Holidaze
Where on earth to begin? There's been a lot of life, with its many ups and downs, over the weeks-long blog silence. And at least the ups, I don't want to forget.
To kick off an early Thanksgiving week, Mom and I headed southeast to see Nene for a few days. Oh what fun we had. Shopping helped us get in all our steps, and I got to experience the phenomenon that is Ikea for the first time ever. The Christmas lights at Busch Gardens were breathtaking and just made the season come alive. On a whim, we drove to the beach - through a terrifying underwater tunnel, I might add - for the best rainy oceanside seafood I've ever tasted. We warm fuzzied our way through the Mr. Rogers movie in a theater filled with full-size recliners, be still my heart. But most of all, we just soaked up time together, catching up, reminiscing, laughing. It was so wonderful.
On the way home, Mom and I took a stroll through Williamsburg, one of my favorite places on earth.
Our Thanksgiving celebrations were warm and joyful. Mouth-watering breakfast of sausage gravy, egg casserole, and fruits at Mom and Dad's. Classic turkey dinner with all the trimmings with Brandon's folks. I took not a photo in the world, but relished being with our families, sharing fun memories, and helping with their Christmas trees.
All November long, Brandon, the boys, and I have been writing on a pumpkin. Saw this on Pinterest and thought it might be neat, or at least easy. Trey had passed on carving his pumpkin back in October, and graciously donated it to this cause. So for the whole month, this pumpkin and a sharpie have set on the kitchen table, gradually filling up with the people, things, and blessings we are thankful for.
I encouraged seriousness with this, hoping all of us would take the time to look around and offer special thanksgiving for all the Lord has done for us, even the small things. There was no shortage of these serious things on the pumpkin. There was also the occasional boy humor, such as Trey being thankful for a particular brown spot on the pumpkin skin, or Aden being thankful for butts, complete with a drawing.
Even still, this was one of my favorite Thanksgiving activities we've done as a family.
Decorating has been done a bit at a time, here and there, and I'll be the first to admit that the inside decor is probably as minimal as it's ever been. The idea of setting up the Snow Village gave me anxiety from the beginning, so it wasn't touched. Trees, wreaths, candles, and nativities in their places, I decided this year to expend some of my illumination efforts outside. Tacked up the command hooks and wrapped the windows in battery-operated warm LED lights on timers. It took longer than it should have, but I'm learning and I'm also slow.
Y'all, the house has never looked better.
From almost the moment the last light was hung, things have gone downhill. I was struck with a bug that has fallen somewhere between mild flu and bronchitis, weak, achy, feverish, wheezy, cough-y, phlegm-y, headachey and useless. It's still hanging around, and perhaps the worst part is that it's stealing the joy of the season from me. Ugh. I'm so ready to be healthy.
All that aside, the shopping is mostly done. Shout out to Amazon and the poor UPS guy who might as well be part of our family. Basketball rules the calendar, except we may have a whole day together tomorrow, just us four. Perhaps I'll emerge from this daze of yuck enough to enjoy my fellows and maybe even make some fudge.
To kick off an early Thanksgiving week, Mom and I headed southeast to see Nene for a few days. Oh what fun we had. Shopping helped us get in all our steps, and I got to experience the phenomenon that is Ikea for the first time ever. The Christmas lights at Busch Gardens were breathtaking and just made the season come alive. On a whim, we drove to the beach - through a terrifying underwater tunnel, I might add - for the best rainy oceanside seafood I've ever tasted. We warm fuzzied our way through the Mr. Rogers movie in a theater filled with full-size recliners, be still my heart. But most of all, we just soaked up time together, catching up, reminiscing, laughing. It was so wonderful.
Our Thanksgiving celebrations were warm and joyful. Mouth-watering breakfast of sausage gravy, egg casserole, and fruits at Mom and Dad's. Classic turkey dinner with all the trimmings with Brandon's folks. I took not a photo in the world, but relished being with our families, sharing fun memories, and helping with their Christmas trees.
All November long, Brandon, the boys, and I have been writing on a pumpkin. Saw this on Pinterest and thought it might be neat, or at least easy. Trey had passed on carving his pumpkin back in October, and graciously donated it to this cause. So for the whole month, this pumpkin and a sharpie have set on the kitchen table, gradually filling up with the people, things, and blessings we are thankful for.
I encouraged seriousness with this, hoping all of us would take the time to look around and offer special thanksgiving for all the Lord has done for us, even the small things. There was no shortage of these serious things on the pumpkin. There was also the occasional boy humor, such as Trey being thankful for a particular brown spot on the pumpkin skin, or Aden being thankful for butts, complete with a drawing.
Even still, this was one of my favorite Thanksgiving activities we've done as a family.
Decorating has been done a bit at a time, here and there, and I'll be the first to admit that the inside decor is probably as minimal as it's ever been. The idea of setting up the Snow Village gave me anxiety from the beginning, so it wasn't touched. Trees, wreaths, candles, and nativities in their places, I decided this year to expend some of my illumination efforts outside. Tacked up the command hooks and wrapped the windows in battery-operated warm LED lights on timers. It took longer than it should have, but I'm learning and I'm also slow.
Y'all, the house has never looked better.
From almost the moment the last light was hung, things have gone downhill. I was struck with a bug that has fallen somewhere between mild flu and bronchitis, weak, achy, feverish, wheezy, cough-y, phlegm-y, headachey and useless. It's still hanging around, and perhaps the worst part is that it's stealing the joy of the season from me. Ugh. I'm so ready to be healthy.
All that aside, the shopping is mostly done. Shout out to Amazon and the poor UPS guy who might as well be part of our family. Basketball rules the calendar, except we may have a whole day together tomorrow, just us four. Perhaps I'll emerge from this daze of yuck enough to enjoy my fellows and maybe even make some fudge.
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