The Kassel Family Project Life 365

The Christmas decorations are all down and boxed up.  You can’t move through our office…  I *swear* there are more boxes each year!  Christmas decorations are like Gremlins.  They multiply when you aren’t looking.

Sundays, aside from being “laundry day,” are also “homework day.”  Laura has math homework every week and John has recently begun getting “homework” from his preschool.  Laura’s homework has to go back to school; John’s homework is to prepare him for Kindergarten.  It was really neat to watch the concentration from the kids as they worked through their homework.  I couldn’t resist the picture.

We spent part of the day hanging out with Grandpa Ralph and Grandma Marianne.  The kids had a great time!  We had Grandpa’s great pancakes for breakfast and he even made special ones with ears for the kids.  Laura declared hers was a piggy and John declared his was Mickey Mouse.  After breakfast, cousin Thomas came over to play for a couple of hours.  The kids also had a great time jumping all over Grandpa Ralph.  All the excitement was followed by a tasty lunch of chicken strips, french fries, and my family’s canned green beans.  The real surprise was that Laura discovered that she *loves* my family’s canned green beans….  she ate *three* helpings!  Unfortunately, we had to leave after lunch and earlier than I had originally planned due to impending weather in Missouri.  We made good time on the way home thanks to my friend, Mr. Garmin, who found a quicker route for us.  It was good that we left when we did because at Moberly we encountered the beginning of the weather.  It was a mix of rain and sleet.  By the time we arrived home, this was the view outside our back door.

As promised by Mommy, the kids watched a movie and ate popcorn.  I took down some more Christmas decorations and then got the kids into bed.  I spent the rest of the evening enjoying a glass of wine and watching some reruns of “Gilmore Girls.”  It was a nice, quiet end to a great day spent mostly with family.

Our day began at 4:45 AM when Andy had to get up for the first of the Kassel Family travels.  He flew out this morning for Phoenix, AZ for the annual Grand Praetor meeting for Sigma Chi.  The rest of the Kassel Family left after Laura got home from school for Astoria.  We went to visit Grandpa Ralph and Grandma Marianne for the night.  We got there about 8:15 pm and had a great night.  The kids got to open Christmas presents and give Grandma and Grandpa their presents.  It was a nice ending to a long, tiring day.  I was happy to be there because you never get too old to see your parents.

Laura has met and exceeded both goals for selling Girl Scout Cookies.  Her first goal was 25 and her second was 75.  Next up is breaking the 100 mark.  Go Laura!

I came home today to find a picture that Laura made me a long time ago on the kitchen counter, but it was upside down.  I realized that she had written something on the back.

It says, “I lovu (love) you Mom.  I know you lovu (love) me.  I hope you lovu (love) my pekshr (picture) for you.”  She wrote that part for me today.  It brought tears to my eyes…  The little things that you don’t expect.

Andy and I went to the Mizzou vs. Alabama Men’s Basketball Game this evening.  Thanks to Jenna and Brian for babysitting so we could have a night out!  The game was fun and Mizzou played pretty well.  We stopped by the Tiger Team Store before the game and I ended up getting a silver necklace that says “Mizzou.”  It occurred to me that I am officially, really a Tigers fan and not just a transplant fan anymore.  When you buy jewelry, it’s serious.  If the Fighting Illini came to town, I’d be cheering for the Tigers (though I’ll always cheer on my beloved Leathernecks whenever they play Mizzou)!  When you find yourself eagerly anticipating the antics of Truman the Tiger and participating in the Missouri Waltz, it’s best just to admit you are a real fan.  Go Tigers!