12/25

How wonderful to have a day together celebrating and filling the house full of laughter. We agreed on a 9:30 start which gave me time to get the egg casserole going and for Marshall to wrap up some final gifts.

We opening stockings, opened a few presents and then took a breakfast break. We opened more gifts and were able to enjoy a relaxing day with nowhere to be. We (kind of) watched the Broncos get killed, we set up computers and played Klask. I ran to the neighbors to get a card table for our new puzzle. T-man and Matt picked up the LeBeavys from the airport around 4:00 and we all enjoyed the brisket dinner prepared by Marshall. 

Our neighbors had stopped by earlier in the day as their boys were off with their girlfriends. I thanked D-man for staying home and he said “I want to be home on Christmas. I want to be here.” Words that mean a lot this year on so many levels. Glad to be in THIS home as a family this year. 

Stocking time 

Ready for stockings 

Let the gift opening commence! 

“Fancy” wrapping paper from Marshall 

Couch yoga 

Klask - huge hit! 

Colorado puzzle 


A bit of gift opening and checking in on games 

Traditional Christmas

After not being here last Christmas, the boys were happy to have a traditional Christmas. We have our traditions, but just bring together makes it special too. I went grocery shopping, I made chowder, we made Chex mix, Marshall did some shopping, we watched football and some folks watched the movie “A Christmas Karen which got some laughs. 

The chowder turned out well, but I served it a bit cold…. But we had a nice table set and a fun dinner. The boys even dressed up. We had a family pool tournament with lots of laughs before opening presents and enjoying grasshoppers. 

I sound like a broken record, but it is not lost on me that we are able to continue our traditions in our home while many of our friends and neighbors cannot this year. Having all four of us home and sharing our traditions with Claudia and Matt is a privilege this year. Let us not forget our good fortune as we head into the new year. 

Christmas movie 

Ready for chowder 

Charismas eve dinner 

Pool tournament 

Grasshoppers 

Pjs (had a mild panic attack when I couldn’t find them!) after T-man had asked earlier about the pj gift

Not to be outdone by the Lebeavys 

Feliz Navidad

A Mexican food themed holiday gathering at the Thackray’s kicked off our Christmas weekend. Both boys came as did Claudia and Matthew. It was a fun evening with a euchre tourney following dinner that was won by the Teen Titans. An intimate little gathering with good friends - lovely! 

Shenanigans

The group


Funny! 

Teen Titans for the win 

The Calm Before the Storm

On December 20th, the weather started out around 50 degrees. I got in a walk in the morning hours before the temps started to drop, and T-man and I got out to Target before the storm. T-man and I then took the time to make some treats while the house was quiet.

While the house was quiet (D-man was skiing, Marshall left for the airport to get his Mom and Matthew met someone for a beer), I prepped for dinner, wrapped some presents and just embraced the silence before the Peavy storm arrive. 

 

By the time we finished the treat, the storm had moved in. We looked outside and it was snowing - heavily. This heavy snow meant a long ride home from the airport and 7.5 hour drive home from skiing for D-man. But, we are all under one roof and safe and warm. I couldn’t ask for more. 

A new treat - peanut butter ritz cracker with chocolate 

Peanut butter balls - yummy 

Snow! 

Gonna be a white Christmas 

We’re ready 

So This is Christmas

For a multitude of reasons, we didn’t put the ornaments on the tree this year until tonight. T-man actually commented that we usually do the tree during the day, but not this year. While it is later in the month,  it meant all four of us were able to participate which I will definitely cherish. It was also made special this year as we were a little more thankful for all the special ornaments we still had to grace our tree. Some make us laugh. Some remind us of others. Some remind us of special places. Some tug at our heartstrings. But they all hold memories. And this is Christmas for us this year.  A real tree with ornaments that will grace the tree for fewer days this year, but a reminder of our good fortune and so much more. 

Doing the calendar 

On ornament hook duty 

His favorite ornament 

These are in our ornament box - from daycare - 2007 and 2010. 

Messi!!

Marshall was none to happy with me when I drug him to watch the World Cup with friends this morning. But, wow - what a game! It looked like Argentina was going to walk away with it, but Kylian Mbappe was not having any of that. Extra time with filas by both Messi and Mbappe. Penalty kicks that resulted in an Argentine victory. Ut certainly was exciting! It was fun watching with a small group of people. And, fun to see a storybook ending for Messi. 

On the big screen 

Mimosas and bagels 

I wore the only blue and white striped shirt I had! 

Wright’s Holiday Shindig

A wonderful evening of yummy food (the Australian sausage rolls I made were a hit!), drink and merry times with friends. D-man even made an appearance for some food and quick conversations with folks. T-man hung in the basement at the Wrights with his bud. 

Holidaying 

My handsome date 

Girlfriends  

Go RedHawks

Miami University kicked off the bowl season with a Friday morning game. We got burritos and cheered on the team to victory…..almost…. 

We also worked to learn the Miami fight song - we are better than when we started, but still have some work to do. 

Decked out

We tried! 

When we were winning…… 

Birthday at BJ’s

We enjoyed a fun dinner on Thursday night to celebrate T-man’s birthday. We delayed the dinner because of finals week. In addition to the completion of finals, both boys worked really hard this semester and their grades reflect that. We enjoyed two pizookies (one for free) and just being together. My heart was definitely full. 

fun flight 

Birthday dinner! 

The fam 

Pizookies - yum!