Merry Christmas! Are you having as much fun policing board game pieces as I am?
One of my New Year’s resolutions is to worry less about the mess and actually play the board games with them, which is why I said yes to playing Clue this morning. It was quite early when my 5-year-old asked—like, before-I’d-even-finished-my-first-coffee early—and I had to “deny myself” to put down my prayer book.
(Which, when you think about it, is probably the whole point of praying.)
It helped that my 5-year-old narrated the entire setting-up-the-board-game process, which bought me 20 extra minutes to clean my kitchen.
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| A 5-year-old in the foreground and behind him, three sweet aunties! |
That’s what’s called a win-win situation.
We fit in a whirlwind trip to North Dakota–there and back on Christmas Day.
(I’ll let my pictures tell the story.)
(My pictures and their captions! ‘Cause I’m a captions kind of gal.)
~ My beautiful sister and my beautiful mom ~
~ My beautiful parents ~
(how I love them)
Our trip home was shortened because of my son’s work schedule (“What do you mean, you didn’t get the 26th off?!”) but it was so, so worth it. My mom and dad are both doing well, and do you know? I actually made my momma laugh! This is how it happened:
We were getting ready to go and were mostly all in the van when Francis announced that he had a poop. Isn’t that always how it goes? I brought him back into the house and met my husband at the door.”You’re going the wrong way, you know.” I shot him a look as I wiped Francis’ bottom, then handed him the stinky bundle. “Throw that away for me, you snot.”
My brother intercepted him. “Don’t throw that away in here, okay? Take it out to the garage.”
“How ’bout we tuck it under your pillow?” I teased.
And my mother giggled, really and truly giggled!
My heart melted at the sound.
* * *
Netflix is heavily promoting the new King Julien shows and sent me a King Julien-themed care package to celebrate.
Alas, that creature is not my cup of tea, so I can’t (personally) recommend you watch!
(I’m sorry, Netflix. He annoys me.)
(It’s a booty-shaking thing.)
So instead, I’m going to send you over to Kendra’s blog for this post because she, too, is on the #StreamTeam and has a whole wonderful list of Christmas movies to watch.
I think we’ll start with The Bells of St. Mary’s and then head to Australia for a Bush Christmas. We’ve also got the DVD version of Joyeux Noel on the way but I don’t think it’ll get here until after New Year’s Eve.
Oh well! We’ll still be celebrating.
I’m starting my 2nd Whole30 (for real) on January 1st. I know, I know–how original. Still, it’s a program that I know works for me, and it’ll be fun to be part of such a HUGE group of people.
And if not fun, then oh-so-worth it. : )
I am so glad you had a good Christmas. Love your photos and the story of your Mom! Oh and yes, the board game pieces killing me.
Thanks for sharing the beautiful memory of your mama laughing.
My kids watched King Julian already and you know what? I LOVED the music in it!! (that's all though)
We are staying home for New Years. No silly string. But there will be waves. 🙂
It sounds like a wonderful Christmas and I enjoyed the story of your mom. Precious smiles and beautiful faces to spend your Christmas.
We are just heading down the county road to my nephew's place for NY Eve. Of course, we'll be home by 8:30 to tuck everyone in to bed. They have little kids too, so we always celebrate the New Year early and do a count down with toasts and fizzy drinks for them. The love it! And that's really what it's about.
I'm with you on the board game pieces, but my three year old hoarder is also taking every bag/container and toting stuff all over the house. You cannot imagine what I all found last night when cleaning up before bed!! She's a hoarder bag lady for sure.
Happy New Year dear Margaret!
Blogger ate my comment and now I don't have a clue what I said (I left it yesterday)! Happy New Year, darlin'! You and sisters are so beautiful!
Happy New Year!! I'm going to start a Whole30 for the first time beginning Monday (some sort OCD thing that it has to be the beginning of a week). Been scanning your links on your last Whole30 pages ;). What did you do about coffee?? This is my worry…sadly. OOF! I think we need a FB support page or something!!
Have a wonderful New Year's Eve! (we're going to bed…you are a far more energetic mamma than I am!)
Had to laugh about your son working 12/26. We had to completely change our Christmas plans because of our son's schedule too. It was really my fault….I am so used to planning our Christmas trip last minute that I forgot that he needs two weeks notice – those darn teen jobs!
I almost to post this but must . Please remember parents . . . All poops are to be flushed away in a toilet before tossing the disposable diaper. Says so on the package. This is a huge health concern in our country . Our landfills are not sewers . Sorry to have to bring this up .