it's me, andrea.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Busy, busy, December... Part 1

Isn't there a love song that says, something about it being over before it begun? ...yes, Celine Dion, When I fall in Love. Ok, Nat King Cole, but also Celine. Anyway, that's how I felt about December! I remember doing a felt nativity scene advent calendar as a child. Feeling every day like it took soooo looong to get to the next day so we could take another piece from it's pocket, and it seeming like there were a thousand little pieces, each representing a day of December. What I would have given for a couple of those slow, endless days/weeks this last month!

Around new years I told Paul, I have to sit down and make a list of everything I want to do different next year so I can plan better, fit more, manage time easier, stress less. Now I can't remember any of it, except, buy it when you see it! I'm kicking myself about a hat I wanted to get Paul and an ornament I wanted to get Addie that were gone by the time I got to stocking shopping. Note to self: Things sell out quick, and all month feels like Black Friday in California.

Anyway, here's a start of the wonderful month we had.

As soon as we got home from Utah, I was in food prep/décor mode for two nights of candle light services at the mortuary. We got home Monday night, and the services were Wednesday and Thursday.

Garrett had his first Christmas program at school. All during November his teacher told me how nervous he was and how he would often want to sit by her and not stand on stage. I was a little worried about the program. Dress rehearsal, the day of, went ok. Not a lot of actions, and very soft singing, but no crying or leaving the stage. And that night he was much more animated. Did the actions, smiled, and sang. I told my mom how funny it is to watch moms (and be one of the moms) sitting in the crown, doing the actions and quietly encouraging your child along. When really no one is probably looking at my kid but me. I know this because at the end of it I was exhausted from all the silent, but energetic encouraging I was doing, and I never looked at any of the other kids.

We went to an ornament party at a friends house.

We went to the uptown tree lighting and holiday fest.

We went to a Dog themed 1st birthday party for the kids' little buddy.

And that was all in the first week back from Thanksgiving. More of December to come...

Thanksgiving in Utah 2014

Mimi flew to California for a day to pick up Garrett and Addie, and the three of them flew to Utah a few days before Paul and I and Charlie drove out. They had a fun week! And I had a lazy, relaxing week. They rode the train, went to the children's museum, the aquarium, played in the snow, visited family, and more.

I felt like I was away from them for a lot longer because when we got there, we stayed with Scott and Laura, and the big kids stayed at my mom and dads. So I still avoided getting them ready for the day, ready for bed, down for naps, and most meal prep. (But I missed them a little.) Scott and Laura just finished building a new home about 5 minutes from my parents, so it worked out quite nice. We had a lot of lazy mornings and late nights with them.

We ate a lot, netflixed a lot, laughed a lot, hosted Thanksgiving dinner, did Black Friday shopping, got family pictures taken, went on a triple date with my brother and a blind date, and my childhood best friend Brandi, and her husband, got my hair done by my other childhood best friend, Mandi. And then we ended the trip with a couple of days in St. George for my new nephews baby blessing.

I keep telling myself that we have too many little ones to fit in the van we have and to keep making the drive. I hate that drive! My kids are little troopers. It's me who cries for most of the time. But seriously, I think we're getting close to needing to be rich enough to fly, or people need to start coming to us. Especially in the winter! The mini trip to St. George helped a little... but not much.

My in laws celebrated their 30th anniversary just before thanksgiving so we went out to dinner. (With just one kid!)

St. George pit stop. Charlie was eye-balling that snuggly. William wasn't havin' it.

Beef Jerky. Road trip snack.

The next generation in the kitchen.

Turkey makes them tired.

These two love pie. Even pumpkin. Or as they call it, Jack-o-lantern pie. They didn't get that from me.

My grandpa shared some old Thanksgiving memories. I promise it was more interesting than my kids make it look in the next pictures!

Somehow Scott and I got into a little debate earlier in the week about who makes a superior rice crispy treat. So we had a little content. The top picture (all hands but one) is for mine. The bottom picture (one hand) is for Scott's. Better luck next year, bro.

All five grandkids, together at great-grandpa Garrett's house.

Charlie learned about the back scratch on this trip. She was constantly on the move unless Scott started this. Then she'd freeze in place for as long as he was scratching.