2024 :: week 51

December 15

Sunday evening we hosted our first ever Finnish Independence Day party. We invited the Derus, Rowes and Sheldons because Landon, Jeff and Ken also served in Finland. Ken and Jeff served in the early 90s, Anthony served from 00-02, and Landon served from 06-08. Each family brought Finnish treats to share and we enjoyed sampling them. The star of the show was the pulla Josh Turner (Jeff's stepson) made. The Derus brought rahka, the Sheldons brought cookies, and we made mustikkapiirakka (blueberry pie).

December 16

Elliott took a tumble at the park Monday and really banged up his face. While he was playing football with friends on the tennis court he was running a route and the wind caused the net to billow a bit and it caught his foot and he face planted. He has a bit of a goose egg on his eye and cut his lip pretty badly. I took some pictures and sent them to Melissa B and asked her to send them along to Alex (a pediatrician who works at the same practice as our pediatrician). He showed them to Dr. Jen and they didn’t recommend stitches (apparently they only do stitches on the mouth if the cut crosses the lip line and his is mostly inside the mouth). We watched him that evening to make sure he didn't have a concussion--he didn't-- and have been giving him ibuprofen for the pain. 

December 17

Tuesday we celebrated 15 years of Will! Will is the perfect first born. He works hard, is a good example to his younger siblings, and is fun to be around. He's a good sport about riding the bus to school, even though it gets him to school 45 minutes early. The Royals are his favorite, and his big birthday gifts this year were tickets to the playoff game against the Yankees (from Papa & Nana) and tickets to Opening Day in Spring of 2025 (from Memaw & Pepaw). Will started high school and seminary this year and is excelling at both. He started mowing lawns this spring and averaged 2-3 lawns a week throughout the summer, and has transitioned to raking this fall. A perfect day for Will is walking to Chick-fil-A with Jude & Adrian, playing some pickleball, then watching a game on TV. 

December 18

We got our annual Santa picture at Bass Pro on Wednesday. We met up with the Allreds, which made the time pass faster. It continues to be unseasonably warm, as is evidenced by the shorts both Elliott and Miles are wearing shorts. 

December 19

The carpool crew met up for breakfast at Chick-fil-A during the late start time to celebrate the end of the first semester of middle school. Nothing says a great first semester like a tray of chicken minis. 

December 20

Friday evening was our ward Christmas Party. Stephanie T was in charge and it was quite the production> We feasted on some of the best food I've ever had at a ward party. Everyone brought a side or dessert, and the ward provided Costa Vida as the main course with Chick-fil-A nuggets for the kids. The primary children sang, and the youth did a shadow nativity. Lauren was one of the angels and Will was a shepherd. 

December 21

Saturday I ran a few errands to prepare for Christmas. That night we met up with neighborhood friends and enjoyed the lights at Sar Ko park. It was chilly, but not too cold. The kids had fun hanging out with their friends. After we looked at the lights we got dessert at Culvers.