Family Photo Shoot

The last time we did family photos Ethan was shorter than I, by a lot. So I think it's fair to say it's been a day or two since we managed to corral everyone in front of a lens.  But we succeeded and now would like to share with you with a new set of family photos. Enjoy!

No Libby is not taller than I am. She was on her tippy toes. The skunk.

Showing off a little. 

The one that will go on the wall. I should photo shop Libby shorter. She deserves it.

My boys just lounging.

I feel like we should celebrate. We finally managed to get an updated photo! I'm grateful to Michael for taking all of them. I grateful to the kids for occasionally smiling and looking at the lens at the same time. We even managed to get a few photos printed and hung on the wall. It feels like a blue ribbon event. 

By the time we get around to another photo shoot Sam will probably be taller than me. Such is our general level of organization.

Celebrating Differently

Our Christmases are always controlled chaos. It is a day we spend running around town visiting all our family. It is really fun, but also very exhausting.

This year we spent most of our day at home. The kids woke up to find Santa had come! They explored their stockings and unwrapped gifts from each other and then we moved on to breakfast. We had cinnamon rolls, orange rolls, pancakes with homemade syrup, Æbleskivers (little round Danish pancakes), orange juice, grape juice, and fresh berries. Yes, the kids were in charge of the menu. Why do you ask?

After breakfast, we headed back into the living room to unwrap more gifts. Gifts from Michael and I, gifts from aunts and uncles; many many gifts.

Aunt Amy sent cards with money. It was happily received.

Aunt Kristal bought the gifts their parents wouldn't.

Like a personal blender for each girl. Grace was a little pleased.

Ethan turned animalistic with his unwrapping.

Sam was a little more controlled but just as happy.

After all the unwrapping the kids had time to play with their gifts, a first for them. Ethan put together the Lego VW Beetle he got from Santa. And installed the light kit his aunt provided. 

We did go for a masked visit with the grandparents in the late afternoon and enjoyed seeing them for the holiday. It was much quieter than it usually is, as it was just us visiting. It was a little lonely, but also a lot less stressful. 

We came home to a festive dinner of crackers and fancy cheeses. This is becoming a favorite meal for holiday occasions. The next day we realized we forgot to set out the British Christmas Crackers (you know those little tubes with jokes, hats, and cheap toys?). We had to break them out for dinner a few days later, when they were finally remembered. They were a fun novelty!

Merry Christmas to all and we'll see you next year!

Another Year Older

Seventeen! How does that even happen?!

Whether I believe it or not, here we are. He is a junior in this most unique of years, taking AP History, Pre-Calc, AP Physics, mostly online but occasionally in person. He's learning basic car repair on the 23-year-old family truck. He's looking for a very part-time job, as his others became too intense to keep juggling. It's been a hectic year, but he had been pretty flexible about all the changes. I just can't believe how close he is to adulthood! 

This year we just celebrated his birthday as a family. He was content to have it so. I imagine we will try to make it up for his 18th. 

It was a nice celebration. He requested eggnog cheesecake, and I made a peppermint one as well. Not all of us think eggnog is fit for human consumption. Ethan and Michael LOVED the eggnog cheesecake. There is no accounting for taste. The rest of us with taste buds thoroughly enjoyed the peppermint one.

Grace gave him a jar of peanut butter. Your guess is as good as mine. He seemed happy, though.

He also got a few items of requested clothing.

and the backpack he wanted. Yep, he's pretty much an adult. He was excited about socks.

He even got his non-alcoholic beverage of ginger beer. He's committed to trying as many varieties as he can find. Libby found him a new one. It was deemed good.

Happy 17th birthday, Ethan! I am in shock that next year we will be celebrating his adulthood.

Craft Madness

Every year my sister, Heidi, hosts all her nieces and nephews for an overnight crafting extravaganza during the month of December.  This year she decided, with full support, that it was not a wise plan to gather so many people in one place. Instead she spent more hours than I care to think about creating craft activities to drop off at various homes. CJ was able to join us at our house for the event, seeing as we watch him several days a week already.

The kids painted sleighs (and my rug, floor, and piano bench).

The baby was thoroughly dedicated to his craft.

Everyone working on their sleds. Ethan and Libby still haven't finished theirs. Grace and Sam found the project quite fun though. The finished masterpieces are gracing our front porch.

Sam's masterpiece. He loved this giant star.

Grace's ended up looking like a smiling face with crazy hair. She has no regrets.

They then moved on to gnome making:

It was quite late. Ethan was quite punchy. His gnome reflects that. 

Grace made numerous, numerous gnomes. So many gnomes. I finally sent her to bed at 11 p.m. and started digging out the mess. I vacuumed at least four times over the next 24 hours and am still finding stuffing beads and beard scraps all over. Libby and Sam made a few as well, but I was exhausted and did not get photographic proof.

In the morning the kids ate pancakes from a mix their aunt provided. Grace thought it was fabulously fancy. Imagine, making pancakes from a mix. They then covered my kitchen table with ink and ceramic tiles and I have not one scrap of photographic proof. They really enjoyed painting the tiles with ink and I enjoyed the disposable table cloth under the disaster.

All the kids made a lot of crafts. They were happy and creative. Heidi was able to get her craft on, albeit it long distance. Even though it was different, it was still fun. We are looking forward to being able to meet in person next year. 

Gingerbread Houses 2020 Edition

What can I say, it's just been that kind of year. The gingerbread softened instead of hardened, the royal icing (house glue) almost broke my beloved Bosch mixer. Then it was crazy runny.

The houses this year couldn't even stand on their own. Above you see the load-bearing peppermint sticks of mine and Ethan's house. He also tried rubber cement and on the inside is a pile of saltines trying valiantly to keep the walls from caving in. It was all futile.

Grace and Libby tried frosting and melted marshmallows with no better effects. Their house stood for as long as it takes to inhale. Then it just slid slowly apart, leaving marshmallow strings behind.

The walls just kept tumbling down.

Michael and Sam shot for simplicity and managed to make a house that stood strong, if slightly crooked. It was still standing the next morning.

They were even proud enough to sign their creation. None of the rest of us felt such pride.

We attempted. We persevered. We kinda made some houses. It's just been that kind of year. We keep trying, and it keeps falling apart. Next year will be better.