Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! The Christmas season was busy as usual. I’m determined to get to a year where this isn’t the case. I’m open to what others may do to simplify or make it less hectic. I feel like time is just speeding up so fast everything is a whirlwind, but definitely at this time of the year.
Not to mention that we have all our birthdays at the end of the year so November and December always come and go so quickly, like a tornado. Growing up, my birthday was the last one of the year in my family and was always right before Thanksgiving. Perfect, I’d imagine, then there’s more focus on the holidays.
A Little Background
Once I had my first son a week before Christmas, it stirred it up. I made sure to let everyone know that he gets birthday AND Christmas acknowledgments/presents, not to combine them. ;P And no birthday wrapped in Christmas paper. haha
Fast forward about ten years and I gained a step-daughter that was only five days younger than my son, and a husband that was the beginning of October. Our last quarter of the year was on full blast for sure. We didn’t think that was enough fun so we had a son the next year that was due the first week of December. I was like, oh I don’t think so! But apparently, I did indeed think so. We decided to have him a week early so my youngest son is a November baby like me!
The only drawback is now his birthday is always around Thanksgiving and a few times ON it. Oy!? Sometimes I think I’d be more into party planning for them if they weren’t at the craziness of the year. Oh, I also had a nephew born a few days after my oldest son’s birthday a couple of years ago. So to say we’ve been busy and have things going on this time of year is an understatement I guess is what I’m getting at.
With my oldest now living in Arizona, our time is more precious. He has to be a responsible adult, I guess. Time with us has drastically decreased and we have all the feels about it, of course, especially the little one. He misses his brother so much all the time. This has definitely been a challenge.
Catching the Spirit
As far as our Christmas photos here, these were taken while he was here for his birthday celebrations. They are quite tired of Mom always having a camera in their faces. Sometimes I get crappy shots and just have to live with it. At least it’s something.
This was about midnight, as we were heading to bed, in horrible lighting, the camera was propped up on the piano bench with some thin books. I thought for sure I’d lose them if I went to the garage for the tripod. hahaha Still fiddling with settings and lighting for indoor photos so I chose quickly and tried just using SCN as well. Yeah, not the greatest even though it let in a little more light. I also had a very excited ten-year-old wanting to “take the photo” aka hitting the button for the timer.
This is the aftermath of all of that, with some desperate photo editing with feelings of defeat. Alas, I am happy to have something to preserve this memory! I was actually very stoked about the very blurry one! I thought it was so cool! That was a great oops! I mean, yes, yes, I meant to do that!
Year-End Story-November
The last couple of months have been crazy, but nice. Here’s our year-end story. Got to see the Taylor Swift movie, my birthday, which included my youngest’s party with his friends. Happened to be the best day for everyone to be able to make it. His friends’ moms are also my friends. They treated me to my dinner and celebrated me a bit during the party so that was fun. It was a good day!
We got to have my oldest here for Thanksgiving pretty much last minute and that was GREAT! Quick, but I was grateful. Was a little eventful with late-night baking, little one not feeling well, and very little sleep, but we powered through.
Year-End Story- December
A fun trip out to the cabin for some family time and what was supposed to also be school time. Well most of it was different kinds of schooling but we got some of our stuff in. Grandpa Darryl {Dad} has been here and was working hard on projects at the cabin as usual. Grandma Betty Jean and Lynette made the trip out, along with Uncle Boyd. Helped fill in some dirt, did some nature walking and exploring, a little photo sesh, and just all around time I needed out there!
Santa train in Boulder City with family, and a fun little miniature ride-on train ride. Church Christmas party and little one got to be Samuel the Lamanite for the Nativity play. It was rough for him to stand with his arms up for so long. “Samuel” got very animated to show that. Ugh where’s the laughing emoji when I need it so much? This is gonna be a trip.
I ended up getting sick for a few days. It was coming on the day of the party but I wasn’t sure what it was. Spent the next few days chugging all of my natural remedies and stuck to the couch. No bueno. Thankful for all my remedies! They definitely help speed up the healing process! As my son has come to tell everyone, “She has something for that.” Bahahaha Well, just about, one day.
Visit From My Son!
My oldest came for his birthday and we were so excited we got some extra time with him! He and little one bond over playing video games and building legos so they immediately found their groove and my momma heart was so full!
Had some birthday celebrations for my nephew, and my oldest. One turning two, and one, twenty-one. Different kinds of celebrations for sure. I cherish their together time.
We had some family time with Mom and sisters and their families baking cookies on Grandma’s angel day. She always loved making cookies at Christmastime.
We made an impromptu stop at the Ethel M factory to see the lights. More of a hassle and chaos than in previous years but we marked it off our holiday celebration list. The “impressed meter” was definitely not going very high for either of us. Maybe it was the night. Merry Christmas!
Making It a Merry Merry Christmas!
Took little one with the family to see Christmas lights on Christmas Eve Eve. One for the books. Exhausted, and less than jolly people, lights through a toddler’s eyes again, witnessing and almost being a part of a car accident, dinner at Panda with life-altering fortunes of course, {of which I have forgotten but was probably something to the effect of “seize the day”}, fun lights, and popping by a good friend of mine’s.
Holy smokes. So much. Christmas Eve spread some Christmas love by delivering some goodies. A good Christmas Eve dinner I joined last minute with my Mom and sister and fam, late night wrapping and cleaning up. A late start to Christmas and waited for my time with my little one. He loved and appreciated everything he got to open. We had our Christmas and off to my sister’s for a magnificent dinner and good family time. I think everyone is exhausted, and I’m sure I’ve missed some events and highlights. It is three a.m. so I’m going to call it good.
Reason for the Season
With all of the traditions, we made sure to also focus on our Savior and His birth and mission. We are ever so grateful for that baby born a humble birth in a stable. The gift He was. Although it has gotten over-commercialized, it brings out the spirit of giving, thinking of others, and spreading love just as He did and does. For that I am grateful. I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas and have a wonderful New Year!