San Antonio is seriously the best place to live. There is so much to see and do, and the weather in the winter is FABULOUS. It feels like Spring/Fall for about six months, and I totally love it. Unfortunately, it also means that all of our allergies are in full swing about half the year, but I still love it. Collin, though, not so much.
For Christmas this year, we decided to embrace living in the South. We did ALL THE THINGS and just had the best time. The kids had three solid weeks off school again, so I was concerned about not going somewhere or having someone come visit us for at least part of the time, but except for some bickering and arguing, it really was so relaxing. Katelyn even thanked me before headed out to school on the first day back that we stayed home the whole time.
FRIDAY, 12/15
The kids had a half day at school. Ethan & Katelyn just had parties, so I checked them out afterwards, about 10:30 am. Collin & Brennan had exams, but they were finished about 12:30, and I picked them each up as well.
That evening Ryan & I hosted our annual Ugly Sweater White Elephant Christmas Party. Ryan brought home Costco pizza for our kids upstairs with a movie in the media room, and only adults were invited to the party. Everyone brings one or two white elephant gifts for the gift exchange, as well as a dish to share and wears an ugly sweater. At the end of the night, we've all been well-fed, we take home a silly gift, and two people (winner of the best gift & best sweater) get to take home an Amazon gift card.
The best gift was this pair of silly socks with Ryan's face on them. We had a great turn-out this year, and I hope we keep doing it. Too fun!
SATURDAY, 12/16
I always set aside on Saturday in December to celebrate Collin's birthday. Unfortunately, Ryan and I needed to complete a "Christmas Chore" in the morning. We bought a springfree trampoline off Facebook Marketplace, and we had to go and take it apart. Then we hid it under a tarp in the garage. It went more smoothly than we each expected, so we were still home in time for lunch and a movie.
This year he wanted to go out to eat and see a movie as a family, like last year. We had a hard time choosing a movie, but he automatically knew he wanted Torchy's for his meal. After tacos and queso, we saw the new Wonka movie in IMAX, and it was so GOOD. I went in with zero expectations, and I really enjoyed it. I didn't realize it would be a musical, and I can't wait to stream it here at home to see it again. That night we watched the original Gene Wilder Charlie and the Chocolate Factory here at home with leftover pizza for dinner, and that was so fun too.
SUNDAY, 12/17
The boys needed fresh haircuts, so Ryan got them all cleaned up before noon church. Santa also came through the neighborhood on the back of the fire truck. Katelyn was the only one who would go out, and sometimes I am sad my kids are growing up and don't want to do cute things anymore.
MONDAY, 12/18
Collin and Brennan are both in braces, but I was able to sync their appointments are the orthodontist. I dropped them off, went to the curbside grocery pickup, and then went back to get them. It is so nice to have older kids sometimes!
That afternoon/evening, we headed to Sea World. Ryan met us there from work, and he took Ethan & Brennan to ride rollercoasters.
Collin, Katelyn, and I did the kiddie coaster, carousel, and playground. Collin was in a BAD MOOD (allergies and sore teeth), so it was a very rough time. We saw our favorite shows (dolphins, belugas, and orcas), as well as their nativity, which is nothing like Six Flags (silly and not-at-all reverent).
TUESDAY, 12/19
Collin had his piano lesson this morning. We have started a new tradition where if his lesson is during the day (no school), then we stop at Mary's Tacos afterwards. It is so fun... and delicious too!
In the afternoon, we headed to Six Flags. Collin was in a much better mood, and even apologized for his crankiness the day before. We rode the carousel, Christmas train, kiddie coaster, and ferris wheel. We also saw the Christmas Carol play, their nativity (very spiritual and so well done), and walked among all the Christmas lights.
WEDNESDAY, 12/20
In the morning, I went on a Relief Society visit to our Bishop's wife, who is undergoing chemo and then radiation for breast cancer. It was sobering, since she is my age and it is the holidays.
That afternoon, we headed to Umiya, an all-you-can-eat sushi and Japanese restaurant with Collin and Katelyn. Ryan met us there. We were all dressed up in our Sunday Christmas clothes, and it was so fun. Katelyn tried so many things, and Collin ate and ate to his heart's content.
Afterwards, we left my car in the parking lot and headed downtown to see Broadway's Wicked. Sooo, sooo, sooo good! Ryan and I saw it in Peoria when Brennan was a baby, but it was so fun to see again, and it made it even better to share it with Collin and Katelyn. Afterwards, we walked along the Riverwalk to see the Christmas lights and picked out some fun donuts at VooDoo.
THURSDAY, 12/21
It was Collin's birthday, but I'll leave that to its own post.
I also had yet another eye doctor follow-up. They doing lots of screenings on me for glaucoma because my optic nerve looks suspicious. I passed with flying colors, and I should just need annual routine screenings now.
Brennan also had his Friend Secret Santa day. His friend's mom picked him and his 5 friends up, they exchanged names in the car, and they went to shop at the mall. Afterwards, they went back to his house, where they wrapped the presents, had pizza, and played Minute-to-Win-It games. Then they opened their presents. He had a great time, as usual.
FRIDAY, 12/22
Ryan had the day off to compensate for Christmas Eve being on Sunday, so we did our Christmas Eve tradition - trampoline park! We tried Altitude instead of Urban Air this year, and the kids were all some glad we did. They had an amazing climbing wall and ropes obstacle course, as well as all the trampolines. Afterwards, we stopped at Snow Heaven for desserts.
In the evening, we did our usual Costco pizza and movie upstairs.
SATURDAY, 12/23
In the morning, Ryan took Collin and Brennan to do temple baptisms in the morning. Afterwards, they enjoyed Kneaders' french toast.
In the evening, the Noldens came over for our annual Christmas Around the World. Whitney taught us about Sweden, where her grandparents immigrated from. She made homemade swedish cookies, and bought some fun stuff from IKEA as well. We love our Christmas Around the World FHE!
SUNDAY, 12/24
Sunday was Christmas Eve. Ryan made cinnamon and orange rolls before Church.
We went to sacrament meeting in the morning, but the second hour was canceled. Ryan and Collin sang with the ward choir.
That evening, we had appetizers and listening to The Tape, which is now safely saved digitally in Ryan's google drive. Its life from tape to CD to MP3 has been long and riddled with mishaps.
Right before bed, we implemented what I hope will be a new tradition. At Christmas Around the World, we learned that in Sweden each gift has a little poem attached to it that gives clues to what's inside. So, we had the kids right a little poem to place on their gift to each other. I thought they did great! Though, I will admit, ChatGPT did assist some of us.
MONDAY, 12/25
Merry Christmas! We kept this small this year. The kids can never think of anything they want, and I can never think of anything to get them!
Collin got a piano book of Chopin music, who he idolizes and can't wait to meet in heaven. He also got a renewal on his Note Flight Premium Subscription. Brennan got an amiibo for the Nintendo Switch, ear pods, and a runner's phone pouch. Ethan got an amiibo for the Nintendo Switch. Katelyn got LED lights and clips for her bedroom.
My brother Rob got them all headlamps, which have been a hit. I also got them all new water bottles and added their cute initials.
Then, all the kids got a huge Lego set, the new trampoline (whose ladder I wrapped, but left the rest in the garage), a soccer goal net for repurposing the ninja gym, and a soccer target bullseye. They also learned - by unwrapping smores ingredients - that we were going to use Nana's Christmas money to put in a firepit in the backyard.
The rest of the sunny, 70 degree day was spent trying to assemble the new trampoline (we needed to order even more new springs, which didn't arrive until later in the week). I also mowed the lawn to prep for the new-to-us trampoline, and we got the soccer goal and target all attached to the ninja gym.
TUESDAY, 12/26
Ryan took today off from work, and we took his car in for its oil change. Then we headed to Mary's for tacos, and we stopped at a few stores to shop for rock and gravel for the fire pit. We got home in time for me to take Collin to piano.
WEDNESDAY, 12/27
Today was our 20th anniversary, but we barely acknowledged it. It's always so busy at Christmas, which is why we always celebrate at a different time of the year.
In the morning, I took Collin to the DMV for his driver's permit. I had made the appointment last July, so when I saw the line wrapped around the building, I was pretty disheartened. But, when they opened, they took all the people with appointments in, and we ended up being done in about 30 minutes.
Collin drove around our old Church building parking lot to get a feel for the brake and gas pedals, and then we picked up our... you guessed it!... Mary's tacos.
When we got home, Katelyn got picked up to go play at her friend Juliet's house, and she was basically gone the rest of the day. Chick-fila, Monopoly, a new Squishmallow - she was in heaven!
That evening, Ryan and I went to Torchy's for tacos and queso before heading to the temple to do sealings.
THURSDAY, 12/28
Katelyn has been wanting to go to the zoo and get a stuffed animal for a full year, and today was finally the day. Her friend Skylar, who has since moved away, had two free passes, so Katelyn and I went without any boys. We enjoyed seeing the Christmas lights and buying her hippo named Timothy. We got chicken strips, a burger, and fries in the eatery, and she played on some bounce houses. Compared to Six Flags and Sea World, it was very disappointing. And compared to pretty much any zoo, it was abysmal, but it was free, and we enjoyed the time together.
FRIDAY, 12/29
Friday morning we headed out to some friends of ours' new house and collected rocks. They wanted them off their property, and we wanted them to build the wall around our new firepit. It was hard work, and I took them to McDonald's for breakfast afterwards.
Our last errand of the day was stopping at Lowe's to buy gardening gloves. Any guesses what our next day help in store?
That evening, Ethan, Katelyn, and I headed back to Sea World with the Leflers. Our season passes came with free passes, so we shared them. Ethan rode the coasters with their older girls and parents, and Katelyn and I took the two little girls on the kiddie coaster, carousel, and playground. We also saw the belugas, dolphins, and orcas. It is so fun to see all the shows through fresh, young eyes!
When we got home that night, we wanted Ohio State lose to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl. That was a pathetic game, for sure.
SATURDAY, 12/30
The next morning we had 7 cubic yards (about 14,000 lbs) of gravel base delivered by dumptruck to our driveway. We had two wheelbarrows and four long-handled shovels. We worked for two hours, took an hour lunch, and then two more hours. It was BRUTAL labor, but we did it! Go, Team Williams, Go!
That night we were able to have our first bonfire in our new firepit, where we roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. Yay!
Part way through, Collin hurried and showered, and I dropped him off at the church for the New Year's Eve Dance. He didn't have the world's best time, but I am still so proud of him for showing up and doing social things, even though they aren't his favorite.
SUNDAY, 12/31
Church was the full two hours on New Year's Eve, but it was also a 5th Sunday. I was in charge of the combined RS/EQ meeting and we did our own "Leon Springs Music and The Spoken Word." I prearranged for 7 people to select their favorite hymn and to tell us why. We heard powerful faith-building testimony and then sang each hymn. Everyone was so vulnerable, and I loved it! Many are asking for us to do it again, so I hope we can make it an annual activity.
That night, we did our usual chocolate fondue dinner, followed by fireworks down by the playground ditch. We invited the Leflers, who brought their own fireworks, and we had a wonderful show. Good times with family and great friends.
MONDAY, 1/1
We finally took down our Christmas decorations on New Year's Day while we watched the Rose Bowl Parade. That afternoon we watched Michigan win the Rose Bowl Game against Alabama, solidifying their spot in the National Championship.
Ryan and I also went and picked up firewood to add to our backyard remodel. We also stopped by Lowe's and grabbed chairs and end tables to finish the fire pit area.
TUESDAY, 1/2
At Six Flags, Ethan accidentally snapped his glasses in half, so he had to wear an old pair until our new vision benefits kicked in. Luckily, it was only about a week to wait. Today was his eye appointment. We also picked out his new frames. Hopefully, they'll come here the end of this week so he can see the Smartboard at school again soon.
Collin also had piano, which if you have read this far, now includes a run to Mary's Tacos and driving lessons in the old Church parking lot.
That night we headed to UTSA for a men's basketball game. It was super fun because they kept the score within a few points the whole time, and the lead kept bouncing back and forth. They did lose in the end, but we had a great time.
WEDNESDAY, 1/3
Today was an errand day, but Katelyn came as my buddy, mostly because I told her I'd let her use my Old Navy gift card. We started at my brow wax, then Lowes, and Target. Last was Old Navy for a cute dress for her. Brennan also had an activity at the church at night, where they taught the new deacons how to pass the sacrament, and he ate donuts (3 of them!).
THURSDAY, 1/4
At the end of the UTSA basketball game, they gave us each a free burger coupon, so we met Ryan for lunch at Whataburger. It's always comical to get six different orders (one coupon per order), but the kids order for themselves now, and I have no shame,
I also hosted our neighborhood book club that evening, The Woman They Could Not Silence, which is a frustrating but true story of a strong-willed, smart woman in Illinois around the time of the Civil War.
FRIDAY, 1/5
Friday brought beautiful weather, and I finally finished mowing the front and backyard. In the evening, Ryan and I went to our friends the Hoffmanns' house for take-out sushi, games, and pjs with the Leflers. We played Sushi-Go, of course, as well as Code Names and this one where you write challenges with magnet words. These are our brainy friends, and they were brainy games, haha.
SATURDAY, 1/6
As the LONG break came to a wrap, Collin had a full-day with his Robotics team. The official challenge was released in the morning, and the day is called Cereal Saturday, though they did have pizza for lunch. His best friend Dylon - who moved to Abilene last summer - came down for the day, and then came back to our house in the evening. We invited over the Seminary class, and they did a bonfire together in the evening.
Meanwhile, Ryan cleaned the garage and power washed the back patio. It was a busy, full day.
SUNDAY, 1/7
Sunday wrapped the Break, with the start of 2024 and having church at 1:30. I literally don't think I've had church this late since I was a kid and our chapel was closed for remodeling and we had to go to church in Westerville and we drove home in the dark. It's going to be a LONG, hard year of Sundays.
In the morning, we restarted reading the Book of Mormon as a family, which he just finished in December. We are looking forward to having the Spirit in our home more fully.
After Church, Brennan was asked to serve as the new Deacon's quorum president, Collin was interviewed to become a new priest, and Collin was called as the second assistant to the Bishop in the Priest's quorum. So many good things to keep us all busy this year.
Sometime last year my Morello siblings instituted a monthly video call, and we hold those each 1st Sunday evening. They are quickly becoming one of my very favorite things. Sean's wife Jennifer asked us each to share what brings us joy, and it was such a good moment for me to reflect. Another post!
MONDAY, 1/8
And then Monday brough 5:15 alarms and dark bus stop waits. The return to school!
Merry Christmas! Happy 2024!
