Peace Out, 2025!

(12/1) How is it December already? I worked from home today, Dad was off, and the twins had school. D had hand therapy after school this afternoon. He much prefers the morning sessions where he misses a bit of school and gets to go to the espresso stand after. Can't say I blame him!

(12/2) I worked in the office today and Dad had the boys. The weather held for a walk in the gray, where I stumbled upon these cool shrooms. The rest of my day was meetings, as is the norm for Tuesday.

(12/3) We decided to do our Thanksgiving with the grands today since everyone was sick last week. We pulled the kids out of school and hopped on a ferry. C and his girlfriend arrived a little bit after we did. We had a delicious lunch of charcuterie including a bunch of cheeses and salmon that Dad had smoked for the occasion. Dinner was wonderful and they sent us home with lots of leftovers so we could enjoy it all over again!

(12/4) I worked from home, Dad worked at work, and the twins had school. I had a meeting right as the boys were leaving school this afternoon and I told them I wouldn't be available to pick them up like I normally do when it rains. It absolutely poured on their walk home from school, and they were not happy, to say the least. J changed right into his jammies and I had a time getting him back out the door for his appointment.

(12/5) TGIF! It was a work and school kind of day for most of us and C came home from working up at Nanan's.

(12/6) I took a class at the gym this morning and then C and I headed up to Nanan's. She wasn't feeling so hot this morning, so C & I grocery shopped for her. By the time we got everything put away, she was was feeling better and we stayed to visit. C & I began tackling her back deck and ran a few loads to the dump. We ended up making a sizeable dent!

(12/7) The boys and I had a lazy Sunday. It was yucky out, so we all bummed around doing our own things.

(12/8) I took the week off to deal with some appointments and have a breather. J had a doctor's appointment this morning and she encouraged us to squeeze a few more things in this year since we've hit our deductible. So I set about making more appointments. She suggested a class on PDA with high-masking kiddos and it was fantastic! We had a windstorm tonight and I had to connect via my cell because our internet kept going in and out. But it was definitely worth the trouble!

(12/9) It was a struggle to get the twins out the door today. We were out of tea, which is a world-stopping crisis around here. I offered up stopping by the espresso stand if that would get everybody up and out the door on time. J chose a giant eggnog with whipped cream and I thought nothing of it until the nurse called saying he wasn't feeling so hot. He looooves lactose but it doesn't love him back.

(12/10) I ran up and grabbed Nanan for our annual Santa pictures. C's girlfriend joined us this year ~ they look so cute in their cowboy hats! D wasn't thrilled about where he was standing, so he's back there looking dark and mysterious. D had hand therapy right after, but after that, we finally got to WinCo. Dinner was shared and then I ran Nanan back home.

(12/11) Dad and I had a quiet morning together after the twinadoes went to school. Poor D had a day and nothing could convince him that something equally awful wasn't bound to happen tomorrow. I took J to his appointment, and we remedied the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day with tacos when we got home.

(12/12) My company's Christmas party was this afternoon. Dad was off and was able to attend too. It was a more somber gathering with the loss of our CEO last month, who always loved a good party.\

(12/13) Sarah and I walked to class this morning. I spent the rest of the day doing a whole lot of not much.

(12/14) Dad had a closing shift today and made Dutch babies for us this morning. My Sunday class is later in the morning so I got in on breakfast while it was hot.

(12/15) I worked from home today, Dad had the day off, and the twins had school. J had an appointment for another assessment this morning but after going through everything, it was determined he's had so many assessments this year that it makes sense to re-evaluate next year. Shew! D had his most favorite (sarcasm) hand therapy this afternoon. This evening we were informed about an incident at school and he is suspended for the next two days. Sigh.

(12/16) I worked in the office today and Dad wrangled the boys and helped S with a couple of things. C took D up to Nanan's to work for a few hours. D kept her company while C worked and they actually seemed to have a good time together.

(12/17) Dad and I had the day off. We kicked the day off with school for J and an 8am doctor's appointment for D. They took one last look at D's pinky and he was given the green light to wean off the splint. D decided to join us for round 2 of Santa pics with S' fam and even picked out some cherry flavored candy canes to share. I took everybody for sushi and Dad went thrifting and scored a few deals. D had his last hand therapy appointment this afternoon and is very relieved to be done with this whole process!

(12/18) Everyone had work and school except for C today. He and F were watching Netflix on the big TV, so the Xmas Corg and I got to hang out by the tree.

(12/19) I worked from home today and the boys had a half day. I had to take Dad to a medical  appointment and ended up treating myself to ramen while I waited. It was delicious!

(12/20) Sarah and I went to Zumba this morning and I went up to Nanan's to take her grocery shopping this afternoon.

(12/21) I went to the gym this morning and hit Costco and a few other stores after. I got five dozen eggs and am not sure that's going to be enough for the next few days. We took Toffee's gotcha day pictures a day late. She's been with us for five years now.

(12/22) The boys are on break and I'm almost there. Just two more shifts! I worked from home today and Dad was off. We're scrambling around here to get those last minute shopping trips in.

(12/23) I worked a half day in the office and they let us work the second half from home, which was great because I hadn't finished wrapping! We let the boys unwrap their presents tonight so we didn't have to haul them with us. The grands rented a beautiful house on Lake Stevens for the big group, and the twins and I relocated there tonight.

(12/24) Dad, C, and F arrived early to make the fam breakfast and spend the day. Dad made a giant batch of Dutch babies and we feasted. I had packed what looked like a fun puzzle, but oh man is it going to be a challenge! It says for ages 6+, so maybe I'll recruit the littlest cousins! Granddad and I put in several hours and have barely made a dent.

(12/25) Merry Christmas! Dad had to work today, but was able to join us for dinner tonight. We played another round of white elephant and C won back the frilly apron that he re-entered into the present pot. It was wonderful to hang with the whole fam! We played games, worked on the puzzle, cooked, and ate a ton!

(12/26) It was just my fam and the grands at the Airbnb for the bulk of the day. C and F commandeered the TV and continued their marathon of The Walking Dead. Granddad and I worked for hours on the puzzle but we're not gonna make it. I'm tempted to leave it here at the house as a "gift."

(12/27) Home again, home again. After we unloaded I let the kids do their stockings, and D helped the dogs with theirs. We have lots of new squeaky toys for them to destroy!

(12/28) I took the day to do nothing. I pulled the puzzle back out and pretty much started from scratch. I listened to a book and had a relaxing day.

(12/29) I went up to Nanan's briefly this morning. She's going to see a lot of us over the next few and I told her she was going to get sick of me. We had W over for a bit this evening and got to give him his presents. What a cutie!

(12/30) Sarah and I went for a coffee walk and caught up. We both have been crazy busy! S asked if I could drive them up north this afternoon. We stopped for sandwiches, which W said he definitely wanted, but which was promptly ignored/rejected in favor of potato chips. Goober.

(12/31) I managed to finish the puzzle this year! I WinCo'd with the boys and then headed up to grab Nanan so she could join us for New Year's. Dad cooked up a full turkey dinner, which was delicious. We watched the Downtown Abby movie as we waited for midnight. Peace out, 2025!