In 2024 we got together with some friends for our first official Friendsgiving. It was so nice to be with friends on the holiday, and to not have to cook a ton of food for just our little family. I would love to continue this tradition! Although, next Thanksgiving we will be living somewhere new, and Mason will be a professor! Ah!
Christmas time was fun and busy. The things that come to mind first are attending the ward Christmas party, getting to ride on the train at Monkey Park for free one day when we just happened to be there with a friend and they pulled it out to test it, going to the Christmas Carousel in Valley and having the time of our lives, going to Camelot to look at lights, it being a major bust, both of the kids crying in the backseat the whole time and Calliope falling asleep on the ride home (right before bedtime), Abby discovering a love for tree climbing, Calliope discovering a love for play-doh and beads, baking and decorating gingerbread cookies, gingersnaps, getting caroled to by the Brady family (makes me cry every time), receiving Christmas cards, making secret santa presents for each other on the sly, opening said presents on Christmas Eve, having a wonderful, chill, peaceful Christmas morning, having weenie roasts in our backyard (we had two, including one on Christmas), and traveling to Winder for Dad's retirement party and the Annual Grandma Mingledorff Memorial Mingledorff Family Singalong. It was all so much fun.
And here, in no particular order, are a bunch of pictures.
The kids have entered their era of loving to play together
Matching jammies! Abby decided after one night of wearing them that she was not a fan. She said it felt like there were swords in the feet. I think it was the seam.
Good weather=picnics for lunch. Blockhead (the cat) ate Abbys' entire PBJ in about 4 seconds after she accidentally dropped it.
Shell gifted me a manicure when we were all in Winder. It was fabulous, and the arm/hand massage was arguably the best part of the whole thing.
We discovered that Calliope rocks it in overalls.
Carousel
Alabama's largest Christmas tree! New this year in Opelika. Apparently it's only 2 feet shorter than the one at the Rockefeller Center in NY.
Me and Abby went on a walk close to downtown together one morning, just the two of us. She brought her camera and took lots of pictures. It was so much fun!
Christmas Morning!
Literally the only photo I got of Dad's retirement festivities. This was a HUGE surprise party with all the adults in the family. He was shocked! And even more shocked when Mom gifted him an Alaskan cruise for 2 this summer!
Calliope started deciding that sometimes she needs to put herself in the corner, even though we tell her she doesn't need to go. I think it makes her feel grown up.
Fabulous jewels from Abby and Grandmama
Rosie made these hats just for Abby and Calliope, and even did it in their favorite colors!
Riding the train! Serendipitous.
Abby has started really liking listening to us read chapter books. This one was in spanish and had Mason dusting some cobwebs out of his brain so he could translate.
The only way I got her to agree to leave the ward Christmas party was taking this picture.
Play doh fun
Making hershey kiss cookies
Abby made a pillowcase out of this fabric for Calliope for her Christmas eve present. She also painted her a picture, made her some bracelets, and bought her some cute minnie mouse silverware with her own money.
Carousel
Date night
Calliope made Abby a coloring book full of coloring pages she picked out just for her. She decorated the folder with special stickers.
Abby loved making these presents for Calliope
Burger King with cousins in winder
Watering flowers in the rain
Christmas church outfits
Marveling at Auntie Amber's piano skills at the singalong.
