Weekly Happenings: This past week was really nice. Joseph had the full week off for Thanksgiving and Paul had Thursday and Friday off (and he was able to get off work early on Wednesday, too). On Wednesday, we went to the zoo after Paul got home. I packed sandwiches for us to eat for an early dinner (we ate at Brackenridge Park, which is right next to the zoo) and then we checked out the zoo. We also stayed late enough to see the Christmas zoo lights (the zoo was all decorated with lights and music and all sorts of fun like that). It was really fun! Thursday was Thanksgiving. It was just our little family as usual, which was nice. Paul grilled the turkey and I made the sides (green beans, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, and rolls). I also made pecan pie the day before. Then yesterday, we worked at putting the fall decorations away and putting Christmas decorations out. It’s fun to see the kids getting excited about the holidays.
The Weekly Weather: It’s been mild and cool-ish for the most part. Yesterday and today have been even cooler and we’ve had a bit of rain. It rained yesterday morning and then was clear. It’s been sprinkling/raining all day today, though.
What Paul’s Been Up To: He was the only one in the office this past week, but luckily it was a short week. He worked hard to get the lights up outside of our house and he’s also been working to get the holiday decorations for the neighborhood ready. He was going to put them up today, but the weather hasn’t been cooperating, so he’ll need to do that a different day.
What Sarah’s Been Up To: I took this week off from piano students, which was a nice break. I also got all of our inside decorations up. Paul got the trees put together (we have our big one but Joseph has a small tree for his room and Abigail has a small tree that is kept downstairs right now; when she gets a bit older, we’ll probably start letting her have it in her room, too) and “fluffed”. The kids were in charge of decorating their trees, which meant I was in charge of the big one.
What Joseph’s Been Up To: It’s going to be hard to get him up for school on Monday after having a full week off, but luckily, I think he only has three weeks before it’s Christmas break. This time of year goes so fast!
What Abigail’s Been Up To: She has been just loving all the Christmas stuff being up. This morning, she came down the stairs and was in awe about it all (she must have forgotten about it overnight). I love seeing the holidays through the eyes of my kiddos.
This Week in Pictures:
Sunday family selfie! This was right after we got done with church, out by the pavilion for our building.One without Daddy wearing sunglasses.Batman was being a little clingy. 😀All ready for the oven! I’m pretty confident about the filling, since it’s pretty basic, but I’m always a bit nervous about making my own crust……but it turned out pretty good!All wrapped up and ready for the fridge.She was excited that the butterfly wall was still there.On the carousel.She was excited that she got to sit on a Texas animal (a horned lizard). She told me it was her favorite, haha.Y’all. This look. This look right here is why I leave my comfy home in search of fun things.Playing in the “snow” (I think it was soap of some sort). Another family selfie! It was hard to get one where everyone was looking at the camera, haha.Fresh rolls for Thanksgiving dinner! I’m not sure what caused the one on the bottom right to go rogue (I probably didn’t get it balled up tight enough), but that’s okay. We ate it anyway. 😉Plate of yummy food……and a couple hours later, dessert! I also made the whipped cream, so I felt pretty proud of myself about this dessert. 😉I had to document that I actually got my kitchen all cleaned up after the craziness that happened with putting on a large dinner.Snugglin’ the one who was going to bed first. 😉The stockings were hung by the…electric fireplace…with care. 😀She was so excited to get to decorate her own tree.We got this nativity from a family who is very dear to us (the Hustons). It was made in Bethlehem and if you twist the star, it plays “Silent Night”.The big tree.I recently “attended” a virtual Relief Society activity where we did a bingo game. I won this little tree (along with a few other things). Joseph came up with the idea that we turn it into a “Charlie Brown” tree (think “A Charlie Brown Christmas”).The piano this year.Abigail’s nativity (and one that I made as a teenager and have decided she can put next to hers, since she really likes them).Abigail’s tree.I love how this wall looks.Joseph’s tree.A Santa I made when I was a teenager, our countdown, and one of my favorite Christmas quotes).Some perfectly-placed mistletoe. 😉I love how simple our wreath is. 🙂I had to put this guy up pretty high to keep him safe. 😉Kitchen lights.Lights under the breakfast bar.The outside of the house. I love how Paul turns the garage door into a big present.The front porch.This is one of my favorite views. 😍This lighthouse. My mom gave it to me close to two decades ago and it has been a part of my holiday decorations ever since. Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely love lighthouses…not just for their architecture, but for their deep symbolism as well. Guiding the way through darkness, fog, and storms, through treacherous waters into the safety of the harbor. I feel it especially this year…but I know that if I watch for the light and follow it in faith, I will be able to find my way to the harbor and safety.
Bonus Video: Google Photos took bits and pieces of a bunch of videos that we’ve taken of Abigail and mashed them all together with nice music. It’s a pretty nice video!
