Christmas 2020

 The Christmas season was so fun and flew by quickly.  We took a little family trip to Boonville to see the drive-through Christmas lights at Warm Springs Ranch, Home of the Budweiser Clydesdales.  We did not get together with any family and had to cancel our first planned cabin rental, all due to Covid concerns.  

Elfie/Iris still came through the month of December, and Santa Claus still delivered toys on Christmas Eve, as usual, bringing so much joy to the kids on Christmas morning! We had to have him bring gifts a day early since we didn't have Kaden and Kylie on Christmas Day this year. 

Kaden got PJ sweatpants, earbuds, an exhaust tip and muffler delete for his truck, Hey Dudes, and a basketball. Kylie a basketball and hey Dudes also, a straightener, ID wallet, and a tortilla blanket. Farrah a flying unicorn, globe, Barbie dream camper, color hair extensions, and a tablet. Augusta also got a tablet plus a Frozen toy set, Skye from Paw Patrols, an easel, and a couple floor puzzles. 

In Jesus' Name We Pray

 Farrah's prayers are the same each night. 

Dead Lord Jesus, Thank you for this day. Please don't let any scary or bad things happen tonight. Please let Daddy remember to lock all of the doors. Thank you for Mommy, Daddy, Kaden, Kylie, Augusta, myself, Cookie Dough, Lenox, Willa, and Nala. Please don't let Daddy have any trouble on the farm tomorrow. Please let my whole family know I love them so so much. Thank you for our happiness and our health. *Insert a couple specifics.* In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Augusta's is also the same. She prays:

Dear Lord Jesus, Thank you for this day. Thank you for Mommy, Daddy, Kaden, Kylie, Farrah, and myself. Thank you for all the things. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. 

Augusta gets hot with a lot of blankets so she usually only covers up with a small yellow sheet-style baby blanket, but lately her toes hang out. She said, "I wish I had a medium blanket," so I got a crocheted one out of the closet for her to use also, and I told her that she is growing bigger. Her bottom lip turned turn and as she began to cry, she said, "But I don't want to grow up." I told her that she'll still be three for awhile longer, and there's so much for her to learn and do as she grows like reading and riding a bike, baking and shopping, and learning to drive. She kept insisting she didn't want to grow up. I asked her why, and her little cute chubby lips turned so puffy and sad, and she said with tears coming out of her eyes, "Because you won't hold me anymore." I promised her I still will and Farrah reminded her of the book I read, "Love You Forever" and how that mommy still holds her grown-up child. I promised I would be by her side during all of her growing up. She then prayed to God, "And please don't let me grow up."

God, of course, please let Augusta grow up and continue to grow and learn and develop and thrive. Please allow the same for all four of our perfect children. Please let us soak in these days of Augusta being little, and the youngest stages each will ever be, so much that my heart knows that I cherished each day to it's fullest, and so I can focus on the following stages and not yearn too badly for these but that I can look back on today and be even thankful for all of the needs they ask of me, all of the worries as a parent, and all of the chatter and love we share as a family. 

Kaden as a Senior

It is hard to believe that Kaden is a senior. It's hard to accept. As exciting and busy of a year it is, it's really hard not to see our young Kaden now when I think of him a senior. He is so grown up from all the stages he once was. It's heart wrenching, but you must support him as a parent and try to separate the pain it causes to think how close it is until he is an official adult, moved out of his home, and making memories and adventures without us by his side. It being me to tears just thinking of it all. 

He has applied to State Tech for their lineman program, and as a second choice also in the electronic engineering department. He toured at Hannibal LaGrange but rather quickly realized that wasn't for him. We then toured at Linn where his Daddy once went, and he and his friends seemed to love it. 

He injured his back in basketball or possibly weights, and got a pars fracture in his L5, so had to sit out some basketball games, but since he has been back, he has dunked twice, the first received a technical for hanging too long and pulling up on the rim, but was it exciting to watch him finally get that done in a game!

Paul Evans is a local photographer and he oftentimes takes pictures of CR6 sports and here are a couple of Kaden recently, and one he took of Kaden and McCailyn.