Week 1

Routine

1.4

Cozy

1.5

Inspire

1.6

Started my 2nd year of "One Line A Day" journaling. Inspired by friend Josie.

Translucent

1.7

Happy

1.8

Had just gotten into bed and realized I hadn't taken my picture for the day.

Then he came and joined me.

And he definitely makes me happy.

(my one phone photo of the bunch)

Cuddle

1.9

Borrowed Fergie from the Laflans.

Easy

1.10

Our Sunday mornings aren't usually easy like the song goes.

But Drew is my easiest kid.

Started a daily photo project using prompts from the Clickin Moms Instagram page.

December

12/5

He is fun to shop with.

Again on the shopping.

12/7

I sure did enjoy all 3 of my boys in the dentist seat at the same time.

No cavities!

12/7

Tried out the neighbor's laser lights.

Santa came to the Carmel library for story time.

12/9

Like last year, Auggie followed him as long as possible as he rode away.

Paid off with some Lula's peppermint bark.

12/9

Ugly sweater day at school.

12/11

A late start getting the outside lights up.

12/12

Owen's first campout with the young men was to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.

Lucky kid got to camp and hike in the redwoods.

I made him a tinfoil dinner with a lot of love (and butter).

But he ate a bag of Doritos instead.

I brought this taco truck to a white elephant party at the Brown's.

And won it back.

Owen did the same...won back the melting snowman he brought as a gift to a YM/YW party.

12/13

We just like to buy our own gifts apparently.

12/13

Drew has at least 50 selfies on my phone at any given time.

12/16

Getting ready to sing their little hearts out at the school winter concert.

It was cute.

Drew did NOT want to be a part of it this year and I didn't make him. Kind of wish I did.

12/19

Stopped by The Inn at Spanish Bay on Pebble Beach to check out their Christmas decor.

Tes + Sally is always a party.

Their gingerbread display is always amazing.

Sarah can do a lot with a little. Loved her graham cracker house.

12/22

12/23

I took family pictures for the Carters and Drew was my assistant and random dog attracter.

12/23

A crazy day at the aquarium.

12/26

Justin took this on the way home from a college football game he & Drew went to.

12/28

Did a little hiking at Fort Ord National Monument with the Wades.

It was beautiful!

Not beautiful was the choice to go during A's nap time and having to carry him up some major hills.

12/29

Sand sledded/boarded, also with the Wades, at the Marina Sand Dunes.

Fa Ra Ra Ra Ra

Usually we go out for Chinese food on Christmas Day, but we switched it to Christmas Eve this year in hopes of having better restaurant options. Plan failed and this year's food was the grossest yet.

At least we got to Skype Cole on his Singapore mission. 

And had our Christmas Eve nativity.

Christmas Day:

Santa brought science experiments (Mentos/Diet Coke, snow crystals).

Owen reached his step goal for the day using his new watch.

This Christmas season was pretty stressful for me. Shopping wasn't done till very last minute. I was working all month, but it was the working the week of Christmas (with all the kids out of school) that put me over the edge. Just too much got in the way. We did a lot of fun things, and we used the 25 Days of Christ scriptures and videos as our scripture study for the month. We had a great, musical Christmas program at church. But it wasn't until Christmas Day that I was able to just relax and enjoy it all. The kids were happy and grateful. We stayed home all day. And I loved reading this article before going to sleep that night. Wish I had found it sooner in the month.