Lights

I'm going to take a stab at a series of catch-up posts, cause, whoa. A lot has happened in the last month. Loads of fun, Christmas-y things were on the agenda and a couple of weeks ago, we bundled up Nolan and pulled him in a wagon to look at some nearby Christmas lights. Then we headed to Starbucks, of course, for some warm yummies and ended the evening at our city's downtown park to take in the pretty lights there.










It was pretty dark, so this picture is rough, but I think this face says it all:

16

Yesterday was my wedding anniversary.
Every year, I post a sweet picture of my honey and me all dressed up and heading out for dinner. Or smooching. And I usually sum up our year a little bit in that same post.
This year held something a little different for us.
We already knew it would be kind of a bummer day because we would be driving back from a holiday visit with Chris' family, but they brought us such a lovely present which made it even more miserable.
The stomach flu.



The kids both got hit with it on the way home and, well, I'll spare you most of the details. If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you probably already got more details than you wanted. So far, Chris and I are fine, but I don't feel very confident we'll escape. A tiny car and sick kiddos doesn't bode well for our health.

As for the year, there have been many happy changes. Perhaps too many happy changes. We are feeling a overwhelmed by the fullness of our life at the moment. I have found myself keeping the sort of schedule for my family that I have always silently judged other mothers for keeping. You know the one - it's the only-time-for-fast-foot, homework-in-the-car, not-right-now-sweetie-I'm-too-busy schedule. Reassessments will happen. Changes will be made. Just not right now. I'm too busy.

I'm wishing all of you, my friends, a happy Christmas.



May the Light of the World be your peace and rest.

Funday

Last Sunday, we packed up the kids and went to Busch Gardens with Joe and Mindy and, of course, Nolan too. It was a windy, rainy, chilly day, but it was perfect. There were no crowds and that meant there were also no lines for the rides!






Oh heavens. There's my husband holding that baby. Swoon.



There were lots of fun rides.





The train ride around the park was a little more my speed, though.




Drew made friends with a sweet Lorikeet.





Nolan saw his first elephant.



He was pretty impressed!



The meerkats and flamingos were my favorites, though.






It was just a seriously fun day with my favorite people - my family.

Phew

Okay. I'm done.
I feel like I've just limped across the finish line.
My first semester back in school is done and I am...

What am I?

Exhausted, relieved, proud, disappointed...

I'm all sorts of things, all at once.

I wish I could say I finished strong, but my commitments all started to muddle together there at the end and I know I dropped a few balls in this Great Juggling Act. But I finished.

And now.



Now for Christmas.

One More Something

Andrew had a concert.



Check out that super awesome bass player!



If you grew up here and were ever in band, you remember this auditorium and its giant Christmas decorations very well. It's really fun to attend his concerts in the very same place so many of mine were held.
I also had a concert a couple of weeks ago. And Emma has one this week. And everybody has a recital on Saturday.
Sigh.
All good things, they are, it's just that there are so many!

Something

Hi there. I'm sorry it's been so long. I really am. Now, I have so much to say that it's just hard to pick a spot to start. I think I'm going to start with the parade, which is always a fun way to start anything at all.

Andrew was in the city's Christmas parade again this year. We had some friends who typically put chairs out the night before the parade and we put some chairs out with theirs. That meant we had awesome seats!

Joe and Mindy and little Mr. Nolan joined us too, and we all had a really great time. I don't really have the time to tell stories yet, so how about a few pictures?






This semester is almost over and I'm looking forward to catching up a bit after that.

Dear Blog,
I haven't left for good or anything. I promise I'm coming back soon.

<3,
me

Pie Party!

Just before Thanksgiving, my sister-in-law, Sarah, hosted a pie party. Isn't that just a great idea? All the girls brought their ingredients and crusts and we put together our pies in her ginormous kitchen.

Emma and I made a pear & plum pie.



She helped me cut up the fruit. I showed her how,





Then I let her try it by herself.



We added our sugar, corn starch & spices and piled it all high in the pie plate.




I decided to try a new crust recipe, and though the dough was a little unwieldy, I have to say that I was very impressed with the texture and flavor.



See that perfectly golden pie? The tall one? Oh yeah. That's my pie.



Lots of other girls also made pretty pies.





Once the pies were well under way, we stopped for a delicious dinner of homemade soup & grilled cheese sandwiches.




It was a super fun night.
Thanks Sarah!