December

 I will not get over whelmed repeated 100 times a day as I run like a chicken with her head cut off, all of December. I started off shopping till I dropped and had bodies in my wake. Dad stayed with Grandma and Azalyn. Mom was able to accompany me for about  1/2 of the shopping, till she got sick. I try to be better every day. You know what you sound like to your kids because that is how they sound like to you. I was yelling at Denali to stop yelling, oxymoron I know. Just do better tomorrow.  Azalyn loves her daddy. She calls him her snuggly. He is her protector. However, when she is tired or not feeling great it is still mom.  The boys had about 3 weeks out of school. The main project was the toy room. It took a few hours and lasted till they went back to school. During break we tried to have fun as well. We biked to the dollar store. I took all the kids to a parking lot and let them each drive the bolt. The boys don't like the Honda because they have to use the brake and the gas, Azalyn does not care as long as it has a steering wheel.   We played tons of games. I had to bribe Colvin but he even played Over Cook with me. I even beat Denali at star realms a few times. 

The boys and I were able to go to a Baptism for a friend of ours. . I love showing the kids fun spiritual times.  We have also been trying to find the "things to do".  We found a you pick citrus fruit place. To be totally honest, McCarty found it but it did not open till the day after she left.  We got grapefruit, tangalones, Lemons and oranges. It only took us about 10 min to pick 20lbs.  Surprise City tries to do a lot of family things. They had Cookies with Santa. It was meet Santa, do crafts and eat cookies. That was right up Colvin's wheel house. We went to the Gathering church’s Christmas concert. It was like a Christmas rock concert. I loved it, it was just what my soul needed. At the end we all lit candles and sang Silent Night, I cried. You can feel the spirit anywhere. We talked to the kids after about how they are so close but just don't have it all. After the concert they had bounce houses and cotton candy. The boys think our church should take notes. HA HA!  Poor Greg was a trooper, he had a sinus infection but still came along. We have been watching lots of movies. We let the kids watch Top Gun, and Top Gun Maverick. I have to say I like the 2nd one better. Denali loved them. After the first one he declared that he was never going to lick anyone EVER and he was never going to let anyone lick him. GROSS!  I watched the best book to movie rendition , I know why the Crawdads Sing.  We told the kids that if they let mom and dad sleep in they could have free free time all morning. Colvin and Denali really wanted to beat their new game on the X-Box(PVZ). I have no clue what they did to keep their sister quiet but one morning Greg and I did not get up till 10!

Greg’s work did a Christmas party at the zoo. We got a day pass to the zoo and they provided lunch and extras. . The dinosaurs were open but no stickers, Colvin was bumped.  I wore shoes that were not quite broken in. I ended up holding my shoes for the last 30min.  One extra was petting the Sting Rays, Azalyn was NOT a fan. Colvin lasted about 5 min. Denali loved it and stayed the whole time. The other extra was the carousel. Azalyn’s favorite. 

This summer I was talking to a friend and told her that I might never need a sweater again. She said just wait until it does get cold. That is our running joke. One night Soccer was cancelled for Colvin because it was so cold. Azalyn was in the shower, I had to throw her in the car wet, then cranked the heater. Colvin did not mind the heater was on high. He said he was mostly a popsicle. 

Neighbor gifts: This year I got clear glass ornaments then painted my kids hands and put them on the ornaments. Then we tied a note to hot chocolate, the saying was, "With a warm heart and clean hands we wish you a merry Christmas."  My family did give them out with me, but it was not with a smile. Not their idea of fun.  Azalyn was also not a fan of getting her hand all painted. The boys endured it.  My Christmas Candy turned out perfect this year. Greg made one of the best batches of Almond Rocca ever. Azalyn has a little of Grandpa Proctor in her because she Loved the fudge. 

Time to use the last of our benefits.  Surgery one was Azalyn: She got her adenoids out and tubes put in her ears. She did great waking up till I got there. Then she freaked out. However, before we even got on the freeway she fell asleep again. They said it was a good thing we did it since she had a double ear infection and a sines infection. They actually gave her antibiotics why she was under. Greg had to do the morning routine with the boys. He is better than he lets on. Surgery 2 was Colvin did a sleep study. Note to self just sleep on the floor, it might be dirty but it has to be more comfortable then the fold out chair. Poor Colvin was hooked up to tons of wires. They found that he has medium to high sleep apnea. They are going to take out his tonsils and adenoids sometime next year.  

We have been trying to invite people over.  We invited 3 families, two came, and then one had to leave about 15min later. Her daughter had a seizure, Greg and the neighbor went to give her a blessing. They needed oil. I had it and knew where it was, thank you mom for being that example. There are so many stories during rodeo that they had mom run for her oil. 

For Christmas mom got us a day pass to Up Town Jungle. The kids love that place. They really like to climb the climbing wall. Even Azalyn as long as she does not look down. I like just running around following my kids. Greg is the photographer. The highlight for the kids, they had sponge bob popsicles. After we picked up Wendy's for the kids and Greg and I got to go on a date. I really do love just going out with him. We talked more. 

My cousin Julie dropped by, I miss her. Greg was able to go shooting with a friend.  Denali went to a friends from basketball camp. I had never met them but he did not want me to walk him to the door. It was really scary to watch him grow up as he walked the 5 steps to the door on his own. Azalyn got makeup for Christmas, we have ALL had an appointment with makeup artist Azalyn. She has the best big brothers. 

For New year’s we had friends over. We did a nerf war, I wanted to see if it will work for the boys birthday. It was really fun but there is a lot of area to run in. Then we just had turkey and finger food. We played games and kids watched movies. Azalyn fell asleep about 11. The TV and our phones were not synced so the countdown was a little melodramatic.  At 12 Colvin wanted to do a Polar jump. I jumped in with one of our friends kids.  Even colder than Christmas. 

I hope 2023 brings just as much joy, love and adventure.