When everyone's here, celebrating time together, we're outside a lot and it seems I'm always trying to get back to the house so we'll have something to eat. I fix as much as I can ahead of time, but kitchen time is still required in the midst of the visiting. I mixed up a batch of cinnamon rolls one evening
And quesadillas one day for dinner
Taco Soup is always a quick-to-make-ahead-of-time favorite
But our girl had been on a roll in her kitchen before Christmas as well
She brought us beautiful and delicious sourdough loaves (one is dark chocolate and cranberry and the other disappeared before I thought to get a picture. And Apple Cider Caramels, along with Lemon Ricotta Cookies (recipe coming soon!) and dipped pretzels
AND she dehydrated oranges for days in order to make mulled spice packages and jam and candles! 😂🥰
And eggnog to accompany the Sour Cream Cranberry Pound Cake that I always make (resurrecting an old photo from a few years ago)
Plus, she has a career and a toddler. And no, she doesn't get that from me. She gets all the credit and I hope she was able to relax and kick back a little while she was here, because she deserves some downtime.
I think both of our kitchens should be closed for a few days. LOL
Everyone gathered together on Sunday
And oh my, did the kids ever have a ball!
I love watching them interact
Simple moments, treasured memories
They must have made 50 trips up and down the driveway in the wagon
Our girl had to head out Wednesday morning,
which was DH's birthday, but everyone else gathered together once more
The birthday boy is not one to tarry. He doesn't lounge. He was out and about, working on the morning of his birthday. And no, it wasn't anything I asked him to do.
It was a December filled with all the things that bring me joy and overflowed with His blessings
But boy, am I tired! And I wouldn't have it any other way!
I'm ready to tackle 2026!
Our girl and her family arrived on Saturday
When you come to visit, we put you to work. 😉
Hard to stay inside when the weather's this nice
We DID spend some early mornings inside
L loves elephants and received 2 in his stocking. He calls them Achis. I have no idea, but Achis they are. 🥰
He was introduced to his I Spy Quilt
which was really for his birthday last month
Our girl gifted me this wonderful wooden trivet tree and L was fascinated with it
Our girl loves taking pictures as much as I do and I love that she captured some with L and me together.
Not a fan of pictures of myself,
but my heart loves these
And I'll admit that I'm thankful that at 61 (62 in a few weeks), I can still engage with our grandchildren like this
But as soon as it warmed up a bit, everyone spilled back outside
It takes a lot to tucker out this 2-yr old
We piled into the Can-am one afternoon for what we thought would just be a short circle
But we all ought to know better
when DH is at the helm.
Short circles turn into 2+ hour hikes. LOL
But as always, it's worth taking the detour
