Our Old Ways

The Terrys and Smiths have other plans, so we aren't going to be the pickleball version of ourselves. We're going back to the grazing and pajama versions. Our friends were supportive of the move. 

I would do a play by play, but we really did just eat and laugh and talk. The kids had fun playing games with Todd. 

I'm grateful to have friends that do not require us to entertain. 

AJ and Rebecca

New Year's countdown

Kids near and far...Kassie and Ethan celebrating in Utah

Mathew in Arkansas

Miranda and Anna under the table eating 12 grapes to bring luck for the new year. 

And a surprise visit from Evie, Anna's sweet friend. She walked in the middle of the night, because Anna's phone privileges were revoked for the day. I won't get into it. But I thought that was pretty lovely. 

 Happy New Years! 

Thanksgiving 2024

It's our year to have Ethan and Kassie for Thanksgiving! Next year we get Christmas! 

Mathew won't make it, he's having his last Thanksgiving in Idaho with his best friend, Damian. I'm happy that he's got people there that he will miss and that will miss him. 

We will make our assigned dishes and head over to the Flynns, as we do. 

Winnie is front and center, helping me with ham, rolls and chocolate lasagna. 

She drives me a little batty, but that little warm bird belly on my forehead is pretty adorable, too. And she has an excellent vantage point hanging from my hair.

The Spread

The Friends (Laney is taking the photo)

Aidan's brave debut of his most recently learned chords...I do believe it was the infant stages of The Sweater Song. 

Some high caliber chillin

Kylie, Miranda, and Emma took Laney, AJ and Everly to see Wicked at the movie theater. So we made our way to the basement to watch Fall Guy. It is and will always be one of my favorites.

Silliness! 

We went home full, happy and entertained. It was a perfect day! 

Holding on for a donut

This year donut night was my reason for living. 5 days before the blessed day, I had a baby heart attack when I thought for a brief moment that we had missed it. 

I don't know. 

Sometimes you just NEED your darling friend to make you fried bread dipped in sugar.

You need it it like you need air

or two pillows 

 

or secret chocolate

or a crying song

or a caffeine stash

Consider me tided over.  

I might make it to Pie Night.

SBL: Lunch at Korma

Everly and Laney opted out. But Megan and AJ were TOTALLY in.  

SBL: Trashy Snacks

 Up next on the Summer Bucket List: Trashy Snacks!

The rules....the rules are...let me make up some rules....

THE RULES

1. The snack must be one that you have never tried before

2. It must be total trash...devoid of nutrition

3. It must be sharable

4. You must pose with your selections and your sisters in the aisle. 

And just in case you are wondering....the zebra rolls were far and away the best of the three! 

Indian Birthday

I'm 48!

I really love how even that number is. 

I was busy all day working on the girls camp fundraiser...the valentine dinner. 20 lbs of pork barbacoa, triple batch of cilantro lime rice, black beans and tomatillo dressing. 5 chocolate cakes, raspberry sauce as well as all the shopping had me not feeling so celebratory. 

But Mark packed us all up and delivered us to Korma Sutra, one of my favorite places to eat. A couple years ago, taking our kids to eat at an Indian restaurant would've inspired tears and a deafening silent treatment. But we've been making a butter chicken in the pressure cooker and I recently learned how to make garlic naan! They have learned to love Indian spices!

And this place is just special. 

They shower you with fun little treats and extra dishes. 

Mango Lassi, Golub Jamun, Pakora, Papadam, Kulfi and Chai. 

We ordered Butter Chicken, Chicken Goa Curry and Biriyani.

We prepared the kids for how to use the limes to wash their hands when the waitress came around. Not knowing what to do could send any one of our high-anxiety kids running for the door. 

The funny owner brought it home with his birthday shuffle!

We all left with full bellies and smiles on our faces. The waitress handed me a warm chai to go as we walked out the door. Happy Birthday to me.

We went home and Mark surprised me with a slice of carrot cake from J Alexanders. I got to see all my kids at once and everyone sang to me as I accidentally blew the candles out 3 times just from laughing. 

I hadn't planned on celebrating today. But I feel celebrated and loved and so very grateful for my family and making fun memories.

Here's to 48!

Christmas Eve 2023

Time to drive back to Kansas.

Law-abiding citizens would make it in 3 1/2 hours.

Mark did it less that 3. 

My half of the circus manage just over 4....we had to go potty many times. 

Every time we embark on a road trip, the boys offer nonchalantly to help drive. I then thank them in a noncommittal tone for the offer and we all know that it's probably not gonna happen. Because you may remember that I dedicated 2 years of my life to each one of them as they learned to drive. And that left a mark somewhere very deep in my soul. 

But....it's Christmas and I miss my boys and it was time to take a breath and let go of the reins a bit. 

Those two boys shared the drive home and we all made it one piece! In fact, I do believe Ethan even bought me a bag of funyuns at the gas station while Mathew pumped the gas. I could get used to this! I had lots of time to scroll on my phone and take little naps. 

Ethan offered to cook his famous Chicken Pot Pie for our Christmas Eve dinner! 

Did I mention that it's Candlelight Dinner night? We're determined to feel all the feels. 

We faithfully played BINGO, even though I wouldn't allow the winners to open before everyone had won a game. You will see why, momentarily.  

And I really did get black out before Everly got a single line of BINGO. She was a very good sport about it.

Matching jammies!! Like, for real this time. And I really love it. I customized the shirts with the help of Courtney and Todd and their Silhouette. I think they turned out cute! And the pants were super soft and comfy....even though they didn't have pockets. (For $6 apiece, we will forgive)

And after all the kids were in bed, the glow of the Christmas tree. 

True Blue Skaters

 Sadly, the ward ice skating tradition has run its course. I can't imagine why! 

What's that? You aren't super stoked to get your babies out of bed at 9 pm and drive into the city to freeze your buns off and have an oatmeal raisin cookie and scalding hot cocoa? Porque no?

WELL FINE. 

We'll go by ourselves.

And we'll have WAY more fun. Just watch. 

(well, I'll watch...cuz I don't actually like ice skating)

I'm super smart and forced them to take a photo before they all skated off in their own directions.

Oy! I love these people!

Mathew was whipping around the rink swapping hats.

Mark was out of the running too...knee surgery will do that.

Everly did exactly one loop around before she decided it was way more fun to sit with Ethan and watch funny videos. Ironically, I would agree. But Mathew, Megan, Laney and AJ all went the distance. 

In honor of the the three oldest being in town for the holidays, we went to BD's Mongolian for dinner! I foolishly thought that the gift cards I got from Costco would cover it. I misjudged. Cha-ching!

We ordered 4 big brownie desserts to share! Time to pair up!