Goodbye 2024

Last day of 2024.  I thought I would do a little year in review post.  I flipped back through my photos and picked out the “highlights” and the best memories.  When I went to post, I realized there were 300+ photos that I had selected.  That seemed a bit insane so I guess if you want to see that you can just scroll back through the year.  Parts of 2024 felt sort of bad.  My bad attitude is mostly political though.  Truly, this year has been one of accomplishments - 3 of our kids getting master’s degrees, one graduating from high school, one from junior high.  Kids moving out, learning to be adults, grandkids growing up, parties, holidays, family, friends, a couple of vacations, a few medical issues, and a whole lot of love.  Truly, I couldn’t hate 2024 - there was just too much good in it.  

Since I was a kid, I have enjoyed hanging out with family on New Year’s Eve.  It is a holiday where I always miss my grandma, who always had a big party with her siblings- playing cards, eating “approved new years foods - pork is ok - pigs root forward into the future - chicken is a no - they scratch back into the old year and cause you to be stuck in the past- black eye peas are lucky, half a dozen other “rules” for luck in the new year that I can’t remember.  Family- always together, with grandma in the middle encouraging all of us to get along and enjoy the time we had.  She was a good one.  I’m trying to carry on her legacy.  We had the snacks, drinks, grandkids, and a crazy idea that you can’t go to bed yet!   

Cameron and Lauren went out for dinner.  They are party animals. 

I haven’t heard what Colin and Spencer or Preston and Sunny are doing tonight.  

This girl- went home with her parents.  Evelyn is spending the night with us.  As they were leaving, Evie bent over to give her sissy a kiss - and Wrenley bit her hard!   Evie started to cry.  Wrenley - and I can’t make this stuff up- smiled, then fake cried - then started smiling again.  Little sassy thing!  

Six years ago, I met my first grandkid for the first time.  She had been born a week before and it killed me to be so far away.  She was the tiniest thing. Her head was the size of an orange.  I spent the week with Madison and Andrew staring at her sweet face in the NICU.  I was smitten. The love was instant.   When I left Arizona, I cried all the way home.  I am so happy I don’t have to leave her anymore. 

My girls were all here this evening.  Harper and Saige are waiting so they can watch the ball drop.  Evelyn didn’t quite make it.  And the mark her sister left her with was pretty big!  

As we close this chapter, I am overwhelmed with pride for my family, love for the people I have been blessed with, and abundant happiness.  Today, I had lunch with Grace, a day I enjoyed thoroughly.  Then I came home to some of the best people I know.  How on earth did I get so lucky?  

Here is hoping for new adventures, love, peace and happiness in 2025!   Happy new year!  

 

Christmas 2.0

First of all, I did a horrendous job taking pictures today.  With Madison and Andrew home, and Colin no longer being sick, we decided to re-do Christmas here at our house.  Preston unfortunately had to work today so we missed him and Sunny.   We also missed Lauren who was busy with a sick dog today.  

Spencer’s parents sent us this adorable Grinch tree.  It is a Cyprus tree.  I am crazy - I realize this.  But I love it!   I actually was at Dillon’s the other night with Jim and they had some tiny little Christmas trees - Cyprus - all potted up and I bought one!   So now I have twins!   I re-potted this baby and will take him to work with me - and yes, I do have a lot of plants accumulating there - but honesty it makes me so happy to feel like I work in a jungle.  I crave warm weather, sunshine, green grass, gardening, swimming and flowers - it really helps my mood.  And though I have no official diagnosis of seasonal affective disorder, I really do struggle in the cold months with feelings of crabbiness, and basically just wanting to sleep the winter away.  Anything that brings feelings of warm weather, greenness and growth makes it better!  

Evelyn got her dad to help her build the gingerbread house.  The girls were party poopers.  Andrew and Evie  did a good job!  It even stood up!  

I was the queen of crazy toys this year.  Evelyn got a remote control snake.  Wrenley got a walking crab and a cactus toy that sings and mimics you.  

And Grammy laughed and laughed.  Because that junk is funny.   And yes, I know they will pick my nursing home someday- I’m not scared!   

Poppy tried out his new fishing net. He caught some big ones!  

Nothing makes me happier than a house  full of my people.  Today was a good day.  A really, really good day.  

Madison and Mallory took the girls to the zoo lights and winter wonderland in Topeka last night.  Might I just say thank goodness Madison is back so that Mallory has a willing person to drag to these things.   

I’m happy they had fun! 

I worked all day yesterday at the liquor store. On my way home, I saw  8 deer standing in the field south of our house.  They were just standing there looking at me. Until I took out my phone.   I guess they are camera shy because they all took off.  One jumped out in front of my car - but I was expecting that!   I hate to hit them because I just hate to hurt living things when I’m driving - and also because I hate trashing my vehicles.  But I love seeing them.  They are beautiful animals.  I also think when I was a kid they were a lot less prevalent and were almost a rare sight. Maybe to me, it is still a novelty.  

The upcoming week is another odd one with days off, days to cover shifts, parties and lunch dates.  I am looking forward to it, but fully expect another week of not knowing what day it is!   Oh well!  Someday I’ll get back on track.  Probably!  

 

The in between

Madison and Andrew got the girls matching jeeps. Jim and I have a little bet on how long before Wrenley drives herself to Casey’s.  

I am so happy that Madison, Andrew and the girls are back!  I know they have lots of people who love them and want to spend time with them, but I don’t like to share.   Just kidding.  Sort of.  I did really miss them though.  The holidays are more fun with their enthusiasm.  And toys.  I want toys around for Christmas.  New, cool, unique fun toys.   
 

We have reached the magical time of year where the kids are on break, Jim and I have had days off, and nobody really even knows what day it is.  My tired, sad, old brain is thoroughly confused.  I am not sure who decided things should be open between Christmas and New Year’s Day but they were not nice people.  

Also, I tried to do most of my shopping online this year. I did not do a good job.  At all.  For my kids, it is fine, they are happy that I filled in the blanks with straight cash.  For the little girls, well when I was wrapping I realized I had shorted one pretty severely.  In fairness, I believe I put things in carts and then just didn’t finish checking out. 

Saige and Harper were happy  to go with me and pick some stuff out.  Since they were in Virginia, we had time to make it right!  We had a fun afternoon shopping and running errands.   We also picked up some paint samples for the “great bedroom relocation project of 2025” which is going to mean an inordinate amount of painting and coordinating but should give us plenty of projects to carry us through the winter months! Not sure I have broken this news to Jim yet.  I have extensive plans and ideas.  He will be so excited!  (When he sees how happy I am to get this stuff accomplished I am sure he really will be happy.)

One thing that we usually do at the holidays is build some gingerbread houses.  We generally fail at this activity, but it is still fun.  When we were out shopping, the girls asked if we could get some of the kits (bonus- they were on the Christmas clearance sales) and we can do them with Evie this weekend.  I said sure.  Saige and Harper each picked one, and then Saige asked if she could get the Oreo train to do herself.  They were like $2 each so I indulged her.  She did not put the train together. Instead, she took the cookie pieces and decorated them like they were sugar cookies. And then the girls and Jim had a snack.  It was cheap entertainment.  

There were some of the employees wanting to take off over the holidays, so I have been helping out covering shifts at the liquor store.   It is weird for me to be there during the week, as I usually only work weekends.  I think that has not helped my sense of “what day is this?” I actually like working there.  If it was my full time job, I doubt I would like it as much, but it is a fun place to throw a few hours a month, the owners are great to work for, and I like the customers.  It is usually pretty busy so the time goes by quickly too! 

Aside from working and hanging with the kids, we have just been chilling out. Which is what we all really needed.   Jim had an MRI yesterday to check a few things he has been experiencing.  Everything looks normal so we are very thankful for that.   

Merry little

First of all, this was a nice, quiet Christmas, and was exactly what I needed.  

I was really sad the Colin got sick and they couldn’t come up.  And I was sad to miss Madison and her family.  We had a low key day with lots of good food, nice gifts, family, football and conversation.  The last month has been absolutely crazy.  I am feeling refreshed, content and, if I was being honest, a tiny bit bloated!  

Quincy being home makes me happy.  She has been working during her break but I liked having her around all day today! 

For those of you who have been around our family, Madison is the neat freak.  She can’t stand a mess, and often cleans up as we are all still in the process of making the mess.   We joked about who was going to clean up and took a photo to send to her so she would know she doesn’t have to come home next week and clean up after us!  

We had a few face time calls from Evelyn.  She had a wonderful Christmas with her grandparents in Virginia. (For some reason I thought they lived in Tennessee- I guess they are close to the line.) Not having the grandkids here felt weird.  I am glad they have so many people who love them, but I can’t wait to get them back here!   

Mallory not only took Madison’s place as trash lady, she also helped me a ton with cooking and coordinating stuff. She is the Christmas maniac of the group.  And I’m so glad she keeps us on track so we have traditions and Christmas spirit.  

Cameron came and spent most of the day here and then left to go be with Lauren and her grandparents.  It was good to have him here.  

Preston is hanging for a couple days with us.  I’m happy to get some time in with him.  He and Cameron helped Jim with a few projects and talked football with him.  

Harper was instrumental in helping me with technological gifts I received.  She’s great that way!  

Saige was absolutely elated that we cooked up a ham.  The girl loves to eat pork.  She was excited about her new stuff and now the girls are making big plans for bedroom switches and projects there.  Can’t have a break from school with out a project can we? 

Jim and I are incredibly blessed.  I feel that as families go, I won the lottery.   Jim is awesome about embracing my craziness. Our kids are growing up, but are turning into amazing adults. I am thankful that we had this day, that we have enough, that our kids are happy, healthy (mostly), well-equipped people.  I am thankful that my husband is supportive and sweet.  Also for living in a community where we are able to have a comfortable home, good neighbors, friends and relatives close by. I am thankful for happiness and contentment in a world that seems to try hard to accomplish the opposite.  Life is good.

And would it even be Christmas if I didn’t say “nothing is over like Christmas!”  We have a small amount of celebrating left to do, but when the brunt of the gifts are opened, the food is eaten and the adult children return to their own homes, it feels like over has happened.   Anyway - from our household - Happy Birthday Jesus! 

 

Evelyn is 6!

6!  This girl is 6!  She has been ready to be 6 since 5 seconds after she turned 5!   No amount of talking her to slow down is working.  She is growing up too fast!  I will always remember the day we found out she was born. Best Christmas surprise of my life!  She is amazing. Beautiful, caring and has this crazy enthusiasm for life.  She tends to not know a stranger and will literally hold a full conversation with anyone.  She made us grandparents, and we will forever be thankful for that gift. 

Happy birthday sweet girl!   Looks like grandma Mona did you up right!  

For the rest of the crew - Christmas Eve festivities.   Thanks for the photos Lauren!  

Apparently the only way to contain the feral child is to kennel her.  

Truly it makes me laugh how she loves being inside the kennels.  She’s a wild woman! 

We attended Christmas Eve mass.  My favorite.   Preston was at the house when we got back.  We had homemade chicken and noodles and hung out visiting.  I want to point out that things here are so much less chaotic - I had everything done, everything ready for tomorrow and sat down and hung out with the kids.  Easy-street now!  I do miss the sneaking around, hushed whispering of kids waiting for Santa, excited craziness.  But this place is pretty fun as well 

Can’t wait for tomorrow!