I've literally been working on this post for more than two weeks bit by bit. I've finally got all the videos and pictures loaded now, I hope.
Once again, it is all out of order 😞 Okay, I'm just going to jump right in.......
We are all still trying to adjust to Christopher's new work schedule. Myles wanted to make him breakfast in bed on his first day of swing shift.
Myles gets to come along with me now when I take the girls to dance class. We sit and chat, laugh, and read to each other, or sometimes we bring our own books and read to ourselves. I read my Lucy Maud Montgomery book with collections of Avonlea stories, and Myles usually reads something on aquariums/fish or a plant book. It gets dark so early that I read by flashlight and Myles brings his headlamp.
Myles was being silly while we waited for Elsa during her violin lesson.
Meg had her 6 year old doctor appointment and wanted to have her picture taken with the big Christmas tree. This has become an annual thing that she looks forward to after her doctor appointment in December.
The girls came home for two weeks!!!!! We all couldn't wait to pick them up from the airport. I got a bit frazzled this time around. A big suburban, crowded arrival pickup area, and rain made for a stressed out me. I had to go around twice and finally found a spot to pull over at the curb. They had texted me that they were at the baggage area, but I think I understood that to say they were coming out that door right at that moment. I was desperately and frantically looking for them, and trying to text them, when a security officer came and told me to move it! I spotted Rhaevyn and asked if they could just get in the car so I could vacate that spot. He had me pretty shook up. He was blocking the door for them to get in the car. He finally moved, and they could get in. However, as Myles put the suitcases in the back he just stood there and glared at me. Ugh! I was happy to finally drive away from the curb.
The girls had taken a shuttle from the university to the airport and had left really early that morning, so they were pretty hungry by the time they landed. We stopped at IKEA for lunch and a quick perusal of the store.
Did I mention how good it was to see them face to face and hug them????
Rhaevyn was so nice to babysit for us while she was home. I love watching Rhaevyn with the littles. I came home to Meg asleep in our bed. Rhaevyn had let her look at books in our bed until she fell asleep.
I took a picture of Aeva's new dress that she made just before Christmas break:
Like last year, Aeva wanted tea cookies and hot cocoa for her birthday.
Myles was happy that Rheavyn and Aeva were home for his winter recital.
I found these at Costplus World Market. Oh my goodness!!!! They were sooo good!!! I don't like black licorice, but these were addicting. I was glad that everyone was willing to share them with me so I wasn't tempted to eat the whole bag.
One of our favorite shows to watch is Making Good on BYU TV. The host is Kirby Heyborne. He's been in several lds films, but he is also a comedian, musician, and narrator. Myles wanted to write him a letter. I hopped on Facebook, went to his page, and explained that my son wanted to write a letter to him. I asked where I should send that. I really didn't think I'd get a reply, or if I did it would be some address for the president of his fan club. It took a bit, but I did get a reply. Myles sent off his letter, but again, I didn't have high hopes any type of response would come back. Keep in mind, all I said was "my son wants to send you a letter." I got a message on Facebook just before Christmas asking "What is Myles's shirt size?" I was a bit surprised to say the least. I shared the message with everyone but Myles. One evening we came home to a package on the porch. Rhaevyn had been waiting for a package, so Myles assumed it was hers. He was perplexed when she handed it back to him. We all gathered around with huge smiles on our faces because we knew what it was. He looked at it, and then the realization hit him.....
He got a hand written note from Kirby and a shirt from his show Making Good. I sent the video to Kirby just so he would know just how excited his fan here in Battle Ground, Washington was to receive his letter and the shirt.
Watching our annual Christmas Eve Movie and having hot cocoa.
I think the best thing about Christmas is all the sweet and thoughtful gifts that the kids give each other. They aren't anything expesive, but they are always thoughtful and thought out gifts, some are even handmade. I always love hearing the thought behind each gift. I love watching the smiles and happy eyes of the giver and the receiver. This Christmas was was no exception.
Aeva bought me a box of Lehi Roller Mills blueberry muffin mix. She knows how I love them and haven't had them in a few years.
Aeva found the third book in a book series that Myles really likes at Deseret Industries.
Meg gave me her very favorite bear for Christmas.
Aeva found Elsa the first season of Little House on the Prairie at Deseret Industries. She had called to tell me she had found the most amazing gift for Elsa. It was practically brand new. To say that Elsa was excited about the gift is putting it mildly.
Rhaevyn made Chris a new hat with a Totorro on it from the anime My Neighbor Totorro, and she came up with the pattern for the outline on her own.
Aeva got Rhaevyn a kazoo so that they could do duets together back at school. Rhaevyn was so excited about that!
I was so excited to get this journal for the Book of Mormon study for 2020.
Myles gave me an awesome present. He had a bit of help from Chris is putting it together.
A mason jar foaming soap container.
Rhaevyn got Myles a new bowtie.
We found Aeva one of her most favorite movies from 1934, It Happened One Night.
Rhaevyn made a shawl for Elsa. The pattern is so pretty.
Molly with her new bed and toy shark. The shark didn't survive the week. He was shredded to pieces. RIP Mr. Shark!
Rhaevyn gave me the prettiest nail polish for Christmas. It sparkles in the sunlight.
I finally got around to cookies after Christmas. We made red velvet crinkles and gingerbread cookies. They were both so yummy! Meg actually helped me make the gingerbread cookies. She really wanted to taste molasses.
Yummy molasses!
Rhaevyn decorated the cookies for us.
We all took turns helping to put two puzzles together.
And just like that two weeks was over, and it was time to take the girls to the airport to fly back to school. It was still dark when we got up and drove them to the airport. We were all laughter and smiles until we stood at the TSA line and hugged the girls goodbye. The tears started to flow. The ride home was quiet and melancholy.
Elsa and I were laughing when we found this drink. We sent this picture to Rhaevyn. We had sat and binged watched the entire Signed, Sealed, Delivered series during Christmas break. One of the main characters drinks this in the show, and we had just been commenting to each other about where one would even find that drink. The dollar store.............in case you wanted to know.
My $4.99 cat shirt that I almost thought had been sold and gone forever. The girls and I had a blast going to five Goodwill stores while they were here. I had found this shirt, but decided against getting it. Then I changed my mind the next day. We went back to the store, and I couldn't find it. Luckily Rhaevyn came to the rescue and found where it had been moved. I love it!
Time to start getting school work planned for January. Molly snoozing next to me amid the books.
One of our favorite things is to look at all the different birds that frequent our backyard throughout the day.
I love my new mason jar soap dispenser. My best friend taught me a hack for foaming soap. I buy the regular gel soap, any brand, and fill the jar half way with that soap. Then I add water and shake to mix it together. Voila! With the foam pump it comes out foamy and uses less!
Since I love my new soap dispenser for the kitchen so much, I asked Chris to make me another one for the really huge mason jar. I put that in the hall bathroom.
Christmas Sunday pictures with some of us who were willing to have pictures taken out in the cold:
I'll end with a video of Myles. He picked up Christopher's banjo and taught himself how to play this little snippet in just a couple of minutes:
Christmas break is over and the new year has begun. We are settling back into our new routine, although it still feels brand new to us and the kinks are still being worked out. We are excited to see what the new year holds for us and what personal growth and adventure awaits!
