2022 :: week 51

December 18

Throughout the years Memaw and Pepaw have hosted a Christmas sing-a-long in the weeks before Christmas. After taking last year off for understandable reasons, it was back this year! 

December 19

We heard the family that runs Paulie's Penguin Playground was going to retire after the 2022 Christmas season so we wanted to visit it one last time. We coordinated our Bass Pro Santa visit with the Allreds and Wilsons and then headed over. Everything is more fun with cousins.

December 20

Will went caroling with the youth Tuesday night. Brother Benson brought his guitar to accompany the kids while they sang. 

December 21

Wednesday we did our John Family "Christmas in the City" excursion. We walked through the lights and looked at the trains at Union Station, then took the train to City Market where we ate delicious Minksy's Pizza for dinner. When we got back to Overland Park we stopped at my parents to say hello to the Staritas who just arrived from Boston.

December 22

Thursday morning I took Will in for his 13 year well-child check-up. He is 4'9" and weighs 77 pounds. Still small, but getting bigger! That evening we helped Melanie celebrate her 33rd birthday.  We ate yummy tuxedo cake from Costco--the first of many we would consume over the break. That evening the brothers-in-law used the sauna at our house.

December 23

Leah Starita is a talented party planner. She wanted to do have a "Cousin Christmas Party" while they were in town and Friday night was the designated night. I took our three older kids, and Tyler was there too, as well as the Starita family. It was the first time Memaw came to the basement since her stroke, but she couldn't miss out on the epic Christmas music dance party. There were great dance moves, as well as a conga line. After dancing we drank hot chocolate and then popped pop corn and watched The Santa Clause. Our kids had a great time!

December 24

I ran a few last minute errands in the morning, then made zupa toscana for dinner. We had our annual soup dinner for Christmas Eve where each family brings a different soup to share. Then we acted out the nativity. Some participants were more enthusiastic than others. After the devotional we opened a present each, then sang Christmas carols. When we got home we took a few pictures of the kids and did our bedtime routines. Tony and I watched It's A Wonderful Life together, which always makes me cry and feel extra grateful for my family. We quickly set out gifts and then headed to bed. We told the kids not to come down before 7am, and they did honor that request, though they were not quiet while they were waiting.