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.  

Just Peachy

Our month of gratitude was great and helped us appreciate the regular day to day.  Katelee and I got to spend a lacrosse weekend in Oceanside.  

It is so fun to cheer this gal on.  I am soaking up every minute since it is her senior year. 

Lots of girls from the HS play on this club team, so it is extra exciting to see them work together! 

 We roomed with her bestie Izzy and Izzy's mom, Buffy.  We had many adventures driving, blowing the hotel fuse, getting the front desk manager to be our best bud, Izzy trying to block her mom in her natural state around the hotel room and praying for non-gluten contamination.  Good times! 

We loved going to the beach at night and watching the sunset.  Berkley's family stayed in a bougie hotel so we bummed off them for their pool and walking distance to the ocean.  We ate at the same taco place a couple of times and visited the Top Gun house, so priorities were kept in check.  Love getting to spend these moments with my girl.  

Back on the home front, things were plugging along...

Harrison pledged to stay drug free.  Brenna danced, danced, and danced some more until there was a snap.  She was doing a trick or leap or something across the floor and when she landed she heard a snap/crackle/pop in her foot.  Sure enough, she couldn't walk.  A visit to the Instacare the next morning revealed a broken foot and sprained ankle.  While this news set Brenna back, we decided it is was good timing for dance because it isn't competition season and there is a long holiday break.  She adjusted to the boot alright, she wouldn't let it stop her from hanging out, walking the stores around us, going to dance etc.  But she thought maybe she required a wheelchair for our Thanksgiving journey to Georgia.  hahaha  This girl wouldn't mind being strolled around and waited on, broken foot or not.  

We did not get a wheelchair, but we headed to the airport for a late flight and got in to Atlanta to stay with Curt and Anna just before the holiday.  

The Wednesday before the feast requires a lot of preparation, of course.  So, Grandma, Anna and I went to work with our cute themed aprons provided by Miss Anna, while the rest of the crew

 hit up the ESPN College Football Hall of Fame.

They practiced throwing/kicking the ball  

even Brenna in the boot joined in.

 

But the best part seemed to be the AI generated posters and pics there.  

They came home and showed us and we were busting up laughing

Katelee swole was hilarious, as was Grant and Curt 80s-90s vibing

They had photos from different sports, different eras, all across the board.  So fun to see what some time traveling might do.  

They had a rip-roaring day while we baked and prepped and chatted.  

Thanksgiving dinner went off without a hitch!  Everything was shockingly done at the time projected!  We were so happy to have Curt's mom and sister join the fun

We had turkey, ham, tri-tip, stuffing, dressing, squash, green beans, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cheese rolls, dinner rolls, biscuits, jello salad, pineapple and more.  

After a chilly photo shoot

we had a played some games- a question game and then a rousing charades type game where you could describe a holiday person/item with three words, then one, then just acting it out.  Each round had us on the floor laughing.  

Pie was consumed-pumpkin, caramel pecan, black forest, banana pudding, pecan tassies, sugar cookies, sooooo much food...

and then when we could take no more we slumbered full and happy from an amazing celebration.  

But the party wasn't over- because hello?!  Black Friday.  The girl who insisted on a wheelchair (and was denied as you recall) said she would be fine for hours in the mall and so shopping happened.  I maybe found a couch in the area and hid for a bit, but it was successful.  We couldn't go all day and night because we had events planned for the evening.  

The gals got to get fancy and go to the theatre for Cirque de Soliel.  

We had a fabulous time watching the acrobats but at intermission and even after our hearts dropped when we looked at the score of the football game the boys had traveled to.  

They were pumped to go to the Georgia (Curt's beloved Bulldogs) vs Georgia Tech.  The Georgia rivalry!  Georgia was supposed to easily win, but they were tanking.  We felt so bad for them.  It was freezing and they were getting stomped on.  

We made it home and turned on the end of the game.  The boys and packed up and were ready to leave with a couple minutes left in the game when they turned around and heard cheering.  Georgia had finally staged a comeback at the end of the 4th quarter.  So, our football fans found some open seats and thought they better just stick it out and see what happens.  Well...it's a good thing they did.  Eight OT's later the Bulldogs conquered!!!!  We were squealing and jumping from the couch at home!   What a game!!!  It was worth their frozen keesters and 5 hours of watching!

After a day like that, you need a good rest and breakfast the next morning at The Waffle House of course!

Ain't nothin like some southern hospitality and tradition.  Spoon us up some grits and we left happy. 

 Some of us went to see Wicked at the movies that day (which was so fab) and then had tickets to the light display extravaganza at the Botanical Gardens.

Anna had decked us out with all the fun accessories and we partied it up. 

 We spent so much time in the area where we were surrounded by trees and lights just dangled around us.  It was stunning.  We had an epic dance party near the end and had all sorts of patrons joining (or staring)

What a great week with our family!!!  We loved being altogether and there is no one on earth that hosts better than Anna.  She had every detail planned and we felt pampered from the individual gift baskets to the pillow treats.  We love Thanksgiving southern style-everything was perfectly peachy! 

Something Special

October 2025 will be one to look back on as something special for sure.  It is undoubtedly our favorite time of year at home, the cool weather, the crisp feel of the air, having moved into a good routine and no longer mourning the freedom of summer.  We got to take a little break from the school schedule for a day or two and attend Gage and Ashleigh's wedding in Colorado.  Really, only Katelee and I went.  

We stayed in a nearby hotel and met everyone the morning of the ceremony on a beautiful fall morning in a stunning garden.  

It was so fun to see Haley and Devin and Brad and Angelique and especially the bride and groom!!!

Everything turned out lovely and we had a fun dance party afterwards.  My zumba classes are paying off-I had some secret moves no one knew about and probably hope to never see again.  We are so excited for the newlyweds and were happy to spend time with fam.  After the ceremony and reception, we parted ways so Katelee to meet up with a friend from her HXP trip to Tonga.  

She had a great time until they were longboarding behind a car and her friend fell and got super hurt.  He brought Katelee back to the hotel (a friend of his driving) and the next day following up with the x-rays of his broken clavicle.  

The month continued on with seasonal delights-our annual walk about at the Witches, which has dwindled to 3 of us attending this year.  

One day it will be just me and I will still have a fabulous time.  But, we are loving these days while they last. 

The highlight of the month was our fall break trip.  I have been longing to go to the Oregon Coast for ages and I got my wish this year.  Katelee had her opt out of vacation last time with South Dakota, so she was required to attend...luckily it was a destination no one would refuse.  

We flew into Portland and drove to an AirBnB in Depoe Bay.  It was a little condo off the ocean with a little hot tub outlooking the crashing waves.  

We spent each freezing evening in the warm tub watching/listening to the ocean.  

It was fabulous.  I did wake up one night scared we were being attacked-the wind and waves were so violent with a storm, but I guess that's part of the experience!  

The first day we explored a few beaches, went in the tide pools-seeing starfish and anenomes, looking for sea lions.  

One of our stops was Secret Beach- see that little tiny carved out doorway in the rock?  We entered one side and came out to a pretty isolated area.  

We hit up the Tillamook Cheese Factory, a destination I fondly remembered from a childhood excursion.  These guys sampled the fresh ice cream while I blissfully chomped on my cheese curds.  It was delightful.  A bigger smile was brought to our faces when we passed the local high school advertising their Friday Night Lights- go Tillamook Cheese Makers!  hahahaha

Our drive was to the north this day all the way to the iconic Canon Beach where we had a photo shoot.  

Lets be honest...with these two gals, every place was a photo shoot..  Take one here, take one like this, 

usually including someone saying, 'mom can you just be real.' or 'mom, just have a normal face.'  The struggle is real for me, I just can't take these posing sessions seriously.  

After a good nights rest, we headed out to hike God's Thumb.  Caleb had told us it is one of his favorite hikes of all time, but there is a short cut in getting there that would cut the hike by at least an hour.  

We thought we had the directions down, but alas, we did not.  It was a long hike but it was totally worth it-even when Harrison thought he would perish because we were rationing water, even when Dave squealed 'sssssss SNAKE' for the little guy across our path.  We didn't want to point out the ones in the grasses as we scaled up the hill.  

The route there was lush and beautiful but the top was absolutely stunning.  

We saw a bald eagle soaring, deer frolicking, it was like we were literally at the end of the world.  

Pictures don't do justice, but it was pure magic.   It was a big hike and it tuckered some of us right out.  

Dave got a good little snooze while the girls did some thrifting.  

We had two sunny/warmish days and then the storms came drizzling in, which we actually helped us get the full Pacific Northwest vibe.  It drizzled while we explored Devil's Churn... 

but that was nothing, compared to the spray Brenna was caught off guard with.

She was busy...you know..posing.  

We drove to Heceta Head lighthouse and trudged up through the rain to the building.  Across the way is a cool bridge as well.  We were loving the whole feel.  

One of my favorite stops was the hike to Hobbit's Beach.  It was a short walk through the forest to this incredible beach.  

We were the only ones there for awhile (so plenty of photos sessions commenced) 

as did exploring and standing in awe of the nature around us.  

After we were all feeling pretty soggy, we went back to the condo to dry off and play games where things got heated and I had to take a time out.  But don't worry, things got back on track the next day.  It was really pouring the next day, so it worked out that we were going to see the Aquarium.  

We thought...but it is mostly outside and we thought it was meh.  

Especially when we got to see sea life au natural just down the road...

These guys were going crazy.  We had the best time watching them fight for space on the planks.  They were yelling and squirming and the stinkiest things, but we loved every minute.  

It really was the best trip.  We are so blessed to live in such an incredible world- to get to see things that are spectacular and don't even feel real because their beauty takes your breath away.  But, we had to wrap up and get back to real life so we could participate in all the Halloween fun.  

Harrison was supposed to pick out a costume while Katelee and I were in Colorado, which he did. Katelee got a text from a friend who worked at the Halloween store saying 'your family just came in to buy a costume.  Bro wants to be skibidi toilet.'  Words we never expected.  We kind of game him a hard time and were laughing so it was up in the air if the kid would actually get into his costume.  He happily did for his school parade, but trick or treating took tears and bribery.  Well, it is a costume we will never forget...

We had our neighborhood dinner, I stayed back to give out treats, Dave bribed Harrison do get in his throne and collect treats.

Brenna hit the town with some old ladies (Nora, Cate and Brinsley)

and Katelee was a party animal with Izzy and Brooklyn.

We had such a special month with a wedding and fabulous trip and parties. 

 Good times and good laughs! (here are the stellar librarians of the high school, we think we are so fun)