December 2023
December felt hectic this year. Our plans were constantly changing and everything felt uncertain right up until the moment it happened. We were hurriedly trying to finish clearing out our stuff to get down to the allowed amount that we could take with us to Sweden. Initially, we didn't know that the company would pay for movers to come and pack up all of our things, so we thought that's pretty much how I'd be spending every second of the day after my teaching position ended. We also thought we would have a packed up, bare bones house for Christmas so we talked about spending the holiday somewhere on our way out of the US. As I said things were constantly changing, and once we learned that we didn't need to pack ourselves, we realized we could decorate for Christmas, spend it somewhere and still have time to come back home, and that things could be normal-ish for longer than we realized. Thank goodness! I don't think Andrew or I really understood just how much work we still had to do even without needed to pack our belongings ourselves. We spent a ridiculous amount of time taking and positing pictures to facebook marketplace, messaging with potential buyers, and meeting up with them. It's so much work to sell things. At this point, we at least didn't need to do anything else with the house since it had already closed, so we had that off of our plates.
In between things related to moving and tying up loose ends, I also spent a lot of time at the kids' school. Turning over treasurer responsibilities, volunteering during Wonderful Wednesday, chaperoning a field trip, etc. We really miss the awesome friends and teachers at their school. I'm glad they all had the chance to go there for at least a little while.
Michael forever loves to build things
When you already have four kids, adding any more is an instant party
Andrew managed to sneak in a boys' weekend with his college roommates. I was a tiny bit jealous because these were our mutual friends during the time we were getting to know each other, dating, newly married, but I'm so glad he got to go and have this fun trip with them. They live all over the country, but more so in the west and decided to meet up in Vegas. The highlights I can remember were seeing Jim Gaffigan, eating some really good food, a Christmas display, and of course just getting to catch up on each others' lives.
Sometimes after piano lessons finished, since it was dark by then, we'd drive around to look at Christmas lights a little bit. The kids just had to get out and run through the tunnels of light.
On thing I loved about this school year was that Matthew, Michael, and Alex were all together for field trips. When I chaperoned, I got to experience it with all three of them. The last trip of the year was getting to see a slightly abridged version of the Black Diamond Ballet's Nutcracker. It was fantastic! Matthew had actually cried when I told him I signed him up for the field trip, but he loves classical music and I don't know what he was worried about. All three of them loved it. The fight scenes, the music, recognizing friends from Adaline's ballet days...what's not to love?
Family Flurry of Fun night at the school was another smashing success!
For the first year ever, I made a virtual holiday card to share with friends. I'm pretty impressed with myself for making any kind of effort.
For our ward Christmas party, the primary kids sang a couple songs, Andrew played a beautiful piece on the piano, and Andrew and I got roped into being "two turtle doves" and "seven swans a swimming". Andrew can make an epic turtle dove sound, and I made up for my lack of talent by having zero shame whatsoever and showing up in a full on swimsuit. I think we both made a splash.
Our giant Christmas tree was one of the things we sold when pairing down, partly because we didn't think wherever we would move would have the space for it. Well the jokes on us because we ended up moving somewhere much bigger than out last house with lots of great places for a big Christmas tree annnnnnd we were about 3 cubic meters under the volume allotted to us. Anyway, we thought we just weren't going to have a tree in our house this year, but a kind friend let us borrow an extra that she had, and the kids loved getting to decorate the tree and the house.
Adaline's last field trip at ACA - ice skating!
Saying goodbye to the many wonderful friends we've made over the last 9 years has been incredibly difficult. Adaline and Matthew started going to music class with Miss Amy when they were 4 and 6 years old. They did four years of lessons with her before they graduated for the highest level class she teaches. During that time, Michael began taking lessons, Alex and I did mommy & me style classes, and then eventually Alex started attending on his own as well. During spring semester, we were at her house after school 3 days a week for lessons. The kids spent so many hours learning from her and benefitting from her kind personality and musical talents. This was a really tough goodbye!
Back to the school again for end of semester plays. Matthew, Alex, and Michael all did such a great job. Matthew memorized many lines to play the tortoise in his play about the Chinese zodiac, and Michael and Alex were quick to learn their songs and actions. It was so fun to watch them.
Watching our kids be adorable little "kings of the boulevard"
Semi last-minute, we confirmed with Andrew's parents that we would be going to Utah for Christmas! I hadn't spent Christmas day somewhere besides our home in many years after it just became too logistically difficult and expensive. That said, our trip went great and it was nice to squeeze in extra time with family before moving so far away. AND we were finally able to sign the lease for our place in Sweden on the drive over. Hooray for having a place to live!
A highlight of the trip for me was reconnected with one of my college roommates. She reached out to ask about our move, and we realized we would be in the same state for one day! We met up for lunch which quickly turned into HOURS of catching up and feeding our souls. We did some winter clothes shopping for my kids and the kids bought each other presents in a toy store while we talked. You know those people that just get you and you connect with so comfortably? And you know how it seems to get harder and harder to make those kind of friends as you get older? Well it is balm for the soul to be able to spend so much time with one of these gems. Adaline snapped this candid photo while playing with my phone, and I'm so glad she did because I love remembering this beautiful human and our conversation.
While in Utah, we walked around and looked at the Salem Pond lights, went to the Hive, donated via the giving machines at the mall, went to an escape room, and helped put out and collect the luminaries for Gram and Grandpa's cul-de-sac. It was a lovely way to spend the holiday and a big thanks to Andrew's parents for hosting us!
Hanging out in their new matching jammies
We needed a few hints, but...solved it!
My kids still enjoy putting out treats for Santa and his reindeer. I don't think any of them ever really believed in Santa (and they certainly don't now) but they've always had fun playing along and having fun with that magical Christmas feeling.
My very favorite part of Christmas is watching my kids open the gifts that they gave each other. I usually watch the person who gave the gift rather than the one opening the gift because the look of pride an joy on their faces is unmatched. It makes me so happy to see my kids be generous and get genuine joy out of giving something to another person. The cherry on top is watching them squeeze each others' guts afterward, so enjoy a slew of photos of said squeezing.
The day after Christmas we had to head back home and face reality. It was time to take down the decorations, pack our suitcases, get rid of the final food and belongings that weren't coming with us, and make sure things were in order for when we would arrive on the other side. Oh plus, a stop in Dallas on our way out. We had such a nice break, but it was time to get back to work.
Ah shoot, I just realized there were no pictures from Andrew's birthday in here, but he definitely had a birthday. I think it was the same day as the Flurry of Fun night at the school and now I have no idea what we did to celebrate. Yikes! Andrew, we all love you. I think you're the coolest dad to these kiddos and an amazing partner to me. I'm glad to be experiencing life by your side. I'm sure your birthday was just so epic that I didn't even have a chance to take a picture. :D
Edit to add: Yes, Andrew's birthday was epic! We met up with the Schultzes at a Thai restaurant in Walnut Creek and it was delicious.
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