A look back before we look ahead …. Christmas as it panned out 2025 <3

Several years ago I discovered it is helpful to do this one thing annually.

When I get my new calendar in the fallish months, I turn to December and write in bold letters – REMEMBER JANUARY IS WHACK

It’s simple but effective.

Because as I roll through the holidays and all the hectic fun, I have learned that there is not a restful light at the end of the tunnel. As long as you have children you love and care for in your life, January will be fraught with games, practices, sick days and special events that prevent any of that cozy nesting with a book, blanket and cup of tea that you were planning on.

Thus it has already happened that our first and second weeks of the month are a wild ride. And I am not surprised, because I warned myself…and somehow, having warned myself, it takes me less by storm.

So for today, before I forget to share…here are a few highlights of our Christmas.

Enjoy….

Sarah and Jack arrived early Christmas Eve with all the ingredients and knowledge to create a Julia Child Canard à l’orange…or Duck l’orange to you English folk.

Suffice to say every pan and knife in the house was used.

I feared for my Putz houses as they were in the line of fire. We figured out how to secure the bird without the use of trussing thread and needle and it was a huge success.

Even Graham said it was good.

We laughed so hard and our sweet girl had wanted to do something that took her mind off her dear Rocco not being amongst us. This did the trick and will be a lasting memory for all of us.

We do have one family photo of the day besides this one, however this one best describes our family humor.

This is Sarah setting up her camera for a timed photo. Jack is off to the side to make room for her, so doesn’t show. All the faces of people working up the energy to smile crack me up. And then there is John who screen shotted the photo and clipped himself into the back row. He wasn’t there.

I love my family. They make me laugh so hard.

I am hoping someone eventually sends me the final take…but we shall see if that happens.

We met John in Tulsa the day after Christmas and took these two goobers along.

It was Christmas Remix complete with crown poppers and a few gifts for Uncle John.

He had found a nice VRBO that was close to all the things we wanted to do.

The weather was perfectly wonderful and we enjoyed The Gathering Place for several hours. This is an outdoor park/trails setting along the river in Tulsa. If you are in the area, I highly recommend making a stop there with your family.

We had a regular day with the kiddos and made Calzones.

Simple to do with Pizza Crust mix and the fillings in bowls for them to use.

We liked it better than the homemade pizzas and will be repeating this one.

Since there were no school sports, we were forced to attend any games available…I jest. We do enjoy watching different sports and so we happened to end up at an Illinois State game.

The mascot was having a grand time joking with Russ and Zach.

You can see me laughing and sending photos to people of the shenanigans, but my favorite is our teenager and soon to be teen trying to pretend like they don’t know us.

We also took in a St. Louis Blues hockey game with Sarah and Jack and his parents.

It was loud and raucous and fun.

The little girl behind us repeatedly had to be hushed by her mom as she would holler “Fight! Fight! Fight!”

We were in the nosebleeds but the players must have heard her as they certainly did oblige us with a tussle at one point.

Let’s Go Blues!

Okay…I guess that does it.

It’s just a snapshot of our time but plenty enough for today and now I must get some chores done before we head out into Tuesday!

I hope you enjoyed your holidays and are entering the new year with hope and joy <3