Holiday Inventory

I have not been a very good family historian. This space is our running family record more than anything these days. When I started this blog, I was working through the grief of losing my mom. Writing was therapeutic. It also became my mission to capture the moments of our lives so that someday when I am gone, my kids would have a answers to any questions that come up, that they would know how much I love them and that they would be able to hear my voice when reading my words. Now that Ted and Lils are young adults, they don't need me to be their memory keeper anymore, I tell the same stories and they let me know they've heard it before and I know they know how adored and cherished they are. I am shushing out what will become of this space. There are still stories to tell, but the minutiae doesn't feel quite right.

 

That being said, here are lots of photos and a few highlights from our December.

 

Enjoying: 

 

The hygge of lots of twinkle lights and calm, simple decor.  Yes, our trees are still up and lit every night or cloudy day.

 

 

 

 

Baking with Lily and Gus. We only made our eight favorite kinds. Sorry if you received any kitty hair with your cookies.

Game and movie nights. Our current favorites are Catch Phrase and Wavelength. Always cribbage for the boys too. I can recommend Yesterday and Captain Fantastic, but most everything else was rather meh.

 Homemade pizza night too.

Cooking for the kids. Lily, our resident chicken only girl, requested a steak after years of no red meat. Mike went out and bought a couple beauts and she remembered that she really really likes steak. She asked for Spanish Sheet Pan Chicken for her last meal I guess in homage to her destination. She is prepping to be a more adventurous eater as she travels Europe.

Loving:

All the beautiful blooms on my Christmas cactus and that she blossomed right on time.

How much cats love Christmas. They are like little kids in and on everything.

 

How much Grandma and Grandpa love Christmas too even when they say no presents.

 

When you give just the right gift...a solar AI bird feeder for the avian loving grandparents, a travel poster for your brother from his latest trip for his growing collection, tickets to see a show of choice in London's Theatreland.

 Christmas Eve mass...the four of us in our pew. I was next to a parishioner whose son was in the procession to the manger. She broke out her good camera and started snapping away proudly. I shared that my kids were a part of that tradition for many years. She looked at me knowingly.

 

When Manny comes to visit. Meryl too! They came late Christmas Eve for a little holiday cheer before heading to California for the rest of the holiday.

 

Grateful for:

 

Family who come for one last good bye.

 

I

 Thinking about:

 

2025 goals. I'm going with intentions over resolutions. What it means to live my best life. Our trip to Spain. It's time to start planning. Visiting my aunt and uncle in Arizona. This year we celebrate thirty years. Lily turns 21 and Ted 25. How to celebrate?