participate!  Unfortunately, Sarah was not feeling well this year so she missed out on the decorating.  The rest of the kids made some beautiful and tasty creations.  

It was a nice relaxing day filled with lots of eating, gifts, snowball fights, games of Phase 10 and hide and seek, puzzles and much more.  What a wonderful day with family.  

Candy Cane Classic

 Introductions before the meet

 Ella doing her bar routine

Posing with her trophy

Ella participated in her first gymnastics meet since moving to Columbia, the Candy Cane Classic.  She was nervous because it was something new and neither of us new exactly what to expect.  Once we got there she saw all the decorations, the trophies, talked to her coaches and her nerves went away and she was ready to go.  She did an excellent job on all of her routines and more importantly had a great time.  

Christmas Pageant

Ella and Sam decided that they wanted to participate in the Children's Christmas Pageant at church this year.  Ella wanted to be an angel and Sam wanted to be on the tech crew. They both got their wishes.  The Christmas pageant they perform has parts of the traditional bible story mixed in with a story from today.  The angels play a big role.  They  perform two dances and a sing and do movements to Joy to the World with the whole cast at the end.  Ella did an amazing job and looked adorable! 
Sam had many roles on the tech crew.  He helped with set up and take down, he passed out programs the night of the performance and he was in charge of the lighting on the altar.  He turned the lights off and on at various times and hit all his cues.  He enjoyed what he did and has his sights set on getting to man the spotlight when the teenage girl that has done it the last few years decides she does not want to do it anymore.  Sam is hoping that is sooner rather than later.  

 Ella with her friend Ava

 Sam handing out programs.

Cutest little angel.  

All the children did an excellent job and we enjoyed some treats and fellowship together after the pageant.  It looks like this is something that may become an annual event for the Medleys. 

Exploring New Mexico (Day 3)

Our last full day in New Mexico was spent exploring.  We drove up to Taos, New Mexico.  We saw some beautiful landscape.  It was nice to see New Mexico away from the city life.  At one point we drove off onto this dirt road and the silence was amazing!  There were some periods of time where we drove and saw no one or nothing for miles and miles.  It was nice to enjoy the quiet of it all but not nice when I realized I had drank too much soda at lunch and the nearest gas station was over thirty minutes away.   One of my favorite parts of the trip was stopping on a huge bridge that crossed the Rio Grande.  It was absolutely beautiful! 
After our day of sightseeing we headed to Albuquerque so we would be close to the airport for our flight in the morning.  We stayed in a nice boutique hotel that had renovated an old building in the downtown area.  I thought it was beautiful but it turns out the building was an old hospital and John could still see the hospital aspect of the building.  Since he spends so many of his hours in a hospital it wasn't where he would have picked to stay on his vacation...oh well.  We enjoyed a dinner together and some ice cream in Albuquerque before turning in for the night. 

 The Rio Grande

 These cattle crossing signs were everywhere outside of the cites.  Someone had gone by and stuck sombreros on some of the signs. 

John stopped the car because he loved this view. 

The trip was a nice way to spend some time alone and see part of the country we had never experienced.  A special thanks to my Mom and Dad for taking care of things while we were away.