2024 No More

And just like that, another year is in the books.  

This girl started out the month still adjusting to her boot.  She is in a child development class where they have to take a robot baby home to care for it.  It is programmed to cry, need diaper changes, burp, etc.  In true Brenna fashion, she signed up to do a weekend because you could get extra credit. (99% isn't good enough I guess).  We were not looking forward to an overnighter, but now the crazy had committed to an entire weekend.  

It will be a weekend to remember and help encourage family planning/delayed child care for this one. Dave was out of town the first night and I was just prepared for it to be long.  I crawled into bed and was checking my phone to see if Katelee would be home soon so I could sleep...but then I get a call with her sniffling.  I calmly asked her if she and everyone was ok (even though I was frantic inside) and she tearily explained the car she was riding in had hit a cat and it was stumbling around and laying on the ground with a paw up.  I let out the breath I had been holding and, while sad for the feline, said a grateful prayer it was not a human.  We talked through that and what to do next and I plugged in my earplugs as soon as she got home.  

 I awoke in the middle of the night to Brenna bursting through my door on her hands and knees crawling (because she can't walk!) pleading for help.  She needed to go to the bathroom in the night and the baby was crying and she didn't want to wake people up so she had a bit of a mishap in the restroom...and then she just fell apart.  The rest of the weekend consisted of pleas (screams) for us to assist her.  Thankfully we could hand back baby Bertha and Brenna's motherhood role is postponed for now.  

The month pressed on with lots of fun and festive adventures.  Our favorite time of year at the high school (Silver Rush)  helped bring in the spirit of service. 

 We were happy Katelee was in the group that was assigned our street this year.  They stuffed Christmas Cards for us.  That's right, it is our once every 5 year Christmas card time!  So, everyone who got one prob was surprised that it came and delighted to know we are still around.  

The gingers continue to dominate and in the photo we have now enlarged in our front room, and was posted by Brenna, Katelee is standing by Grant with her arm on his.  One of Brenna's friends seeing all the red heads assumed Katelee was Grant's wife.  It was an awkward moment for all involved.  

Katelee, who is indeed not married and a part of the OG family, had a fun time at the first Winter's Ball at Riverton.  

She went to the dance with her good friend Gabe.  They love snowboarding together so it was fun hanging out not on the slopes as well.  

Katelee is itching to get up snowboarding but December was not snowy and we are hoping for some winter weather soon! But, that doesn't stop the holiday spirit.  

One of the activities we loved this year was going to see the Nativity display.   We were happy Dad and Brenna joined us this time! 

It has been Harrison and me the last couple of years so it was fun to hunt all the displays together.  

Harrison's little basketball team had a rough start but they came in first in their Christmas tournament, it was like a little holiday miracle...especially because they didn't have their regular coach.  Way to go boys!  He is making great friends and enjoying his team a lot this year.  

Christmas was spent the traditional way...prepping food Christmas Eve, paying it forward at a fast food restaurant on our way to the family party.  This is always a bit intense and a fulfilling challenge we love!  

We had dinner with the Petrick side and had our usual program/gift exchange with some stellar white elephant presents this year-grandma and grandpa caught in an unprecedented cuddle in a pizza blanket, a mug of grandpa sleeping at different locations, top notch white elephant stuff.  

The kids slept in the basement together and we opened gifts in the morning.  It is hard to pull off any surprises because they just send me lists of what they want now...especially one child in particular.  This child specifies what she wants and doesn't want me to deviate.  Too bad.  

We were able to get a couple of surprises in there.  We had really wanted to pull off an unexpected trip surprise, but we had to let Grant know for work and he let it slip to Katelee.  But we are all excited to be going to Jamaica in the spring!!

The best part, of course, is just being together.  We know we most likely won't get many more years where our Christmas' look like this- just the six of us.   

So, we ring in the new year (we were down to the 3 that night- you know, social things for the other kiddos) with gratitude. 

that Harrison still likes being home!  

One day (soon) it will just be this...

 With Grant moving out, Katelee in the midst of her senior year, prepping for college next year and Brenna starting HS next time around, we know each memory and moment is a treasure.