Happy New Year's Eve

Happy New Year's Eve.

Making Guacamol-e! Making Guacamol-e!

 

Bacon Day 2022

December 30 is Bacon Day.

We had Bacon Pizza. I didn't want to do plain one-topping (besides sauce and cheese) pizza again. We do that too often. So I grabbed some extra items (green bell pepper and canned pineapple) and put them on as well. So nice.

And that is all I will write about that because I am literally falling asleep as I'm trying to write this blog post.

Christmas Day 2022

So let's talk about Christmas Day.

First of all, we got the star on the tree.

While I was working on Christmas Eve dinner, Jr. and Nichole made breakfast sandwiches to put in the fridge so that Christmas morning, we'd have something quick to eat before church. Thanks, kids.

Christmas morning we got to come out to see what Santa brought and what was in our stockings. 

I carried Jet out still asleep but after a while he woke to see what Santa brought him then had fun opening the wrapped presents in his stocking- dino cars! He was excited with each car and started roaring (as he does) but as soon as Jeremy handed him a new wrapped present, he immediately handed back the dino car so he could unwrap the next one.

Then we didn't open any presents from around the tree but got dressed, ate our quick breakfast, and went to church where there was a beautiful musical program with special words from the bishop. Lucky got to sing with the Primary and I was able to sing with the choir.

It was what I needed and wanted that morning. I'll be honest that Christmas Eve was rough. I had a nice breakdown. Well, it wasn't so nice. There has definitely been some stress lately. But Christmas Day was just right.

 

At home we were able to Zoom with Jeremy's parents while opening presents (later that day, I called my parents and had a nice chat with them and two of my brothers).

One thing we found out about Jet is that he really likes unwrapping presents whether they belong to him or not. The kids helped bring out some presents Christmas Eve and one present had to be rewrapped. Then during our main present opening Christmas afternoon, we took turns opening presents and Jet was practically launching himself at the presents to try to tear the paper off them. In some ways that determined what present would be opened next when it was the recipient's turn. Three year olds are fast, man.

Nichole was sweet and made this for Jet for Christmas:

 

Christmas Day was nice.

Now we're dealing with the aftermath.

The KAT's Meow

Dad: Do you know what frankincense is?

Jr.: It's right there in the name. It's incense that smells like hot dogs.

Everyone: Ewwww.

Jr. Jr.: Nichole, I'm going to make you put out the milk and cookies. I didn't write a letter to Santa. I didn't get a picture with the mall Santa. I'm going to get a ride on the Polar Express!

Christmas Eve 2022

We made it to Christmas Eve.

Nichole built our balloon tree frame yesterday and the boys helped her put branches (balloon dogs) on it. Today the kids and Jeremy got some balloon ornaments on it while I slept through The Muppet Christmas Carol. We'll get a star up later (I say as it's bedtime on Christmas Eve).

We also had Christmas Eve dinner and a little Christmas Eve program where we filmed ourselves saying what we'd been up to this year and what we were looking forward to next year. Then we turned off the camera for our last Countdown to Christmas scripture and testimony sharing.

The kids opened pajamas from Grandma and Grandpa and put them on. Jet was so excited for his dinosaur jammies. Roar. 

Then he was excited about grabbing his big brother's pajama bottoms and putting them on his head then grabbing his other pajama top and putting it on his legs. It's like the Sandra Boynton book, "Blue Hat, Green Hat," where the turkey keeps putting clothing items on the wrong places. 

So I had the kids stand in front of the tree and say, "Oops." 

Then they smiled and I got that picture. Way to go, kids.

And Merry Christmas to you.

Bonus: I made Parker House Rolls to go with Christmas Eve dinner. The dough was supposed to raise until doubled but it filled a lot of the bowl already when it started so when it finished...

Jr. said they're called Parker House Rolls because they're the size of Parker's house.

I'm Tired

I'm tired. I want to blog but I also want to sleep.

Last night I was so tired, I fell asleep with my head on my folded arms on the table in the middle of a game of Dreidel. Joshua had to finish the game for me.

Then tonight we were watching A Christmas Story and I fell asleep and missed the whole end of the movie- the family's Christmas, the presents, the turkey, everything.

 

Yesterday before the sleepy game of Dreidel, we ate latkes and challah bread again.

I love making new traditions for our family. We've been doing latkes and dreidel for quite a while now. It's been fun to add challah to the tradition.

Polar Express Party

Annual Polar Express Party!

Every year is fun listening to Jeremy read The Polar Express to us. Sometimes he gets silly. Sometimes we join in with the silliness. One year, Nichole and Jr. even provided the soundtrack to the book reading.

This year apparently a dinosaur attacked during the reading so the little boy in the book had to fight the dinosaur in order to receive the first gift of Christmas.

Because of this we watched very closely for signs of dinosaurs while watching the movie. We heard some a few times but didn't see any.

We had some Land O' Lakes Cocoa Classics at the appropriate time. Yumm. "Hot Chocolate!" 

We love this tradition.

Giving Machine

We had the opportunity to Light The World tonight as a family at the Giving Machine. 

We have been wanting to do this for so long but every December we deal with busyness and sickness. Well, there was still busyness but no sickness so we made it happen tonight.

We let the four oldest choose what to purchase/donate: school supplies, a warm blanket, children's books, a meal for a child.

In our own small way we are blessing the lives of other people and honestly we've already seen blessings in our own lives... including a decent family picture with everyone looking at the camera and looking pleasant.

Elf Days

December 17 was National Maple Syrup Day. We had pancakes with syrup and watched the movie, Elf. Appropriate since syrup is one of the 4 main food groups for elves.

 

The next day, December 18, was Answer the Phone Like Buddy the Elf Day. When I called Jeremy to pick me up from choir practice, he answered the phone in just that way.

Later, the kids were in charge of making dinner. They made us an elf type breakfast for dinner.

Yes, they did.

Festive Wear

We've had some opportunities for dressing up festively lately.

One child even asked if Jeremy was Santa (not our child). Jeremy explained that Santa has a white beard.

December 16 was National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day. Jr. made sure to wear his sloth shirt to our ward Christmas party. Can you believe it? I actually ventured out into public with the kids for the ward Christmas party. Wow. 

We ate, had fun, the three youngest got treats from Santa, and had a spiritual message.

And brought home some leftovers and a poinsettia.

A Lucky Birthday

We split Lucky's birthday up this year between two days.

On his birthday, he took balloon animals to his classmates at school. Jeremy made him three designs to take. Snowman, narwhal, and penguin with a scarf. All cute.

That evening we had cake and ice cream and he opened cards and his present. Jet did not blow out his candles, even though Lucky arranged them himself so they were easy to blow out. The boys kept arguing about the shape being a 9 or a 6.

Another day we had his birthday dinner. Again, for being the pickiest eater, he sure had a lot of food he wanted for his dinner.

He saw the blog post for what he had for his birthday dinner last year and said he wanted the same things (with a substitution or two). I ended up not being able to do all of his requests but I for sure made the challah bread.

O.K. I have to share a bit of cuteness. Jet was sitting on my lap as I put together this blog post. He saw the pictures of the candles on the cake and started blowing. So cute.

Ballet Bonding

It's been quite a few years since Nichole and I were able to go watch The Nutcracker Ballet. The last time we went was 2016. We did watch Ballet West's version on TV the very beginning of 2021 but it's different when it's live at the theatre. This year we were able to go to the Utah Metropolitan Ballet's version of The Nutcracker. 

Nichole's ballet bear again surprised her with tickets. 

The three of us (ballet bear included) had a great time and loved watching the ballet. 

It was neat to see it from a different company than we had watched before. In fact Nichole noticed in the program that her art teacher actually did the set and costume design.

I'm so glad we got this opportunity again. It really is special bonding time with my sweet daughter.