Christmas Craziness
We had a wonderful Christmas.
Actually, it’s been a crazy December--I did a parasite cleanse. I’m not sure if I had any parasites but I feel a lot better so...thats good? Health wise I have been feeling low energy but I just came off the cleanse the day before Christmas so maybe it takes awhile to bounce back.
What a year 2025 has been. I almost typed 2024. What is wrong with me.
Recently I made the kids yearbooks and looking back at all the memories was so fun. Becky turned 8, we had a terrible beach vacation, and we homeschooled a lot and I made a lot of sourdough. I cut my hair, had a car wreck (it wasn’t my fault) and we survived having the stomach bug like 3 times. It was terrible. But not as terrible as Christmas of 2023 when Brian had covid for like 3 months... and thats just the big highlights I remember! There is 500 more things...like swimming all summer and Mountain Run Jam. Such good memories.
Reuben is 10 this year and Esther 2. Such good ages. Brian turned 40 and I 38 but I say I’m 40 because I’m getting used to the idea...slowly. And 38 is basically 40 anyway.
In January I turn 39! One more year of my 30s, and I’ll start the 4th decade of my life in 2027 if I’m lucky and live that long. I expect too...but no one is promised tomorrow, so I won’t count my chickens before they hatch.
I went and read my resolutions from last year and one was to find Reuben a good dentist. We did and he’s loving it. I hope I have stretched his mouth enough and he can get his arch expander off in February...and then we move to Invisalign!
But this post is about Christmas. It was great--it was just us this year. And we needed it. My Aunt was supposed to come but she had health troubles and car troubles and she wasn’t able too and we all missed her so much! Becky especially. But it was a wonderful week even with the downside of missing some of our favorite people. My mother in law decided on the spur of the moment to go visit her sister in California and I think it was the best Christmas present she has ever given me.
We saw my mom and her husband the weekend after Christmas and got to see my niece as well and that was fun. My step dad made ribs and shrimp and homemade delicious bread...my kids and husband were thrilled. They ate so much they didn’t even need a lunch! I made a lunch for myself as I was the only one hungry after! It was great to see them and catch up (even though I was having a bad health day that day and had no energy) and we got to play a card game and exchange gifts. Good memories with good people. Oh, and I made rice crispy treats to bring, and everyone loved those too.
My mom being retired has really been such a special experience this year...she’s been coming over, she’s helping me so much and just being able to text her and knowing she’s not stressed at school but that she has time to respond and have a relationship with me and the kids is awesome. Both Reuben and Becky have fallen in love with her and ask when she is coming over all the time! It feels good, like the beginning of something! I hope I can help her the way she helps me! And learn to respect her boundaries. Mom, you are a great person and I am so grateful you got to be my momma. I love you!
Esther even loves grandma, in her own way. Being two is wild, does she even know what day it is? Hah. She’s a tiny ball of energy until nap time hits and then it’s...well, she’s tired but her executive motor functions aren’t working properly, so she’s also cranky and hungry and she needs her mama. Mama knows how to put her to sleep and make everything all right. Mother’s always do.
Becky made me these earrings all
by herself as a surprise!!
I am getting way off topic. Christmas! Stick to Christmas!!
On Christmas I made greek salad and homemade pretzels and they were so good and just what I wanted.
All in all it was a great day. Becky got an American girl doll as her big present. She’s been asking for one for two years. I was able to get it used on a Facebook group. I got Esther a used My Life doll so she could play with Becky with a similar sized doll since we couldn’t afford two used American Girl dolls. The AG doll was $50, and the ML doll was $20 at a local consignment shop called Once Upon a Child. The girls are thrilled and I also got Becky a doll pattern and some fabric to sew her a dress! And I think this will help teach basic pattern rules to her too as we sew.
I haven’t done a budget update in a while. We are making it. We are barely making it. With Reuben’s new piano classes (he’s loving it!) and his upcoming Cognitive Brain Therapy (12 week course) its going to be tight. I’m making a large azure order this January and planning on skipping February and maybe March. We will make it to summer. I’m going to make it by God’s grace, and if it looks tight I’ll sell some of my linen clothing on postmark! I have enough, God is good, and I’m meeting my children’s needs. Blessings upon blessings.
Becky named her doll Lina, and Esther named her doll Dolly. Brian has been calling her Dolly Parton but really, Esther is just two and, Dolly it is. We haven’t even gotten to Dolly the cloned sheep yet, but those are the only Dolly’s I know.
Also, Esther got a hair cut. It’s a kinda scary story but I’m laughing now. We were at the candlelight service on Christmas Eve and she leaned over the candle and her hair caught on fire! I blew it out immediately, but it melted a big chunk of it so when we went home I chopped it off. She was actually excited, she wanted short hair (she hates having her hair brushed, I don’t know why I haven’t thought of this before). I cut more off (she asked me too) today and now it looks like this! Anyway, she’s reminding me of Becky who had a similar haircut around 4.
As to why everyone wants ice-cream when it’s 34 degrees outside, I will never understand. But they were happy campers--this was what, when asked, they wanted to do on our last day of vacation.
Sweet memories. I’m cherishing all these things up in my heart and thanking God for my beautiful family.
This is also the second year I have been chatting (texting) with my biological Dad, Nathan, and that has been healing as well. He sent me a Christmas gift and gifts are my love language so it made me feel really special. I need to send him a thank you card or a new years card...I’m so busy...need to add it to my to-do list. It just makes me feel good to know my dad is happy and safe and doing well and enjoying life with his wife Linda and that we can chat now that he (and I) are more mature people. Thanks Dad, if you are reading this. It’s nice to get to know you all over again.
Here is to next year. I’m ready, and excited, and...we need more bookshelves.
What will I do with all the books when we are done with homeschooling? I could cry just thinking about it.