Annual Christmas Eve Journal Write 2022

I can't believe it's already Christmas Eve.

I can't believe how many times this year I've uttered the phrase "I can't believe it's [enter date here]."

I have felt continually behind and like I'm continually catching up but I guess the important thing is that it's continual, meaning I'm still trying to.

Christmas 2021

 Good grief, I never posted this last Christmas.  I literally post on here twice a year, you'd think I could manage that at least.

I thought this was a really good one too.

Annual Christmas Eve Journal Write 2021

Another wonderful marvelous incredible (truly) year and we've made it at least to Christmas.

Things are pretty gnarly right now and I'm afraid they're about to get gnarlier but I'm also somehow still somewhat (sometimes) optimistic.

Whatever happens will happen and much of it is and will continue to be out of our control so we just need to be as prepared as we can for it so that's the current mindset.

God bless us, every one.

(The goal this year was to have a complete mess of lights upon lights upon lights and so I bought a bunch of new lights and it still doesn't look like enough lights.  Okay tree though.)

Christmas 2020

I literally just noticed I never posted our Christmas card.

So here it is.

I mean to be real we still wear these pajamas all the time so we're

Annual Christmas Eve Journal Write 2020

 What on earth can possibly be said on this Christmas Eve 2020?

I don't even know where to start.

And I'm afraid once I do I won't stop.

So I won't.

The kids are asleep and soon so shall we be.

Christmas 2019

We wanna wish you a:

Annual Christmas Eve Journal Write 2019

I just read through last year's ACEJW and felt a grim realization that I failed in my resolve to get and stay caught up on blogging for 2019 almost 100%.  Then I realized I have done okay staying caught up on Instagram and really that seems to be the way things are going anyway and I refer to that a lot instead soooo maybe that's just what's going to happen.

But you know I'm still going to drop a line here once or twice a year, even if it's just to say hello and merry Christmas Eve.

I've been doing a bit of a juggling act lately but I think I'm finding a pretty good balance.  It's true that I don't even have a picture of our Christmas tree to put on here but wait, you know what?  I can go take one right now, why not?  Stand by...

THERE. I did a thing.  I had an idea and I stood up and followed through, and that's a Christmas Eve win.  And I just realized that there's the white lights in that middle section are out.  This is real life.

Anyway, it was a busy and crazy and wonderful year and 2020 is looking to be a pretty good one too.

Christmas 2018

From all of us to all of you:

Annual Christmas Eve Journal Write 2018

I had grand plans to be caught up by tonight but I'm not but I still want to do my annual Christmas Eve Journal Write.

(Incidentally one of my goals for 2019 is to be better about staying caught up on my blog by the way.  I know no one reads these anymore but I actually refer to it quite often and find it a great resource even as a personal journal and photo depository.)

We had Mom and Dad over for fondue again this year and it was sooooo delicious and I'm not regretting in the least all the treats I've been eating over the last week or so.

Christmas is all set to go and the kids are asleep and I finished my 4:50 dead hangs (ouch why) and we're looking forward to a loud and busy and tons of fun day tomorrow.  We watched The Small One tonight and it was a little magical to watch Charlie (5.5) figure out the twist in the last seconds.

The Wife is sitting at my side working on her brand new laptop with a light-up keyboard and it brings me a lot of joy that it brings her a lot of joy.

This year's Christmas pajamas from Mom featured shorts and I'm okay with this.

Anyway, Santa should be here any second, in fact I think he already showed up, so I better get to bed.

July the Fourth 2019

We had a great Independence Day.  Hiking with the fam, fireworks shirts, all the foods and panorama fireworks from the backyard, and kayaking the next day.

Mom's four zones 

Nice big group!

And we shall call it... This Land...

A's side-eye...

Water babies

Happy birthday, America! There are troubles but honestly things have been and could be much worse.

End of 2017/Start of 2018

Time to (finally) blog a bit about Christmas!  It was a very busy and eventful couple of months, which was at once a bit frantic and a lot of fun.  There were the usual traditions (family musical soiree wherein I led a sing-along of Rutter's Angels' Carol, pajamas from Nana, more Santa excitement than ever, sooooo many treats, Christmas movies and shows, ward choir program, etc. etc. etc.) but there were lots of exciting new happenings too.  I'll just let the Instapictures tell the story.

Wherein I offer a 50% off commission sale and have a nice response!  See our art blog for a collage.

Wherein we go to the Christmas In Color drive-through light show!  Feliz Batty-Bat!

Wherein we go to the adult ward Christmas party and I sing Mele Kalikimaka/Christmas Island and wear my favorite shirt and hat (repeat picture post but it's relevant).

Wherein we brave the crowds of downtown SLC and have fun but decide never to to the Temple Square within a week of Christmas again.

Wherein we watch a Christmas classic and are forcibly reminded by Cindy Lou Who of a certain someone.

Wherein we go to the kids' ward Christmas party and it's our best roller skating outing yet. 

Wherein Wife and Baby come hear me sing Bach and Williams with the TSO.

Wherein my favorite Primary tradition continues for the 4th year!

Wherein I am amazed at how marvelous this movie is.

Wherein Little Mister and I are vest buddies on Christmas Eve.

Wherein we try out our new phone with a front-facing camera!

Wherein I try out my new at last running shoes.

Wherein I pose cheesily with my favorite Christmas present, which I call Coco.

Wherein we go to a merch pop-up of the Wizarding World of HP.  Almost like almost like the real thing!

Wherein this wasn't anywhere to be found in stores so we bought it ASAP (even though I know you can listen online... it's just nice to have).

Wherein we cling to the gingerbread feeling by finding any and all local light displays (this was at University Mall, er... Place).

Wherein the NYB pulls through yet again.

Wherein the kids are very fancy with their breakfast beverages.

Wherein The Wife figured out an ingenious way of getting the Christmas cards to stop falling off the front door every ten minutes -- take them off and hang them up somewhere else. 

Wherein The Boy Who Lived rings in the New Year on my desk at work.

Every time I have choir things coming up I have this underlying and ominous dread that something will happen the day before and I'll get really sick or lose my voice or whatever, but luckily another Christmas season has come and gone with much singing and no serious illness, so I think that's reason (for me at least) to rejoice.  It was a really lovely Christmas with lots going on and so much fun and going to church the day before was a perfect way to keep grounded amid all the festivities and remember the Point in the first place.  2018 is going to be just marvelous.

P.S. These days we get sleepy pretty early and one or both of us heads to bed shortly after the hour hits double digits, but this year I totally scored my NYE midnight kiss. ;*

Christmas 2017

It was pretty much as perfect as could be.

Details to come.

:D :D :D :D 8/

Back view!

Annual Christmas Eve Journal Write 2017

You guys, I was just thinking to myself what a bummer that Christmas was going to be gray and brown and probably clear skies and not very interesting or festive, but no joke, we looked outside after the kids were in bed and it had started to snow. Of course I think it's stopped by now, but it was enough to stick for a little while and that's really enough for me.  (It was also enough to make that last-minute drive to Mom and Dad's house for that package I had shipped there and totally forgot to pick up the many times I've visited since it arrived kind of treacherous and slippery -- I hope everyone who was out drove safely).

SO it's that time of year again and things are changing around here.  Today we had church which was really nice to have on the day before Christmas, there were musical numbers aplenty and everyone was really tired and maybe a little fussy but that made for a nice early bedtime.  This year we dispensed with the whole family fondue tradition in favor of taking our many various offspring and starting our own Christmas Eve dinner traditions, which I'd been thinking for a while now would probably happen this year, and which actually turned out really nice.  We invited Mom and Dad over and had plenty of cheese and dippings and various sweet and/or creamy and/or bubbly drinks and desserts aplenty, and then we all happily jumped into our new joggers from Mom and made ready for bed.

I actually think I've heard Santa hanging around upstairs and think I even glimpsed a goodly number of cool Cars guys and sparkly Princess figurines and maybe something cozy and handmade just for a baby.  I guess we'll find out first thing in the morning!

This is from the first time we decorated it a couple weeks ago... We sort of completely redid it tonight, not unlike last year, after it's been so very... admired over the last several days.  Also we added another string of blue lights and a bunch of blue ornaments.  It just needed a little something extra.

Now goodNIGHT.

One Month For Little Mister (inc. 4th of July)

(Quick, before it's August!  Oh wait, it totally is...)

Over the weekend we hit one month for our littlest one!  He's a big and strong and healthy and almost always happy little boy, and he delights all around him.  He's tall for his age, starting to fill out (the same height as his couple-months-older cousin but not yet nearly as chubby!), a great eater, and he actually sleeps pretty well (do you hear that?...  I'm knocking on the wood-like substance of my desk), waking up a couple times to eat and then snuggling back down to sleep, in the crib and everything.  When he's awake he's really aware of things and is starting to smile (not gas for heaven's sake, we're pretty sure they're legit smiles).  He's a sweet fellow and we're enjoying all his adventures and misadventures and messy diapers and how he's really fitting in and finding his place in the family.

Independence Day was also a thing that happened so that was fun.

Enjoy some pictures!  I vow not to let the third child be neglected!

The many faces of Mr M.

Rocky Mouth Falls with a slew of family.  It was just the right length and difficulty and a great way to start the holiday.

Lots of fun with family for Floats & Fireworks, just like I dreamed when we were thinking of buying this house.  The panoramic view from the backyard was a bit hit.

Baby, you're a firework.

Do you see what I see?

Checking out the world record-breaking flag in town.  Seeing it from the trailhead was okay for us.

Giving the fox hat a go a month later.

 Oh, and by the way, we joined this club too:

So much space!  And luxury!  And room!  And... space!

He's so quiet sometimes that I sort of forget he's there and then I look over and be like, o hi! and then be like, o wow, and then be like, *kissy kissy kissy*