Days with the Dorans

Trimming the tree is always my favorite! Probably because for us we just pour a glass of wine (the one glass Jeff drinks all year), sit back and watch the magic happen! Lots of love, laughter, and fun with this group. To think that next year we'll be fitting it in before Joe heads back to college! At least I know they'll always be here for this! I'll have the jammies ready! HERE is a video of the fun!  

Every other year we alternate Thanksgivings and I'm glad this was a Drapal Thanksgiving because the Hewsons came in from Canada! It feels like forever since we have seen them because of Covid and I couldn't believe how big Torin Lee is! It was just the three of them and a pretty quick visit but I was so excited to see them! Of course the younger Drapals and Aunt Barb and Gary made it too! The food was SOOO good and I made Great-Nan's Sweet-Potato Balls ! We didn't do the Turkey Trot this year because of Covid but I still got a run in. The next day we did our turkey trot run and boy were we stuffed but we made it! I love the time with my two favorite runners! It was COLD! I think Canada brought their weather with them!

 It's been a tough year. It's nice when you get some nice notes of appreciation!

It was a first for Zach and a last for Joey! Marching Band has come to an end. Zach absolutely loved it! I think Joe had fun too but missed his old friends~ that and he got much more into cross. It was fun to see the kids celebrated. We didn't sit with the kids but we could see them. It is kind of a long night for us- there are videos and then a GIANT list of mock awards which is fun. Both of our kids got some and they were pretty funny! They didn't give any to anyone though (they should have given one to each other... but... oh well). The seniors of course were also recognized too and it was a bit strange thinking that this was all coming to an end. We did get to sit with friends and realized that we've still got a bit more time with the Corteville's which is nice! And if Carter does Marching band we could make it through all the band banquets with friends. I'm assuming Zach will stay in the band and Sean will one day join him but time with tell. After the part in ...

My least favorite concert ever is the 6th grade band concert. The concert itself I actually love and is one of my favorites but I HATE that's it's in CHS's gym and it's even worse now that Covid is a thing and despite signs and masks available people opening disregard the rules. Despite all that nonsense seeing Sean was a blast! He's worked so hard on that clarinet and I'm so proud of him. I remember when he could hardly make a sound and now he's playing songs! Originally it was his plan to switch to sax but he ended up falling in love with the clarinet- so much so that he said to me, "Mom, the clarinet just has a better sound. I'll prove it to you, 'Alexa, play clarinet music." and then he'd play sax music and assume that the superior sound was just obvious. He's a pretty funny bird! Because we knew it would be jammed packed it was just Mom, Dad, Nana and Papa and I took a video HERE to share with the proud siblings. After the con...

Last XC Banquet... So glad it was a "normal" year. What an amazing four years! Joey went from HATING XC to loving it and it was fun to see the transformation.  HERE is a video from the Banquet and what Coach said about Joey and then the entire team as well as some snapshots of things Joe got because let's face it... I'm not the best at keeping paper.