Mali ~
One of my favorite months and times of the year is December. While there is a lot to do and at times I feel stressed out about unrealistic expectations and perceived obligations, there is something about the Christmas spirit, the warmth and coziness of Christmas lights, the importance of spending time with those we love, the special traditions that bring warm memories for years to come, and just the overarching unspoken sentiment that love for our fellow humans is really what life is all about truly makes me wish I could bottle this feeling for the other 11 months of the year. It's probably why it takes me FOREVER to take down the lights and decorations once the holidays are over. *sigh* So much love.
Anyway, with all of the hubbub this month, this entry may be a little disjointed. I will touch on some of the memorable highlights or points of interest or just funny things that happened first, and the rest will be the multitude of photos taken to capture other moments. I know I drive you crazy with my picture taking, but my hope is that someday you will treasure and appreciate my obnoxiousness. Ha ha. Fingers crossed!
First, I want to mention how thoughtful you were in making out your list for Santa this year. Knowing how expensive some of the gifts you wanted are, you put the higher-priced ticket items on your list for Santa. *smile* So darn considerate, you are!
This month was also a surprisingly big step for you in that not only did you sleep over all night at Jos' birthday sleepover, but you also made it through an entire movie (that was somewhat scary) at the theatre as part of the party! You typically poo-poo the idea of going to a movie theatre because the movies are too loud, too long, or too scary; but this time you tackled the movie for Jos' party like a champ. Way to go, kiddo! You are growing up right before my eyes and make the biggest leaps when I least expect it.
One Friday night we had a family movie night and Daddy and I pulled out one from the 80's, Scrooged with Bill Murray. I didn't expect you to enjoy it but you did, and even requested another movie after that...Elf! We all snuggled together on the giant couch and ottoman downstairs with a ton of blankets and pillows. It was so cozy and so nice to enjoy this together as a family. Like I said before, you typically poo-poo movies, so this surprised us. The next day, you even made a comment about how you liked bonding as a family like that. It made Daddy and my hearts sing!
Another night, we invited Ana and Carter over to help us decorate Christmas cookies and then you all cuddled up downstairs and watched Polar Express together. Well, you helped me wrap Christmas presents while Ana and Carter watched the movie...but hey...we were all hanging out together, so...
Anyway, I wish I had some pictures of you all with your cookies, but it's a bit of a struggle sometimes to get you to agree to documentation, so this tired mom forgoes the fight and gets what I can. C'est la vie!
And now...for the moments I *was* able to capture...voila below!
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| never fails...GG loves to "help" me do bills |
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| snugs |
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| never fails...Pip always steals my pillow at bedtime |
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| new jammies and a silly pose! |
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| we made a gingerbread house ~ fancy fancy! |
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| yes, you wrote "drunk people" in the yard of the house (???) |
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spontaneous family outing to find some awesome
Christmas lights around the 'ville |
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we baked some peanut butter blossom cookies, or as you
call them, "belly button cookies" (which I love even more!) |
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| Pip is reading over your shoulder on your Kindle |
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| Suzy pup loves her walks |
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I took you and Ana to our local metro park
to make some fun holiday crafts |
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you made an avocado man tree ornament
out of a sliced up tree trunk |
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| my crew...my tribe |
Remember those traditions I mentioned earlier? Well, we headed to a beautiful cabin with Lao Lao, Uncle Flint, Monica, and Uncle Forge for yet another fun weekend. It rained the entire time but we still had fun playing games, making pizza, decorating Christmas cookies, watching a movie, exchanging presents, and of course...the hot tub!
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| I spotted Rudolph at Walmart on the way there! |
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| Daddy and I in our silly new hats from Lao Lao |
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| Uncle Flint and Monica - the vikings |
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| Lao Lao was so confused by the dog toy we brought Iroh |
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| hot tub time! |
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| you were so excited to help Monica make pizzas |
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| she was so kind and patient with you...you adore her! |
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| what kid can resist an opportunity to stoke the fire? |
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| attempting to get a family photo |
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| and more attempts...yes, Suzy is wearing matching jammies |
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| Suzy is just the best |
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| you two are so silly! |
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someone threw your silkie on the super high log
beam at the cabin - this was the retrieval effort |
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| group photo in our matching jammies |
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| obligatory silly group photo |
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we just had to spice up the cookie decorating...
I know, I know....inappropriate as heck |
And another tradition...Clifton Mill!
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rainy and freezing all evening...thank goodness you
had each other to warm up with on the way home! |
And, possibly another new tradition? We took a lantern stroll at our local metro park. Once again, it was cold and rainy...but a cool experience nonetheless. AND they only expected about 10 people to show up but instead they got over 200 of us crazy souls! Wow, huh?
Speaking of our local metro parks and the cool events they host...I was perusing Facebook the other day and came across this ad for one of their winter hikes and lo and behold...look whose picture they are using! That is you ~ from when you were about 3 or 4 years old! So stinkin' cute! #famousbebe
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we also discovered a secret...your hair styles itself perfectly when
you lay on the floor! look at the coif, yo! #perfection |
And before we knew it...*drumroll please*...we blinked our eyes and Christmas Eve was finally upon us! Yippee!!
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| GG, slumbering under the tree dreaming of Santa |
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because I can't wait for surprises...you got to open 2 gifts before
we even went to Christmas Eve dinner! |
Another yummy Christmas Eve dinner at Billy Lee's!
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| crunchy soup noodle fangs with Audrey Ayi |
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| with Memaw, Papaw, Lao Lao, and Audrey Ayi |
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| so silly |
And when we got home from dinner, you got a package from the North Pole!
It was the viking hat that you loved from our camping weekend but that we had misplaced!
Reunited - yay!
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| even Audrey approves of the viking hat |
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| Viking Mali and Octopus Audrey |
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| family picture in front of the tree on Christmas Eve |
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we can't take a "normal" family picture
without taking a "not so normal" one |
And of course we had to watch your email video message from Santa before bed!
Click here for a video of you watching Santa's message!
Leaving cookies and milk by the fireplace...
And a letter for Santa...
You were so unbelievably excited that Audrey Ayi got to spend the night on Christmas Eve. I mean...over the freaking moon ecstatic! We're lucky you went to sleep at all that night! Ha.
Can't forget the carrots and oats with magical glitter for the reindeer...
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| close-ups of your letter...so sweet |
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| "you" ... LOL |
One of my most favorite times on Christmas Eve is sitting quietly under the warm glow of the lights in the dark, calm, peaceful house after everyone has fallen asleep, saying silent prayers that we made it through another year together and that the magic of Christmas is still alive and well. These stolen moments, reclaimed from the hustle and bustle and stress of the season, are some of my most cherished, private traditions.
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| so hard to go to bed on Christmas Eve |
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| 2 cats and a dog enjoying the Christmas tree together |
And then Christmas morning had arrived! Yippee!
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checking out your stocking and the remnants of milk and cookies
from Santa ~ making sure he ate your treats |
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| Santa came! Santa came! |
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this face was what you made about a tiny
jar of Nutella...Nutella, folks! LOL |
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so glad Lao Lao is able to open gifts with us
on Christmas morning ~ always nice to
have her with us |
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| hover board with scooter attachment! |
And then later on Christmas Day, Memaw and Papaw came over for a gift exchange and a late lunch. I actually made quite the spread of food and it felt warm and cuddly being all huddled up and lazy together.
After the hubbub of Christmas was over, it was back to business as usual. I resumed my nature walks and GG resumed his insistence that he is also a dog and therefore, entitled to come on walks too. Although, he seems more like a parrot in this photo...what do you think? Ha.
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| Ahh...there we go...now he looks more like a cat again. |
And finally...the last day of December, the last day of 2018...we had our usual "let's all stay inside where it's warm/homebody New Year's Eve" celebration with this gang. Food, games, silliness, and watching the ball drop. We were all super exhausted so this picture is a bit of an illusion...rallying for one final champagne toast to the old year and attempting to bring in the new year all proper-like. How'd we do?
Happy 2019, everyone!
Love,
Mama
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