Almost Time

We are in the final countdown to Christmas and this week was stressful and chaotic. Jeremy and I were both trying to cram everything at work before we are off for the holidays. I was trying to get my holiday baking done and shop for and wrap a few last minute things in any spare minute I had.

As if the normal holiday stress was not enough, Merrick had a basketball tournament this week in Salem. He played on Wednesday, Friday, yesterday (Saturday) and a will play tomorrow. With the venue being an hour away, much of our time this week was consumed by basketball.

In the stress, it's really easy to forget the important things, like my three favorite presents. This week Carrigan had spirit week at her school, Friday was Holiday Sweater Day.  At the last minute, she decided that she didn't like her sweater options and decided to make herself into a present. What a great reminder for me.  Isn't she the cutest present ever.

Christmas Prep

This week we continued with some of the pre Christmas preparations and festivities.  I have been trying to sneak in wrapping gifts whenever I have a free moment.  C.C. has taken it upon herself to organize the presents under the tree each time a new batch is wrapped.  I think, at this point, I am about 95% wrapped and C.C. and Elsie worked together on one last organization yesterday.  They counted 38 presents that I had wrapped. No wonder I threw out my back this week. That is a lot of sitting on the floor.

The less exciting news of the week is that Merrick got a nose injury in his game on Tuesday.  Originally, we thought it was broken, but after a visit to his PCP and some texting with our friend who is an ENT, we now think maybe its just a bad bruise.  We do have a visit with a local ENT next week on the advice of our PCP, but Merrick is improving and we are increasingly confident that it isn't broken. He played in his game on Friday, but with a mask, which he absolutely hated. 

Also this week we had Jeremy's holiday work party.  We started at his office, where they did a Secret Santa gift exchange. The office team also gifted Jeremy a Festivus pole, complete with the airing of their grievances. Anyone who knows Jeremy, knows how much he loves Festivus, so it was perfect.  We then went to dinner.  It was a nice night and fun to get to meet all of Jeremy's coworkers.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I love this time of year.  The Thanksgiving to Christmas season is quite literally the best and this week kicked it off with a bang.  We started the week with a visit to Santa.  It was COLD, almost like the North Pole, but maybe that just made it all the more fun.  And, as you can see, Jeremy has relinquished the "who's taller" fight and is no longer standing on his tippy toes for pictures.

The next few days, I was able to sneak away for my work holiday retreat.  It was a fun little getaway, despite the fact that the hotel we stayed at is apparently haunted.  On the plus side, they had an amazing soaking pool and I won a $25 gift card in our team scavenger hunt.

I made it back to the fam just in time for the official start of the basketball season.  Merrick has his kickoff jamboree and his first ever high school game this week.  They won their game 66-18.  It's going to be a fun season.

In addition to his first high school game, Merrick also started his new job adventure, reffing.  He reffed four games for 3rd and 4th graders.  He's learning as he goes along, but ultimately I think he will enjoy it.

While he was off making the big bucks, the girls attended a dance camp.  They broke into groups based on age and Elsie only had one other girl in her group.  She was very nervous about performing, but she did great. They both did.

Yesterday evening, we capped off the day with our ward Christmas party.  It was a "Night in Bethlehem" themed.  It was beyond spectacular, with the gym being transformed with market stalls, floor seating, and even live chickens.  The pictures don't do it justice.  It was a night to be remembered.

See? Best time of year. Ever!

Thanksgiving 2025

 What a week! It was a busy, fun, blast of a week that flew by faster than I can believe. The week started with trips to the park, bike rides, playdates with friends, multiple horseback riding lessons, and basketball practices

We were so busy having fun that Thanksgiving arrived before we knew what happened. On  turkey day, we had everyone over to our house to celebrate.  This year we had our family, my parents, Emily, Jason, and Kalani, 10 of us all together, but somehow we had food for 35. In addition to good food and good company, we had an extra treat of getting to see Uncle Jensen on Good Morning America that morning, doing his Grinching thing.

As packed as the week was leading up to Thanksgiving, it didn't slow down after.  Friday was Kalani's state championship football game.  We started the day with a bus send off. The girls and I had made posters earlier in the week to help with the send off.  We then headed to the game ourselves.  Between the hour long drive each way, the game itself, and the bananas parking lot, there went the day.  BUT the Lions came away with the "W" and are state champs once again.

Yesterday, we made the move and it was out with Thanksgiving and on to Christmas.  Jeremy and I spent the morning putting up the outside Christmas lights. Then in the afternoon, we made the trek out to get our Christmas tree.  She hasn't been decorated yet, but she's a beauty.  Maybe she'll get some lights and ornaments today.

Tomorrow it's back to school and work, but to say we had a great week would be a huge understatement. I am so excited for the season ahead.