Weekly Happenings: This past week held a big dose of reality as we came off of our vacation high. We miss family a lot, but it is good to be home. Joseph got settled back into his school routine, Paul back in his work routine, and me and Abigail back into our “everything else” routine. It took a few days for the kids to get back onto Central time, but they seem to be adjusted now.
The Weekly Weather: It’s been cool and misty with a few rainy days mixed in, but mostly sunny days.
What Paul’s Been Up To: Mainly just getting settled back into work and helping out in Young Men’s. He also took down our outside Christmas decorations and today he’s working at getting the neighborhood decorations taken down.
What Sarah’s Been Up To: Trying to get the kids settled back in was time consuming, but nothing I couldn’t truly handle. I also packed away all the inside Christmas decorations.
What Joseph’s Been Up To: He was sad to leave Grandma and his cousins, but enjoyed seeing his school friends again.
What Abigail’s Been Up To: She had her two-year well-check this past week. She weighs 26 pounds and is just shy of 35 inches tall. She was a champ during her shots. She was actually rather calm while getting them, just a little surprised. She actually didn’t cry until after they were done but she stopped as soon as I picked her up to soothe her.
This Week in Pictures:
I love being able to find neat quotes for my board just by doing a quick search on Google. This particular one is by a woman named Ruby Archer and I think it fits the idea of January perfectly (even if there isn’t a lick of snow on the ground in good ol’ San Antonio).My piano looked so bare after putting away all the Christmas decorations. I wasn’t quite ready for pink, red, and hearts, so I decided to put my patriotic stuff back up. I figure they’ll be good for whenever there isn’t another holiday to decorate for. 😊Each of my siblings have been blessed with amazing talents in all shapes and forms. I’m always beyond grateful when they share the fruits of those talents with me. Whether it be beautiful music or art, an amazing sense of humor, showering my children with love and patience as they play with them, giving me advice when asked, or just continually being good examples to me, I’m grateful to have each and every one of them in my life. For Christmas, one of my brothers gifted this beautiful bowl he made. I was excited to get it home and put it next to another beautiful piece of his work. Abigail and a couple of buddies at a play date yesterday. I couldn’t help but snap a quick picture of all their cute little heads bent over this fun fishing game that my friend has.
I’m breaking from my regular format in order to document our trip to California for Christmas. We soaked up time with family, visited amusement parks, celebrated Abigail’s birthday, and had a wonderful time. Just as a warning, they are in no particular order!
Playing games with cousins (and uncles).Joseph loved hanging out with all his cousins!Abigail got dress up clothes and jewelry, as well as play pots and pans for Christmas.On a ride at Knott’s Berry Farm.Birthday cake!My brother’s dog, Jake…is that a bone, or what?Joseph loves this swing ride at Knott’s.Selfie with Momma at Knott’s.We also visited the Mission Inn (a hotel in the downtown area of the city I grew up in that is designed to look like a Californian mission). They always go all out with Christmas decorations.Paul took Joseph to a place called Castle Park that has rides and mini golf. Joseph had a blast!Really getting into it with her birthday cake.Paul and Joseph went on a hike with uncles and cousins. He’s more excited than he looks in this picture…I promise!Singing Happy Birthday to the birthday girl.They have this old school house at Knott’s (a legit one that was transported there from Kansas) that the kids were allowed to run around in.Paul and Joseph on their hike.When you lack snow, you make rock snowmen instead. 😉Playing piano.Mini golf fun.Post log ride (at Castle Park).A replica of the Liberty Bell (at Castle Park).Joseph loved that all his “big cousins” included him in their games.More cousin fun.This kid loves his roller coasters (this is at Castle Park).Another Mission Inn picture.Peek-a-boo!Riding the train at Knott’s.A birthday girl and her photo-bombing brother.Hanging out with my oldest brother, Kevin.This motorcycle ride at Castle Park looks pretty fun.Getting Grandma-time.Getting ready to light the candles (Joseph ended up needing to blow them out for her before she touched the flame).She loved my brother’s dog.Watching Uncle Gary play his bagpipes.Unwrapping her birthday present from Uncle Jason and Aunt Saira.Hanging out with Bubba.More mini golf fun.Tons of fun family time.Abigail’s “big cousins” loved getting some time to play.More Castle Park fun.Paul borrowed a hat of my dad’s for the hike.Unwrapping her birthday present from us.Knott’s fun.Another family shot. There were a lot of people there, but it was so fun!Sampling her cake.Another hike picture.If she fits, she sits.Making a rock tower.Abigail loved all the extra love and attention she got.Showing me her new baby doll (which is what she got for her birthday from Uncle Jason and Aunt Saira).She liked getting to pull the paper out of the bag of her birthday gift from us. It took some explanation for her to leave that and see what was actually in the bag.Lighting the candles.We were driving on Abigail’s actual birthday, so we made sure to get her some ice cream at one (or maybe two, haha) of our stops.Another school picture.Finally getting to the actual present: a Little People house.Playing games with family is so fun!Park fun.Another fun ride at Castle Park.Trying to get her baby doll out of the box.She loved playing peek-a-boo with my brother, Aaron.A fun Knott’s ride.This boy loved getting some one-on-one time with his dad.I remembered to get a picture of Abigail’s cake before it was devoured.Joseph and his block city.Paul and Joseph on the train at Knott’s.I love these guys!Honking the horn on a fun ride at Knott’s.Joseph was super excited to get a 3 DS XL for Christmas.She seemed to really enjoy her cake.Sailing in the basket.My brothers are way more awesomer than yours. 😉Playing with her cooking set.Her second ice cream cone on her birthday.This was right before we left for California. She was nomming down on some avocado.An ornament that Joseph made in his GT class.It’s rather interesting to see what she’ll do with these blocks now.She sure liked stacking them.It’s hard to believe that she’s two!Joseph playing at a playground after his field trip to the symphony.His GT group went to the symphony to see the performance of The Planets.Abigail getting down to business at a play date.Snuggling with Bucc-ee.These two crazy kids are the best!All dolled-up for church.
Weekly Happenings: The anticipation for Christmas is strong in our house. We love the lights, the music, the shows, and the magical feeling that comes with it all. We didn’t really go anywhere or do anything out of the ordinary, which was just fine by me!
The Weekly Weather: It’s been clear, cool, and just beautiful. I love December in South Texas! My only minor complaint is that the mountain cedar pollen is starting early this year, which means an early start to sneezy noses and itchy eyes. Bring on the Claritin, haha!
What Paul’s Been Up To: He’s been extra busy this week. He finally had enough time to install the Little Free Library he’s been working on. It turned out amazing and the neighborhood seems head-over-heels about it. We’ve had so many people say that they have books to donate for it. I love the sense of togetherness it’s bringing already.
What Sarah’s Been Up To: Not too much on my end. Just soaking in all the goodness that is December. 🙂
What Joseph’s Been Up To: He has enjoyed school (as I mentioned previously, December is a fun month for elementary school kids). He is also looking forward to Christmas and getting to see family.
What Abigail’s Been Up To: She’s been rather feisty and determined, but I suppose that comes with the territory of being practically two (a week from today, people…a week from today). Also, I noticed a funny/cute thing the other day. She was looking at a book that is full of pictures of different farm animals and I realized that she calls chickens “bock-bocks”, ducks “cak-caks”, and pigs “onk-onks”. My heart!
This Week in Pictures:Â
She was putting her fingers in her ears and making random noises. I guess she discovered that she sounds different to herself when she does that.Climbing on the table to get to her beloved books.The beginning of the Little Free library. Paul started with a donated cabinet, which he primed.Then he purchased some plywood to make a slanted roof. He also used some scrap wood as part of the roof.He built some legs (and drilled holes in them so that he could stake the library into the ground with some heavy duty stakes. This also shows the first of many coats of paint.He put on several coats of paint and also stained the legs (which you can see in the next picture). Then he spray lacquered the entire thing (after putting on the vinyl lettering which you can also see in the next picture).He put some solar lights on it to light the area (since it’s sort of dark) and put on some lettering which was donated by another person in the neighborhood. It’s now installed at our neighborhood park.All stocked with books (with some room to grow).The first happy customer!After taking Joseph to visit the Little Free Library, Paul took him around to see lights in the neighborhood. This house always does a different fun theme each year.Joseph loves Christmas decorations!Abigail showing me her singing puppy (and stalling for bedtime, haha).Two little monkeys under the table!
Bonus Video: Joseph showing off the cool moves that one of his toys does. I love being able to just pop out my phone and record a fun moment in our lives!
