Christmas and New Year

Our first day of Christmas break we slept in and had a big family breakfast; it was so nice. Then we left around 2 to head up to the Nationals stadium for their Winter Wonderland. I wanted to do something fun as a family and it was the cheapest per hour so we went up there and it was fun. There was an ice slide that we did a few times and miniature golfing and a snowball throwing thing and curling and you could go in the dug out (which thrilled my baseball lovers) and there were lights and a silent disco that was funny to watch. We spent about two hours and decided we were hungry so we went to the Silver Diner and even let the kids get milkshakes--quite the splurge. It was a fun family day and a good way to kick off Christmas break. As we walked back to the car, we found these cool bell things on the wharf and they were swings but they played music as you would swing; super fun. 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday we were busy and in all different directions and then Wednesday was Christmas Eve. We made the last two cookies we needed that morning and then went to the Zobell's for some soup and then I made a delicious turkey dinner. The turkey was seriously so good and I was quite proud of myself. Then we sang some songs, read some favorite stories, did our nativity and watched Miracle on 34th Street. Then we put our presents in our spots and the kids went to bed. Soon thereafter Josh and I realized that Emma's Santa gift was MIA so that was stressful but he worked something out that was not ideal but worked, so it was a later night. 

 

Christmas morning we got up about 8 to open presents at 8:30 and we had two excited kids and two sleepy teenagers. I feel like I've lost some of the magic of Christmas and my goal is to get it back next year. I love surprises and it is just not as fun being the mom at Christmas who knows all of the surprises. It has also gotten harder to make my kids happy; we've had to return three of Lily's gifts because they weren't quite right. Lily got some shoes, a new water bottle and a leotard and some books. Curtis got a BYU baseball jersey, a book of historical maps he wanted and a new bean bag chair. Emma got paint with a promise that we would paint her room over break, shoes, pj pants with gingerbread people on them since she was Mother Ginger and a new car DVD player. Brandon got a new basketball, a new suit, a stuffed penguin with a penguin book and a BYU jacket. They all got their Christmas books too. Josh got me my own pickle ball paddles, which I was very excited about, and the kids got me a fun game. I got Josh a new bike helmet and gloves and a hat to wear under his helmet so he can ride in the cold. The kids were also cute and got us an air fryer. I had been telling my mom that Lily has been asking for one but that I didn't feel like we needed one so my mom told Lily to get one for us. Michelle was in on it too and ordered it and wrapped it so that it wasn't at the house. It was a fun surprise and Josh and Lily have especially had fun with it. 

 

 

 

We had our traditional breakfast, talked to two of my sisters and my parents and then Josh talked to his parents and we played my new game and watched Home Alone and had leftovers and it was a lovely, chill day. 

Friday we went to the church to play pickle ball with the Wiests and actually ended up staying a really long time and I can't remember what we did after that. Saturday we went to UMD so Josh could walk around campus and get oriented but it was all closed up and locked. Even the bookstore was closed, which was disappointing. But we had a lovely walk and now he feels more connected to the UMD community and he also got his official acceptance and registered for his first class. He starts his PhD program in just a few weeks. Then we had some time so we popped into IKEA and then we went to get his parents from the airport. They took us to a very nice dinner at a place in Annapolis that was delicious and then we came home. Sunday was church and then we chatted and played games with them. 

Monday was chill, Tuesday I went to Inklings and we painted Emma's room and took dinner to Josh's co-worker whose wife is pregnant and has colon cancer. Wednesday we went to the new bagel place in Leonardtown for breakfast and barely got bagels before they ran out at 10:30 am. Then we walked down by the wharf and got cold so we got hot chocolate at Social. Then we went back to church to play more pickle ball. My in-laws wanted to try it out so we taught them how to play and they did a good job; it was fun. We got crumbl for dessert and went home to make a bunch of appetizers for dinner. I've been trying for years to make NYE fun and it still eludes me. We had fun with the Rays one year but I just don't feel like hosting after having a big Christmas party and we almost never get invited anywhere else so we watched a lot of football and ate our appetizers and played a few games and it was fine. We did also watch our family video of the year and it was kind of weird and I just discovered today why; somehow Josh missed all of my videos so it was a lot of Lily's silly ones of the kids and not many events. We also watched the London fireworks (bucket list!) and Sydney's and also Dubai's show and then of course the ball dropping but it seems like we are way behind in coolness for NYE. Why is watching a big glass ball slowly descend the epitome of excitement to ring in a new year? I think NYC needs to step up their game. We kissed at midnight and then all went to bed. 

New Year's Day we watched a lot of football after the Rose Parade (another bucket list item!) and played games and it was a super relaxed day. Friday Josh took his parents to the airport, I took Curtis and Emma to hang out with friends, then Lily to catch a ride to the stake activity and then Curtis left for the stake dance. It is hard having Lily in charge and needing to be there so early, plus we aren't comfortable with her driving the Kia that far away so it meant some arranging had to be done. They had fun at the activity and we watched Arthur Christmas with Brandon and Emma at home. 

Saturday Brandon had a basketball team (his team is really good and they have won every game so far, not so much because of Brandon but he's having fun) and then it was super clean up time. We had an inside crew work on the tree and then outside crew did the lights then we all worked on the decor and got all of Christmas put away for another year. Then we went to the Mead's and took down the lights we had put up on their house. I love decorating but I also love having things tidy again; for awhile there I just couldn't keep up with the mess and just had to let it go. 

Sunday we loved sleeping in; afternoon church is just the best. It was our first Sunday with our new primary class and it was different but went well. Then we stayed so Emma could get set apart as the class president for the 12-13 YW class and then Curtis was ordained to the office of priest. It was all wonderful and I'm really proud of my kids for their commitment to serving others. 

Monday it was back to school and nobody was happy about it. I was asked to sub so I went in for a few hours and then it was laundry and ironing and dishes and menu planning and piano lessons and more laundry. I just feel like I can't catch up on house stuff but I'm working on it. Yesterday I went to Inklings and the grocery store and taught a bunch of piano lessons and finished planning Brandon's birthday. 

I haven't had much time to be thoughtful about 2026. We did review 2025 quite a bit and it was a pretty stressful year because of certain relationships, finances, an old car, our political situation, Josh's work, the war in Ukraine, and raising teenagers. We had many wonderful things happen too and many blessings but overall, my word for the year would be stress. On the Inklings podcast Sister Freeman talked about having a word for the year and I've been thinking about a few possibilities for 2026. Let go (or release) is one I'm considering but also grateful and cheerful are on my list. Stay tuned.