January

I meant to write a year-end wrap up post awhile ago. I didn't, obviously. And now I am at the point in January where I don't feel like doing anything and I am sick of being cold. I will say that the change in light has started to be noticeable, and that helps my mood somewhat. What else?

I have read a few excellent books. That is also a mood lifter.

Right now, Josie and Christopher are making lemon squares in the kitchen. The smell of lemon and their chatter is making me happy.

Clare has been practicing for her winter piano recital. I enjoy the sound of her playing.

The kids are in school. (Knock on wood.)

Christopher made a stop-motion movie with some friends. He had this to say about it:

"Mom, parental warning: there is violence. Most of these animals are going to die."

We are healthy. (Knock on wood.)

Clare and I went to a gymnastics meet.  It was so nice to get out of the house and have some one-on-one time.

We had a birthday party for my mom last week. Clare got really into planning games and activities (including my favorite, pin the glasses on Meema Jo).

And even though it feels like a million years ago now, we had a nice Christmas.  My dear friends and I all took tests and were able to have our annual Office Party (minus Heather). It was wonderful. We got to go to Ben's family party this year. I worried, but now that I know we didn't get sick I am glad we went. The week before Christmas, I really wasn't feeling it. But when the day actually came, I enjoyed it.  Christmas Eve we had Ben's parents here for lunch, and Christmas Eve was spent at Katie's. That is always a highlight. Christmas day we hosted dinner for Ben's family. We missed Sally and Mike, who were sick, but were happy that Ben's parents and brother and sister-in-law were able to join us. New Year's was spent in Wisconsin. Despite some car problems, we had a great weekend at the Cuckoo House.

So I guess that summary of the holidays is my 2021 wrap-up. January is almost over, and I know February will be long. I'll just have to come up with some more things to be happy about that month. I know it won't be the Packers winning the Super Bowl. But maybe the Olympics will be fun to watch?

Anyway, without further rambling, here are some pictures from December. They are out of order, and once again I am too lazy to fix it. So we'll start with New Year's Day and work our way back.

New Year's Day Poker match. Christopher is super into poker and received chips for Christmas. He's not bad, either. (Note: yes, I started dry January a day late so I could drink a martini.)

Cozy football watching at the Cuckoo House.

Reading with Pikachu, another favorite Christmas gift.

We went to this neat light display in Janesville. Christopher hated it and complained the whole time, but the rest of us enjoyed it.

Presents the day after Christmas.

Christmas dinner!

Christmas breakfast!

Very excited about his waffle maker. We've had some delicious waffles since.

Waiting to be allowed downstairs on Christmas morning.

Putting out treats for Santa, even though neither of them believe anymore. Which is sad in a way, but also easier.

Decorating a gingerbread house, before it all went to crap. We are done with those, I think.

We went to the Nutcracker! I have to say, it was one of the worst performances I've seen, but blah blah probably due to COVID limiting rehearsal time. We still had fun.

Christmas cookie decorating! I made lots of all of my usual cookies this year. 

Virtual cookie decorating with Josie and Otto.

Annual shopping trip plus peppermint mocha with Clare.

Tree decorating.

Carrying our tree home from the tree lot next to our house.

Picking out the tree!

Bits and Pieces: September and October

I know it is November, but I still like to do these posts, mostly for myself because I like looking back at them. I am happy if other people enjoy them, too. Anyway. I am writing this while watching the Packers lose to Kansas City. What is wrong with Aaron Rodgers? We won't go there.

Speaking of vaccines, the kids got their first dose on Friday! Yay! I am so happy they are on the road to immunity. Real immunity, not the fake kind.

September included going a trip to a friend's cabin (we stayed in our camper because COVID), back to school, the fair at the school next door, some hikes, and lots of soccer.

October was filled with more soccer, two family birthdays (Christopher's and mine), a camping trip with dear friends, a visit to an apple orchard, a few nights out with friends (for me), a few days off school, a trip to the Science Museum, visits with grandparents, and of course, Halloween.

And now we are hurtling our way towards Christmas, which I have already started prepping for because I am nervous about not being able to find things this year thanks to the supply chain problems. November should be pretty relaxing, though, I think. (Famous last words, I know.) 

Without further ado, here are some of our September and October pictures!

C&C both took a turn driving our friend's boat at their cabin in Wisconsin.

First day of Fifth Grade and first day of Second Grade!

Celebrating Meema Mary Theresa's birthday outside.

Clare with a friend at the fair next door.

On top of the Ferris Wheel.

Game time.

Playing near the Mississippi with friends.

Camping crew at Flandrau State Park in New Ulm.

Birthday ice cream for the birthday boy.

Whistling Well apple orchard with cousins.

Eating ice cream on a fall color drive for my birthday. (They liked the ice cream. They didn't like the drive.)

Eating outside on a warm October day.

Pickle Ball! My friend gave me paddles for my birthday.

At the History Center on a day off school.

Bubble tea. She ended up not really liking it, but we had fun walking to a neighborhood tea shop to try it.

Science Museum on a day off school.

Clare and Ben went to a U.S. Women's National Team game. Clare thought it was the best. It was Carli Lloyd's last game, and she saw Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan score goals (among others). I am so glad she got a chance to see these amazing women in person!

Dressed up as RBG for school.

Pumpkin carving.

Ready for trick or treating!

Christopher with Baba and his pumpkin.

We split up to trick or treat this year - Clare and I went together and met up with friends for the neighborhood block party. Ben and Christopher went with the next door neighbors. We also had a super fun Halloween party on the 30th with the Katie and family and my parents! I somehow have no pictures of the fun, but Josie was in her element has party coordinator. We all had fun.

Eight

Eight! My sweet boy is eight. 

We were talking about the day he was born, and he found it to be absolutely hilarious when I told him he'd peed on me pretty much immediately after birth. Bodily functions are pretty much his favorite thing to talk about right now. That's normal for an 8-year-old, right?

Christopher has been running all over the neighborhood for the past few weeks with a newly discovered group of boys. We have new neighbors who have twin boys his age, and he has met a few other boys in the neighborhood as well. I love it when the doorbell rings and one of the boys is there asking for Christopher to come out and play. He was given rollerblades for his birthday, and he intends to use them to race another friend on his scooter. I am sure that will end well.

School is going well so far. I think he spends most of the day reading the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, but hopefully he is doing some math, too. 

We were recently driving in the car, and Christopher was making up a song. The lyrics involved Chuck E. Cheese flying the in sky, and Clare declared Christopher to be the most "random person" she knows. He is constantly coming up with different songs and stories. I frequently hear him talking to himself in his room or in the bathroom. 

He loves playing outside games, including Sandman and Ghost in the Graveyard. We camped with friends last weekend and he spent the entire weekend covered in mud.

He is still a sweetheart and tries to help me out around the house or do nice things for me. He is also brilliant at manipulating me into doing whatever he wants. I know he is doing this, but it is hard to resist his huge blue eyes.

He is constantly coming up with new business ideas or moneymaking schemes. Few have panned out. The latest is that he wants to learn the trumpet so he can stand on the street corner and make money. I had to gently explain that he probably wouldn't earn much that way, especially as a beginner. 

He wants to play basketball this winter, and to do Cub Scouts. He had fun playing baseball this summer. He did not have fun at theater camp, which is too bad, because he is so funny and creative.

Some favorites at 8: reading (mostly graphic novels), playing outside, the Nintendo Switch, Roblox, Octonauts (we are back on that show for some reason), pizza, Annie's mac and cheese (although he assures me he likes my homemade version, too), fruit of all kinds, talking incessantly about business plans.

Some dislikes: taking showers, COVID tests, attending Clare's soccer games, spinach, hiking (although he loves exploring in the woods - just don't mention the word hike), when Clare "looks at me in that way she knows I don't like."

We had a family party for his actual birthday, which was Monday, that included presents and a trip to Culver's for ice cream and cheese curds. We are having another extended family get together on Friday, which will include pizza and a Dairy Queen cookie dough blizzard cake.

Happy birthday, Christopher! I can't believe you are 8.