Thanksgiving 2012 - The Week of Firsts - for Chase!

I know that it may seem odd to think about Chase being the focus of this week of firsts, but he really is! Here is the quick recap of why….Thanksgiving feast with Popi, Daddy and all the brothers at school with him, followed by 9 holes of golf with Daddy, Popi and Grandma, followed by a sleepover with Popi and Meme in Winston-Salem, followed by hanging with all the Liner cousins on Thanksgiving, followed by tons of fun with Uncle Marc, Aunt B and cousin Milo here at home, capped off at his first NC State football game in person compliments of Mr. Bryan! Well, then there was another first…Read on to see what I mean (but be warned there is lots)

Thanksgiving Feast at School

Since I am home during the day and Jason is at work, I attend all of Chase’s school parties, gatherings, functions during the day. However, Jason took the entire week of Thanksgiving off this year so he was able to come celebrate with Chase at school. Now that was special enough in his eyes because he knew that his brothers and I would be there so Daddy was a bonus. But, when we arrived and Popi was with us too, oh man, he was beside himself! We enjoyed stone soup (aka vegetable soup) that Chase and his classmates made and then the next round of firsts began for Chase.

 

Stone soup at school

Jack, Anthony and Graham join the festivities

Reese and Chase -  buds!

First Round of Golf on a real Course

After we left the Thanksgiving Feast at school, Chase and Daddy and Popi came home for a quick stop and then we surprised Chase for a second time by telling him that he was going to play golf – for Real! So off they went to meet my Mom on the 9-hole course where she lives. He got to tee off the box like everyone and then Jason would let him tee it up again about 75 yards from the green so he could hit his driver, 7-iron and putter. From the stories I was told, he was a trooper and did really well – especially when he stopped his feet from dancing around with excitement!

Tee shot

Chipping

Trying to sink a putt while Popi tends the stick

First Sleepover with Popi and Meme

Popi spent the night with us and then he and Chase left the day before Thanksgiving to drive to Winston for a sleepover. They stopped at Chic-Fil-A for lunch, made a couple potty breaks (excited bladder kicked in) and then they finally arrived. Popi took him fishing in the lake on his golf course; he chased the geese and then came the best part of all – dinner with Meme. You see, Meme is an amazing work of art in the kitchen. She comes up with the best ideas and she didn’t fail this evening. Chase was told he had to help fix his dinner in order to eat so he raced into the kitchen to wash his hands and wait his instructions. Meme explained that they were making pigs in a blanket. Chase had no idea but loved what it sounded like and he was off. They finished with a Thanksgiving cupcake turkey! This is why God made Meme’s! He had so much fun and when we arrived in Winston with the little boys the next day, all he wanted to know (and Meme and Popi wanted to know too) was when he could do it again and stay for 2 times! Guess it was a success.

Turkey cupcake!

Thanksgiving with the cousins

We all gathered at Jason’s Aunt Peggy and Uncle Dale’s (aka Dancing Bear) to celebrate the day and have lunch. It was the first time since all the cousins have become mobile that they were all together and what a sight it was, especially since they were all dressed in shades of red (completely unintentional on the part of the dressers!) The boys had a great time and they regaled us with their musical talents at the piano – I don’t think it will ever play the same.

The Liner cousins - ALL boys ranging in ages from 9 to 14 months

Back Home for more Family Fun

We left Winston and drove home to be joined by Uncle Marc, Aunt B, Milo and Nana for more Thanksgiving fun. We laid kind of low on Friday but the cousins got into the toys and had a blast playing with each other. It didn’t take long for them to find a rhythm with each other and the next thing we knew, the fun was really rolling!

Nana and Anthony reading a book and playing

Milo with the talking dump truck

Milo and Jack playing with Thomas the Train

First NC State Football Game

The short story is this: most of you know that I am working part-time a couple of days a week and have an AWESOME sitter named Whitney who the boys adore (and so do I for that matter). Well, it just so happens that Whitney is dating Bryan Underwood, a wide receiver for the NC State football team. It may come as a surprise to many of you that we watch a little football in this house so Chase had a new idol to follow on Saturdays. As a matter of fact, he is so in awe of Mr. Bryan, #80 (how Chase refers to him) that when State and UNC played, Chase pulled for Mr. Bryan, much to the dismay of his parents. However we let it slide when Whitney told us that she wanted to get Chase a ticket for a game this season. It happened! He and I went on Saturday afternoon for the final home game of the season and it was amazing! We had a NC State jersey compliments of Aunt Liz and Uncle Justin but it was the wrong number. Enter Mom’s creative talent….and I say that in complete gest because those who know me know that I have ZERO creative talent. Well, I came through on this one…..cut up and old hand towel, add some white thread and stitches and your #8 becomes the number you need #80!

Getting ready for the action - notice the addition to the jersey by mom (not too bad if I say so myself!)

I can’t even begin to tell you what the best part was. Watching Chase light up at the sight of Whitney in the parking lot outside the stadium; his complete awe of walking to ours seats (which were front row behind the Boston College players); Mr. Wolf and Mrs. Wolf; the list goes on. No, I know exactly what it is….Whitney wanted us to get to our seats during warm-ups because Bryan usually comes over to see her before the team goes back into the tunnel before they enter the field prior to kickoff. Well, he knew we were there so he ran over to the sideline, jumped up on the wall, said “What’s up little man?”, gave Chase a high five and then ran over to the team huddle. The look on Chase’s face brings tears to my eyes even now. SPEECHLESS! My child, who can’t go more than 5 seconds without talking, just stood there; eyes WIDE open, mouth gaping, hand out and frozen in space. Bryan, I hope you read this because you are a class act. You didn’t have to do it but in one simple gesture you made a little boys heart melt and have sealed your place in mine! I can’t begin to thank both Whitney and Bryan for giving me this memory. I wasn’t quick enough with the camera but I can tell you I have my own image and it is seared in my heart forever!

Bryan during warm-ups just before he came over to see Chase

Rooting for their favorite player #80

 

This is how close we were!

Bryan lined up for a play

Chase and Whitney

We were hoping to get some pictures of the 5 grandsons for Nana this weekend so we started with some practice pictures because, well, because I have 4 boys. Enough said. This was one of my favorites of Jack. He cracks himself up sometimes!

Jack looking JUST like my Dad did when he would laugh really hard

While Jason tried to get the boys to sit still with Nana so Uncle Marc could get a picture, I stood in the back being silly. It didn't work too well on this one, but Marc got a really good one. Sorry, it is available for the public until after the holidays!

Nana and her 5 grandsons - an attempt to get a decent picture of all them is a challenge

Chase, Jack and Graham with Daddy - Anthony said "No" when asked if he wanted to join them

No, I didn't forget that there was supposed to be one more "first" so here it is.....

First 12-0 Season for Notre Dame Football

I know this doesn’t seem like a first for Chase but it has been so long since Notre Dame Football has been this successful and he has been cheering right along us all season. He knows the players by name and number. Can identify Manti Te’o on a commercial and gets just as excited as I do over the games. Last night, ND capped off their perfect season and is heading to the National Championship game. In his lifetime this is a first, so it deserves some ink here too! As I enter the 4th holiday season without my Dad, it is moments like this that make me wish he were still around. He would LOVE watching Notre Dame play this season and would have loved having Chase be so excited, just like I am!

Don’t worry, the triplets are still around and are growing like weeds. They get their mention all the time it seems on the blog and this really did seem to be the week of Chase so I thought it only fair to focus on him. This Thanksgiving I am most grateful for the opportunity to make these wonderful memories. Life can be hard and challenging and stressful but it is moments like the ones above that make it all worthwhile. My family means the world to mean and that doesn’t just refer to blood family but those who play a special part in my life as well. I am blessed to have them in my life and am thankful today and every day for them.

To you and yours during this holiday season, may you always remember how lucky and blessed you are, even when times are tough. Better yet, especially when times are tough.