Finally, our family Christmas day arrived! We declined all plans and focused on just being home and hanging out. We started by opening stockings, of course. JT noticed that he got soap and socks… and joked that he was in the transition year (the morning wouldn’t be complete without a Dude Perfect reference). Then HaleyContinue reading “December 26”
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December 25
We started December 25 off slowly, since it wasn’t our “actual” Christmas at home. I still made our favorite orange scones, berry parfaits, and bacon for breakfast. After a late breakfast, the kids and I sat down to read new books and… eat more scones. Ha. Around 11, some of our family got together toContinue reading “December 25”
December 24
The night before Christmas Eve, we realized we were hungry for Christmas cookies. Grandma Cole to the rescue! She whipped up a batch for us to decorate together. On Christmas Eve, the kids and I did some dessert preparation. (I also made a cheesecake with little Santa hat strawberries for Grandpa Keene’s birthday the weekContinue reading “December 24”
Christmas Goodies
The kids and I have a great time making Christmas treats to distribute to our neighbors and this year I felt like maybe people wouldn’t want homemade treats delivered to their door. But the kids decided it was up to us to be kind and deliver them, and up to the recipients to decide ifContinue reading “Christmas Goodies”
O Christmas Tree
We’ve been celebrating “The Year of Different” by embracing change and doing things differently lately, and finding lots of joy in new experiences and positive solutions. One of the things we decided to do differently was to get a real Christmas tree. Jim and I have been married for 20 Christmas seasons, and we haveContinue reading “O Christmas Tree”
Jury Duty
Who would have thought that I would have to report in for physical jury duty this December? Not me! But I got a notice, and then my number was selected, and off I went to the county courthouse on a rainy Tuesday to stand in line, watch some videos, and complete a survey asking aboutContinue reading “Jury Duty”
Gingerbread Houses
I bought some gingerbread houses for a work virtual event, and the kids wanted some too. Sometimes we decorate them, sometimes we make them, sometimes we don’t do it at all. This year we grabbed the Costco kits and a weekend evening to complete them – and they turned out like magazine ads, I think!
Thanksgiving Eve
We started out our long holiday weekend with a walk for Maverick in the beautiful sunshine. As we walked, I noticed how much of the walk covered a lot of things for which I am thankful: my kids, their schools (JT’s sweatshirt), our hobbies (skiing, Haley’s sweatshirt), walking together in our safe, beautiful neighborhood, andContinue reading “Thanksgiving Eve”
New Winter Family Activity
We usually set up the puzzle table in the winter months, and the family works on it together (or separately!) during downtime, waiting for meals to be ready, before bedtime, and all throughout the day. This year, Jim decided to start us on coloring instead. He ordered a nice set of pencils and a coupleContinue reading “New Winter Family Activity”
Into the Woods
There is a huge protected forest near our house, and in five years I keep thinking we should go there and check it out. One Sunday, I decided to take Maverick with me and walk the forest and get a little information so we can explore there some more. I can’t wait to go backContinue reading “Into the Woods”
The Keene Family 