Conference

Every year Logan goes to conference after Christmas. And every year the spiritual attacks are a heavy cross. 

We do our best to reject them, and also do a lot of practical planning to make my week of single parenting as smooth as it can be. 

I also make comfort food. Matzo ball soup this year. It was amaze balls. Heh. 

My aunt Carol used to make this around Christmas time when I was growing up, so ironically, it reminds me of the day after Christmas. 

Sometimes the spiritual attacks are big, sometimes small, sometimes a combo. Sometimes they hit the week before, sometimes during, and sometimes the week after...or a combo. 

We’ve had a few days of attacks before Logan leaves this year. 

It’s never good when a text from your husband starts out “He’s ok and we’ve stopped the bleeding but I want to warn you...” Elias cut his finger in two places and we still haven’t figured out how or on what. 

And then the next day “We had some more bleeding while you were running errands but it’s fine now.” This one was a brother’s head colliding with Lewis’ lip. I have to say, I’ve never seen a lip swell up so much that my kid’s words are slurred and he’s drooling if he doesn’t pay attention. Yikes. 

Today he has a bruise above his lip. I’ve also never seen that happen. The amazing part is the super loose front tooth didn’t get knocked out!

If you don’t mind, please say a prayer for us this week. 

A Pretty Glow

Logan bought us a new Christmas tree!!! The old one was eight or nine years old. Last year when we got it out it had some water damage, which left rust on some of the branches and lights and even on some of the wires. 

We were supposed to host the missionaries for toasts during advent. In preparation, I rearranged the living room so we would all fit. That involved moving the old tree across the room. I hate dealing with that tree because every year when I put it up, I get all sorts of scratches from it, and also an itchy rash all over my arms. When I picked it up, of course the tree was all up in my face and I thought “oh wow! That’s where the burning smell I’ve been smelling is coming from! Oh dear. That’s so dangerous!” I promptly told everyone to stop plugging in the tree and it was kind of a downer to have an unlit tree all of Advent. 

So the day after Christmas my sweet husband surprised me with a beautiful new one. 

Cousins Christmas

My cousins try to get together each Christmas. Half of us were together this year! Not everyone comes home every year anymore, but whoever is around gathers for lunch and life updates. It’s fun to go around the group and hear about what everyone is up to! Everyone is doing their thing and making memories. I really enjoy seeing them all!

Augustine and his Godmomma. ❤️

Christmas Baby Shower

A good friend of mine, Kim, needed some showering of the baby things as she prepared for her fourth little one. Her family threw her a great party a few days after Christmas and good thing too because baby John was born the next day!

Levi tagged along and helped us surprise her. He was a happy baby considering it was the sixth party in four days. 

Kim was totally surprised and exhausted. :) We snapped a picture after most of the guests had left...oops! So glad we could celebrate she and her baby boy!

Christmas 5

More family came into town the day after Christmas so my mom planned some more fun and food. 

We had an ugly sweater cookie decorating contest!





Elias was less than happy when he won Ugliest Cookie. I had to explain that it was the BEST award. He didn’t really get it, but he did get over it. 

Levi got some Coco cuddles, even with a bum shoulder. 

Augustine stayed for the traditional cousins sleep over on Christmas night. They played the next day and had lots of fun. 



I’m hearing a lot of “I’m bored” now because Christmas festivities and grandma’s house are hard to beat.  :)

Christmas 4

On Christmas afternoon we celebrated with my family at G&G’s house. 

I brought a blast from the 90s past and we had a lot of fun. :)



I assisted with carving tree roast beast, which means very little. Jim did the hard work. My mom made a really nice turkey dinner!

I thoroughly enjoyed when Samuel opened his gift from Beth and I. It. Was. Spectacular. 

Thomas’ was a close second!

Julia picked out a buffalo plaid dress, and then Lisa decided to do the same in green. I jumped in on the fun and bought a cute tunic, and Beth got a scarf. I do not have a problem with FOMO, except when it comes to my sisters I guess. :)

Christmas 3

On Christmas morning we opened gifts as a family, went to Mass, and had lunch. 







Then there was a lot of LEGO building,

and light pad exploring!