Thanksgiving at Home

 We had a great Thanksgiving with our friends the Holts. (Sorry about the sideways picture--my computer wouldn't let me flip it).

 

 I know Brad had a good time just relaxing (other than smoking/slow-cooking the meat for two days in the Traeger), and entertaining everyone with his stories.

 After dinner we went over to the Holt's house for dessert, more visiting, and games.

 The girls--Merinda, Lauren, Rainy, and Christina

 

It was fun just chillin with friends,  

   and playing our favorite game--the name game.

Only this time we mixed the game up with one-word clues and charades. Breck's team definitely had the advantage since he came up with the majority of the names (we will come up with our own next time!).

We want to thank the Holts and Allens once again for good food, good company, and good fun!!!

Football, Marching Band, & Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I wanted to get a picture of Breck leading the band in his nice suit, 

but I didn't realize how much I would enjoy taking pictures of all the pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

I can't remember what color the Cardinal's socks are usually, 

but the pink was a very nice touch. 

 

Even the apposing team got in the spirit of things with not only pink socks (argyle no less!)

 but pink arm warmers, leg warmers, towels,

and check out the pink cleats!

And how about the other team's cheerleaders, 

all our cheerleaders had was a pink bow in their hair,

but our dance team came through by forming a cool breast cancer bow with their pom-poms at the end of their dance.

Even the goal post was decked-out in pink. I kind of liked the hints of pink everywhere, if only it could be Breast Cancer Awareness every month. 

O.k. back to the marching band (which is the real reason I go to all the football games). Here, Breck is in center field with the two other drum majors as the band lines up on opposite sides of the field getting into marching position.

Breck leading one of the last songs towards the end of the half-time show.

For the marching band concert, I am not sure if Breck is leading or dancing, but he is having a good time whatever it is. 

Our Family

Family Pictures Fall 2013

 

I wanted to have family pictures taken before the girls left, but in typical family picture fashion everyone was grumpy, we had only 30 min (the amount of time everyone could actually be in one place all together), it was a million degrees outside with tons of bugs flying in our faces, it was the worst time of day for lighting, and Breck wouldn't take a decent picture to save his life. BUT our photographer Veronica Holt (who incidentally refused payment for her services) worked her magic once again, and the pictures turned out far better than we could ever of imagined. 

Thank You so much Veronica!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saying "Goodbye"

We had a great visit with Grandpa Manwaring the week before Brittney left on her Mission to El Salvador.

We enjoyed his wonderful BBQ's and felt like true Kentuckians as we sat in our garage and ate.

We also had a wonderful time catching up with the Wright family, and have appreciated so much their support and friendship through the years!

I felt like I had to get as many pictures of Brittney as I could before she left. 

Here are the three remaining girls (Aubrey is at BYU-I), soon to be two :(

Brittney and the cool mirror effect,

   Brittney reading a book,

and Brittney getting ready for her Missionary Open-house.

I wasn't sure what to have them write on the cake, but "Congratulations" seemed fitting for someone who was going to have the awesome opportunity of  serving the Lord for 18 months in a foreign country.

Some people Brittney and I would like to thank who came to the open-house: Tyler Jors

  Truett Mason,

  Jared, Juniper, Trent, and Shannon Parker (Shannon was too good at dodging my camera), 

Elizabeth and Fiona Terpening,

Yours truly,

Yours truly's husband and Amy Clayburn, 

Mark Allen and Matthew Clayburn (I love their expressions, Mark looks a little spaced-out and Matt a little perplexed),

Jeannie Watson,

Carlos and Ana Maria Linares,

Grant and Jake Watson,

Thoney Charles, Eddie Bolton, and James Jenkins,

 

Ivan Squire, Rex Holt, and Cal Watson,

Jenny Squire (with her adorable girls), and Ursela Durbin,

  Victoria and Joe Alexander,

Ashton and McKenzie Barber and family, and Katelyn Zwygart,

Lauren Allen and Merinda Manwaring,

Niamh Bolton,

Veronica Holt,

  Wesley Holt and Garren Allen,

  Bridgette Allen,

Jennie Jenkins,

Heather Zwygart, Zak Zwygart, Christina Holt, Breck Manwaring, Joseph Jenkins, and Jade Jenkins (What is Breck doing? I don't even ask anymore).

Why does Brittney look totally annoyed on her way to the airport you ask? Well, funny story (maybe not for Brittney) but they had changed the day Brittney flew to Mexico without us knowing, so our first trip to the airport was just for practice.

So fast forward a day as we scramble to check the kids out of school again, re-arrange schedules to get off work, and change business meetings scheduled in Ohio. 

Luckily, Brittney flew out of the Lexington Airport. It would have been a little more inconvenient had she flown out of Cincinnati or Louisville Airports!

I just had to capture every moment before saying goodbye.

I was sad and didn't want to cry, this was the best smile I could eek out.

  

Merinda's smile is a little better,

but her hug says it all.

Breck's hug also speaks volumes,

 

and I just love this picture! 

Anyone that knows me, knows how much I hate to say goodbye. I prefer to say "see you later, if not in this life, in the life to come".

  Eighteen Months suddenly seems like forever!

Even watching Brittney go through the dumb x-ray machine was heart-breaking.

There she goes, the love and joy of our life! Although we will miss Brittney greatly, we truly believe that there is nowhere else in the world she should be, and nothing else she should be doing at this very moment than serving her Father in Heaven, and for that we are so proud. Now, I must end this post before my keyboard breaks from water damage, but before I do, I want to thank again everyone who came to the open-house who wasn't pictured or mentioned, and for all of you that have supported Brittney through the years, and have been such wonderful influences and examples of what it means to be truly selfless and Christlike--Thank You!