Wow wow wow, December sure whooshed by. I feel like I only have a vague recollection of what even happened, but I'm going to do my best to compile what I can.
What We Did -
Norah got her second dose of the vaccine (!!!). I took June and Norah on separate trips to pick out gifts for each other and they were so cute and thoughtful as they picked stuff out. Went to a new (to us) playground where there was a whole group of LARPers. (I truly enjoy that so much. I'm just so happy they all found their people and have a hobby they love). I went up to Malad for a day to have a JHEL reunion. (and try the new bakery which is amaaaazing). We set up Christmas (reluctantly, honestly). Ev was sick for a whole week. The girls had a stay home day for their well child appointments, but we also got donuts and watched Home Alone. I had my elf day and watched The Holiday and Love Hard and wrapped 90% of the gifts. I took Norah to work with me for her first day of Christmas Break, and we got her first library card at lunch. Christmas Things! We made cookies and decorated them over the course of three days. We watched A Muppet Christmas Carol. We got hot chocolate and drove around looking at Christmas lights. We did a Christmas craft. We opened up books and pj's on Christmas Eve. And we had a lovely Christmas day where the kids opened gifts for literal hours and took lots of time to play with everything and had snack lunch and watched Christmas episodes of Bob's Burgers. We went to Malad the next day, the kids opened MORE presents (and listen, we opened a lot too), and we enjoyed having time with family. The rest of break consisted of later bedtimes, lots of lazy tv watching, and playing with all the new toys.
Inspired by -
Thinking about a new year and how to reframe goals and responsibilities. A Christmas-free house! It felt so cluttery all month, and I'm excited to get things super organized for at least a minute and freshen up some of the decor. Cataloguing my reading list. Having free space in my brain now that I'm not thinking about the holidays.
Watching -
Finishing up PEN15. It's the best show I'll never watch again. A truly devastating episode of Mythic Quest. We finished up Bake-Off and Baking It. I've also been watching Sister Wives from the beginning? Also the new to me Christmas movies, Love Hard (surprisingly great) and Noelle (surprisingly funny).
Reading -
Fault Lines - loved this. The world was so well created and it ended a bit abruptly so I keep finding myself thinking it was a show I was watching and I have another episode left.
Alice in Rapture, Sort Of - Still re-reading this YA series. I'm excited for when Norah is old enough to read them.
The Kitchen Front - I liked this, but it wrapped up a bit too neatly for me.
Thinking about -
How Brian and I both completely didn't think about the fact that the turkey breast we got for Christmas dinner would need to be....defrosted. Which area of the apartment to declutter first. How is Everett so cute? Why are Crave cookies so superior?
Listening to -
Mostly Christmas music, to try and trick myself into feeling the holiday spirit. It mostly didn't work, but I love that June and Norah were singing jingle bells all month. We also discovered the Ingrid Michaelson holiday cd from a couple years ago and watched the videos for Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Christmas Valentine a million times.
Researching -
Colorful N95 Masks, movie times for Encanto, end of the year book lists, all the post-christmas sales.
Organizing -
Very little this month. But my list for next month is....growing.
Cooking + Eating + Drinking -
Christmas cookies! Christmas tacos! Our newest obsession, poke bowls! Several orders of Crave cookies! My favorite soup! Salmon for the first time somehow! (cooking, not eating)
Grateful for -
I cried on Christmas morning watching the kids opening their gifts. We're so so lucky and we are able to give our kids so much and I don't appreciate that nearly enough.
What the girls are into -
Norah - practicing on her new roller skates. Reading. Her very own library card. Playing with June. Asking for a snack.
Juniper - watching her dino egg hatch. Cuddling. Being baby Riley. Norah's new LOL doll. Bluey. Looking at Norah's chapter books. Asking for mint gum.
What Everett is doing -
Walking! Waving hello and goodbye a lot. Saying hi without realizing it? Pointing at people he is excited about. Being the cheeriest little bub around.
Magic -
The girls using their bedtime lights in the morning to search for Strawberry, our elf. (Also I got an elf this year and it was truly the best and I formally apology for talking shit about elf on the shelf for so many years)
Stirring pasta noodles with Ev on my hip while June "does the dishes" and Norah is making gift tags at the table. There's warm cornbread on the counter and Dark Was the Night is playing in the background.
Missing -
Warm weather already. THE SUN FOR MORE THAN THREE HOURS A DAY. Not having a freaking tree in my living room.
Looking forward to -
I mean, I know it's too early to say spring. But just a later sunset will do the trick. Maybe all the kids being in one room? I mostly have trepidations about it, but I'm trying to be optimistic.
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| i don't know, i just liked this little breakfast scene. |
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| held hands with every mannequin at target. |
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| Reading under my desk. |
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| Beyond pleased with himself for this climbing success. |
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| Has a cold, but still vibing. |
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| post-christmas realness. |
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| post-dance party, pre-vomit |
