What's the best way to kick 2021 to the curb?
Why, go to my sissy's house of course! We played games, ate Chinese food, talked, laughed, and managed to hold our eyes open until midnight.
It was wonderfully fun - a great close to another year.
Happy New Year!
This year we were excited weeks in advance for Christmastime. Dressing up for pajama day at school really put us in the Christmas spirit.
And then we found ourselves extremely excited for our trip to Idaho. You should know by now that Christmas at my parent's house is non-negotiable. We steel ourselves for the long, potentially snowy drive, and we go for it.
It never disappoints.
This year our trip was slightly shorter than I would have liked but we still had a great time. We did all of the important things like Christmas Eve fondue at my sissy's house.
Complete with cousin time time in the basement.
We had plenty of opportunities to play in the snow. (Well, I didn't play in the snow. You know I don't do that.)
Kitty loved the snow. She played for hours with her cousins and his friends. They made an entire game out of mining for snow and ice. There was a city and a mayor and snow was currency. I'm telling you...HOURS.
Christmas morning was a flurry of gifts and Caramel French Toast for breakfast. Kitty even made us presents at school. I loved them.
It was the Christmas of the VR sets.
And like always, the time flew by and we had to make the long trek home, stopping in Pendleton for our annual photo with Sasquatch, of course.
This photo was bittersweet. We are moving to TN in the coming months and this was our last road trip from Oregon to Idaho for Christmas. Next year we'll arrive by airplane.
It's funny how life works out. It is ever changing, full of unexpected shifts, and moments of joy and sadness.
It makes me especially grateful for the constants like Christmas in Idaho.
Merry Christmas!
We had the best Thanksgiving break a gal could ever hope for. We journeyed to my sissy's house in Coeur d'Alene, which is where all the good things happen.
Like my nieces coming home from college for the holiday. And talking to my nephew on the phone from his mission. And my parents making the trek to join in the fun.
It was a houseful of family, noise, and yummy food.
It was divine.
We did all sorts of fun things.
We painted rocks and got boba drinks.
Kitty went to the crystal shop. Her favorite!
We tried to re-pierce Grandma's ears.
We reunited with a friend and saw a parade and fireworks. Kitty is so loved that Captain Graybeard lifted her up so she could see better. She's incredibly lucky.
.jpg)
Perhaps the highlight came when Kitty learned a valuable lesson about listening to her all-knowing mother. She was balancing on a rock on the water's edge while we waited for the fireworks to start. I asked her to get down since it was slick and she was going to fall into the water.
Kitty did not listen to her all-knowing mother.
Kitty fell into the icy water. Lake Coeur d'Alene in November. BRRR!
Like all good parents, I made her sit in her wet clothes and watch the fireworks. We were a few miles from the car and I didn't want to miss the show. You might call it heartless but I call it a teaching moment.
Kitty said later, "Do you know what's worse than falling in freezing cold water? Falling in freezing cold water in front of a hundred people!"
She's right about that.
We ended our trip with a stop in Hermiston for my niece's baptism. It was a lovely day and the perfect end to a perfect trip.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Well, I'm 42 now. This means I am officially the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything.
Lucky me.
Mostly I just feel like 42 is the answer to the question, "Why do I want to eat dinner at 4:30?"
But I did have a wonderful birthday. There were presents. Michael got me a flat iron and a car detailing certificate. I was grateful.
I also received a beautiful handmade giraffe card from Kitty. I love her.
On our 19th wedding anniversary, the activity Michael and I looked forward to the most was this:
Gimme costumes for everyone!
Gimme a beautiful Fall evening with my sissy and my Mom!
Gimme good friends and good cousins!
Kitty has wanted to play soccer for a while. I had her signed up just before Covid hit and then - well, you know the "and then."
She didn't get to be on a soccer team for more than a year.
Boy, was she excited when the season finally started up again! She carefully chose out her practice gear, deciding to go with a pink palette.
And then her team shirt turned out to be gray. Wah-wah. But she was a good sport about it.
