This past week has gone by in a flash. We didn't do much. I tried to set up something with the Beals, but that fell through. I tried to do something with the kids, but they didn't really want to do anything, so I didn't worry about it. We really enjoy just hanging out at home, so we had a great time. I was very busy for days cooking for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Gabby got her driver's license. She couldn't really relax until Christmas Eve morning after she passed her written and driving tests. We played a lot of games and watched a lot of Stranger Things and Christmas movies, and other movies. For Christmas John got us all season passes to Roaring Springs. That will keep us very happy and busy this summer. We went out to dinner for Corbin's b-day and our Christmas splurge to Kyotos, my favorite. My kids really like it too. My aunt Bev and cousin Sherry came over for dinner on Christmas Eve, and it was fun to host them. John and I headed to Middleton on Friday to have Christmas dinner with John's mom and stepdad. They are both excellent cooks, and it was really good. My kids go to their dad's tonight, and they will go to Utah and party hard and do all of the things. I need to clean up Christmas, possibly do some deep cleaning, and get ready to start a new semester, plus maybe binge-watch a show or two. Hutch has been motivating me to walk outside this winter. I really like having the motivation to force myself outside. I quite enjoy it once I get out there. Hutch hasn't had any accidents this week. Yay! We put him in the laundry room when we leave, which is the easiest place to clean if he does have an accident. Well, that's all!
Christmas Eve games. "Speak Out"
Piper's Christmas gift. A custom chess set from her favorite YouTuber. It is pretty cute.
Wahoo! It's Christmas break! I'm so excited. The last week of school wasn't too bad. I will have some new students next semester and some of the same students. It will be good to change it up a bit. I don't know many of the teachers at Borah, but one of them got diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last week, and she won't live beyond a year. So devastating. She's in her 40's. Really sad. Life can change in an instant.
My kids come back tonight, and I get them for the week of Christmas. I'm very excited. We will try to plan some fun things to do and some yummy food to eat.
Well, Hutch has had too many accidents, and I've reached my limit. I had John throw the ottoman away. It's been peed on too many times. We put him in diapers, but sometimes they don't stay in place, and he pees somewhere in the house. From now on, he will have to stay in the laundry room while we are gone. It will be easy to clean up if he pees. I shampooed all of the living room furniture and the carpet, and I think the pee smell is gone. I cannot handle smells, and I do not want my house to be stinky. I think we might buy new couches when they go on sale. I'm thinking President's day maybe. He's a sweet dog, and I do love him, but I'm done with the pee!
Piper had a mini recital of sorts at her studio. You can skip the first 40 seconds.
Sunday, December 14, 2025
5 more school days! I'm doing pretty good with not being too burned out, but I'm still very ready for Christmas break. It was a busy week. On Tuesday, my club ran concessions. We got done at 9:00 rather than 9:30, so hey! This was our first week with the kids and John living here full-time. The transition seemed smooth to me, and I think the kids as well. I tried to be really intentional with John and my kids and ease the relationships and transitions. The main hiccups are John goes to bed early for work so my kids have to shower sooner and try to be more quiet at night. Also Hutch has had his fair share of pee accidents? We don't know why he's peeing. He peed in Gabby's bed twice! How? I swear we try to keep the doors shut. We got a baby gate so he can be locked downstairs, and John purchased some diapers that we are putting on him now when we leave the house until he can stop doing it. We are hoping that it stops.
My Child Development class hosted the Christmas preschool party, and it went well. Yay. Tonight I went to a Christmas dinner for Shelly, thrown by Christy. She is such an amazing friend to Shelly and makes her life so much fuller.
We are trying to get caught up on Stranger Things, but having everyone home and available at the same time is hard. I think I'm done Christmas shopping for my kids. I need to get stocking stuffers and wrap presents.
Love her!
Preschool party.
John put on Ryan's shark suit for a laugh; it worked!
Such a pretty table setting and tree!
Sunday, December 7, 2025
Only 10 more school days until break, but who's counting? My club ran concessions for the first time. That made for a LOOONG day. We were done around 9:30 pm. I don't know how people are teachers and coaches, so many long hours. I couldn't do it. We are doing it again this coming Tuesday. Woof. My niece Dejah got married over the weekend. My parents and sister stayed with John and me. We had a great time hosting them. It was fun to have that one-on-one time. I got out several of my 300-piece puzzles (my fav), and my dad and sister put together several puzzles as they are masters, but I think they saw how fun the fewer-piece puzzles can be. Maybe? At lunch on Saturday, we surprised my mom with a 75th birthday celebration of sorts. Her 75th birthday is on Tuesday. We gave her a gift card to one of her favorite gardening nurseries. Hart collected all of the kids' memories/favorite things about our mom, and Jory compiled them in a book. It was fun to read through everyone's comments. Alright, that's all.
Gabby joined us for the reception.
John, with his sad face, had to wear a shirt I bought him. Wah Wah.
I put together this poster with the help of Etsy. Etsy did the heavy lifting.
