Joyful Christmas Eve 2020

Blake came down upon Taylor's request, she has been ready to open presents since she woke this morning..lol! I'm so happy that she is down here with me, still excited for this fun stuff! We gathered in the living room, while Dad read Luke 2:1-14, telling of the good news of Jesus' birth, the reason for the season! Then we said a prayer over our blessings we were about to receive and asked God to help us bless others with our gifts. 

We all naturally just started by giving Milo & Millie their presents first. Millie was so excited to rip into hers, revealing her very own sqeaky slipper that was stuffed with a filled hoof! Now, maybe she won't need to steal Bubby's! lol! She loved both items and went running around wildly. Meanwhile, Milo was lounging lazily on the couch and gently nuzzled his gift while Bubby held it up to him. He is so lazy that he started to lick the filled hoof inside without bothering to unwrap it. lol..Blake said no no no, and made him get up and actually open it..lol. Millie ran crazy with her bone while Milo quietly chewed on is all evening, silly doggos!

Next, we opened a special gift that came from Wichita...Andrew and Allison sent the kids each a Target gift card, which they are both super excited about! Then, there was the cutest cloth gift bag inside, that happened to match both kids' pajamas..lol. Inside, was a hand-tied Chiefs fleece blanket! Such a sweet and cuddly warm gift! They got Dad some awesome Black Rifle Coffee, that supports Veterans and I got this lovely book of prayer that is so pretty I would like to set it up as decor! They are so thoughtful!

Blake opened a pro pc tech tool kit, to further his career and help him with his project tomorrow. He also got a floating shelf for his room and a poop knife (don't even ask..lol) from his friend Noah. He got a pair of shoes and some clothes and some sprite soda...which confused him a bit. Taylor gave him a yellow Adidas hat he had been wanting and then when he opened his final gift, he realized why he got soda earlier...he got his own mini fridge for his bedroom..lol. He has been asking for one for years and I always laughed it off because no kid needs a fridge in his room, he doesn't come downstairs enough as it is...none of that has changed but he did get it..he's a good kid and I'll just have to lure him down for something other than thirst..lol. 

Tay got the mini mic that she has been wanting and a mini wacky waving tube guy for her desk..lol. She got a genuine feather pen with ink to practice calligraphy, a motion face washing brush & cleansers (she's a sucker for that kind of self care stuff!), some tall black boots,and some stuff to decorate her room! Blake got her an adorable yellow "Bee Kind" sweatshirt that she loves! 

Dad got some wireless earbuds, some rum that I couldn't pass up because it was called "The Kraken", a couple history books- 1776 & Miracle in Philadelphia, and some Jefferson small batch bourbon- which went along with the history theme. We also got him a patriotic grunt style tee that has the flag and the word "relentless" on it...it was soooo fitting for him and will look great during his podcast..lol!

I got a beautiful One Year Chronological Bible...the entire story in order and waiting to be read...I can't wait! Billy got me a super nice document/photo scanner too, that will help with organization and sharing family photos! I also got the shower foot scrubbie thing i wanted and the ornament book of Jesus' names...love all my gifts so much! 

I gotta say, this year I really felt this incredible joy while we were all opening our gifts. I wasn't trying to stay organized or keep track of which gift was opened first or by who, no trying to clean up as we go...just pure fun of gift giving, making trips into the kitchen for snacks, refills of home made coquito with drunken raisins & time together. Taylor got out her wacky waving tube man and batteried him all up to see him dance. He blew straight up, stayed, then collapsed, to never get back up again. I was bummed that he was a disappointment and immediately jumped on amazon reviews to prove to her that others said he was awesome...trying to justify buying such a silly gift. The very first review said, "tube man has become a friend for life...someone you can really count on cheering you up when feeling down", Tay looks at him laying lifeless on the table and says, "seems to me, I'm the one having to lift HIM up" I cracked up til I cried! He is being sent back but it was all worth those laughs.  

Christmas Eve Day Preppings

I started the day with excitement, happy to wake up early, have some coffee and get last minute details completed. I am beginning to realize that the idea of being completely caught up and able to relax seems more like a carrot forever dangling just out of reach. It may not be a goal I need to set for myself, but rather looked at like a blessing of things I "get" to do. What a blessing that I woke up able to complete my to-do list, have plentiful food to prep, and home to clean and amazing family to do it all for! Cheers to all the parents out there, doing last minute stuff, running around like chickens with our heads cut off, beating ourselves up for forgetting a tiny detail...we got this! Time to chill and enjoy these moments!

I baked the last two days but waking to a clean kitchen & after harnessing some energy from the espresso, made me try a couple more recipes. I thoroughly enjoyed playing Christmas music, baking and meal prepping.

Billy had a couple errands and took Tay along, she is pretty much always up for going along...I love that about her! While they were out and Blake was still sleeping, I went ahead and downloaded photos from my too-full phone to my pc and backed them up on an external drive for safe keeping. It always feels good to get this done, as pictures are my most precious earthly possession! Baking and backing up photos at the same time and I didn't burn a thing! Wooo hoo!!

Blake came down several times, to see if I needed help with anything, he is so sweet. He made some trips downstairs with stuff and then he even helped wrap the doggy gifts. He made sure to tuck a stuffed hoof bone into each gift so the dogs would know to rip into them..lol!

When they got back, Tay and I got to deliver a gift to one of our favorite families. Milo & Millie got to go for a ride while Taylor played Santa and sneak the gift onto their porch! My friend loved her gift, which was an ornament book of Jesus' many names. I knew, the moment I saw the book that I wanted to give them one and I actually bought me one too..lol. I love it! 

Billy made candied bacon and I made pinwheels and cream cheese pickles, along with a meat/cheese tray..that was all, simple this year and ready for Christmas Eve fun!

Black Friday with My Gal

Tay and I planned to get up at 5am to head to the stores. I guess we were super excited because we ended up awake at 3am giggling, making Dad mad. We tried to go back to sleep but couldn't so we just got up. I had an espresso and we pulled ourselves together enough to go out into public..lol. Turns out, nothing was open except for Kohls. Taylor found some fun little trinkets but that was all. We were really hoping Chic-fil-a would be open so we could get our early morning fuel but it wasn't...as we headed to walmart, I noticed STARBUCKS had JUST opened their drive thru...I typically do not give Starbucks my business, but coffee could not be passed up! We went all through Walmart and didn't see any big deals that we had to have. We ran by the house to drop stuff off and take a potty break quietly then finally got our Chic-fil-a breakfast, ate in the Target parking lot before strolling through there. Then we hit Michaels for some much needed craft stuff then back to the house to unload..lol! I'm exhausted just rehashing this morning!

 

We ended up picking up Dad and going to a furniture store to see if there was any living room furniture that was on sale. We found the same set we like before but still didn't purchase because there is a long wait on delivery. We grabbed Culver's for lunch then went to Farm & Home for a great sale item for my sister for Christmas. They were sold out so I was bummed. Oh well, it was a great day of shopping! Happy Black Friday!

 

Family Thanksgiving 2020

I planned ahead for this Thanksgiving, just like any other. We are not letting 2020 steal our family traditions! We did decide to move the meal time a little later so we can have a more relaxing morning and allow time for everyone to get here. It was nice to wake up and enjoy my coffee before starting on the food. Most of the dishes were prepped ahead of time, we mostly just had the turkey & desserts to do. Tay and I tried to make a pumpkin sheet cake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting and failed, not once but TWICE! lol! We liked the icing though! Anyways, we cooked all day and decided we would not make quite as much next year, but then again, we always say that. Taylor and I watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade as we baked. Even though it was a bit lame and pre-recorded due to covid, we were especially excited to see the Hamilton performance. It wasn't the same actors but they still did okay. We followed it up with viewings of the champion dog show and even saw some new breeds! 

We were so thankful that Diana and Danny came over to celebrate with us, Aunt Susie and Stanley ended up not being able to. Billy said grace, asking for God's protection over our nation and our health and then we dug in! We chatted for awhile and got to play some LCR. Not sure who the actual winner was, but there was certainly alot of quarters flying around the table..lol! It was a nice thankful afternoon together.

We had planned to decorate the kid's tree, but decided on just giving them their special ornaments and doing the rest of the memory reading and decorating another night. Especially since Tay and I had to go to bed early so we could wake up for Black Friday shopping!!!  Anyways, back to the ornaments...Taylor got a Hamilton ornament which is very reflective of her year. We spent hours upon hours in the pool jamming to the entire musical back to back. And every car ride to anywhere, was spent singing aloud to the musical. It's the kind of stuff that sticks in your head and you even sing it in your sleep...there were times I had to beg Tay for a break, just to clear my head..lol. 

Blake's ornament I found especially for him, as he claims to be too grown up to keep getting a yearly ornament gift, I just can't help it. His ornament is a computer circuit board cut into a star to hang! I chose this because he is taking a computer technology class at the career center this year in school and it is a really special opportunity! I am so proud of him and I'm sure he loves his ornament..lol. 

George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation

Thanksgiving has always been a time to appreciate all we have to be thankful for, a day of family gathering for a delicious meal & the start to the Christmas season. This year, it feels like more. It feels like a day to reflect on the foundations of why Thanksgiving Day was created and declared a National holiday for our wonderfully blessed United States of America. In reading George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation from 1789, it really brings to light WHY our nation has prospered, why her citizens have been blessed beyond measure with God's favor! Thank you Father, may we continue to raise YOU up as the foundation of our great nation. Amen.

"By the President of the United States of America. a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor—and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be—That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation—for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war—for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed—for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted—for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions—to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually—to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed—to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord—To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us—and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New-York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go: Washington"

January happenings

Blake turned 16, Taylor got braces on the bottom, and there have been a couple snow days so far! The kids love the snow days, even though they haven't played outside like they used to. The dogs enjoy them getting to stay home from school, so Millie isn't crated as much, so there's that. PLUS, little Millie started training at Petsmart, she is such a smart girl!

Billy found out the the Nashville Songwriters Association had a St. Louis chapter and that they hold local events. There was an open mic night for NSAI members at a small coffee shop called Picasso's on Main. Billy couldn't wait to join in! The only stress was choosing which 3 or 4 songs to play. Mike, Mandy and Max decided to go so I went along with them. That way, Billy could focus on networking and deciding on songs and I could have some friends to hang with. I am glad I went, it was fun and Billy did awesome! He played,  Livin' in a John Prine song, One way road, The Stranger, and Drinking Scotch Whiskey. He got to network before he makes his trip to Nashville in March!