January 11, 2026

Happy New Year 2026

This new year is off with a bang!  We have done a mix of being lazy and enjoying new Christmas toys and then going all out and being busy!
     
The night before I went back to work after Christmas break, we had a dessert party.
      
I love our house at Christmas!
      
Ethan has been using his new cooking tools to help Alex make dinner.
      
On New Years Eve, we had plans to go ice skating at the White Water Center with friends.  Our friends had to cancel last minute due to illness, but we were not upset to stay in!  We played new games from Christmas.
     
We had an ice cream snack.
    
We played more games.
   
    
Lulu did not want to stay up until midnight.
       
We watched the ball drop in NYC with sparking juice!
      
Harper worked on her project with her new typewriter.
      
My snuggly little puffball!
    
I woke up last Saturday and decided I needed to start a home renovation project.  I spent the day planning and taping the room.
    
I bought wood and tools.
      
    
     
    
     
    
     
I took a break on Sunday to take Ethan for ice cream.
    
      
I put up picture frame molding in our bedroom and our bathroom (only the toilet room).  Our room still needs to be painted, but I needed a break.
      
   
    
      
The bed is still pulled away from the wall until I paint.  The bed is soooo heavy to move.
     
       
       
This weekend, I painted the bathroom.  I can't get my phone to transfer the photos so I will put it in the next post.

December 28, 2025

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

 We snuck in one last holiday activity the Monday before Christmas.  We went to the Light the Knights Festival at the Knights Stadium.  You have to do this on a week night or else it is too crowded.  We went with Lis, Katherine and Bay.  It was great!!
        
The kids love posing by all the decorations.
    
      
    
    
    
    
    
    
     
    
     
This was a fan favorite.
    
    
       
Always my favorite view of the city.
     
     
      
     
    
       
We thoroughly enjoyed tubing.  Normally, you have to wait in line thirty minutes just to ride once.  I lost count of how many times we rode it this year!
     
We went around the ice rink twice.  The skates were too uncomfortable for Harper.
     
     
The kids wrote one last letter to Santa.
     
    
     
    
     
     
    
    
    
I had so many things to do before we left for Cary so Alex took the kids ice skating with friends at Camp North End.  It was sixty-five degrees.
      
   
      
We made it!  The kids read Christmas books.
    
I love deviled eggs!
   
        
We wait all year for the Christmas Eve party!  It was a smaller crowd this year, only thirty-seven.  We missed Lisa and Matt.
    
     
       
Lis always has the best presentation. 
    
     
        
        
       
       
      
When the kids start to gather in the living room, it is time for Secret Santa!
    
     
     
      
    
       
Debbie and Michael made a fun Christmas music game.
    
   
    
     
    
     
    
     
Cousins
        
Teresa and Jeff always bring sweet gifts for Harper and Ethan.
       
    
Magna-tiles are their favorite toys!
     
       
One of my favorite parts of the party is when Teresa and Mom exchange their gifts.
    
     
    
     
            
I think Moo was more excited about the gifts than LuLu.  Moo would eat all the ribbons.  Lu goes for the tissue paper.
            
Santa came!
     
They are so cute!
   
   
    
     
They have to read Santa's note first and admire the eaten cookies and carrots. 
        
     
    
       
     
    
    
Lulu got a new mouse!
        
Gifts from Lisa!
      
Ethan was most excited about his new teacher accessories.
    
Harper was most excited about her typewriter. 
   
     
Grandma read Christmas stories to the kids.
     
I hate it when Christmas is over, but we had a wonderful holiday season.  We have a lot to look forward to next year!