The End of 2025

Yesterday, December 30, was Mercer Mayer's Birthday. We read some Mercer Mayer books. 

For dinner we had carbonara for Bacon Day.

Sweet Jeremy brought roses home for me.

Today, I got out for my last morning walk of the year because... today is New Year's Eve.

Later I was "making guacamole. Making guacamole" for our New Year's nachos. 

Jeremy got some writing in and had hot chocolate in the composition mug. How fun.

Now I'm too tired to write anymore myself so I'll see you next year. Or you'll see me next year since this is my blog.

Happy New Year! 

That's a Sad Looking Tree

We had a beautiful Christmas tree the kids and Jeremy made. A few days after Christmas, however, it looked a little something like this:

So yesterday we took the lights off and it didn't completely survive the process so it ended up like this:

The kids were so nice as to pop the rest of the tree because we really don't need something so sad looking hanging around any more.

Oh the fun of a balloon Christmas tree. 

Tick Tock Tick Tock- Time to Talk about Christmas

Since it's Tick Tock Day (December 29), I might as well catch up on the last few days. I said the days around Christmas Eve/Christmas Day were pretty big days so I didn't really blog much because of the busyness then the next few days were kind of chill so I didn't blog then either because I wasn't doing much productive. Today I'm being productive, including blogging so here we go.

 

Jet: My turn!

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Christmas Eve, I got my morning walk in and Jeremy and I spent a lot of time in the kitchen and spent a lot of time trying to catch up on last minute things. I didn't get everything done I wanted to both with food and other stuff so we ate late and I just had to scrap some of my ideas.

Jet: My turn! 

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Jr. Jr. and I did manage to finish and wrap juggling balls for everybody in the family so we all got to open those on Christmas morning.

 

Jet: My turn!

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Before bed Christmas Eve, Jet set out cookies for Santa.

We hung our stockings by the fire- the Darth Vader Yule Log this year. 

I got out for a walk Christmas morning because Jeremy needed some sleep that morning so we got a late start with everyone coming out to the living room. 

Some year's past, Jet has been still asleep when it was time to go out or just slow going. This year, though, he was so excited and was the first person to run out to the living room when it was time. He was very excited about everything. He is so cute.

The week before Christmas, Jet came home from school one day after Santa visited and let us know Santa was going to bring him a scooter for Christmas. That's what he told Santa he wanted and wow, that was the first we'd heard about it.

Apparently Santa delivered and he got that scooter for Christmas with a Spider-man helmet. That little boy got several Spider-man things for Christmas or around Christmas. Christmas Eve the kids opened up pajamas from grandparents (Jet's were Spider-man pjs). 

A few days before Christmas, each family member came to Mom and Dad and we talked about spiritual gifts and let them know what gifts we saw in them. Then they opened up a present from grandparents- this time, a blanket (Jet's was Spidey and His Amazing Friends, of course).

The day after Christmas, December 26, was Wren Day and it was National Candy Cane Day. Jeremy, Nichole, and I took Jet to the Provo River Delta so he could try out his new scooter on the trail and we could look at birds. I thought Jet would be slow but apparently he picked up on riding a scooter really quick and zoomed along the trail.

I did take a moment to capture a picture that celebrated both holidays. Birding on Wren Day with a candy cane.

Jet was content to go home when it was time. He got hot chocolate with a candy cane in it. 

Saturday was a lazy day and it was so nice. I didn't even go out for a walk.

 

Sunday, December 28, was Stan Lee's Birthday so I wore my bow earrings. It was also National Chocolate Candy Day. We definitely ate chocolate candy. It was also Card Playing Day. Jeremy and I played a card game. 

This morning, I went for a walk in the park again with the lights. It was cold.

And since it's Tick Tock Day, I'll also mention that we celebrated Lucky's birthday earlier in December.

For the balloons for Lucky's class, he decided on penguins, narwhals, but couldn't figure out the last design. Jeremy made his suggestion. Everyone was confused (a rocket?) until he called me over.

Ohhhhh. Missile-toe! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!

It was finally decided that the last design would be a mouse with a Santa hat (not the missile-toe). It was a popular design.

 O.K. Enough of blogging.

The KAT's Meow

Because I forgot to put it on my post about Maple Syrup Day-

Mom: It's Maple Syrup Day.

Jr.: Oh. Or should I say, "Eh?"

 

 

 

 

Jr. Jr. (after seeing me with the book, Anne of Green Gables): You know they made a parody of that book where they changed the main character to be a turkey. Anne of Green Gobbles.

 

  

 

 

Mom (to Jet): You're so precious.

Jet: Like a strawberry. 

 

 

 

 

Jr.: I'm making pizza and other stuff. They're just lying on the couch. 

Jr. Jr.: The moon landing wasn't real.

I'm lying on the couch. 

 

 

 

 

Jet (while looking at a Christmas letter from friends- he can't read yet): Merry Christmas. I hope you have a very good Christmas with your family.

Aww. That's so sweet.

 

 

 

 

Jet: We'll give cookies to Santa. Then Santa will come and give me presents with toys in them. 

Merry Christmas

Wow. It has been a big couple of days and I am tired and need to sleep so I'm just going to say for now, "Merry Christmas."

Thank you. Good night. 

Happy Christmas Eve

Happy Christmas Eve.

Sunday, December 21, was the Winter Solstice. Our choir director reminded us that on the darkest day of the year, it is important for us to think about Christ's light and share that. It was a beautiful Christmas program at church.

After church we managed to get a couple family pictures of everyone looking pleasantly at the camera.

We also got pictures of Jeremy and me together. It was a great way to emphasize Short Girl Appreciation Day.

It was also Humbug Day but I was so happy because of church. There was only some grumbling later. It happens. 

The kids took a couple days to build our balloon Christmas tree. Sunday, Jeremy decorated it and we had a little tree lighting. We got Jeremy's parents to join with us on a Zoom meeting then we got to chat with them for a while.

Monday, December 22, I got out for a morning walk at the park with the lights. I listened to some Piano Guys Christmas music (great for feeling the Spirit) and felt such strong gratitude for my Savior. After the shortest day of the year, feeling his light meant so much to me. I was crying so much while walking around the park, I don't know how helpful that was for my breathing while I was trying to exercise. Ha Ha.

In the Come Follow Me manual and on Instagram, Elder Soares shared some thoughts about Jesus Christ being our light, our life, and our hope at Christmastime. It went right along with my thoughts that morning. I do feel so much gratitude for my Savior when I've been thinking of some stressful things.

At home that day, Jet and I enjoyed a Discovery Kit from the Provo Library. This time, we read books and did activities (puzzle and fishing game) about Ocean Life.  

That night we went to another Interactive Movie at the Provo Library- The Nightmare Before Christmas. We went to one before when we watched The Princess Bride and unfortunately last Christmas, we missed the one for The Muppets Christmas Carol because too many of us were sick. 

We loved this one. We got to sing along with the songs, cheer and clap, etc. It was great for Jet because he loves that movie so he knows the songs and enjoyed doing the activities.

 

Tuesday, December 23, I got out for my morning walk again. The light of the sunrise was gorgeous. It was National Roots Day so I sent a text to my in-laws telling them we're grateful to all be part of the same family tree. 

That night, Jeremy, Nichole, Jet, and I went for a drive looking at Christmas lights and decorations. We've been so busy this was the only night we could do it. It was nice and we even drove up to see the Christmas Star on the mountain in Pleasant Grove. 

I am grateful for celebrating Jesus Christ's birth this season. My life is so much better because of Him. He is my light, my life, and my hope.

Merry Christmas! 

Catch of the Day

 

Yet More Bonding Time (With a Little Alone Time Thrown In There)

Saturday, I had time to myself in the morning. I was able to go for a walk in the park with the lights. Since I don't have any audiobooks checked out right now (I have two physical books I need to read ASAP), I listened to music as I walked. It's been a while since I've done that. It was quite enjoyable. And it wasn't raining like the last time I went walking there.

That alone time didn't last long. Lucky and I had choir practice and choir brunch later that morning to get ready for our Christmas Program for church the next day. I'm glad he sings with me in choir.

Remember the blue pancakes I made the other day? There was a reason for that. Since the first few episodes of the second season of Percy Jackson came out recently, we've been planning to start watching them but things keep coming up. The day I made blue pancakes was one of the days we were going to but it didn't work out with everyone's schedules.

Saturday evening we finally watched the first episode as a family and ate blue jelly beans and gummy sharks and chocolate wrapped in blue foil.