Friday Recap

It's been a whole week. And it felt like January. Why does January feel like it's 90 years long?! 

Last Friday night I went to a girls' night with some of my friends. My friend completed her game room since I last visited. 

I took a picture of this to send to my brother, who loves Clue more than the average bear. He appreciated it very much. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he did something similar. 

Saturday was the "Ladies Crafternoon" at church. I went and made friendship bracelets. 

Using my shoe for tension like I am back at camp. Summer camp talents run deep let me tell you. 

Sunday we had a family day which was so nice. We hooked up the Switch to the TV and played Mario Party. 

I won! 

We also had a long debate over this question. 

 

I believe that my answer of Spaceship Earth is the correct answer. It's slow-moving, fairly quiet, and dark. So you could legitimately sleep through it for a time. 

But I am open to other suggestions. The Seas with Nemo and Friends is also a contender for similar reasons. But the shells aren't as comfortable. 

What would you pick? 

The school and work week came, and I stopped taking pictures. 

The annoying news is that our oven died. I am sure it's the ignitor, but our range was $500 when we bought it 10 years ago and it isn't worth $200 in repairs. So we've been air frying, stove topping, and crock potting right now as we wait for a good sale. 

So far, we have been managing just fine. It's not a long-term solution, but doable. 

C's school choir is going on a field trip. But the makeup assignment looked good and fun too. Both Husband and I asked if he could do it for extra credit. 

After a spell of not too terribly cold... it got really cold again. Both kids wore their new headgear from Christmas. C got a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade stocking hat and M got purple earmuffs. 

Last night, C got his very first Outstanding Lesson at voice lessons! And I believe that smile speaks for itself!! 

But I was truly very proud of him, and it was legitimately an outstanding lesson!! 

So... don't have a lot to show for the week but that's okay. Happy Friday!

Weather Woes, Choral Shows and Friday Goes

I'm going to need Mother Nature to get with the program. 

In Frozen... little Anna says, "The Sky's awake, so I'm awake." 

Only... the sky is in fact... not awake. It isn't awake at all. This week we have been leaving the house in the dark dark. And the fog. And... I hate it.  Nothing about this weather suggests leaving my bed is a good idea. And alas, we are all going about our normal, everyday lives in the dark. 

Or if perhaps society could get with the picture and have things begin at 9:00 in the winter, that'd work too. 

We are back to reality here, and I am not about it. This week was long. As first weeks back typically are. 

I basically took no pictures until Wednesday after C's voice lesson. He told me his neck hurt in the car on the way there and after looking at him the whole lesson I realized he was CROOKED! He didn't believe me so I took photographic proof!

A shower, some ibuprofen, a massage, and a good sleep mostly uncrooked him just in time for honor choir yesterday! 

I admit, he looks crooked in this next picture, too but it was because he was leaning. I joined the group at the mall for lunch. 

Later last night, we got to go see the whole shebang. 

C's choir was massive. They were 3 rows deep on the floor. 

Both groups sounded lovely. Kinda cool what they could accomplish in one day altogether. 

And now it is Friday. 

The delight I feel! 

A Wrap Up of Christmas Break

So once it was 2026, we had to get to work on C's Science Fair project because the data was due today. 

We made a lot of ice. 

And a few days later used a Force Gauge to determine how much force the ice required to break. This was after many other attempts to break or crack the ice didn't work. Such fun. 

I have no idea how this science would be applicable to everyday life, but as long as he had data for school today (he did) I don't rightly care much.

My brother-in-law's family came to town to visit over the weekend. 

We went roller skating and no one broke any bones! 

And now we are back to reality. I am not a super big fan but that's life. Happy Monday!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! 

See you next year! 

Christmas 2025

Now, don't get me wrong. I know we are only at 5 Gold Rings right now and our family is going to keep on celebrating, but here's what we've done so far. The theme of this Christmas is "And I Took No Pictures."

We finished our Puzzle Advent calendar a day early. I really, really enjoyed this Advent calendar. Every day was a mini puzzle, and then all together it makes this Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade scene. 

M went to a half-day camp to make a cardboard gingerbread house. She made a beach house. Then we hit the road from there to my parents' house. 

Christmas Eve arrived and we spent the day with my family before heading off to Mass. C really wanted to go on Christmas Eve. M really wanted to go on Christmas Day. This year, C won, but next year we will go to the day Mass. 

We got there plenty early and got seats right where I wanted to be. It was a good Mass. 

There was a funny moment where, instead of the Nicene Creed, the priest started in on the penitential act, and we all, as a congregation, looked around and went "huh." 

After Mass we had a delicious dinner, of which I took no pictures. Then C performed his Christmas song for us all before we opened presents. 

And M got her very own Chomp Saw so we can make all the cardboard creations we want! 

Christmas Day was quiet and calm. There was a Cardinal at the Bird Buddy.

We opened more presents. And watched the Vikings Game. I will tell you that I thought the Snoop Dog Halftime Show was really really fantastic. 

It was classy with the orchestra and choir. Tasteful holiday wear. A good mix of artists from all genres singing some of their own music, but mostly Christmas. Snoop. Huntrix. Lainey Wilson. Andrea Bocelli. 

I hope the Super Bowl halftime show was taking notes because every single moment was delightful. I even really loved the Martha Stewart intro and goodbye. I really like Martha Stewart, though. 

After an Italian Pasta dinner, we took a group picture. 

Friday, we didn't do much of anything. Played games. Chatted. 

Saturday, we returned home through fog. It was not as lovely a drive as the way up. 

Yesterday we had our own little home Christmas after Mass. We opened our gifts. I took no pictures. And we watched Home Alone 2. 

So that's a little bit of what we have been up to this Christmas season! 

Merry Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas! 

I am very thankful for my little corner of the internet and I hope you and your loved ones have the Christmas that makes your heart happy! 

The Monday Before

We are really cramming in all the Christmas magic into these last few days. 

We went to the Polar Express PJ Party. I took no decent pictures. 

Yesterday C sang at the Christmas Coffeehouse with his voice studio. I put M in charge of the video and the pictures. They didn't turn out. Enjoy these backlit masterpieces. 

The good news was that his performance was, in fact, quite good. I am so proud of him!! 

Then we had our Home Alone night last night. Pizza and Ice Cream Sundaes! 

This morning, M went to a Christmas party brunch, so C and I went to our own brunch. 

And in further proof he is 13, he ate almost every bite. 

I have been baking all afternoon and just discovered I am out of eggs so I need to go get those. Wish me luck!