Shepherd's Night Fettuccini

I don't think there is a more wonderful way to bring Christmas Cheer to my heart.

Do the cooking!

Mathew planned a wonderful meal for Shepherd's Night! Fettuccini Alfredo from scratch. 

Delicioso!!

We ate it by candlelight and, I am not lying, I am non momming, it was the most delicious alfredo I've ever tasted. We were all making happy eating sounds. We rivaled Bob and his hand-shucked corn. 

Carolers! So fun and so awkward. There is an acceptable amount of time one should sing at other people. The line was crossed. 

Lookie there! We have three Shepherd's Night takers! I sympathize with and join those that will be sleeping on softer surfaces, but I salute those with younger backs than I. You are making Christmas Magic, my dears.

Movin on out

He's all settled in. He's got his own apartment on the third floor. We hauled his furniture collection up one step at a time. We gathered up some facebook marketplace finds and met up with Joe and Jean at Abuelos for dinner. 

It never really gets easier to leave a pup behind. 

Meanwhile...back in KC

Ethan and Kassie got up early to take the "littles" to the WWI museum. 

Megan stayed back and worked on her homemade pizzas....when I tell you she has it down to a science, I really mean it. She is serious about making pizza. 

And we are all the better for it!

I, too, had big plans. December is coming. I need to store up energy and collect inner peace. 

Mathew arrives this morning! He's hopped up on caffeine, pretty wired and pushing through. 

aaaand we have plans to go thrifting! We are searching for various kitchen necessities...is there anything better than going thrifting when you actually need something? So satisfying. 

Who knows? We might find a solid gold Christmas tree!

Travelin Man

 Mathew has packed up his earthly belongings and he is leaving Rexburg. He has a new job with Wachter starting in Arkansas and he will stop over with us for about a week. He is determined to make the 17 hr drive in one shot and my momma heart is pretty sure he's up for it. 

Also. I'm terrified. But that's my default setting. 

Caffeine, Mathew. Caffeine!

Nailed it!

 The inspiration:

The final look:

It's the beauty spot that really brings it home!

Mathew's 21st takes a turn for the better

Mathew lives in Idaho. He's a grown up and he works at a hospital in the IT department.

That means he won't be here and I won't be able to bake him a birthday cake.  He's in that stage of life where money is way better that random stuff, so his gift was us paying the property tax bill on his car...wah wah....needed, but lame

He did ask for each of us to write him a letter, but naturally, I failed to mail those on time.

Picturing that boy sitting in his apartment alone on his birthday with no gifts makes me want to poke an eyeball. 

I scheduled a Walmart delivery for early afternoon.  A cake, ice cream and candles. 

I felt pretty good about that, until I imagined us all calling him up, singing to "Happy Birthday". He blows out the candles and we say goodbye. He turns hangs up and there he is....alone. With a walmart cake and a bucket of ice cream to eat alone. 

This is effective mom torture. 

Luckily, Mathew decided to drive to Utah when he woke up. Ethan gave me the heads up, I canceled the saddest grocery delivery ever and Ethan and Kassie had him over for cake. 

I'm so so so glad! 

We were on a trip to Omaha (at a restaurant with the Flynns), Megan was home in Kansas and Ethan, Kassie and Mathew were together. 

I love these Facetime moments 💕

Happy Birthday, Sweet Mathew! While the rest of the world is off getting drunk on their 21st birthday, I am grateful that you find joy in a roadtrip, exploring, stopping for good food and finding family.  You are on the right track!

48 hours

Like many Modern Americans, I am more than capable of doing very little of value for great stretches of time. Oh, the languages I could have mastered in the amount of time I have devoted to matching 3 items hour after hour. It takes dedication to get to level 3259, you know. 

And then there are the days that we seem to be able to cram impressive amounts of fun, tradition and activity into a mere 48 hours. It takes all hands on deck, multiple drivers and a steely determination to not pick up that phone and progress to level 3260. 

Let's begin!

Mathew took Laney, AJ and Everly to the WWI museum. He even paid for the tickets! 

We selected the most beautiful, perfect and symmetrical Frasier Fir that ever was grown. It really was a beauty. 

 

And Mathew help load it right into my truck...oh happiness...no wrangling it on top of the minivan this year!

We got right to decorating it...Mark suggested a bucket brigade, of sorts, to get the lights dressed in without anyone having to get dizzy 'round the maypole. 

DO NOT underestimate how much joy watching the glowy lights being passed from hand to hand made my heart happy. Because it actually was my favorite thing EVER. Besides handing out ornaments, of course. 

Glowy lights! Cooperation!

And the Running of the Snow! I feel like it was Kansas's way of saying, "Hey Mat. I missed you dude. Here's some snow....aaaaaaaand,,,,,GO!"

And AJ made a sassy little snowman. He's rocking all the current fashion trends. 

As well as carefully crafted buns! 

Other events I didn't get pictures of:

* Mathew packing up and heading out on his well-planned road trip home. 

*Mathew making it as far as Lawrence, KS before the KIA started making what can only be described as a "death rattle". He made it home and it was determined that the engine was shot. 

*We had it towed back to Lawrence for diagnostics on the off chance they would be willing to replace the motor for free due to a known issue. We began our fervent prayers. 

*We purchased another one-way ticket to fly a very disappointed Mathew back to Idaho 

*Two weeks later, we received word that KIA was going to replace the motor! None of us could believe it! Naturally, we ended up spending another $1700 on other repairs just to make sure Mathew was off to a good start and had reliable transportation in the frozen tundra. He'll be able to drive it home after he visits for Christmas.

And now, if you don't mind, level  3260 isn't going to conquer itself.  

Thanksgiving Surprise

Mathew has been living in Idaho for 2 1/2 years now and has reached a point where he can't stand another minute without a car. We tried in vain to help him find and finance a car, but it's pretty hard for a kid without wheels to get around to acquire wheels. 

Finally, we realized it might be best to buy him a one-way flight home for Thanksgiving and then he can drive the KIA back to Idaho. Bonus...no haggling with salesmen or paying sales tax. 

And bonus!! We got Mathew home for Thanksgiving!

Megan came home for the weekend too. It's great having her go to school nearby. 

Mathew settled right back in and everyone soaked up some brother time. 

I missed my Maf!

We planned to get together with the Flynns, McDonalds, Eberts and Hursts. Our assignment was the stuffing, ham, and a pie. So much better than making everything ouselves!

I made a Pecan Cream Pie and it changed my life. I found my Spirit Dessert. 

It was a warm and cozy meal. I'm grateful for our framily. (That's my new name for our friends that feel like family). 

FRAMILY

AJ has hit the "don't photograph me, you psycho" phase. I'm not worried...this too shall pass. 

Everly is still cool with it. 

Look at these boys men! 

Court and Todd slicing the bird!

The spread of pies....we slacked off on the desserts last year and it is clear we learned our lesson. 

And as all Thanksgivings should end....

Happy Thanksgiving!

Season of change

 The older kids are moving forward with their lives and so Christmas time feels a little different. They' are setting up their own Christmas trees and deciding which of our traditions they will carry on with and finding fun new ones. 

I love getting pictures on our family group chat of their new adventures!

Mathew and his little Macy in Idaho!

Ethan and Kassie and their first tree in Provo!

 

Megan was happy to take our mini tree and load it up in her Mini cooper and drive it back to her apartment in Lawrence. 

I love these big kids!