Listen, I dont know how December has already come and gone. I did not have my usual motivation to pack in all the fun festive stuff this year. I dont know if its just me, or the fact that the boys are getting older and busier with different things and friends, but a lot of the things we usually do just did not happen. But honestly, no one really seemed to notice-ha! We still had plenty of fun.
We managed to go ice skating at The Hill Country Galleria (with one of Cash's best buds-Lucy and Owens friend, Salim joined us) and The Long Center. Cash could not get enough of the ice skating...we are actually going back for one last hoorah today. Tripp on the other hand enjoyed doing two or three loops of the rink and then was ready to tap out. And Owen loved it just as much as Cash and got crazy on the ice trying tricks. Eli decided to sit out for the ice skating!
We kicked off Hanukah with a little Latkepallooza party at our house this year! Brian, Jared and Adam came over early to make the Latkes and they did an amazing job! It was our first party to host in this house, so it was a lot of fun to get ready and see it all play out!
There is nothing like throwing a party to make you get projects done! Blaine decided to re-do the half bath downstairs two weeks before the party. We had a few hiccups but he pulled it off!
As always, there was a fight each night about whose turn it was to light the candles but we managed to make it happen each night.
Somewhere in there we also celebrated Maggie turning SIX!
I worked every day leading up to Christmas and felt very grateful I was able to do that. But more than anything, I was SO very grateful that I got to see this guy at the store a few times that week. It was not his year, so I am so thankful he was able to be there.
Cash came with me a few days and Janie put him to work...making bows, organizing boxes, cleaning the cases and going to the bank with me. He loves being there, and that makes me so happy! I have such fond memories of going to work with my Dad growing up.
Tripp missed me that week and there were plenty of FaceTime calls to say hi!
A couple days after Christmas I took this bunch of boys to the UT basketball game-our first at Moody Center!
We ended the year on New Years Eve with a lemonade/tattoo/homemade cotton candy table. It was quite fruitful and really fun watching how much fun Tripp was having running around with a giant sign trying to get neighbors to stop.
I think everyone was quite pleased with their Hanukah gifts (that we open on Christmas morning) this year. It was a tough year trying to figure out gifts for everyone. I would say the biggest hit was Tripp's new bike "with pedals" that he mastered in one day. He can not get enough of it now...riding all the time!!!
Owen and Cash got new scooters, so a trip to the skate park was a must!
The last few years we have done our New Years Eve picnic. We added homemade pizzas this year to the menu. Ethan came over to hang out with us....we made pizzas, snacked, cheers to the new year, stopped by the firework stand and then dropped Owen and Eli off at friends houses to celebrate. We did some sparklers and little fireworks with Cash and Tripp at home and Blaine bet Cash he could not stay up until midnight....Cash won that bet! It was a chill and relaxing New Years Eve for us, and it was perfect!
And a few more random pictures from December.....
Shabbat dinner at Kathys.
Eli started lacrosse! He joined in with a few friends for the end of Fall, so learn the basics. They ended with one tournament. I gotta say, I don't understand lacrosse one bit! But it is certainly entertaining to watch, and wow is it physical!!!
A little pantless painting...
Jerseys for Jude.
Maggie invading personal space, as always.
Class party.
