Christmas to New Year's Eve 2024

We've never had the trampoline up this late in the year but it was time for it to come down. The Sunday before Christmas was the last warmish day to play.

Sometimes the trampoline brings out the hobo in my kids.

They convinced Justin to come out to jump with them one last time then the next evening the kids took it down and put it in the shed. I didn't even have to help.

Monday (or Christmas Eve Eve we call it) we frosted sugar cookies.

Erica worked really hard on this Christmas tree and it turned out so cute. "I don't want to eat it. I don't like sugar cookies."

They were mostly good sports frosting cookies. Turns out Justin and I are the only ones that like eating them and he only likes a skiff of frosting so is this all for me? But if you ask the kids they say frosting sugar cookies is a favorite Christmas tradition.

 I did wise up and made a half batch so that I didn't have to call my kids back to the kitchen multiple times until they frosted their allocated 6 cookies. Nor do I have to eat as many this year. Win-win.

This is my max sugar cookie frosting skills.

For dinner we had beef short ribs, pretzel jello, salad and roasted vegetables, and three flavors of sparkling cider.

After dinner it was time to open Christmas pajamas!

Goofballs.

Christmas Eve we spent with my side of the family. We went over early to put the prime rib roast in the oven so we spent some time playing games.

My niece Jaana and I have a tradition of texting back and forth all Christmas Eve what we are doing so we feel connected even though we are far apart. I sent her this picture of my dad and like 5 minutes later she walked through the door! Little sneak. I love it when she's sneaky. She surprised us all!

Good job, Justin.

It's most fun when we all sit together to eat so with some creativity and cramming, we all sat in the living room for dinner.

I insisted on real candles for the authenticity (and danger) and it turned out magical.

 

After dinner my kids played a quartet of Angels We Have Heard on High. 

James and Erica on the piano, Sarah and Henry on violin and cello. They had only practiced since school got out a few days before but it turned out great and they had fun.

After that the kids did the fishing pole game, we all did a white elephant exchange and then it was late and time to clean up and go home. 

Before bed the kids set out cookies and milk and left a note for Santa.

James got the honor of writing it this year.

Justin and I stayed up late watching Happy Gilmore (I don't know why). We didn't finish it.

Santa came!

James's favorite gift: Harry Potter legos

Erica's: clothes and watch

Henry: football gloves

Sarah: Bluetooth adapter for her car stereo. Now she doesn't have to listen to my old cds even though she secretly loves them.

My parents came over for a couple of hours and ate breakfast with us and saw what the kids got. We surprised them all with tickets to the symphony in a few months. Then that afternoon we went to Justin's parent's house. We were the only ones that came over since Braden was with Molly's family this year and Nate and his wife just got home from the hospital the night before with their new baby. So it was quiet but still nice and fun. Corey and Nadine still cooked enough food for a large gathering and I ate too much trying to do my part.

Aunt Diane made all the kids these cute snowman heads with a hat in their favorite color.

Merry Christmas!

A couple of days later we got out Erica's new smore maker again.

She was a good smore maker before but she's an expert now. In the background you can see a panini press Henry got. Sarah got a crepe maker and James got a waffle maker. I'm trying really hard to make it easy for my kids to make me food.

Justin got a camping cot from his parents and James tried it out for him. 

Newest member of the Dye family!

This was on Sunday but I stayed home because I had a headache so I didn't get to meet her. 

New Year's Eve is also Justin's birthday. The kids each picked out something at the store to give him. Or told me what to get him since Erica was the only one that came to the store with me.

Henry picked steak seasoning, James chose popcorn seasoning. Sarah picked Ghardettos and Erica chose kettle cooked jalapeno potato chips. He got a new watch from me.

After presents Justin made a mega omelet

Three eggs, sausage, grilled peppers and onion, topped with queso fresco.

We played games and prepped food all day and then that evening family came over. This year's food theme was Sticks and Stones. Everything needed to be on a bone or a stick or in the shape of a stick. Kabobs, wings, ribs, little smokies, meatballs, french fries, etc.

Flan for dessert, of course. And cookies for the people that don't love flan enough thus don't get any.

He did not appreciate how I made him stand behind this tall table but I thought he'd feel comfortable since it's like standing behind a pulpit.

Happy birthday, Justin, You the best.