This year Christmas was a bit of a mixed bag.
Now - it was WAY better than last year, but COVID has of course not left us. In fact - cases are spiking again with a new variant or two running rampant and causing COVID to ruin plenty of people's holiday plans.
We also moved - as you saw in our last blog the weekend of Thanksgiving - and you know how much of a damn nightmare that is.
SO - we were debating almost skipping friggin Christmas entirely but of course the spirit creeps in and we did end up having a pretty lovely holiday despite some mis-haps.
Our new neighborhood goes pretty off for the holiday it seems so one night Pat and I wandered a bit and it was just gorgeous. Got us in the mood a bit and that following weekend Pat and the kid went out and got a really pretty tree! So we may not have decorated like we usually do but we did Christma-Tize the inside a smidge!
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Strolling in the neighborhood
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We got a tree!
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| Taylor got us a beautiful real wreath that smells so good!!! |
I did see some friends and enjoy some Christmas Cheer!
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Girls holiday brunch!
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My work booze crew!
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My dear friend Julie and I hit the Winter Sawdust Festival and I of course did a little geocaching!
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Snow!
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Champagne and Shopping!
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Choices were made...
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I miss the beach
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This was a tough one
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There were multiple walls like this and the hint said "Holey". Are you friggin kidding me?!?!
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I was thrilled to be able to join my mom's Cookie Baking Day this year!
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Mom always sets it up so cute!
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The kid joined this year
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My contribution - Peppermint Brownies!
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Love this woman
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The baking brigade
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So as you see - we got off to a great start!
Sadly the last day of work for me - I triggered pretty bad. Got super sick at work (Only made it there maybe 20 min) then had to go sleep it off the rest of the day. I was super bummed to miss Chapman's Holiday Mixer and drinks with my favorite co-worker afterwards. So that was a huge bummer, and of course when I trigger I'm off for a few days so I had to be a bit extra careful during the holiday. Then poor Pat came down with a cold. He usually gets hit around this time of year, and we knew it was just a cold but of course with COVID looming we didn't want to take any chances so a little bit of an anxiety ridden morning when he got tested. Luckily it was just as we thought - negative - just a stupid cold but it's hanging on. So neither he or I were 100% for the holiday. But - we were good enough and really did have a lovely one.
Christmas Eve brought us to Jeanne's house for dinner and most the fam was able to make it. (after a quick swing by my mom's so the kid could get presie's) Had a yummy Chinese take out dinner and way too many presents. I did have to leave a bit early though to zip over to my Dad's house. They also had Xmas Eve dinner, but I was popping over for drinks. My baby brother is here and we never get him for Xmas so I had to be there for at least a bit. It's always a bit tough splitting the holiday but well worth it!
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Xmas Eve
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All the kids on Pat's side!
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| Rambo |
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Jeanne ready for presents!
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Great picture!
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| Wrigley |
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The other 3 doggos at Dad's - Honey Boo Boo, Jack and Coda
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I can't with Shane and D's sweaters!
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Love when my baby brother is here!
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Christmas Day we had the morning with the kid then Pat and I headed over to my mom's for her usual magical Christmas. We had her amazing coffee cake, played games, ate and were merry!
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Christmas morning! Not bad for what little we could muster
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Santa brought Doc Martins!
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Tis the season to be Merry!
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Pat gave me IOU's - I'm getting a kitty!!!! So excited! (Also how adorable are these drawings!)
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The little Elf ready for Christmas
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Shane and D made mom a Little Free Library House!
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| Trying to be romantic under the mistle toe | !
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A lovely Christmas indeed.
I'm so grateful this year that we were able to gather. We're still fighting COVID, but I do feel we've at least got ahead of it and with testing, masking and vaccines for now, so we can do the best we can to be safe and still be with our loved ones. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season!
