December-ific

The last week before Christmas break always seems to be packed with Christmas activities. Thanks to the pandemic, we definitely had less of those activities this year, but our week still felt full. The weather warmed up a little, the fog departed, and we saw the sun a couple of days during the week, and it made a difference. I helped plan and prep a drive-up Christmas activity for the women in our ward, which involved hours of ribbon-tying during the day and then standing in the cold parking lot at night. Candles and friends make darkness better. 

The semi-festive pajamas we ordered finally arrived, and Jay decided that he only needs one article of clothing for Christmas break: his new hooded camo fleece bodysuit. Rose and I enjoyed a 5 mile bike ride together through some mud on a particularly warm sunny day. Amber came home from her two days of kindergarten with a shockingly large supply of crafts and projects: a gingerbread house, a picture with a poster-Santa, a hand print mistletoe, a cut-out elf, a handmade parent gift, and so much more. I have no clue how her teacher pulled it off in only two days of school. I bow to her undaunted stamina and determination. 

Once again, Jeff pulled out all the stops for his high school French students. He dressed up in all kinds of costumes (elf, reindeer, skinny Santa, pink bunny, Regency gentleman) and carried his his laptop (with his class logged onto a Zoom meeting) around the empty high school so he and his classes could sing French Christmas carols to the other teachers who were teaching from their empty classrooms. 

I visited the chiropractor and had my hurt ankle popped back into place. That simple adjustment allowed me to RUN for the first time in weeks! I committed to taking it easy and not doing too much too soon, with plans to visit the chiropractor regularly for a little while to make sure my ankle stays in place. I ran two whole miles three separate times this week! I kept to the smooth pavement of our street rather than the rocky rutted canal road and other gravel roads nearby, and my ankle responded optimistically. 

Our bedroom was converted into a gift-wrapping station this week, and our little Christmas tree was practically buried in lumpy kid-wrapped packages by Saturday. After watching our ward's Sunday Zoom church, Jay, Rose, and Amber performed the Nativity story using the ancient paper-and-popsicle-stick puppets that I made as a kid 20+ years ago. Jay read Luke 2 while the girls scrambled to keep up with the action by holding up the right puppets at the right times.

Last but not least, December 20th was our 14th wedding anniversary. I love racking up the years of marriage to my best friend. We've been married almost long enough for my faux fur cape to look frumpy! Or maybe it always was frumpy; I'm not fashionable enough to officially know--haha. It's awesome. What matters is that Jeff and I are still best friends--even better friends than we were 14 years ago--and life is better together. 

Amby with her gingerbread house from school.

A picture of the picture of Amber posing with a Santa picture at school.

We got Amber's school picture back this week! She looks so old. I'm so glad I tortured her through a shower and full hair wash the morning of picture day, and that she didn't wear her hood on the way to school.

I tied and curled 4 dozen hot chocolate-and-peppermint favors to hand out at our drive-up relief society activity. It took two hours! I cranked Handel's Messiah extra loud on our best speakers and leaned heavily on the beautiful music to push away thoughts of futility as I cut, wrapped, tied, and curled. Service often feels so mundane and repetitive, and I am working on doing it anyways. 

For our drive-up activity at the church, we had four tables set up. The cars stopped at each table and were given a small gift or treat at each table. Then they parked in the back lot and listened to a short message from our Relief Society president, who spoke over a radio transmitter just like at drive-in movies.

I was a bit uncertain about decorating a table for two reasons: 1. it was DARK, so what was the point? and 2. I don't possess many decorating abilities to begin with. I ended up using some greenery clippings from our Christmas tree with tea lights in half pint mason jars. It turned out better than I thought it would and made me want to use candles more often at home. Firelight lends such ambience.

The boy in his onesie. The men's size small was a tad long, but still awesome.

The ultimate loungewear.

Amber, showing off the paper elf she made at school.

I grew up playing with these classic little people, and it makes me so happy when my kids get them out.

Wrapping and writing.

Onesie pajamas because... 2020? Rose has actually had her leopard onesie for a year or so. She just wanted to be part of the onesie crew one night.

Sir Jeffrey, ready for the cafeteria holiday banquet at work.

I got such a kick out of watching Mr. Regency Jeff come and go that day.

Coming home.

Riding with Rosie

Rose learned the joys of riding south towards Sunnyside: it's all downhill. It made the outward climb worth the effort!

Amber is a determined little biker. She likes to go outside and bike three miles, back and forth on the half mile path behind our house. 

SUNSHINE and a good book.

My skinny Santa-husband.

We went to the library after piano lessons this week, and it is finally open for indoor browsing! Amber scurried around and chose a dozen books in next to no time. I love walking into a quiet room full of kids with books.

Another day: late afternoon sunshine lights up our front room in such a golden cozy way.

The popsicle puppet show, given from behind a [dirty] sideways folding table.

Traditional Christmas Sunday picture!

Anniversary picture: year 14. 

Laughing pictures are the most realistic. I love laughing with Jeff.

[from July 2020]