More December

There is a lot of randomness this month, so here's some more!  Esme and I made some snickerdoodles.  She was great at rolling in the cinnamon sugar.

I caught this adorable stint on camera this week.  I think she's probably reciting a number blocks video from YouTube, but can't say for sure.  I loved how theatrical it was.

We got some more snow, so we were out playing.  We brought home this wild sled from Jimmy's sister's house after Thanksgiving.  It was his in the 80's.  Esme thinks it's pretty cool.

I also started work on the new and improved Herrmann Sliding Center, but it hit almost 60 this week, so it's pretty much all gone.

Week 3 of stocking gifts brought a Bluey stuffie for Esme and a pop-it fidget spinner watch (try saying that 5 times fast) for Parker.

The real surprise was Jimmy's new scooter!  I didn't plan of it being a stocking gift, but the box was way bigger than I expected and I was worried about hiding it.  Esme almost spoiled it when she walked in and said " whoa, that's a big scooter!"  He took it out on the street a couple times and tried it in the basement.  he can't wait for spring.

Yesterday morning gave us a little surprise when Parker got sick at Adventure Club before school.  He was acting a little of before school, but didn't have any symptoms other than lack of appetite.  He got to hang out with me, get lots of rest and iPad time.  Looking like a little tummy bug.  He hasn't eaten much in the last two days, but no more throwing up.

Esme decorated gingerbread houses with her class at school.  She brought home a whole bags of extra decorations, so we may have to do some at home too.

There hasn't been any in person school programs since covid is still a factor, but we did get this adorable video of her class singing.  She is second from the right in the middle row.

Friday nights are matching jammie night and this week we snuggled is the hanging tent together.

First Week of December

We've had a lot of randomness so far this month.  The kids got a new toy as a "thank for being brave and getting vaccinated" gift from a pharmacist friend of ours.  Esme calls it the flying fan and it's so fun!

Esme did a pizza fundraiser for school and they finally came in after a month delay.  We just sold to family and a few neighbors, but she cute little thank you notes for them.  Our neighbor, Betsy, had recently attended the VanGogh exhibit and gifted Esme with some flowers.

Speaking of vaccines, Esme for shot #2 on Saturday.  She was very concerned in the days leading up to it and talked about it a lot.  I ended up having to bear hug her for the nurse to get it done.  Left is before and right is after with a special donut treat.

Saturday night we attended a surprise 60th Birthday for our neighbor across the street.  Her family had a whole day of fun culminating in a party at the VFW.  She was so surprised and it was fun to have a night out.  They had a caricaturist too and I love this drawing even if it doesn't look exactly like us.  It's getting a place on the wall soon!

The kids spent the night at grandpa and nana's.  I didn't bring their snow gear so they had to borrow some that was way to big because they just wanted to play outside.

After picking them up, we drove out to Maple Lake to pick up a free hangin tent pod.  On the way home, we stopped to visit with my friend Chelsey who was home from New Jersey for a funeral.  It's been at least 2 years since we've seen each other and it was good to catch up, even for just an hour.  Esme loved chasing the cat around and terrifying it with her puppy Kyla.

Week two of Advent gifts brought a scissor lift truck for Parker, Dinosaur drawing book for Esme, and chocolates for Jimmy.

We hung up the new tent as well and it was a hit with both kids!

I've been doing a lot of purging and one gem I found while going through boxes is a shelf I made in middle school.  I used it in out laundry/mud room to replace some 3M hooks we were using for keys.

November 2021 Hodgepodge

Our latest restaurant copycat date night was Roly Poly.  This was one of our favorite spots to patron when we were dating, but they closed the last metro location not long after Parker was born.  We made the Turkey Applejack with turkey breast, jack cheese, apple butter, bacon, mushrooms, onions, basil mayo and spicy honey mustard.  I also made a charcuterie board to accompany.

I made my dad a german chocolate cake for his birthday.  We were supposed to go over to celebrate, but my nephew got Covid, so they were in quarantine and I just dropped it off.

One of the final wood projects to come out of my dad's shop this year was a ziploc bag organizer.  I drafted up these sketches for my dad and he delivered!

This before picture doesn't really show the mess of this cabinet.  The center divider was not there before and the different ziploc boxes were always falling out.  I really love this corner cabinet, but it can be tricky to organize.

It was a perfect fit and I am going to make a spot for reusable shopping bags in the other side.  Those were also always falling out.

I added some vinyl labels to the front and it was ready to go.  It has a removable back panel for refilling or cleaning as needed.

The area behind it will store additional bags and back up foil, cling wrap, etc.  I am so excited to make this space more efficient.

I made some shirts for a friend and her daughter with glitter vinyl.

Vaccines for younger kids are here!  I have been eagerly awaiting these days.  Esme got her's first.  She was pretty scared, but handled that and her flu shot well.

Cookie treats!  Parker got his first one a couple weeks later.  He is so strong that we needed two extra nurses to help hold him.  I am so proud of them both and looking forward to safer Christmas gatherings.

My dad and I renewed our Fleet Farm Black Friday tradition and got the rhino stuffies (as mentioned in the Christmas kick-off post.). Esme's is names Perry and grandpa's is named Java.

A quick picture shared from school of Parker during gym class.

His birthday was officially on Tuesday and here is my requisite 12:10am, time of birth photo.  He woke up a bit and was not a fan of the dim light.

They celebrated him at school with cupcakes, chocolate is his favorite!

Christmas Kick-Off and Trek for a Tree 2021

It's Christmas time!  Jimmy expressed this year that he wants to get at least one new Christmas decoration every year.  He used that request as an excuse to finally get the Phillips Hue light strip.  We installed it on the shelf behind our couch in the living room and can change it to a billion different colors.  

The stockings were one of the first things up since the day after Parker's party was the first day of Advent gifts.

Both kids got some Hershey kisses. Parker got a new pop-it fidget spinner and Esme got some glitter crayons and a small sticker book.

That afternoon we do our annual Trek for a Tree to the local hardware store.

Esme and Perry (rhino) helped me pick out the perfect one.

Everyone helped haul it home.

Over the next two nights we got the lights and ornaments hung.  Esme was an eager and willing helper!  I am so excited for the Christmas season.