February 2017

For only having 28 days, we sure packed a lot into February this year. Hubs and Maga had left to Mexico Jan30, and Monday, Feb 6 was when we were all reunited. Thanks to Cal and K8 for making the banner! Landon's "homecoming" was on the 12th and we set up the chocolate fountain, had chicken salad croissants and saw a lot of family and friends. What else was going on?

• Basketball of course ... Landon was able to see Cal play in his final regular games. CHHS were region champs (tied w/B) and the other boys wrapped up their seasons as State started for Varsity. I stayed busy making muvees of all the highlights.
• Birthday Boy ... Callahan got cake! I think there were actually three, as I'd made a lemon jello cake, picked up a red velvet, and then Maga brought over ice cream cake.
• Smokin Stuff ... the basketball team has parents provide dinner for the boys before home games, and Grayson did ribs for the whole crew! That was a LOT of ribs. He also smoked brisket and keeps us fat and happy all the time!
• Eating Out ... We had a birthday dinner at Olive Garden to celebrate Callahan. We took a family trip to Kneaders for breakfast and met up with the Varsity basketball team there! Maga took the adults to "The 5 Alls". 
• Injuries ... Coop was playing football with friends and got a whopper of a black eye. It took a while to heal and turned some interesting colors along the way. The picture of Gray's head above isn't an ouch, but an oops; a missed spot after a haircut. He didn't realize it until he was at work and had to run to a salon to have them fix his home haircut (he is usually fine!) Jen's car tire got an ouchie too ... screw in the wheel, but it was able to be patched.
• Holidays ... if you call the Superbowl a holiday. Coop watched it at home, but Gray/Landon were in Mexico, and Cal was working at KFC. I made football cookies though. Valentine's Day too, We made a little basketball court box for Colton.

Here's the one second every day ...

I think that's February 2017 in a nutshell ... nice to have everyone home again!

Feeding a Basketball Team

Team dinners before home games ... I guess it's a tradition, eat together, play together, get the parents involved. I always stressed out about it. This year, Gray stepped up and said he'd smoke stuff for the team dinner.  How many ribs exactly for 35+ athletic boys, plus coaches. A LOT.  And it was a lot of work. Seasoning them all, sticking them on the smoker, then dividing them, adding sauce, and wrapping them up in individual packs, 4-5 ribs each for ease of assembly line eating. 

Grayson was even prepared with little bottles of BBQ sauce and "wipes" for messy fingers.

Other parents provided salad, rolls and paper products.

This was for all the teams, not just varsity, so Keaton and his crew were there to eat as well. 

The ribs got rave reviews. 

He's HOME

Gray, Landon and Maga had been checking in from Mexico ... and then, they were on their way back to the US of A. We headed out to the airport and stood in the "returning missionary" spot, watching the escalator and ...

Landon snuck in behind us.

International travel came in a different door.

 There was a lot of hugging and picture taking.

All together again!

Exploring Mexico!

Where in the World is Grayson Blackham?

As Elder Blackham's mission to Mexico came to its conclusion, Grayson thought it would be great to go and pick Landon up. They could travel around for a bit, see the sites, explore the country, before heading home. Maga decided to go too, and the two of them took off.

... and, together again!

My men and Maga visited a bunch of different places, experimented with the cuisine,  and met quite a few friends and families Elder Blackham had worked with in his two years there. Grayson took a TON of pictures, and kept family back home updated on our doings via group text and Facebook. I uploaded the photos into an album (Blackham Mexico 2017). 

I've also included a few favorites below. 

... and then, it was time to head home.

by bus, from Puebla to Mexico City 

Then the flight home ...

We were waiting ...