Thanksgiving consists of

   Consists is a weird word, don't you think?  I mean, just look at it.  It has so much quirk!  You could also say "consists" over and over again using different intonations and accents, and draw it out until it's the longest word you've ever said in your life, and say it a bajillion times as fast as you can until it doesn't even sound like a word anymore.  Or you could just promise never to be a word-addicted weirdo like me and move on with your life.
   Now, what was this post supposed to be about?  Ah, yes. Turkey-day!  So let me tell what my Thanksgiving break has consisted of thus far:

• sleeping in. amen.
• family collaboration. resulting in broccoli and cauliflower salad and pie. mostly pie.
• painting my nails for the first time in months.
• The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R Tolkien.
• old VHS movies.
• seeing cousins who are old and in college and getting married and having babies and all that jazz.
• sooo. much. food. it was sooo good.
• a new lyric obsession. "I wanna be so far gone in You.." Thousand Foot Krutch. yes.
• plastering paper snowflakes all over the windows.
• not going shopping.
• inhaling leftover rolls and pie.
• clean laundry.
• teaching Jonathon that listening to music really means belting out the lyrics (and instrumentals) whenever you feel like it.
• dance parties with the 4-year-old. while frying eggs. don't try this at home.
• realizing all over again how good God is. blows my mind.

   And you?  I'm dying to hear of your fabulous holiday experience.  Any special traditions?  Yummiest food?  Hilarious moments?  What are you thankful for?  Happy fall y'all!

I Am a Coach's Daughter

   I have grown up watching football, talking football, and loving football.  Jerseys and pads were thrown in with the dresses and jewelry when playing dress-up.  I got used to coaches and boys showing up at my house to hang out with my dad.  I learned the difference between a blitz and a different kind of blitz, the importance of "Drive your feet!", and how to draw plays.  I joined the games in the yard and the street and showed off my bruises, jammed fingers, and competetive spirit.
   To me, being a coach's daughter means a lot of things.  I've witnessed practices, film sessions, and pep talks.  My titles include, but are not limited to, videographer, manager, spectator, water girl, write-this-down-for-me girl, stand-on-the-sidelines-and-do-whatever-I-need-you-to-plus-cheer girl, and "Aren't you the coach's daughter?"  (I actually do like my name, though.)
   I have developed an intense love for going to "Daddy's games."  I will find a way to get there.  I have sat through the rain and gone numb from cold.  I'm the one who answers, "What just happened?"  I have yelled and cheered 'til I lost my voice.  I forget my friends are sitting there next to me.  I have shed tears over high school football.
   Being a coach's daughter means a lot to me.  People wonder why I voluntarily show up to help, why I care so much.  I guess you could say it's because I love the game of football.  I love the adreneline rush on Friday nights, the teamwork and comraderie, the thrill of victory.  I love that courage is made real, and that true character is revealed on the football field.  But even more, I really love my daddy.

Merry CHRISTmas!

   Merry (day after) Christmas, everyone! 

   I have had a wonderful holiday - and it's really not over yet!  My aunt, uncle and their two kids, and Grandma Ginny came to spend Christmas with us.  We have played fun games, eaten yummy food, and just hung out.

   Our Christmas Eve is to have a telent-show-ish thing.  Everyone has to present something to the rest of the family.

Elaina played and sang "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

This is me showing my power point about the meaning behind "The Twelve Days Christmas."

Grandma played "O Come All Ye Faithful," and Morgan sang super quietly all by himself!

Dad read "The Legend of the Candy Cane."

We all listened very attentively.

At least most of us did....

Most of the time.

And Bekah just played on the slide.

Bethany sang a song for us about how she loves Christmas, God, and all of us.

Time for presents from Grandma!

Jonathon got Tim Tebow's book, "Through My Eyes." (I get it next!)

...And then he realized we were taking pictures.

Titus loves to play with the bike.

It makes everyone laugh so much!

Here's my sister and I with our gorgeous necklaces from Grandma.

   Mom and Dad hide all of our gifts on Christmas morning, and we have to find them all before we can open them.  The older you get, the harder Dad hides them, and I have to admit I had some trouble this year.  We were too busy to take pictures (sorry!) but it was great.  I got a beautiful scarf, a book, stationary for my letter-writing ministry-ish (it's waaayy prettier than notebook paper), and a new subscription to Susie magazine.  All the present were amazing, but really I just love spending time (not in school) with my family - not to mention the fudge. ;)

   So how was your Christmas?  I hope it was just as wonderful as mine - and I still have more!  Did you get any especially special gifts?  Do you have a unique family tradition?  Did you have a performance?  Tell me about it!

~~~~~~~~
P.S Thanks to Aunt Chelle for the camera and most of the pictures!!

P.P.S.  The pantomime team at our church did two songs yesterday, and they did a phenomenal job!  They did "This is Christmas," and got a standing ovation. (We held service at our usual time, and the church was packed!)  Then they did "Christmas With a Capital C," and was hilarious, but also thought provoking.  Before you go, watch this video.  Enjoy!

A Fruitless Hunt

   Well, not entirely fruitless.   While the only thing I accomplished on Saturday was to cripple a doe, my brother got his first deer!  He's been waiting a long time, and I know how great it feels to shoot your first deer.

Jonathon refuses to have his picture taken, but here's a really-not-good wonderful shot of his doe.

   In the morning I saw a doe, and really thought I hit her, and so did my dad, but then no trace of her could be found.  Here's me, the ever optimistic, happy hunter.

   In the afternoon we sat in a different stand, and these are some pictures I took after I almost feel asleep just sitting there, plus a video of my view.

   I had the randomest (is that a word?) songs popping into my head -and sticking there- all day!  Want to know just how odd my playlist was?  Here's three of the songs:

We're learning this song in choir - the alto part is hard.

Absolutely love this song!  All of Beckah's music is amazing.

   Right before dark we saw two does together, and (after I fixed the gun so it would fire, which took like a whole entire minute) I shot at one.  I knew for sure I hit that time, since we could see her leg flapping when she ran off.  We searched til well after sunset, but there just wasn't enough blood.  I'm sorry, poor doe, it was a bad shot. :'(
   So, (even though I can not seem recover my gun-aiming skills) it was a wonderful day.  I love sitting in the woods, and the time alone with my dad is awesome - plus the chili at lunch was really good.
   Do you all have any hunting stories?  I would love to hear them.  Comments make my day!

Nameless Tradition

   My daddy is a football coach.  He is finally a head coach, at the high school we are now at.  Football is a big part of my life, and I love it.  I have done all kinds of things to help out, this year I was the official "videographer," which means I filmed all the games.  This meant I had to be there every week, but I never would have missed anyway.
   Our school has never had a strong football program, and they were 0 for 10 the year before Dad got here.  this is our second year here, and we are in the midst of turning things around.  This year we were 1-9, but things are better than they ever have been.  The attitude of the players is different, the way the coaches do their job is different, the way other people think about us is different.  This is about more than what the scoreboard says, this is about being loud and proud, believing in yourself and your team, and building character.
   OK, now that I've said waaay more than I planned on, it's time to find out what this post is really supposed to be about.  Last year we started a tradition.  The day after the last football is a big celebration.  We make our first hot chocolate, build a fire, and just have a great time together as a family.  Here are some pics from our shindig on Friday!

My Beautiful Face

  Elaina and I did a fall photo shoot yesterday.  It was really fun, just like always.  Here are some of my favorite pictures!  Please comment and tell me which are your favs, so we can decide which ones to get prints of.  Enjoy!