Christmas and New Years

 First off, Christmas Eve pajamas, they always love it!

and away we go... picture overload!

One of my favorite moments of the day was when the kids opened all their new Mario plushies.  I wrapped each individually then tied their ribbons all together.  I wrote on the first one, "Boys Start," then it went up from there.. ready player two...level up...bonus level...boss level...final boss-ending with Bowser.  The others were fire flower Mario, Koopa Trooper, Pirana Plant, Mario with cappy (EZ's favorite), and two bomb-ombs.  

One funny thing about living here is there is an Arizona Cardinals football team but sometimes the stores mistake Cardinals merchandise and we end up with St. Louis Cardinals baseball stuff.  I found John that soft snuggle blanket, which I know is one of his favorite things!

Bruce got a robe last Christmas and lost it that following summer.  So, this year he got another!  Plus, it came with matching pajamas!  He was SO excited!!

Let's talk about New Years!  My old friend and her family came up from the valley and stayed with us.  We decided to make it a real party with lots of friends and fun.  One friend made a most spectacular charcuterie board.  There was lots of food and drinks and cute silly fun!  We also had a white elephant gift exchange.  Bruce got this awesome wrestling belt and was stoked... but as per the rules of the game, his older brother stole it, without remorse.  But, overall it was seriously one of my most favorite days!

Goodbye 2021!  Hello 2022!!

Bring on December!

Just some fun stuff, an 8 bit looking lego Mario mushroom that I built, new addition of our library, a lovely sunset, and Santa!

I don't recall what made his tongue blue, probably candy right?  So Bruce had torticollis when he was born.  We did psychical therapy with him but never finished the sessions.  It didn't seem to make a lot of sense to keep going to the appointments where they just show you the same techniques they've already taught you and then remind you to keep doing the moves, then tell you he seems to be improving, see you again in a few weeks.  BUT, I always felt like we should have had at least one final visit.  So, years later and I have been noticing the Bruce has one eye that goes a little off center at times, especially when he tilts his head the unnatural way.  So I made a special eye doctor appointment.  I assumed right in that because of the torticollis, when he tilts his head, the eye lower hasn't had to get as strong as the eye that sits higher, during the tilt.  Thankfully though, his eye is growing correctly.  It isn't lazy because he can see depth.  We are just encouraged to do tracking type exercises with him, and he struggles with that.  Hopefully his eye will keep improving!

Christmas tree waffle tradition.  We, okay I, make waffles at our house on a bi-weekly basis.  For this tradition, I add some green food coloring, use powdered sugar for "snow" and mini m&m's to look like balls.  The kids always love it!

Some more random cute pics and then on to the kids school Christmas program.  John was able to get off work and attend this year!  It seemed super odd to me that they packed so many people (hundreds) into a small gymnasium during a pandemic.  I only saw one person wearing a mask.  I guess at this point, you just gotta take the risk and still live your life.  

Happy couch pictures!

EZ has really been into Captain Underpants and Dog Man series.  We bought him the CU movie for his birthday and it came with this cape.  Not the greatest costume to walk around in... but very fun!

More birthday fun!  We had a big combined party.  I think there were about 15 kids!  We played some rounds of indoor snowball fighting, pop the balloon, pin the tail on Rudolph, presents and cake!  After the party we went to see the new Spiderman movie!  The boys were pretty tuckered out and both fell asleep on the way to the theater.  

John and I also celebrate our anniversary this week.  14 years!  Each year passes and I can't believe how long it's been.  We're getting older, our kids are getting bigger, and yet there is still so much to learn about each other, to do with each other, and love to grow.  I am so incredibly grateful for my husband!  With all the birthday and Christmas stuff, we typically don't do anything too big on the actual day.  Instead, I think we will make a getaway trip for when it gets warmer.  But for now, we'll settle on some fun photos!

 It's almost Christmas!!!!!