Christmas

We had a really nice Christmas at our house.  It was low key, quiet and we just enjoyed being home. We got up and did some gifts from Santa while we waited for our breakfast casserole to bake.  We enjoyed a nice breakfast and decided to stay home and zoom church.  After having so much sickness in our home we decided to just stay home.  I didn't want to be exposed to more germs and spend our whole break sick.  After church we finished up gifts.  I think everyone was happy with their gifts and got things they had wanted and asked for.  Santa brought our family a Nintendo switch which will be really fun.  Lucy's main gift was an apple watch.  Garrett got some new clothes and a football.  He really wanted a white sweatshirt.  He was excited to get one and put it right on.  Nolan got lots of fun toys, he was excited to see he got the play set from Bass Pro Shop.  JJ got me a new weight bench which I have been wanting.  He also got me some planned dates.  I had asked him for some planned dates, just the two us of.  He did such a cute job decorating each coupon and the envelope.  Life is busy so I'm excited to have some time together.  JJ picked out some new shoes for himself.  I got him a few small things like clothes and some new cologne.  We all got new Nike t-shirts and decided to all wear them.  We spent some time facetiming with family and connecting with everyone.  We had fun playing some new games together that evening and watching a Christmas movie.  It was nice to have a slow and relaxing day together.     

 

Christmas Eve

We spent the past few days with the stomach bug at our house.  Lucy and I were able to dodge it, but all of the boys had it pretty bad.  We were all feeling better by Christmas time thankfully but decided to not gather with family.  My brother's little boy Henry has also been in the ICU at Childrens hospital with Covid.  It was so scary, but he improved quickly, and they were able to come home on Christmas Eve.  It was so cold, we worried about the pipes freezing at our office.  They have frozen before and so JJ made sure to leave the water dripping in every facet.  That morning our shower pipe was froze, thankfully it didn't break.  We decided to run a few errands and swing by the office to make sure everything was ok.  Lucy was working so we stopped to say hi to her as well.  Nolan helped me make some sugar cookies for Santa that afternoon.  We made homemade pizza for dinner and then worked on frosting and decorating the cookies together.  We watched the nativity movie and relaxed together as a family.  It was nice to all be home, and healthy for Christmas.        

 

Santa

I made an appointment to see Santa with the kids.  The first day of break we headed over in the afternoon.  Garrett got his braces off that morning and Lucy had practice.  We are so excited to be a braces free family!  Garrett looks so handsome with his braces off.  What a wonderful Christmas gift, to get his braces off.    I told my kids they are never too old to see Santa and tell them what they want. Nolan didn't ask for anything but had a question to ask him.  He wanted to know if anyone got Santa presents.  He told Nolan that he got lots of presents from his elves!  Nolan was happy with that answer and happy to hear Santa got gifts too.  Nolan walked around and looked at all the toys.  He saw some toy sets that he really liked.  I had just gone over the gifts and amounts the night before with JJ and knew Nolan still needed something.  Lucy helped me get a toy set for Nolan and hide it in the car.  We then got Subway for an early dinner, picked up JJ and headed to Nolan's basketball game.  It was a busy first day of winter break. 

One Year

It is hard to believe a whole year has passed since mom left us. It has been such a long year.  So much has happened.  There were many times I wanted to call and talk to her and tell her all the things going on in my life.  She has missed so much.  I know she isn't far and is aware of the things going on in our lives. I was recently talking to someone, and she said sometimes our loved ones can do more good for us on the other side.  I like to think that.  Mom was burdened with her health here.  She is free from so many trials in heaven and is happier there.  My sister Natalie sent us all beautiful necklaces with a cardinal on them.  When you see a cardinal it means a loves one is nearby.  It was such a sweet gift!  

I took the day off work and JJ took the morning off.  We headed to the temple as a family.  I knew if I was going to feel peace and feel mom I needed to be in the temple. Towards the end of the session Lauren started to cry.  We were almost to the Celestial room and she cried and grabbed my hand.  She said mom is waiting for us!  I knew mom would be there with us.  I of course started to cry and was tearful as I completed the session.  I know it was not by coincidence that a sister from our ward was there at the end to help me.  I told her right away that it was the anniversary of my mom passing.  I saw tears in her eyes as well as I moved onto the celestial room.  I dried my tears and tried to compose myself before going in so I didn't upset my dad.  I walked in and then saw him with tears in his eyes.  I completely lost it.  I sobbed in his arms. I miss her so much and it all surfaces just then.  I got mascara all over his white shirt and was embarrassed by my audible cry there.  I felt bad for possible ruining the spirit there.  Jordan said Mom wouldn't want us to be sad and he is right.  She was probably so happy that we were there together.  I didn't realize that there were others in the session that knew my dad.  They commented that she was there with us.  I know she was and it was lovely.  JJ was kind and sat by me to comfort me, and help me wipe some make up off my face.  There were several others we knew in the temple that day.  When they saw us together they picked up on what today was.  Mom is missed and loved by so many.  

After the temple we all went to lunch at Bread Co. JJ had to head to work so he couldn't join us.  Christy and Tyler meet us there.  Dad was so sweet and treated us all to lunch. It was nice to visit and have lunch together.  It was a cold windy day so soup hit the spot.  Mom loved going to lunch and loved bread co.  They opened a new Crumbl cookie right by the bread co so we walked down and a few got some cookies.  

I headed home after that.  I had some mom duties to get to and was also wanting to go home and relax after an emotional morning.  I wanted to make sure to take some time to myself.  I was thankful for a few sweet friends checking in on me.  It was a hard day.  I spent a lot of time reflecting on memories and having flashbacks to a year ago.  I didn't sleep well for a few days and would find myself crying in my sleep.  I tried to give myself the time to grieve and feel what I needed to.  I know after this past year that mom made my life special.  She always made me feel special and loved and I have felt the absence of that a lot on many occasions.  I hope that I am making my kids life special and full of magical memories.  Losing a mom is so hard and I am glad I made it a year.  I made it through all the milestones without her.        

 

Grandpa came to watch Lucy play basketball.  He was so funny.  The other team made a three pointer right away.  He started to clap and say good basket.  I said, "Dad, that's the other team!" He said, "yeah well it was a good basket".  That shows how competitive we are in our family.  Lucy was glad to have him come watch her.    

A fifth grader made all of us lunch ladies an ornament.  It was so cute!  They were all a little bit different.  They all had different foods on them.  Mine had a hot dog.  It was so sweet of her!

JJ has been sick this week but I still wanted to go to the rising generation Christmas concert.  Garrett said he would go with me.  He didn't want me to go alone.  He was a great date.  He is a fun kid and it was fun to spend time with him.  I always enjoy going to the concerts each year, they are really cute. 

Lucys team started the jingle jangle jam basketball tournament.  They should have won the game but lost in overtime.  It was a frustrating loss.  One of her Northstar coaches came to watch her play.  He had some good feedback and was so nice to come watch.  He was surprised by some of the coaches moves, which validated our frustrations.   

My friend brought by this mug and some chocolates on the anniversary of mom passing.  It was so sweet of her.  I love hot chocolate and have a cup almost every day.  So this new mug is one of my new favorite things. 

More basketball games in the tournament.  They played much better Monday and Tuesday evening.  Lucy had an amazing game Monday.  Some friends from church came to cheer her on.  They were so cute with their homemade signs!  She also had some friends from church come watch.  They went back and forth between watching Kennedi in the varsity game and Lucy in the JV game.  It was nice for Lucy to feel loved and supported by people other than her family.    

 

Christmas Pictures

 

Nolans Concert and Art Show

Nolan had a choir concert and art show.  He was excited to have us come hear him sing and play the xylophone.  They put on a cute show to the three little pigs.  Nolan was so cute. I love seeing him smile and look at us in the audience.  He has been doing art club before school and worked hard on a plaster pig to go along with the theme of the choir concert.  He showed us his art club pig as well as his class project of a pig.  Both were so good!  I enjoyed seeing his work and loved how excited he was to show us his things.  After we went to twister sugar to see Lucy at work and celebrate with a treat.  It is a strange new phase for me to have Lucy gone and miss things like this.  I am sure it will be even more wierd in a few years when she is away at college.  Time sure is going fast.  I remember attending things like this with her not to long ago.  I am glad Nolan felt special with us suporting him.