2024 Year in Review

Our 2024 video year in review is done and has been put together! We do this and make our kids watch all the videos annually.

The video from my husband's phone:

 And the video from my phone:

This year was full of so much good and also a lot of hard. We had some major medical stuff happen with our youngest getting really sick (possibly meningitis and then taking most of the year to make a full recovery) and I also had my appendix removed. Praying we are all in good health for 2025. 

Our December 2024

 The end of the year is always so quick. December seems to be our busiest month of our lives. Before we know it, we blink and it is the slow of January. But, before I move forward with life. Let's look quick on the pictures of December I had:

                                                 

First and foremost, Merry Christmas from my family to yours! We had the best year and having my family still in one home and gathered around the tree, while also simultaneously all doing life together is the total best. I love every second of it. Even the hard. 

We got out and went bowling! Seems like we only make it a few times a year and December is a time we are sure to shove it in before the new year:

Payton is in quiz bowl this year so I got to watch a few meets:

The kids are learning lots and growing all the time. They are so brave to take on this challenges.

The kids got an animal balloon making kit and I was impressed with how quickly they learned all the skills needed to make the items they get at the fair each year:

                                                         

Having a little one around means bathtime is never boring! We keep Avery entertained:

Or does she keep us entertained? My guess is as good as yours.

I love a good toddler side profile and this picture just does not disappoint. Her second Christmas I might add, gosh, does it get any better than that?

I also loved it so much, it's in black and white, too:

I swoon. Give me all the heart eye emojis.

She also loves posing for pictures now and demanded her brothers sit down for a quick tree session:

Grandma came to visit and we soaked up all the time we could get with her:

The kids had their school concert together. They looked great and sang great! Payton also played the drums with band. Always means a late night with a mad dash back home to get everyone to bed. 

The new coffee shop is open and we missed it so much! It was closed for months for renovations and we barely survived. We love our dates here, albeit rare, but we live for them!

Can you go December with kids and not see Santa? Apparently, we can not.

We also got out to see Christmas lights, not as much as we wanted, but we did do it! We also made it to the lights display that we walk through annually. 

We started playing pickleball this month, courtesy of my Christmas gift to my husband. We have become quick fans of the game:

We made easy gifts of sourdough and a sucker for our teachers and sent them off to school before break started:

Over break, Payton and I snuck off to a free showing of the Grinch. We even sat in VIP seating, which I have never done before. It was fantastic!

Avery found a cloth mask from covid circa 2020. She will never know this season of life but Jayden wore this mask all the time. She quite fancied it:

I was surprised with gifts and treats from neighbors and friends this holiday season and it always leads me to pause. There are some really fantastic people out there and it means so much when you are surprised with a touch of kindness from another.

We made it to the annual parade of lights show, a parade at night with all exhibits decked out in Christmas lights. Monte's parents made it to see the parade as well. 

And just a random pause at basic, every day life. 

The kids reading together, side by side:

Avery out in the cold, she loves the outside and insists on going constantly:

And, lets not let this month pass without saying it. Sometimes, families just get knocked down in December. And we did. Our kids had a quick stomach bug. I was thankful it wasn't anything more than that. 

As we rotated through kids being sick, it was the first year ever I did not take all my kids to the annual gingerbread decorating event our YMCA hosts. Only 2 kids made it:

I also hosted a quick girls night with a few moms, a reminder that maybe I should make more time for myself. Oh well, once a year or so seems to work for now:

Monte made a new variation to the chocolate chip cookie to work in the holiday. These were then taken by Jayden as treats for his birthday. See more about that day here.

I continue making sourdough bread regularly and apparently keep documenting it:

I got an art project from the library and complete it:

We volunteered our time and rang the bell for the Salvation Army, something my kids look forward to each year. We got lucky and the day wasn't as cold as it could have been nor was there snow. 

The kids got a craft from the library as well and completed it, complete as a present to give, inside includes candies:

Time with Avery is the best and I have so much fun with her. Here we are exercising:

She's about to fall asleep:

She got outside to play:

She did fall asleep:

She brings so much joy to our family and we are so thankful for her.

I completed a few bible studies this year and wrapped up this one with my bible study group in December: 

I also challenged myself to read more books and I did it! I read 100 books in 2024 and completed the log:

And my last and final picture on the roll was from Christmas morning. Golly, I feel so blessed to see this photo of these 4. 

We are also so glad Jesus was sent to Earth. Happy Birthday, Jesus. 

Merry Christmas and well wishes for 2025.