Where has the time gone? I mean really, my last post was in October, and that seems like just yesterday! The McMeen family has been incredibly and overwhelmingly busy these past couple months, and the chaos will continue through Christmas.
I guess I should give a really quick re-cap of November since it went by in a flash! We of course stayed busy with school, church and home activities. The yard work seems to never end with Chad, so he kept quite busy out there clearing out more of the woods and cutting up the limb that fell off our huge oak tree. We still have a huge couple of chunks to be cut up, but enough firewood for not to get us through half the winter! Thanksgiving was one that we won't soon forget, and it all started with the kids having their first school program. It was absolutely adorable, and they both did great. Aisley's class sang a cute song about Mr. Turkey, and Grayson's class recited Psalm 100 as well as a story about an Indian in the woods (I really can't remember it because my heart was pounding with nerves, and so full of pride with the two of them!). It was a fabulous program from all the grade levels in their school, and Chad was actually able to attend and enjoy it as well-finally something the man gets to see not on a computer or the camera! We were invited by a dear church friend to have Thanksgiving festivities at her amazing home with her family. Thursday's meal was a huge spread of shrimp, crab legs, oysters and all the fixin's that go along with a traditional Lowcountry Boil-we were stuffed! The traditional turkey meal with EVERYTHING, and I do mean everything to go along with it was back at her house on Saturday. Chad was able to take family photos for her and her extended family that had traveled from all over for the holiday. The pictures were amazing, and we were actually able to have our first picture as a family taken in over 4 years. It was a blessed and fun Thanksgiving that could only have been made better with us being able to spend it with our own families (one of these days, I know it will happen!)
So, now we'll speed up and through December where it has been one busy day after the next! We are excited to be getting ready to spend Christmas in Illinois with Chad's family for the first time ever!! In almost nine years of he and I being together, we have never spent the holidays in Illinois, and I am really looking forward to it. We're praying for snow, and Aisley is more than any of us since the child has it in her head that Christmas absolutely must have snow to go with it! I have no idea why, but she's been obsessed with this notion since the summer......please, Santa, bring the child some snow! It's going to be a really long drive, and not a lot of time there due to school starting back up (oh, I miss the carefree days of no school!), but it will be great to see everyone for a while. We'll be there for about 8 days, and returning on New Year's Eve to beat the holiday traffic back and start getting the kids back on a schedule that will be totally non-existent while on vacation. Oh, yeah, and I will have to probably get back on track, too.
So, the last day of school is this Friday, the 19th and it will be one heck of a last day! Chad has the day off, so we'll be taking the kids to school together. They have a school-wide chapel service at 8:30-9:00, then I'll be taking about 5 kids to a restaurant in town from Grayson's class for their Christmas banquet. As soon as I throw the kids and Chad out of the van, I'll be rushing back to Aisley's class at the school for her party at 9:30. I can't believe I have to pick between the two!!! Chad will just be taking tons of pictures for me, since this is Aisley's first class party and I don't want to miss that either. I'm also getting ready for my first Children's Choir Concert at the church. I'm the director (another of my many talents) and this is my first time ever doing this, so it's been a time for me to learn and also have fun with many of our church children. It's going to be a really short program, but I know all the kids will do great. I will be more nervous than any of them, I'm sure!
God willing that I get through the kids choir concert and the class parties, then we will have a crazy Saturday and Sunday! The office party for Chad and the Marines (and spouses, etc.) will be at our house this year. We will be having them over for a nice dinner, and gift exchange that always proves to be fun! After that party is dwindling down, we've decided to have an open house....yes, an open house that everyone we know in this wonderful town have been so patiently waiting for! We've invited our entire church congregation, all our surrounding neighbors and more - well over 100 people! Have we completely lost our minds? Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I think we truly have this time. Now we know not everyone will make it, but I really have only heard from about 4 of those that say they won't be able to attend. EVERYONE is looking forward to it and can't wait to come. AAAAAHHHHH! I have no idea where they are all going to squeeze into, so we're praying this ridiculous South Carolina weather holds out and that the warm spell continues through Saturday evening to let them spill out onto the screen and front porch.
With very little time to recover from the huge party that I just know will have to be a success, we will have the normal church activities on Sunday morning. Then Sunday night is the adult choir (which I'm a member of) program. I will be singing a brief solo during it, and CHAD WILL BE SINGING A SOLO!!! You read that right, he will be singing during one of the songs as the Angel Gabriel. There's even a possibility that my Marine husband will be sporting a pair of wings. HAHAHAHA! I've requested that they be pink, but I'm doubt they'll find any in time. We are both quite nervous, but I have had my solo to practice for months now, and he just gained this opportunity a couple weeks ago-he sounds great most of the time when the nerves aren't taking over. So, cross your fingers and help shoo those nerves away for the guy!
Monday, December 22 we will be leaving long before the sun comes up and heading for Illinois. It's going to be a long drive, and I know we will ALL be overly tired, so pray that we have a safe trip, happy kids, a good dog (yes, we are taking one of our dogs that can't be without us) and lots of energy to get us there. As of right now, that's about all we can squeeze into the rest of this month. Can anyone out there top us? Oh, I hope not, for your sake!
We want to wish you all a blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year. 2008 has been one of many firsts for us, many obstacles, countless blessings and we are so thankful for all that has been sent out way. May all of you have a wonderful holiday, and I will be getting Christmas cards in the mail by Wednesday (just one more thing I forgot to add to my list!)
Happy Holidays,
The McMeen Family
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