The holiday season is always fun and full, and this year was no different. We also threw in a few humbling hiccups for good measure to keep us grounded. We got lots of time with family which is always the highlight of this time of year. We are so very thankful for all the good - good people, good places, good times, good memories, good care, and good love.
I used to be a stickler for not putting up the tree or decorating for Christmas until after Thanksgiving but there is something so nice and special about coming home from a Thanksgiving trip to a house already festive and bright. I do all the decorating with the exception of putting lights on the tree. I just don't have the patience. Luckily this duo does a great job.
The WV tree! We celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday and on Friday morning Luke and I get up and decorate G and P's tree. We celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with our WV family in the same trip, and it is always a trip full of traditions and fun and family.
We added a little star gazing this time around. So cool!
L wanted to bring a tradition of ours to his parents' house - make your own pizza night. So much fun! Our nephew Pete won for the most toppings to grace his naan pizza. It was downright impressive.
Most of the family in one photo - missing R and M. Please notice (how could you not?) Luke's reindeer outfit - a gift from G and P that he wore proudly both for hilarity and warmth!
What would we do without Papaw?! We had a minor car mishap on the way to WV - someone decided that throwing their laptop out of the car window was a good idea and therefore someone else (us) ran over it accidently - and Papaw had us back in working order in record time. This man has a tool for everything!
I have no business being in this photo but I love these fellas so very much!
Back home to our holiday house. Cozy.
Every year I look forward to the fun and hilarious white elephant holiday party with my running pals.
I didn't get the worst gift but it was pretty close!
We don't follow a whole lot of trends in our family but I had been seeing this trend that recognizes that as moms we are very much aware of and can remember holding our kids for the first time but don't really remember or clock the last time. I didn't know if I could pick up Luke anymore and I don't know how long I will be able to. So, with just some minor pleading I asked if he would let me try to pick him up and hold him...potentially for the last time. He is a solid 6ft tall and I'm not sure how much he weighs but he is and will forever be my baby. I was successful and I soaked up every second. Embarrassing for him, healing and profound for me. (This is a trend I can get behind, and I will try it again next year because I never want it to be the last time).
Race #1 of a 'southern runner's' calendar! Our team of four had a blast! We had the greatest time on a cold and rainy Saturday morning doing what we love with people we love! This community is priceless to me
The greatest of all race directors! She plans and produces some of the best races in our area all while smiling and serving s'mores in the rain! So lucky to call her my friend
L and this crew ran this race as well! So fun to be out there together and cheering each other on.
Finishing together! And to add a little extra to those smiles...we won!! We were so proud of our over 40 selves to win the women's masters division. Yay us!
Luke and his fantastic friend group gathered for some epic cookie baking! And not just any cookie baking...many of the tasks were to be done blindfolded. Crazy kids, a hilarious idea, and so much fun!
Pitiful. Just pitiful. Yours truly was sick for weeks on end. Sicker than I have been in years! It was brutal. So many hours spent here, on the couch, usually in the dark from about 3-5am, staring at our beautiful Christmas tree, wondering if that day would be the turnaround day back to feeling like myself - spoiler alert - this particular day was NOT the turnaround day...nor was the day after or the day after that....etc. I am feeling better now though so thank goodness!
Small tasks like wrapping (I LOVE wrapping) got me vertical and gave me some purpose on some long sick days. I put some Christmas music on and wrap my little heart out. Good for the soul.
Luke had a Pokémon tournament so L and I got some decent resale tickets to see the USC Women's basketball team play Penn State. A bit of my worlds colliding.
The USC gals won and so did Luke!!! I have said it a million times but the Pokémon community is made up of the Best people!
And just a day or two before Christmas we went on two college tours close to home. Two beautiful schools - one of which Luke says is way too small (to be fair the enrollment is less than his high school) and the other he liked quite a bit. It is always interesting to me to hear his take on things. He is wise and thoughtful and the most interesting person I know.
We found a small independent bookstore walkable from campus - like mother like son! Luke chose classics by Machiavelli and Dostoevsky. This kid is such a deep thinker despite the fact that he also cannot find his shoes most mornings.
One of the campuses has a student-built replica of Thoreau's cabin on Walden Pond! How cool is that? I had to go check it out because Henry David Thoreau is my favorite naturalist and transcendentalist. I can't decide if it is weird or cool that I have a favorite naturalist?
More to come about this holiday season....
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