FIFTY

V went to see some cousins in a Nativity performance

2025 week fifty

Theo decorating a den leader in scouts. 

On Saturday while Theo was at a birthday party and V was at a Nativity activity, Matt and I went to try a new little restaurant in Old Town Lewisville. It's called Ethel Janes. I know the owners through school. It was such an inviting little spot with solidly good food. We were so satisfied, that it was hours and hours before we felt hungry again. If you're in the area, you should definitely pop in. 

A slime bubble gone about as wrong as it could have gone. 

The kids built a fort spanning Theo's entire bedroom and then they had a sleepover in the fort. 

Theo is tucked under the bed way back there.

This weekend was Saint Lucia day. V brought us cinnamon buns and coffee in bed. 

Then as usual, both kids joined us and got up to nonsense. Theo got a car stuck in V's hair. 

Very very cold mass in the courtyard on Sunday morning. The kids were so well-behaved. I guess I only ever needed to freeze them into submission. 

It's that time of year again: White Elephant parties. Matt made these stick bug bell jars looking in the fridge for a snack. 

I went with a classic: take a thrift store painting and add a little bit more character. Before. 

After. The recipients were really pleased with our offerings this year. 

Last weekend Matt ran his own marathon through the area visiting every home of our local family members. He wanted to run another marathon before he turns 40 early next year. 

FORTY-NINE

 

Some unposted photos from last week's Nutcracker performance. Teachers and their students.

2025 week forty-nine

V and her friends had a birthday potluck for Dylan. Happy Birthday Dylan! 

Thursday night was the annual Christmas Pageant. V got to sit up on the risers this year. 

Theo's grade sang O Come Emmanuel -one of my favorites. Of course they sang the first verse in latin because -well, Classical School. 

St. Nicholas always visits the fourth graders with oranges and chocolate coins. 

And Sinterklaas visited my kids with oranges and coins. Theo got a vintage Canadian coin when it was still a province of England. V got $10 (to pay off her debts to everyone in the family). 

An unposted photo of Theo and friends at Medieval Times.

Quotes

V- "One second, I'm eating a Starburst."
T- "Yeah, a bleacher starburst. I found it under the bleachers!"

FORTY-EIGHT

 

After a cancelled flight, several delays, and a few terminal changes, we were on our way to California for Thanksgiving. Theo got new shoes and a sweater and looked just like Matthew's twin.

2025 week forty-eight

We didn't get in until nearly 4 am Texas time, but as soon as I could, I was up and at the donut shop to buy my very favorite donuts. Texas does not do cake donuts very well. I have been dying for a cake donut with maple frosting and peanuts. I got a whole box so I could be satiated for a few years. 

Chilly walk around the neighborhood lake. 

V- 'Mama, come look! I can climb to the top of the tree!" 

They were so happy but I was quite terrified. 

Theo was beside himself to find a kumquat tree. We ate so many kumquats. 

Oma has the softest blankets. Theo said he felt like a little polar bear. 

I found a really great dress at a local thrift store. I was so excited to wear it on Thanksgiving.

                      

                    

One of the best parts of the trip was seeing my brother and his wife and their new baby. The sweet little thing is only 6 weeks old. V wanted to hold her as much as possible. We all miss that little raisin. 

It was really nice to be able to visit with my family in California for Thanksgiving. I was encouraged to do all the cooking so I tried to pull out all the stops and make the dinner as grand as I could. 

We also got to get some sushi with my dad one of the nights.

Matt found an absolutely massive pinecone on his run in California. 

On Saturday we kicked off our Christmas season with an annual viewing of the local ballet production of the Nutcracker! Several people we know have kids in the production which makes it all the more fun. 

FORTY-SEVEN

 

A silly selfie with Papa

2025 week forty-seven

Beethoven bust in the blackberries

The garage update is almost complete.

Field trip to Medieval Times

Theo tried to get sick the day before, luckily he made the 24 hour cutoff window so he could attend. 

V looking grown up trying on grown up looking dresses for the Christmas Pageant. 

Quotes:

V- "Those kids only have a lame electricity-powered scooter. We have a dog powered scooter!" The kids were having Kip pull them on their scooters up and down the street. 

T- "You know how Stas is a possum with a monocle and a top hat?"

V-"...Uh...No...?"

T- "Ok, well anyway..."rambles on incoherently for another five straight minutes.

T, dramatically -"I'm going to write a book called 'I Survived 10am Mass.'" For the uninitiated, the I Survived series is a book series about kids surviving things like: the Holocaust, The San Francisco Fire, The Titanic sinking, etc. I thought you might need some perspective on his level of drama.

FORTY-SIX

It was cold for about one day. I got to wear my new coat that I found at the thrift store. It was good quality wool but absolutely massive. Luckily I had watched a video last summer about tailoring jackets. I took each shoulder in about 2 inches and the three back seams a further inch or so. It's still over sized but it looks intentional and not like I stole a very tall mans coat. 

2025 week forty-six

I found a number of photos like this on my phone. I'm so pleased when I find evidence of their friendships. 

We went camping (or rather tried to) this weekend. V was so intrigued by the tiny little spiders she just had to take photos of them. We ended up not sleeping there because after a day of hiking with his den, Theo ended up with a migraine and threw up right after dinner. So we packed up the tent in the dark and headed home. 

Breakfast with Zorro. 

Early in the summer I planted a sweet potato that started to sprout in my cupboard. Once the leaves had wilted I dug it all up and got about 6 pounds of sweet potatoes. It was very exciting. 

A cat in a satchel. 

Matt and the kids built a magical dragon gingerbread house. 

And Theo loves to ruin every photo. 

 

Quotes:

I got a book from the library called "Good Manners, for Nice People, Who Sometimes Say F*ck, Theo came in my room and picked it up.

T- "Why does it have a bad word on it."

L- "It's just the title of the book."

T- "Have you ever said the F word?"

L- "Yes."

T- "When?"

L- "A few times."

T- "Did you just come into your room and whisper it into your pillow?"

L -"Uhm. Have you ever done that?"

T- "NEVER! ...But what could make you made enough to even say it? Was it Papa? Was it me?"

L- "Never." (no comment) 

T- "Here comes... Vrrrrrrooooooon Ciiiiiiiiiiina! Bah BAH na-bam!" 

FORTY-FIVE

We had an impromptu family date this week.  

2025 week forty-five

When we want really good Italian-style pizza (and fried artichokes) we like to go to Cane Rosso in downtown Carrollton. 

V was being weird with a stick on fingernail she found. It was her cousins and was accidentally left in our house in her sweater pocket. (ALSO, V got her hair cut really short.)

She and Theo kept finding them and sending sassy photos to taunt their cousin. 

Saturday was a day of chores and errands for me, but the weather was glorious so, despite their complaints, I forced them to stay outside for hours. They made mud pies.

Quotes:

T- "What is a tankard."

Me- "It's a type of cup. This is a horn tankard. "points to a cow horn tankard on our shelf. 

T- "This is a gas tankard." points to his rear. 

V- "Ew Theo don't fart!"

Me- "Theo, hold it in! What would you do if you were sitting by a girl you liked?"

T- "I'd fart. She'd be so impressed by my defense mechanism."

Me- "Ok, well what would you do if Mr. Misko (the principal) was standing behind you?"

T- "I'd fart. He'd be so impressed by my defenses that he would promote me to valor force officer to protect the school." 

V's friend W- "Do I have a little mustache?"

V- "Yes."

W- "I know someone else who has a little mustache."

V- "Who?"

W- "My mom."

Later after telling me this story. 

Me- "Pray for him."

V- "He'll need it."

Saying her prayers,

V- "Please bless W to endure the wrath of his mother."

T- "So is this buffalo meat?" after we ordered buffalo mac and cheese

Me- "No." 

T- "Dang it." 

T- "I feel kind of sick."

Matt- "Eat this cracker."

T- "Ugh. What is the expiration date? It tastes like old sheets and leaves. Anyway, that is NOT how a cracker is supposed to taste."

T-"I can gurgle without water." proceeds to gurgle scream at the table.

V- "That's Theo's mating call."