Always a busy month in December. Always seems like there's not enough time to get everything done *and* be able to enjoy it. This year was no exception. But...we tried and as usual, we always find a way to make it memorable.
First things first, though. While Daddy was out in California on business, you and I got a wild hair and decided to wash the outside of our windows to spruce things up a bit for Santa. So...we went to the hardware store, got a giant squeegee with a telescoping pole, and took care of business. I didn't get any pics of us doing the other taller windows, but here you are taking care of our storm door. You loved this little gadget. Just like your dad...a sucker for gadgets and doo-hickeys.
This Christmas, while Daddy is still working like crazy and stressed quite a bit, it was a little nicer because he is now stressed and working like crazy for a company and people who truly appreciate him. It makes a world of difference. He actually got a very unique bonus from his boss and, in the spirit of giving and paying it forward, we were able to go out (as a family) on a secret Santa mission and spread some of our good fortune to a dear friend. We surprised him at his work and hid our gift, then texted him from your phone (so he wouldn't recognize the number) and made him go find it, then we hid and waited for him, jumping out at just the right time. It's always fun to not only do something sneaky like this, but also spread good cheer to those who might need it. That's definitely what this season is all about.
We also got an invitation to the Bulldog Breakfast, a recognition ceremony of sorts at your school. Evidently, one of your teachers had nominated you because you make a positive difference for them (and in your school) every day. It is a really admirable bi-annual event...another reason I'm so glad you attend school here. What an honor...so proud of who you are in this world!
Another fun pre-winter break event at school was your holiday concert. You finally got to show us your French horn skills and we got to listen to a variety of holiday music from the band, orchestra, and choir. You were so nervous and excited to show us and had a good cheering section with myself, Daddy, Lao Lao, Memaw, Papaw, and Audrey all in the audience.
Can you see Daddy standing in the wings to the left of the stage? He and Papaw split up and were on a mission to get some good action shots of you!
With long-time buds, Jocelyn and Jelysa.
With your friend, Avery.
You also got to go see some drive-thru Christmas lights with Jelysa and Jocelyn (which you thoroughly enjoyed) and then on another night, we did our annual Wildlights at the zoo.
Of course, not before Lucky decided to climb our Christmas tree at home and give us his own show of 'wild lights', first. Little jerk.
In true teen fashion, you declined most pictures at the zoo, except for this one.
But...here *we* are!
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| and since Lao Lao was wearing a crazy zebra Christmas sweater, we convinced her to hop a fence and take a picture with this giant zebra Christmas ornament...I mean...we had to, right?! |
And here we (Daddy and I) are again on a date night at Easton...ewwww, right? Ha ha.
During the run-up to winter break and Christmas, you were having some various conversations with friends at school about Santa. Evidently, your friends group is becoming more divided between believers and non-believers. Here's a conversation you and I shared one afternoon after school...
I couldn't have answered it better myself, kiddo. I love the way you think! Ha ha.
And when Christmas break was finally upon us, we did celebrate its beginning with a family lunch at Easton! Yay for winter break!
We tried to keep you busy and connected with your friends over the break. One evening, we took your friend Bryden with us to dinner and to see the lights downtown.
After dropping Bryden off, Daddy took us up north a little bit to see a surprise...probably the wildest home I have ever seen decorated for Christmas. You were tired and grumpy so we didn't get any pics of you with this house, but oh. my. gosh. Can you believe this?! I can't even remember how many thousands (millions?) of lights they said were on this home. Let's just say...way too many to count!
Christmas Eve came and while there was no snow, we had a whole lot of fog. Check this out from my walk that morning...
After my normal morning walk, we decided to decorate Christmas cookies for Santa. We did lots of the usual festive decorations and then we did this tray. The 'adults only' tray, a tradition of sorts around these parts...you know we can't do anything 100% normally, right? Ha.
The animals were clearly excited about Santa coming...
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| Lucky: "So, is Santa coming now?" Grizz: "Not yet." Lucky: "How about now?" Grizz: "No. Be patient/" |
Then home for comfy clothes, games, and relaxing while we prepped for the big guy in red!
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| Audrey stopped by and hung out for a while, too! |
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| evidently Grizz took first shift to watch for Santa |
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| your note for Santa |
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| Santa Clause Jr giving our tree-topper one last hug before heading back to the North Pole with Santa |
We also had you watch your annual video message from Santa before heading to bed as well. Eleven years in and you're as adorable this year as in all the years past...and the video is saved with all the others in our archive, of course. I love this tradition, as well. And I love that you still look forward to it so much, too.
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| Grizz: "Go to sleep, Suzy, or Santa won't come!" |
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| tearing into the gifts before Christmas morning...ornery kitty |
And...finally! It was Christmas morning!
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| the stocking! |
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| the gifts! |
Lao Lao slept over on Christmas Eve and it was nice to have her here with us to wake up, open presents, and eat breakfast together. I didn't take nearly as many pictures as I would have liked to...but chose to stay in the moment instead. Sometimes that's even more important. Plus...I was a very, very sleepy mommy.
After a leisurely morning of opening gifts, stuffing ourselves with breakfast, and just lounging for a while, Lao Lao went to visit with Uncles Flint and Forge and their girlfriends while Memaw and Papaw came over to visit us. Daddy had been craving a turkey and so we went all out and made an entire Thanksgiving style feast with all the trimmings. It smelled amazing and tasted delicious and I always forget how cozy it feels to cook and feed your people like that. Why don't I do that more often?
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| Grizz likes to help herself to our food |
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| REALLY likes to help herself... |
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| just one of those moments that made me smile so I thought I'd capture it |
Now that Christmas had come to a close...you still had the second half of your winter break. Much of it was spent hanging with our silly animals so the following several pictures are just essentially a bunch of animal spam. Enjoy...ha.
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| Lucky sleeps more like a dog than a cat |
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| Pippy loves to cuddle with you |
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| another odd sleeping position |
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| how in the world are you still asleep?! ha |
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| here Lao Lao is teaching Grizz how to make soup with all of our leftover turkey |
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| the dogs came on a freezing cold, early morning walk with Lao Lao and me ...Grizz (in particular) grew the most glorious icicle beard |
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| what was I saying about Grizz helping herself to our food...? |
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| Dad has clearly had enough...double-teamed by Grizz *and* Lucky |
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| I will never get tired of you climbing into my lap for a snuggle and some extra comfort |
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| my extremely belated birthday gift blanket from Daddy! ...sweet Abby and sensitive soul Susan... |
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| once again, Double G thinks he's a parrot |
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| you're not helping me work, Lucky |
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| yes...there's an extra dog in this picture... Thorfin the neighbor dog came for a visit |
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| pretty little stinker |
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| Lucky has found a new best friend...this string |
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| takes it with him everywhere |
Ok...ok. Enough of the animal spam (for now). While I went back to work, Daddy took you to the Verizon store to replace your phone which was completely fried. You were so excited to get your hands on a new phone and also to wear your brand new sweatshirt and blue Vans you just got...Christmas showcase!
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| breakfast with Dad at Delaney's and a genuine smile...gorgeous! |
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| showing me how your remote timer works on your new phone... not bad! |
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| ok...one more random animal spam pic...I can't even explain this one |
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| some artwork you created and sent me from your new phone |
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| our holiday card this year |
And finally...it was New Year's Eve. We celebrated it just as we usually do with a low-key evening at home with comfy clothes, lots of yummy food, games, laughter, and watching the ball drop on TV. And of course, Lao Lao's red underwear she makes us all wear for good luck. This year I chose to wear it on my head instead. It still counts, right?
Happy 2020, baby! I can't wait to see what this next year brings us all!
Love,
Mama
