December

We had a very joyful Christmas! I mentioned earlier being a shopaholic. Psychologically it probably has something to do with providing a sideways sense of accomplishment, checking something off my list that I just made up that I needed one minute ago when I saw it on Amazon. Such is excitement in my boring life. BUT...my kids have played with and enjoy almost everything to the point that I do not regret it. Silas's whole Christmas was pretty much Harry Potter and hoodies. I made him a trunk and packed it with his Hogwarts supplies. Rory had an Indiana Jones theme with a whip, hat, satchel, grail, and snakes. I figured it was two for one because I will use all the items for party decor when summer rolls around. We also got dwarf hamsters! And they are great! I kind of thought they were mostly for me with the excuse of my children but they have generated much excitement all around. Daron even is a fan. They are named Lightening Lu and Hazel. Hazel is rarely seen except at 9:00 PM when she, like clockwork, does her morning exercises. Lu operates like an insomniac. Most likely due to Rory manhandling her throughout the day. It is probably mousal abuse but I give her extra treats. He is loving setting up Magna Tile houses and mazes and little carts that he pulls her around the house in. They nibble fingers upon extraction from their home, but once they are in hand, they are resigned and friendly. We have adopted the toilet roll elevator method for lifting them out and it has proved to be a pretty solid solution.

Other December happenings don't seem too exciting. My favorite thing we did was go to a live nativity at a local church. It was so well done! We had to pay our taxes, got to go through a Bethlehem market, see baby Jesus and a whole slew of animals, and hear an angel choir. Adorable. 

Rory missed his field trip to the state museum with a stomach bug. Silas almost missed their big immigration experience, but made it to relative health just in time. I think spreading disease probably just makes the reenactment more historically accurate anyways.

We got together with the extended Hofts, Nixons and Webers at Top Golf, which the cousin crew loved. 

We got new couches. I also bought the hamsters a couch. It is hard to say which I like more.

We celebrated the new year with the Williamsons. Since we have last seen them they have added donkeys, baby piglets, baby bunnies, and sheep to their farm. The turkeys were funny and didn't leave each other's side. One never gobbled where the other didn't chime in. It was like a turkey club. (They jointly gobbled their appreciation for this joke when I told it in their presence.) The baby bunnies were so snuggly and sweet. Their whole little town is pretty charming. The visit felt like I was in a Hallmark movie getting won over to the simple pleasures of life. Also, Julianna told me to read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and I did and it was the best book ever. Like literally in my top 5. The boys cackled...I cried... it was precious.

  

November

Baseball is finished. (Restraining cheers.)

I went to Orlando for a work conference. We stayed on Disney property so that was pretty cool. I got a refill cup and may have set a world record for drinking cherry Pepsi. We went to Magic Kingdom one evening. Conn would have been appalled by our itinerary, but it was nice to have just been and have no expectations.

We got to see Hannah swim at USC a few nights and then met her whole crew at Hilton Head for Thanksgiving. There was a murder mystery we Zoomed the Colorado crew for which only Eli solved. Al Cappuccino (Silas) helped the assumed victim off his secret twin brother at a film premiere, if you can believe it. We played lots of cards and Rory had a giggle fit like I have never seen before and personally enjoyed.

Then we came home and put up the tree. Silas picked the perfect one! I am feeling very Christmasy and can't wait to open presents! All 100 (not really) but if there had been a set budget it would have been disregarded entirely. I am just happy there is a point to buying and being excited about presents for future enjoyment because I watched the movie Silent Night and was depressed for a week by the pointlessness of life with impending doom hanging over you. (Don't do it. It is not very good even if you do not overly dwell on cinematic works of fiction.) Thanks to Jesus, the best gift of Christmas, for saving us from actual doom!