Christmas 2024

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I am sitting in our little den typing this post with the window open and signs of spring all around.

IT IS LOVELY!

Just for a handful of minutes, though, I am going to think and write about our 2024 Christmas celebration!

The anticipation of the holidays was great in my mind around that time – with excitement and just a bit of overwhelm as I tried to get ready for all the things while our days were already so very full.

Thankfully, the Lord met me each morning (as He always does during my quiet time!) and kept my focus where my focus was meant to be!

Scottie and Addie offered to host Christmas Eve, and it was a GREAT idea and SO MUCH FUN!

First things first on Christmas Eve, though, as we all headed to church to attend the candlelight service.

I was just a bit emotional when I walked in and saw so many in our family leading worship that night – it filled my heart so full!


We had split up the food duties for Christmas Eve, but stuck with our theme of hor d’oeuvres.

As always, there was so much delicious food!!

It was fun to have so many yummy options to chose from!


After filling all the tummies, the siblings open their gifts from the sibling gift exchange.

I love that they have continued this tradition and added the spouses – they had a great time with it!!

I wish I had photos!

The next morning started with our trio here at home as they opened their gifts from Blake and I.

We had a brunch planned for later that morning when everyone would be joining us!

Eliza also got to play with her new Polaroid – Tate had Eliza’s name in the sibling gift exchange and had given her this!

The only photo I have of our trio opening their gifts is this one of Eliza holding a mug I had made for her.


Brunch started at 11:00 and the food spread was yummy again!!

I do not remember when we started our Christmas morning brunch tradition, but I hope it is here to stay!

What we usually do in the late afternoon, then, is re-run the snacks from Christmas Eve.

It works perfectly!


After brunch David, Kayla and their crew were the ones left with gifts to open.

We kind of opened gifts in shifts – which is just what happened with some needing to be other places – and it actually worked out very nicely!

It would have been way too much all at once, I think!

The whole crew had gone together to get a gift for Blake and I too!

It was SO sweet!


After all of the gifts were given, I “found” two gifts tucked behind the tree that I had “forgotten.”

Blake and I totally planned this, you all, so pay attention!!

Our two son-in-laws joke often about who is the favorite here, just to set this story up properly and all.

I handed these last two gifts to my sons-in-law at the same time.

David was delayed in opening his for just a minute behind Scottie – and Scottie was literally doing a dance after opening his – but then sees David has the same thing – WE DIED LAUGHING!!

When I asked to get a photo of them in their new shirts, they obliged.

Then David tells Scottie “Let’s make a peace sign.”

Please notice what David did with that – HILARIOUS!!!


The rest of the day Christmas Day was a lot of play for the children, good food, good coffee, and JUST BEING TOGETHER.

The guys also took the kiddos outside sledding at one point in the late afternoon.

My favorite kind of day!!!

We enjoyed every second SO much!!


Eliza posed for me the next morning when she wore her new sweatshirt – do you see a theme here with her gifts from us?

She loves animals and loves HER animals most of all!


What a wonderful walk down memory lane!

Birds chirping in my ears and all!

The holidays are always such an anticipated and treasured time.

We try to be very intentional with our calendar, time, and choices during the Christmas season as we hope to keep our focus on the most important things!

As our family continues to grow, this will always be my prayer!

Christmas 2024 – you were amazing and the memories are SWEET!!

Thank you Jesus for the BIGGEST GIFT EVER – your love for us and your sacrifice for us – which is OURS just by asking!!!

I am SO grateful, Lord, for all You have done and continue to do!

Next up is 2025!!!

The Month of December

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First of all, we ended the month of November with a visit from my niece!

She was able to visit us the weekend of Thanksgiving, and we had A LOT of fun!

We made and ate lots of good food, decorated our Christmas tree, went and saw a movie, and had a couple of Thanksgiving meals!


The Sunday that my niece had to head back to school, Blake took myself and our trio on a Costco run!

It was much needed, and it was fun to do together.

Jazzy even went along!

We stopped for dinner after our Costco stock up and then headed the two hours back home.


I had a second Costco run at the end of December with Kayla!

We were getting her stocked up before the baby was due!

I, of course, had plenty more that was needed that day as well.


The day after our first of the month Costco run, we had our Azure Standard grocery pick-up.

That certainly is one way to feel stocked back up and stocked up for the holidays ahead!

Our Azure pick-up is literally less than five minutes away and it is a BLESSING!!


Once you see all of the good things that came out of our cute little kitchen in December, you will know why I needed all of that grocery!

These guys can EAT.

Especially because they are all teenagers and young adults here these days.


If you know me, you know I love to feed people.

My Mom was this way!!

When we visit my Mom, who now has full-time care for dementia, she will say “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming! I would have went to the grocery store!”

It brings a little sob to my throat in thankfulness to know that I am like my Mom this way.

She taught me a lot!!

I made a few things ahead and froze them for when our newest grandbaby was due to arrive!

I also sometimes deliver a meal “kit” (instead of a meal) to my in-laws and my mother-in-law will just put it all in her crock pot to cook all day!


I am part of a small group of ladies from church – we call it a “huddle” – and this is the book we are going through!

We meet once a month, and it has been FANTASTIC.

I have prayers all over my journal for the last year asking God to show me how to find community.

Not only did He hear my prayers, but He answered them in the coolest ways.


School continued on for us until we took a break for the holidays!

We enjoy structured days, and we enjoy non-structured days too – but most of us do best with the structure!!

Including the gal typing this post!!


We finished our snowflake project too!

It starts to become more urgent when a bird hits our sliding glass door and gets injured, which is what happened this time.


There is just SO MUCH to enjoy in this life of ours!!

These small things are never lost on me!

I find it interesting that the Lord prompts me to notice and be grateful for such seemingly small things – because my brain is FULL, you guys!

But I do notice them.

And I do thank the Lord for them too, right on the spot.

Christmas lights.
Fun books.
Sunrise drives to town.
Cute puppies.
Fun games with my kiddos.


I think this next photo is hilarious.

I also think I should have put this photo before all of those bulk grocery shopping photos!!

The boot belongs to one of our giants.

We currently have two giants living here.

That is my foot next to his boot – my NORMAL size foot.

The boot on the other hand is a NOT normal size 14.

Send food.

Lane would say to send him a longer bed, poor guy!

Bunk beds are not made for giants!!


We used up the last of our garden onions in December!

We have PLANS, you all, to grow many more than last year this year, Lord willing!!

The seeds are already started – so I will keep you posted how that goes!!


One random Monday at the beginning of December, the Stipes invited us over for dinner!

Oh goodness, I loved saying it that way!

Addie is a GREAT cook, and we enjoyed our meal and the fun we had there!

I might really like snooping in all of her kitchen cabinets when I am there, but can’t you see why??

Wedding gifts are FUN to keep looking at!!


Speaking of the Stipes – they went ice skating with our trio one weekend!

They had a ton of fun!

I stayed home where it was warm and quiet – just saying!!


We found an amazing groomer for our Jazz, but it was not easy!!

There are not many available groomers in our area!

I drive to La Crosse to have Jazzy groomed every six weeks.

I enjoy it though!

And she never gets too long and crazy looking in between her cuts!!

Here is a before and after:


We had some snow this winter – but not much!!

This was a very good thing for my in-laws who are not used to much snow.

But not a very good thing for children who like to play in it and sled!

The snow always bring the red cardinals to our bird restaurant too – and we did not have them show up much this winter.


Our monthly Hymn Sing is extra special around Christmas time!

We enjoy this evening at our friend’s place SO much.

I enjoy helping with my grands while we are there too!


There are always projects in life, are there not?

Some are self-induced, some are not!

We are working on a huge painting project.

It is going sssllllloooowwwww – but that is OK – because it doesn’t really matter in the end!!

It is fun though.

Another fun project was sprucing up the laundry nook with some baskets for organization.

A before photo would sure help you appreciate this as much as I did!!

I also have deep cleaning projects every winter.

This school/office closet in the photo below gets very crazy before I realize it is time to clean it out!

We have a lot of people who live in this place and it takes intention to not let things get a way from us!


I also spent one whole afternoon on the project of wrapping Christmas gifts!

Guys – I am trying to streamline this – but goodness, I am not there yet!!

This year we gave each family member something to read, something to wear, and something to use/do.

It was easier to shop this way with the categories laid out and all.

But this is not streamlined quite yet!

Large families out there – tell me what you do!!!!


I have good helpers here with all these projects and daily jobs.

They are never allowed to leave.

Don’t tell them just yet though, ok?

I am hanging on tight because I already know what happens!!


And now for my signature.

THE SKY.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the sky.

The heavens declare the glory of God!!


December was full and wonderful and so fun to look back at!

Next up is Christmas!!

I just looked at the photos I downloaded and do I have a fun story for you all!

Until then….

Christmas Traditions!!

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Do you all enjoy holiday traditions?

Well, we do – especially the children do!

The first Saturday of December for many years now, we have volunteered at the Rotary of Lights in downtown La Crosse.

The Rotary of Lights is a yearly Christmas lights display that you can walk or drive through for enjoyment!

It is a very fun tradition that we all look forward to very much!

We collect monetary and food donations, direct traffic, and this year Blake organized the volunteers the night that we were there.

We bundle up because we stand outside for hours!

This year the weather was kind to us the evening that we were there – and our crew was in sweatshirts!

I personally was wearing many layers, ha, ha, and never got too warm!!


Another yearly tradition is going caroling with our church.

We split into groups and sing at several nursing homes and it is SO rewarding!!

We carol on a Sunday afternoon after we have had a fellowship meal at church first.

The Stipe/Moschel crew is in charge of set up, serving, and cleaning up meal days – and we enjoy that very much too!!

I can tell you that for sure because we just had a fellowship meal yesterday and I had such a great time!!


Of course sending out Christmas cards is a yearly tradition too!

I have missed some years, but this year I did not!

It was fun to plan our Christmas card for 2024 – well, because of TWO weddings that happened in 2024!!

Kayla took some photos for me in November – and specifically one of “those of us here at home” for our Christmas card.

She also took all new head shots of the children for this little ole blog of mine, which you can see on the side bar!


This year we had what I hope is our first annual Christmas get together with the gals on the planning committee for our church’s women’s ministry called Women to Women.

It was a yummy and fun evening together!!

We have an awesome team this year!!!


We also had our first annual get together at my in-laws home!

It involved a lot of children, some hot cocoa and muffins, and gifts!

I don’t know who had more fun – the children, myself, or my in-laws!!

We definitely have to do it again this year.


December was a FULL month – but full of many very anticipated and enjoyed events!

My brain is thinking all things spring currently, even though it is 27 degrees outside this morning.

I think I need to go and take my sandals off, huh??

I guess it is appropriate to be blogging about Christmas on a winter like day in APRIL, sigh.

Tate and I are itching to plant the garden!!

We are starting most of our seeds inside this year, starting today!

I guess I have so much more to tell you!

But, first, next up will be some more memories from December, as well as a recap of Christmas!

Until then….

A Recap of November

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EEEEK!!!
I am pretty sure I figured out how to load photos again to this little ole space on the world wide web!
For now, anyway, ha, ha!
And…then our computer crashed. Good grief!
We have a NEW computer now –

So LET’S GO and recap November!!!

School continued to roll along in November, and here are the only three photos I have of that fact!

We have had such a great year with school this year, even with everything else that has been going on!

I also have read some GREAT books aloud to the children!


Did you know that I do look back at our blog and enjoy reading it?

I really enjoy looking at the photos from the kitchen too!

It helps me remember things that I have made and should make again!

Good thing I take so many photos of food!!

I have been enjoying making our bread for quite awhile now, but I am still learning!

As can be seen by this loaf with a big hole across the top of it.

Well, we gave the top to the goats, and I used the short slices that were left to make french toast one morning!

It was still useable and delicious!


I really enjoy baking and it has been even more fun now that I take my in-laws meals and baked goods a couple times a week.

We go through a lot of yummy muffins and quick breads!!

We buy our flour in bulk and store it in food grade buckets downstairs.

It is SO handy to have a full pantry of great ingredients!!

Tate has enjoyed cooking more than baking in the past, but he is starting to bake more these days and enjoying that too!

Eliza is starting to enjoy the kitchen more on her own too!

But she is always willing to be my big helper anytime I ask!


Of course having all of those bulk ingredients is a great help in feeding so many people, but another great help is having a plan.

I still make meal plans and we stick to them about ninety percent of the time!

I even write down snack, breakfast and lunch ideas so that I do not have to think on my feet.

Making things from scratch is important to me – and much more cost effective – besides being more healthy!


Tate saw this recipe for shrimp scampi fettucine in a new cookbook we have and wanted to make it – so we did!

We have made it again since then as well!

It got rave reviews!!


I am still enjoying sourdough recipes and use my sourdough all the time!

It is very fun for me and a nice creative outlet.

Sourdough waffles are a favorite around here and I make them in bulk to store in the freezer so my family can just toast them for breakfast.


There are times when I either do not have a plan or the day is not allowing the plan to work out – so we wing it!!

Making a quick meal with no plan means that you first use up leftovers – and sometime you reinvent the leftovers – like we did here with these baked potatoes!

A quick meal with no plan most always includes eggs – because we have them in our backyard!


I am still bulk buying our groceries, which I LOVE.

I do end up somewhere each Friday, though, to buy produce for the week ahead.

Sometimes we also need a special ingredient that I grab too.

Sometimes you also find a great Christmas present at the grocery store – like these cute dog socks (photo below)!

When I was loading the van that day, one of the sparkling waters slipped out of the package and rolled underneath the van.

My van was blocked in on all sides, so I could not move it to a different parking spot to retrieve that bottle!!

But I could not leave it there, ha, ha!!

So I pulled out, jumped out of the van, got it, and jumped back in all while being looked at like I was nuts.

You would not have left it there either, would have you??


Other November happenings:

My oldest grandchild, Clyde, turned nine.
There was a BIG election.
We had dentist appointments.
We had orthodontist appointments.
We bought Jazzy a new crate that serves as an end table too.
Speaking of Jazzy – she is the sweetest cuddliest puppy ever!


At the beginning of November, my trio and I went shopping for Operation Christmas Child and filled shoeboxes to be donated.

This is a tradition for us that kicks off the holiday season!!

We had a great time that day and then that evening as we put our shoeboxes together.


Speaking of traditions, we covered our sliding glass doors with homemade snowflakes again this year, in an effort to keep the birds from running into the glass!

It is a group project that sits on the table for days and days until the windows are finally full enough!


Lane still works at the library, and we still enjoy books!

It’s a pretty perfect fit!!

I, of course, pick books that are such light fun topics, right???


It took us clear into November to finally harvest all of the garden!

We were a smidge busy!!!

But it was ok because the weather cooperated.

We pulled the rest of the carrots and leeks, and also cleaned up the leaves and landscape.

It was super great to be outside in the “warmer than usual” weather!


I pulled out the Christmas and winter decor right around then too, which meant I found some cute mugs in those totes!

I used a couple of them, but ended up back with the mug I use every day – it is just the easiest one to hold!!


My trio and I always find things to do when we are home, and enjoy being together very much!!

I have no idea how I will cope when all of these kiddos are grown and gone someday!

I tell them often that there are seven days in a week, so I will just spend every day of the week at each of their homes – a different home each day!!!


Eliza is continuing on with her piano lessons, but Tate decided not to anymore.

I usually hang out downstairs while Eliza has her daily 45 minute lesson on-line.

I may or may not lay on a couch and snooze during that time!!

But I promise I am listening.


Well, lookie here – it’s me!

Blake always tells me that the children are going to wish they had photos of me too – but I hardly ever take any!!


Here’s a pro tip from someone who runs errands every Friday morning – keep your coffee warm with your hat.

Life changing information, I know.

You are welcome!!


A few more random photos to include!!!

Random, unposed photos are the BEST ones to look back on, don’t you agree?

We received our Christmas cards in November, because somehow I was on top of that project!!

And then there is a photo of my favorite place ever.

The kitchen.

The third photo is of a little coffee spot in our town!

I went there early one Saturday morning in November with a friend and we chatted for hours!!!


We celebrated more birthdays in November.

My grandchildren will not obey me and quit growing like I told them to!


We had our puppy, Jazzy, spay the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

I think the third photo below will give you a good idea how she felt about that fact.

Poor Jazzy!!

Honestly though, she did SO GOOD with this, and really was only down and out the day it happened!


We celebrated Thanksgiving with our tradition of delivering meals Thanksgiving Day late morning for several hours.

We have done this for many years now and it is SUCH a great way to celebrate being thankful for all we have – by serving others!!

After we returned home early that afternoon, the family joined us for a yummy meal!!


Have you been around here long enough to know I love the sky?

Well, I DO!!

Life got away from me there for a while last year and the beginning of this year, and I had to remind myself to not forget to LOOK AT THE SKY.

I never, ever want to stop being in awe of what God has created for us!!!

It is just so so beautiful!


This post got long!!

Only four more months to catch up on – YIKES!!

Well, this kind of feels like a full circle moment.

I got the blog working again.

We got the computer working again!

I FOUND THE TIME to enjoy this hobby of mine!!

This season I am living in right now is the FULLEST one yet!!!

Full of the best kinds of things!!

But my doctor even reminded me that I have to make time to enjoy simple things that I miss.

I missed this little ole blog of ours!!

I am glad to be enjoying it again!!

Stay tuned for December, January, February and March recaps!!

Until then….

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