Merry Christmas!

 

As for the Rest of December

I had a great plan to stay updated on the blog during all of our December events, but life (mostly work) was crazy, exhausting, stressful - and to make it to winter break was all we could do. So here I am with another photo dump catch-up post. Getting it in before Christmas, at least!

The first weekend of December, Emma's team split into two to play in a one-day 3v3 tournament. We had beautiful weather, and the girls wore elf jerseys and socks. It was a fun day (even if some parents were a little frustrated by the soccer itself)!

Sara was supposed to finally be taking her babysitting class through the city, but they ended up canceling it again last minute. She ended up at a sleepover with a few friends from school, so after the tournament, Steve, Emma, and I ended up at Austin Avenue to watch the Cyclones finish their wallop on West Virginia.

The following Friday, we celebrated Sara's 12th birthday! We decorated the house using The Office birthday theme, which she loved so much and made us all laugh!

Looking so grown up. Sara got clothes, earrings, gift cards, and airpods. She was thrilled!

On Sara's birthday, Emma's class had to begin quarantine due to a positive case her in classroom. Luckily, it didn't really change our plans because we had tickets to a drive-through lights display at a nearby ballpark. It was a lot of fun, and a great COVID-friendly way to celebrate a birthday!

Twelve candles in four bundt cakes so everyone got their favorite flavor. This really is the way to always do it!

Happy 12-year-old

While Emma was on quarantine, and until she had a negative test, she had to miss practices and games. I think that was the hardest part for her. However, she spent a cold, rainy Sunday making a recipe from scratch from one of her cookbooks. It was a pretty involved recipe for crumb cake, and she did a great job!

Jim enjoyed having Emma home from school, and now is loving winter break with everyone around.

Emma had a negative test in time to participate in her soccer practice/team gift exchange last week. She took a quick pic with Santa and then told me he obviously wasn't real, based on his beard hair.

Sara's school had fun dress-up days all week last week, and her counselor sent me this picture of her in her ugly sweater. Apparently they all got a good laugh out of it! 

On Sunday, Emma had her first basketball game! The team has a lot of the same girls as her softball team, as well as the same coahces. I didn't get to go because PSA only allows one spectator per child for indoor sports, and I had gone to indoor soccer that morning, but Steve got this shot for me (no parents at practice inside either). Emma scored one of the team's two points (free throw) and had a great time! Apparently there was some drama and the ref called the game because the other team's coach's mask kept falling down. However, the parents decided to let the girls play out the rest of the game as a scrimmage. I'm excited to see her play. She's been practicing a lot on the driveway!

Yesterday we had our baking day, and tried the candy cane twists for the first time. Easier said than done, but at least they taste good!

The weeks leading up to winter break were fun at school, as they always are, but also so stressful. my staff was dropping fast, we had a barebones office crew, and I was feeling less than my best. It was the wildest, hardest semester of my career, and I don't know that next semester will be much different. I was so glad to make it to last Friday in one piece. We celebrated with dinner at LaHa ... and Santa was there! The girls were super embarrassed that I made them take a picture with him in a restaurant, but it was the closest we were going to get this year. I think they look cute! Fajitas, margaritas, Santa ... what more could we want?!

We have NO plans this break. It feels odd to not be traveling, but I can also tell that our bodies and minds need rest. We had played with the idea of going to San Antonio for the possible bowl game there, but the Cyclones got a New Years 6 game and will be playing in Arizona! Unfortunately, our game is no-fans allowed so we'll watch from home. Just going to take each day at a time - play at park, do some reading, I've already cleaned out some cabinets ... all the things we've neglected for months. I'm excited about a true break!

Today the weather is beautiful (cold front blowing in for Christmas), and Emma played for hours at the park with a friend. Jim was there for a long time, too. I loved the long, peaceful, beautifully refreshing walk!

And a friend stopped over with gifts of booze and poppers! We had to do the poppers right away, and Steve and I reminisced about many fun MN Christmases where poppers were a staple. Missing our people there, but grateful for our people here.

Merry Christmas!

Twelve

Here begins the last year before Sara is a teenager. She's becoming a beautiful young lady in front of my eyes and all at once I both can't believe it and love it. She is one awesome kid.

At 12, Sara is doing well in school, looking forward to the various electives that will become available to her next year. She's made a great group of friends and loves to fill me in on the gossip. She continues to love cheer, making steady growth and building self-confidence that will continue to be an important asset. Sara loves "The Office", reading, Jim, and her phone. She loves wings, pizza, Dr. Pepper, burgers, cheese bread, and she's still stuck on her original staple: round meat sandwiches. She has started to love shopping if clothes are involved, and I have completely stopped buying her anything she hasn't picked out herself.

When we have time alone together, whether a quick trip to Starbucks or a dinner out, she always starts with, "Sooo...what you want to talk about?" She asks me all sorts of questions that I do my best to answer. I ask her some, too, and it's so fun getting to know the real person she is becoming. She has opinions and views - and I'm working on striking the balance between honoring her opinions as they are and steering them toward evidence. I do love that she's finding her voice and that she shares it with me. I'm going to work hard not to squash that in the coming years.

At twelve, Sara is just an inch or two shorter than me and can frequently be found rummaging through my closet. Most days she lets me hug her, even as she rolls her eyes when I tell her for the millionth time to go to bed or to pick up her room or to take the dog out. She's funny, smart, sarcastic, stylish ... and really just one of my very favorite people. 

Happy 12th Birthday, Sara Noel!

My Favorite Thanksgiving

 In early September, Steve texted me at work and asked if I wanted to go to Broken Bow for Thanksgiving. He'd gotten an email about just a few cabins remaining, and I didn't hesitate to say yes. I had been looking forward to our getaway everyday since ... with no idea of how badly I'd need the break and change of scenery by the time it rolled around. We started Thanksgiving break with a soccer tournament and putting up our Christmas decorations. Then on Wednesday, we headed north for a few days of cabin life! 

We arrived, unpacked, and wasted no time settling in. After playing some football, we started our first campfire. Roasted hot dogs, made s'mores, smoked cigars ... all the good things!

The girls took full advantage of the hot tub and were in it every day!

On Wednesday night, Emma helped me with the Thanksgiving meal prep!

We made viewing time for all of the must-watch events: Macy's Parade, The Grinch, Christmas Vacation ...

And we played LOTS of UNO! 

Jim spent equal amounts of time eagerly sniffing and exploring the wilderness, and passed out cold. He loved the woods but they sure wore him out!

We had beautiful weather on Thanksgiving Day, so we started the celebration with appropriate bevs ...

... and exploring!

Although it was just the four of us, we were at a cabin, and it meant way overpacking, we were determined to have a traditional Thanksgiving meal. It was way too much food for us, as we knew it would be, but still fun to prepare and share as if we were at home or with extended family.

Always room for pumpkin pie!

On Friday, we had reservation for a horseback trail ride. It was supposed to rain, but the weather cooperated.

We had a peaceful 45-minute ride through the woods where we saw many deer up close!

After riding, we spent a little time in town. We headed to the local brewery for drinks, pizza, ice cream, and the Cyclones game - a huge come-from-behind win!

The wishbone was dry enough to break at our final campfire that night.

It truly was the perfect Thanksgiving for us. It was peaceful, stress-free, quiet, fun in all the ways we wanted it to be ... full of "yes-es". It was definitely time our family needed together after so much stress and very little time off over the last several months.

Throughout our stay, I kept thinking to myself, "I hope they remember this, I hope they remember this." More and more, I find myself wanting to give my girls experiences that they'll always remember and treasure. I felt the same way when they were younger, but I know that so much of what we do during the years we're currently in, they'll have the capacity to remember, reflect upon, and even possibly someday incorporate with their own families. Especially during these types of trips - the most simple, basic fun is something I hope they remember with fondness. Just these few days of quality time together and special memories will hold me over for quite some time!

Best Weekend of 2020

 Back in September, I was feeling not having seen our MN family in a while, and I knew Calloway's 1st birthday was coming. On a whim, I found cheap flights for his bday weekend and booked them. Then we did everything in our power to stay healthy, including crossing our fingers and toes, to make sure the trip actually happened. I took the first personal day I've taken since May 2019 (although I worked up until the minute we got on the plane ... COVID - ugh), and we spent the best weekend Up North celebrating! I can't choose photos, so this is all of them!

All masked up and ready to fly. The non-existent airport lines were a bonus! 

When we got to MN, G & G picked us up while Melissa, Adam and Cal were at 1-year-old pics. The girls immediately went for the snow!

Emma and Grandpa fought with the baby gate on multiple occassions!

So excited to see Cal!

The girls always cook at Auntie's, so Friday night they made chex mix and on Saturday they prepped for Sunday's brunch.

Saturday morning they were back in the snow!

Steve and Adam went for a suitcase of White Castles and introduced Sara to this family tradition. She wasn't a huge fan, which is probably just fine.

The girls missed Jim but got plenty of snuggles from Expo!

Cal had a lumberjack party and we all had lots of photo booth fun!

While Cal napped, we headed back outside to build a snowman - the girls' request. It ended up being taller than Grandpa!

Cal woke up in time to enjoy watching the process!

Cal sort of got the hang of opening presents...

And totally got the hang of eating brisket and cake (and sharing with his pup)!

Everyone got stocking caps as party favors!

Grandma and her girls (and Expo) <3

I was so thankful for even a quick weekend with this guy!

G & G with their grandkids <3

Walking through the airport with these girls cracked me up. They kept their hats on for the entire trip, including the drive home. They reminded me of Kevin McAlister!

Jim stayed at our neighbor's house (who also happens to be one of my coaches) and he had the BEST time with his new human and dog friends. He came home and passed out and hasn't moved much since!

It was a great weekend for everyone ... one of the best of 2020!