So Long, 2019

In case you've been wondering what we've been up to in that weird void that is the week between Christmas and New Years, the answer is basically hanging out in the blanket fort, eating food, and watching lots of Disney Plus. 

There's been Charcuterie boards. 

And even a showing of Yogi's First Christmas. 

We also had a blanket for sleepover. I wasn't too sure about Dipper joining in the fun, but it was a good time anyway. Who doesn't love sleeping in a blanket fort? 

We went out to Ford's Garage to celebrate the New Year a few days early. 

Also, we got stuck by a bunch of cranes who just wandered right down the middle of the road. So that was fun. (I snapped this picture right when they were finally exiting the roadway. Those ass hats know nobody is going to hit them, and they will make you wait FOREVER). 

Asa won the holiday raffle at work and got a fun little gift bag. 

And there's been lots of football on, between bowl games.. 

And the very last Bucs game of the season. They lost. But, I was more sad about the last taco bar of the season. 

And, while I feel like it has been Christmas FOREVER, I am a little sad about not having the tree light the family room in the evenings anymore. I will probably take it down on the 1st or the 2nd. For real though, with Calib and his Christmas, I feel like it should have been the new year weeks ago..

We are finally here though,  New Years Eve. That's about to be a wrap for 2019.  I took the boys to the library for an Anime Club/Gaming event, and I was asking them about their favorite DAY of the whole decade. 

I picked the day we went to the Easter Egg Roll. Honorable Mention went to the day we drove from Anchorage to Fairbanks. 

Peyton chose his 15th Birthday in Maui. But, he was a big fan of his 9th Birthday in Alaska too (he's spoiled).  Then he threw in that day on the Oregon Coast. 

Hayden said his favorite day was when Bridgette puked in the trashcan at Cedar Point. But to be fair, his memory doesn't span all the way back to the begning of the decade. 

Calib's not here. But, I'm guessing he'd pick something from the trip he's on. But, maybe some sports related thing, although everytime we go anywhere the team we're rooting for loses. 

Asa tried to say it was the day we got married. But, he doesn't mean it, that day was stressful. He just thinks that's what he's supposed to say.  He threw in "that day in Alaska" (the same as my honorable mention). 

We have some of the holiday food left over. You know, the stuff that's super delicious but you should not be eating past the holidays. So, we put out one last bar to use up all those resources. Tomorrow it's back to cauliflower rice and lentils for lunch. 

And there's some time in the blanket fort. We even got Peyton around for a game of Mario Kart. He'll be out by 8 though, so no anticlimatic midnight celebration for him. That's if Etta doesn't wake him up with her fireworks freak outs. 

For my part, I'll spend some time in the blanket fort watching Disney plus with some drinks and some books, and maybe some games. But, mostly, also wrangling in the scare of fireworks dogs. 

I have no big end of the year wisdom to share. Some times I think this year was uneventful. Probably because there were no big trips, and not a lot the five of us did together. But, then when I think about it- Peyton started college classes, Calib got his license and went to Europe for the first time, Hayden turned 13- opening up the rare window where we're the parents of three teenagers. Asa not only got his Master's Degree this year, but he also went and got himself, which so far, is turning out to be the job of his dreams. 

As for me, I did ok. I finally feel like I am understanding my anxiety and getting a handle on that- I lost somewhere between 40 and 50 pounds (without gaining anything over the holidays), and overall have learned to take better care of my self. Plus I did everything at Disney, and that was cool!

So you know, we didn't go to Hawaii, or Alaska, or an Easter Egg Roll- but 2019 treated us ok. 

And 2020? Well, it's a year divisible by 4, which means we get an election year, an olympic year AND  a leap day year! Those are all my favorite things. Plus, Hayden and I haveconjured up not one but TWO year long projects- The Candy Bar Election (one more time!) AND the President's Birthdays. We already have lots of visitors on tap. Jake will be here in a couple weeks, my mom not too long after that, and then I hear we're gearing up for another LAN party. Peyton gets to hit the Carribbean with my family, Asa and I will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary, and I might even get to go with him on another work trip. 

So thats all I've got from here. 

Happy 2020, everyone! 

Merry Christmas 2019

Back on the 20th, Calib headed off to the airport. I'm sure you've heard by now he spent Christmas (and will be spending New Years) in Italy with my mom, brother, and sister in law. They're having a great time. I've gotten some pictures, and my mom is a Facebook posting machine. Asa and I took him to lunch at PDQ before he left and then dropped him at the airport. He met up with everyone in New York, and then they were off on their adventure. 

I tried to think of something special to do with Peyton and Hayden while Calib was in Europe. But, I didn't want it to be something that cost anything, because Christmas once is expensive enough. Christmas twice is like, bananas. Anyway, we decided we would build a very special Christmas blanket fort. The Blanket Fort has exclusively been a summer activity since in debuted in like 2012 or something. But, we added some Christmas lights and the coziest of blanket forts was built. 

Even the dogs found it to be very cozy. 

Asa went out and grabbed dinner for everyone too, because that's sort of a blanket fort tradition as well. 

We've taken some night time bike rides around the neighborhood to check out some of the lights. Some people around here just go like Griswald crazy with them (a couple of people have tunnels of lights through their sidewalk!) 

Of course the easiest way to make it seem special is with food. You have to eat anyway, right? So we had some charcuterie dinners. 

And I made the cookie thing, which I haven't done in years. 

One night we got chips and queso from Capital Tacos. (In an effort to get rid of leftovers at the end of the night, they sell a "family" size bag of chips and queso for $5) 

Peyton was jealous of Calib's pizza, so I bought him Costco pizza. Which is pretty much the same thing. And one night we ordered pizza. I've been very good about my eating, personally. (I said if I can get out of the holidays weighing what I did when I came in, I'd be happy. So far, we're holding steady!) I can't say the same for the rest of the house though. 

We celebrated Ellie's adoption day with another doggie cake. 

She's been with us four whole years. Can you believe it? 

Etta just celebrated two years with us, but she was happy to share Ellie's cake with her. 

After the pinwheel incident,  Autnt Patti came to our rescue mailing us more cookies. 

And Holly and Cort sent us some more buckeyes and pinwheels. 

And an Ohio shirt, which we've decided (at Cort's suggestion) will be used as a punishment. 

Whoever loses Mother's Day Lifeboats, you're wearing the Ohio shirt. 

Lost the President's Day True American? Ohio shirt for you! 

Come in last in the Frozen T-shirt Contest? Time  to put on the Ohio shirt. 

Asa didn't have to work on Christmas Eve, because that's a thing someplaces. I'm pretty sure he's worked every Christmas Eve, barring weekends, ever. We celebrated with morning donuts. 

And then we had our usual Christmas Eve food once again. 

Calib is the only other person who really likes the crab dip, so I made a single serving for me and Asa (he doesn't love it, but he has some). 

And then there were games and movies in the blanket fort to round out the evening. 

Plus we got the best package from Allison and Nate. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. NOBODY puts a package together better than Allison. She nails it every single time. And she even sent treats for the puppies this time! 

She also packed in some Harry Potter pajamas and slippers for me and Asa. It's fun they came on Christmas Eve, because we always give the boys new pajamas for Christmas eve, but this time we got some. Thanks guys! 

Peyton and Hayden kept asking me if they were going to get a new pair of pajama pants on real Christmas Eve, since they had gotten them for fake Christmas Eve with Calib. I played coy, but they knew they were getting another pair. 

And then we set out gifts and filled stockings. 

I raided my stocking early and got a pair of slippers to wear Christmas morning. So I cozied up with my blanket, coffee, and a little Arendale Fireplace and Christmas music until everyone else was up and around. 

Peyton and Hayden got about half their gifts with Calib, and we saved another half for real Christmas. The most exciting Bonus Christmas gift went to Peyton, who begged us to find a GameCube so he could "relive his childhood". (Because that's something a 17 year old gets to say). We found one, we got it, and he's been playing it ever since. 

The pets also got a bonus Christmas. Dipper and Mayble got treats, along with treats for Phenom and Porkchop. Ellie and Etta both got some more toys. 

 Mostly, Asa and I got each other the new washer for Christmas- but also a couple of Disney gift cards. It's how we save for our food budget on our anniversary!

And between both Christmases, I got a whole lot of books. I asked specially for used ones as to not blow any budget. 

In case you haven't heard, Hayden and I are doing all the president's birthdays again next year. And since it's an election year, we're also going to go over every single election in history. It's going to be amazing. And I've got some great books to help me learn so I can teach! 

Peyton went right to playing Mario Sunshine on the Gamecube, while Asa and I made lunch. 

Which is actually breakfast, complete with Santa pancakes. 

We spent the day in the blanket fort, watching Christmas movies, playing games and reading whiel the kids played their new video games.  (Oh, and the dogs napped and enjoyed their new gifts, too.) 

 

For Christmas dinner we had seafood, just like we had on Calib's Christmas, but this time we had Peyton's favorite - crab legs, instead of stuffed scallops. 

And no Christmas dinner is complete without Peyton's moose mug! 

I am hoping to get one quick blog in tomorrow. Asa does have to work- but he's off on New Years Day (yay!) But, I do like to round out the year with a blog on NYE if at all possible. I am busy with the president's project, the candy bar election, and keeping up with stuff here, so we'll see. 

Until then, I leave you with pictures of Etta being extra needy because Calib left her. 

Next Up: So Long 2019!