Tritmas is sadly, now officially “Christmas” in my kids’ heads and next year I just know candy cans will officially become candy canes so since all the brilliant people in the world can’t put their heads together and figure out a way to freeze time so I can replay the Tritmas’, and candy cans, and kitty cat bars and all the things they say that I will now never say any other way, I shall continue to try to remember through little snippets into our days. I keep forgetting to take pictures of all the things but here are a few to remember Christmas!

Abbie and I made our first log! I’m realizing until one of us becomes better at baking, we should skip all French recipes to achieve the blissful baking experience I see in my head. Recipes that include phrases such as “IMMEDIATELY place in oven” and have me looking for a shade and consistency of egg white that is not explicitly indicated, freak me out. I might have hit her in the head several times whisking vigorously as she tried to peer over the bowl, but you know, we did our best. Those French. I think they delight in having vague and unnecessarily complex recipes. But goodness I love them.

And my kids are officially in the “don’t quite love it yet” phase of Coquille St Jacques. There may have been many tears and heavy sighs BUT ONE DAY! it’ll come, and they will start craving it just like the rest of us, come Christmas Eve. So we press on because, tradition. What is life without tradition??

When we walked into this house for the first time, the kids were literally most excited about the fact that we would finally get to hang our stockings on the mantel of the fireplace. So this was momentous.

We are all excited about chapstick these days.

First one of us to get a donkey <3

Apparently Noah is the only one in pictures anymore. And loves to dress up in all the things. And doesn’t do freaky faces every time I point a camera at him. I’ll still keep trying with those older two ;) but he’s just been cracking me up lately. I got him that doctor kit, as requested, and when he opened it up, there were a fair amount of pink supplies which I’d imagine a little boy wouldn’t be thrilled about. So I said, “Aw buddy, I can return it and find another one..” to which replied, “no it’s ok, mom. Just don’t let it happen again..” He took my hand as I was walking down the stairs and said, “men often help ladies down the stairs, mom” <3 I asked him what he wanted most for Christmas and he said, “What’s that white thing on the counter?” “The KitchenAid?” “Ya, I want one of those to play with” :) And then quite possibly my favorite – he was gazing off into the distance with the happiest smile on his face and said softly, “in heaven, Luke won’t be able to punch me because he’ll be so kind…”

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas! We miss you all, near and far, and love you very much!!