December 31 - Happy New Years Eve

It's the weird week between Christmas and New Years where the days blend together and time doesn't exist. Julia and Luke have HS swim practice every morning at 6.15am (including tomorrrow morning) but otherwise spend the days playing video games, watching Netflix or reading (Julia) or building a drone (Luke). Jillian has been binging an Australian show and trying to stay in her pj's all day. I did get the kids out of the house earlier this week for Top Golf which was fun. 

Hope everyone is having a great NYE!

Backyard fun

Jillian the photographer

December 25 - Merry Christmas

Twas the day before Christmas and here in hot, humid, Houston.

Dad prepared a fancy dinner, while the animals laid in the kitchen, chillin.

Luke and Jillian helped prep the fancy holiday meal,

While Julia wrapped presents upstairs with zeal.

Mom spent the day at HEB, Target and the mall.

Last minute holiday shopping is chaotic and not for all!

After our amazing feast it was time to go to sleep,

The kids snuggled into Jillian’s bed, like cute little sheep.

Jillian read ‘The Night Before Christmas’ for the first time by herself.

And then they all went to bed, waiting for Santa and maybe an elf.

Christmas morning was filled with presents, laughter, love and joy.

Now it’s time to relax and enjoy all the toys!



Merry Christmas to all!!

December 22 - Tis the Season

Girl Scout party

Tis the season for holiday parties! Every December is non-stop but this December has seemed busier than usual. 

December 6: high school swim meet 

December 10: high school swim meet (JD was a ref, I sold raffle tickets)

December 12: Brownie Christmas party at our house (cookies, crafts and fun)

December 13: swim meet

December 13: Lake Aquatics team party at our house

December 18: Grinchmas Holiday party with the 3rd grade at school (nacho bar, decorated a sugar cookie and art project)

December 18: Anniversay dinner (21 years!)

December 19: Grinch Movie party with the 3rd grade at school (popcorn party and movie)

December 20: Beach day in Galveston

December 21: Santa Hustle 5k in Galveston with the GS troop

December 21: Book Club holiday party at our house (games and book exchange)

December 22 (tonight): HEAT Christmas party at nearby and Julia is hosting a party for her friends at our house

I need a vacation from December already! Hope everyone is hanging in there.

Grinchmas Party

Galveston (unseaonably warm this year)

Santa Hustle

 

December 20 - Christmas Card Outtakes

Our Christmas cards were sent out this week but here are some outtakes from our at-home "photo-shoot." There was a lot of laughing and trying to pose animals is VERY difficult. Except for Apollo. He's a little perfect posing angel. He sat in the living room with antlers on for a solid 20min without moving. 

The kids

Posing with pets...LOL 

December 18 - Are You Crazy?

Every year, the Lake Aquatics team has a holiday party and a senior parent hosts. The team consists of 50+ kids so it's a big event. This year I volunteered. JD's reaction..."Are you crazy? We can't fit that many people in our house?! Let's rent a space at a restaurant somewhere instead." I told him we'd figure it out and we did!

One parent smoked pulled pork for the whole team (they made enough to feed over 200 people) and we ordered mac and cheese and green beans from Cracker Barrel. We had fruit, chips and dip and homemade cookies. I baked all morning prepping for the party and the dogs thought they smelled so good they ate about half of the chocolate chip cookies off the counter. Stinkers! We had tables and chairs set up in the backyard and the kids all ate outside. They squeeed inside for the gift exchange. It was a tight fit but they made it work! 

Weather was perfect

mmmmmm

December 16 - A Gatlinburg Thanksgiving

Gatlinburg! If you have never been to Gatlingburg, it's known for bears and it's crazy mountain roads. I am not exaggerating-driving up the mountain roads there is not for the faint of heart. The roads are narrow, winding, steep and there are limited guardrails. We rented a house on top of the mountain. The main level had a huge kitchen, living room, large porch, bedroom and 1.5 bathrooms. Downstairs had 3 bedrooms (one had an arcade machine), 3 full bathrooms, a game room with a small pool table and some other games as well as another porch and hot tub. 

We all arrived late Tuesday at various times and it was great seeing each other and settling in. Jillian was sick the entire week and Luke came down with strep, so honestly the week was a blur. But here are some of my favorite memories...

*Greg, Jill and I went hiking in the Great Smoky National Park. We met a family from NYC/FL who asked us if we had seen any bears (we had not).

*Greg, Jill, Victoria, Andrew, Luke, Julia and Jillian went on a mountain coaster and while the kids were underwhelmed, I thought it was super fun!

*JD and Greg took the big kids to the rec center to work out (Julia & Luke: swim, Andrew: running, Victoria: weight lifting). Thank you both for taking care of the big kids!

*I went on a drop ride with Julia, Victoria and Andrew. It was HIGH and fun!

*Jay, Rachel, Lola, Annabelle, the Cook's as well as Julia and I went to a really cute shopping center with fake snow and a little holiday market. I absolutely loved seeing how excited Lola and Annabelle were running around. 

*Lola and Annabelle are the absolute cutest. They are little balls of energy. Lola LOVED spending time with the big girls, especially Victoria!

*Dishwasher. We had a functioning dishwasher all week. BLISS.

*We ordered Thanksgiving dinner from a local restaurant. We made a few side dishes (Rachel: brussel sprouts and JD: green bean casserole) and it was so stress free and delicious. We had so much food, it was crazy. 

*Jay is a great dad and always up for the hot tub with his littles.

*Fun fact: Gatlinburg does not have a pharmacy so prescriptions have to be picked up in Pigeon Forge

*Going to urgent care over a holiday requires patience. Luke and I sat in the waiting room for over 2H. 

*Gatlingburg Bypass is one of the most beautiful roads I have ever driven on.

*I love spending time with our family, I wish we lived closer but I'm so thankful we get together like this at least once a year.

*We missed Bryan, Chris, Brian and Fernando.

*Bathrooms. We love Thanksgiving at the farm but having FOUR bathrooms was pretty amazing. 

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Sorry this post is so late. 

Love family time!

December 5 - Chattanooga

After a week of swim meets and the flu, we woke up bright and early Saturday and drove to Chattanooga. The drive went smoothly and all of the kids were healthy (or at least seemed to be). Sunday morning, JD and the big kids went hiking while Jillian and I stayed back watching movies and resting. After their hike, we went to a cute lunch at a local restaurant and then Jillian came back to rest as she was feeling extremely tired. We watched The Amazing Race and had an early night while JD and the big kids went out for pizza and ice cream. 

On Monday, everyone felt good so we spent a few hours at the Tennessee Aquariam. The butterfly garden is always a favorite as well as the penguins and alligators. After the aquarium, we went to a local restaurant downtown. Jillian started feeling unwell so I went back with her while JD and the kids wrapped up lunch. 

Next stop: Gatlinburg!

Adorable VBRO

Aquarium

December 4 - Fall Championship Meets

Luke (red cap)

Fall championship swim meets were in November the week before Thanksgiving and our schedule was packed. Luke was up first and competed in the non-TISCA championship meet. He started feeling unwell at the meet but pushed through and did well considering. After the meet, we immediately went to urgent care where he tested positive for flu A. He missed 3 days of school recovering. 

Julia tested positive for the flu 2 days before Luke (Sunday) and traveled to the Woodlands (north Houston away meet) on Thursday for a meet. It was a prelims/final meet and although she wasn't 100%, she did well. While we were at finals on Friday, I got a call from the elementary school that Jillian was sick and left the meet to pick her up. You guessed it....another flu baby!

Julia & Mia

Poor Jillian