Life Lately

Well, I think the kids went to school 3 days out of 5 last week - so we are trending upward...maybe?! Although, school was cancelled today too. BUT our weather is looking so much better for the rest of the week!

If you ask the boys if they are enjoying the snow days this would be their responses: Zane "I'm sad because I miss PE" and Jaxen "This probably means they will add on days to the end of the year". LOL. I think they are both over it! 

As am I.

However, we had a normal schedule this weekend of basketball and church - so that was nice!

Both boys are having a great time playing basketball - Jaxen's team is now 2-0 and Zane's team is 3-0!

Nik is settling into his new job well and not much is going on with me...

...that sums it up!

Snowy and Cold!

I have no idea what day it is, what time it is or what I am supposed to be doing anymore!

We have had some weather around here! It dropped 6 inches of snow last week, along with some ice and then we have had temps in single digits with wind chills up to -23. Crazy. It is supposed to warm up a bit over the next few days…but we will see what the rest of winter holds for us!

My kiddos last day of school before their winter break was December 19. They went back to school January 5 but then last week only went to school 2 out of 5 days (due to weather) and they have today off due to MLK day! They are living their best lives right now and it’s going to be hard going, getting back into a routine!

Nik and I have both had a very random schedule as well - off during Christmas, back to work, remote work days, work cancelled, kids activities cancelled…even all church activities were cancelled this past weekend! We have been pretty chill…and overall it’s been nice. I think we have each gone a little stir crazy, but I’m just trying to enjoy the downtime while we have it. 

We did take the boys out to eat this weekend (really, to get us all out of the house some) and then we went shopping for Zane some pants. While we were out, Zane ran into a puppy he got to pet!

And here is the reason we went shopping for pants…

(shoveling, to try and stay ahead of the snow)

Zane has been refusing to wear pants…there is something wrong with every single pair he had. (And actually, every pair of pants he had were hand-me-downs that were kind of old anyway -ha!). So - I decided we would go to the store and let him pick out a few pair. He picked out 3!

But before the bad weather came, Nik and I got out for a date afternoon to celebrate Nik’s birthday and it was so fun! Here’s a pic of us - if you look closely, you can see it snowing!

Christmas 2023

Christmas morning was so much fun! 

Jaxen was up super early but was so patient (watching a movie with Nik) until we finally told him he could wake Zane up. 

The boys dug into their stockings but had to go on a little scavenger hunt to find their “santa” gift :)

You can tell Zane was barely awake during stockings - haha!

We had a fun time opening presents (with very few pics taken). 

Jaxen scored a tortilla blanket, Zane received a sprinkle donut blanket, they both got Prime (hydration drinks), shoes, clothes, some toys, games and of course, electronics - along with a few other things!

We had a very relaxing day - Nik's parents were with us too (but like I said, bad at taking pics)!

 

Since I like to look at back at stuff like this I am going to document our menu for the day - Monkey bread and bacon for breakfast. Turkey, sweet potato casserole, fresh green beans, broccoli salad, homemade bread, deviled eggs for lunch/dinner. And guess what? No dessert! Actually we planned a dessert, but did not get it cooked that day. Instead, we had leftover goodies from the days prior (there were plenty). A few days later Nik made our Christmas dessert - triple chocolate bundt cake…delicious!

We had a great Christmas and enjoyed the extra time together with our family. Nik had the full week off in-between Christmas and New Years (for the first time since we moved to Kansas)! I was not feeling great, so I for sure relished the extra rest and relaxation. The boys also enjoyed life with no school and no structure. Throw in a few sleepovers and they were living their best life! 

December Things

 We kicked off December 1 with Christmas Jammies!

I put together 3 puzzles (this one was by far the hardest).

There were gift exchanges and Christmas parties….

Kids Christmas concerts and school activities.

This is a pic I sent to my co-worker one day when I was off. Fuel for getting stuff done!

And we had some visitors!

Funnies

 In case you need a few laughs…

 

This next one is Nik - he cannot sit down and talk on the phone - he has to be constantly moving!

 

 

 This is the best idea I have heard of all year....

 

This next one made me laugh out loud - because I've been there...! Anyone else?

 

 

 

 

 

Just this week my co-workers and I were discussing nicknames. I mentioned this one...

Just in case you can't read the small print - it says "formally knows as mom".

Life Lately

Here is a little of life lately...

JAXEN

Jaxen is at a hard age (not that I think this parenting gig will get easier before it gets harder) - he wants to have freedom and be independent but he is still a kid (in my book anyway, at age 11). That being said, I am trying to find the balance... 

Recently, Jaxen wanted to make some money and thought the best way to do so would be to make chocolate-dipped pretzels and then sell them at school. I asked all the questions before hand and he thought he had it all figured out. Guess what? He did not. LOL. After a few days of selling I got an email from the school and that came to a halt. But not before he made a little money! 

Then he wanted to ride his bike to the nearest QT and buy some gum. We had a lot of conversations before we let him take off by himself and do so. (Nik also ran an errand that was nearby and was able to check on him). It sounds like a small thing - but it's not in this mama's (or daddy's) eyes!

Jaxen is taking an elective called Family and Consumer Sciences. Already this quarter, he has sewn an apron and learned how to make grilled cheese. He has actually made the family dinner twice (good thing we like grilled cheeses!). He is enjoying learning to cook!

Jaxen participated in our church's Christmas musical again this year. He did not have a speaking part, but had a duet and then a few acting roles. He did so good. I love to see him do things he loves!

ZANE

Poor Zane - this year he has been sick so many times! This past weekend he had to miss 2 of his besties birthday parties due to a fever and cough. Luckily his fever broke and he was able to go on a much-anticipated field trip to Folly Theater (KC’s oldest historic theater).  

Zane is playing basketball again this season and really enjoys it. He is so cute out there on the court giving little fist bumps to his teammates 😀 He is working really hard on his layups and 3-point shots. His team finally won their first pre-season game! The regular season will begin in January. 

As I was taking Zane to school one day he told me his rational behind wearing shorts to school, even when it is freezing. Here is what he had to say about it "I would rather suffer for only 1 hour being a little cold in shorts (before school and walking home from school) than suffer for 7 hours in pants (sitting in his classroom)". It made me laugh - but he was completely serious about it. To even prove his point further - one evening around the same time, he put on pajamas (that were pants instead of shorts) and within 5 minutes of having them on I saw him tearing his clothes off because he was "so hot" (and we do not keep our house hot!). LOL.

When I asked Zane if he wanted to be in our church's Christmas musical this year he said "Yes! I want to be a sheep!" Okay then. So I told our worship leader what Zane said, thinking surely they will have a sheep. Guess what? No sheep in the play this year! So I told Zane there were no sheep, that he could participate in another way. No way. He told me plainly that if he could not be a sheep, he did not want to be in it. What?! Who knew his life-long desire in life was to be a sheep in the Christmas musical?! When I told our worship leader, she was so sweet and was trying to figure out how to write-in a sheep part so Zane could be involved. I told her no way - Zane would watch from the audience. He really has no desire to be a part of a musical. I can't blame him either!

NIK

Nik is working his tail off double-shifting and trying to end his time at UPS well. He is working 6 days a week and is pretty much exhausted (and on the verge of getting sick). His last day is December 22. I think he is excited (and a bit scared) to start his new position at our church in January. The boys and I are sure looking forward to him having a bit more 'normal' schedule! 

CARLA

I am doing well these days! There is nothing super stressful or earth shattering happening in my world right now. All is relatively calm. I am just trying to keep up with school spirit days, homework, fundraisers, parties, sports, laundry and a semi-clean home!

Thanksgiving 2023

This year for the Thanksgiving holiday the boys and I drove to NM to see my mom and sister. After a little research (thanks to my blog) I realized it had been 12 years since I spent Thanksgiving with them - too long! So I left Nik behind to work and sleep and we hit the road early Sunday morning (before Thanksgiving). 

We were there a full week, which was so nice! I, of course, did a few projects while I was there - cleaned out the pantry, hung curtains, re-arranged furniture, organized closets, and did some cleaning....all of which is fun when it's not at your own house, right?!

My poor mama fell a few days before we arrived and broke her arm (between her elbow and shoulder). She was still in some pain while we were there but was a trooper and played lots of games with us - you know that is our favorite thing to do! The boys are learning more and more games and we enjoyed playing together with them, too!

Zane and I were sharing a bed the first few nights there, but then I decided to sleep on my own, in another room. When Zane asked why the next morning - this is the pic I showed him...

Sums it up, right?  

Guess what we had for our Thanksgiving meal? Enchiladas (green chile chicken, green chile beef, and red beef), rice, beans, chips and salsa. And it was sooo good! In fact, we ate those leftovers at least 4 other times - LOL!

I did take the boys to the UFO McDonald's one day for lunch. Zane wanted his picture taken with the aliens.

I also "made" mom start enjoying the Christmas season early and decorated her house on Friday (after Thanksgiving). She has strict rules about not decorating before Thanksgiving...and really, before December 1 is still a little too early. But she obliged :) 

Zane helped me a little bit and when he was setting up the Nativity scene, he took some of the "grass" off the stable and covered up baby Jesus. Haha! He knew baby Jesus probably had a blanket, but there was not one to use in the Nativity so he used what he could to cover up his private parts :)

I had brought some crafts and activities for the boys to do and guess who enjoyed them more - the adults (my mom, sister and me)! LOL. We painted a nativity scene, decorated Christmas cookies my sister even started an embroidery project! I think my sister took other pics, but I have this one of my mom - which I LOVE - look at that smile :)

I had a WONDERFUL time and can't wait to go back!

We hit the road home the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Look at Zane, living his best life...shirt off, puppy next to him, apple in hand, movie playing! The boys did SO WELL on the drive there and back. They were real troopers!

I am so grateful for the time with my family and the precious memories that we made!