wrapping it up

Happy New Year friends. Even though things are worse than ever covid-wise here in SoCal, the new year promises a new start. I'm never one to make new years resolutions. I think I make a new resolution every Monday most weeks. Plus I'm usually recovering from the stress of December, the kids are still on vacation and resolutions seem to be for people who are at a state of things being a bit normal I think. February is a better month for me to start thinking about new goals for the year. But Happy New Year!  

Haven't posted in a while. Did I mention that I have a little job? It only takes a few hours out of my week but it's all computer work, so maybe it steals my computer energy that it takes me to post blogs. Plus December and all its glory takes all my time and energy too.

December was quiet for us this year. I'm not gonna lie. I was not mad about that. We have two birthdays and four kids to buy presents for. They are very specific about what kind of presents they want now. I received emails from them with Amazon links and everything. The pressure to give them an amazing Christmas after such a crappy year was a lot.

But, let me list the things I did NOT have to worry about.
Christmas programs at school.
Christmas programs at Church.
December music concerts.
Buying Christmas outfits for said programs and concerts.
Driving to and from practices for said performances.
Class parties. (Parents are strongly urged to bring something for every party)
The stress of bringing clean, well-dressed children to Christmas parties so people don't think we're bums.
Buying white elephant gifts.
Taking the kids downtown for a Christmas parade, not that I've ever done that. But they would have asked.
Taking the kids to the mall to get a pic with Santa. I wouldn't have done that either but they would have asked.
All the Christmas things the kids would have asked to do that I would have said no to and felt bad about it. That's more exhausting than anything. The mom guilt. 

The list actually goes on. So I'm thankful December was quiet. Of course I missed the people because I always miss the people. But I also appreciated a break from everything else.

And I also got to enjoy some of my favorite parts of Christmas; Christmas music in the house, Christmas lights around town, Hallmark Christmas movies, singing Christmas songs at church and that magical chaotic Christmas morning when I get to relive the excitement through the eyes of my kids.

Heard around here:

Angus: Wait, where am I?
Me: You're not in all the pictures you little narcissist. That means you're cute.
Angus: Smiles, hugs me and walks away.

Me: You're the cutest thing I've ever seen in my whole life!
Angus: Yeah, I know!
Me: How did you get so handsome?
Angus: I don't know. I just slept on my pillow. That's all I did.

Addie FaceTiming her friend - 
Friend: I don't believe in Santa
Addie: Well every year, the night before Christmas, we leave reindeer food out and every year it's all gone in the morning.
Friend: Well, maybe your mom ate it or something
Addie: I don't think so, it has glitter in it!

Angus the day after Christmas: I love all the stuff I got. But I wish I got a new bike. (first time he ever mentioned a new bike)

Angus: Mom how do you spell trajectory?

Addie: Cheater cheater, pants on... wait.

Winter turned 10! I always think she's older than she actually is so it's never surprising when she turns another year older. 

She started the day by making her own birthday pancakes. This one is a monster truck for Angus.

Mya and Winter are making pancakes. Addie and Angus are growling at each other. The heart is there because Addie's naked.

This is yoga barbie. Everyone was very excited that her "boobs" light up.

Addie isn't happy about the sound that one of Winter's new dolls makes.

Making her own birthday cupcakes. To be clear, it's more fun for her to do it herself.

She asked Dan to buy this for her birthday dinner. Basically seafood soup.

They both chowed down. The rest of the kids had mac and cheese. I had soup from Trader Joes.

Matching Christmas jammies from last year.

Angus gets really excited about monster truck shows.

French braids make the best mermaid hair.

School is way more fun when you dress up like Hermoine from Harry Potter.

Friend: I have 600 uncles and one's name is Dude and he lives in the mountains.

Angus: Well... I DON'T like smashed potatoes so...

MOM. Flares are NOT toys.

Christmas themed youth group party. She made the hat out of a party hat. Brilliant.

Her normal attire.

Driving through the school Christmas party.

This is how Winter watches Star Wars.

I took new pics of the kids for Dan to put up at work. It took me about 100 tries to get a good one of Angus. But they came out cute. The kids have grown up a lot this past year.

Christmas morning before...

...and after.

Favorite moment of the year. 

When Winter opened up her mermaid tail she didn't think she was getting.

I have one recommendation with a few parts. I'm loving Taylor Swifts two indie albums that came out this year. Folklore and Evermore. I'm a fan of all of her music from her very first album all the way up to now. But if you're not, you may like her recent stuff. It's a totally different sound. 

I just watched the Folklore concert movie on Disney Plus and loved it. I always wonder what song writers are thinking when they write songs and she really goes into detail about every song on the album, then performs it. It's like a little private concert.

Happy first Tuesday of 2021!