Written by: Callie, Kenzie and Brenna

Did you know it’s 2020? Like, what??? We’re back with the first life update of the year to recap all the craziness of December and share some goals, visions, and as Callie likes to call them thanks to a podcast, determinations.

Callie

Well it’s another new year. But first let’s talk about the last month of 2019. December was an absolute blur for me. Work was insane. I spent a lot of time driving to families houses and eating cookies. There was some time to relax and all the time spent with friends back home and the fam was great.

So, if you’re new here, I work at a personalization company. I don’t have an official job title (don’t ask me how I always end up in these small business roles) but basically I’m in charge of the personalization of cups. So like putting vinyl names on cups. Anyway, these are extremely popular as wedding favors and gifts so ever since Black Friday we had been swamped. I was working 10+ hour days 6 days a week and still we couldn’t catch up. So work kept me very busy and if it hadn’t been for my family coming up to visit and help remodel a room in our house I never would have bought a Christmas tree or decorated at all for the holidays. I’m so thankful they did though and helped set all that up because Christmas is my favorite and I love Christmas trees all lit up.

On that remodeling note, much of our free time this month has been spent repairing the house from the foundation leveling we had done in November. We raised the front half of our house by 4 inches! Which inevitably meant that we were going to see new cracks. And there were a lot. Very glad though no pipes burst and no windows broke! That would have been even more costly. So my one day off a week was generally spent laying flooring back down, repainting and a billion trips to Lowes for supplies.

I did manage to take an entire week off from work though for Christmas which was amazing! We started the week at my family’s house. Got to hang out with Brenna and Claire some and had two Christmases there with my family. Then we went to Jason’s family for three more Christmases.

I did write more about some things I wanted to focus on in 2020 and a bit more about the last month but for some reason the website decided to delete it and I’m tired so please just enjoy these random photos from the last month instead.

Kenzie

If you know me, you know I love Christmas decorations. So, I had to begin December by setting up a vintage aluminum tree in my room and making it as whimsical as I could. For me, that means colorful ornaments, vintage touches, colorful bottlebrush trees, and little forest critters to make me happy. Since I still live with my parents, it’s only fair I help Mom deck out the rest of the house too. Those halls were decked early on which just meant more time to enjoy them!

The family made a trip up to Fort Worth to help Callie and Jason put their house back together after getting the foundation fixed. I always love going up there to visit, help with home projects, go to some estate sales, and explore local eats, but I threw my back out putting their DAMN LAUNDRY in the dryer and was in such pain all Sunday and the next day that tears were literally running down my face when I moved. That was a nightmare but it surprisingly healed quite quickly and I was able to walk again. I have herniated disks which has caused me some grief over the years, and now I’m just living with a stiff and achy leg (Sciatic nerve damage) which is definitely manageable.

Work was absolutely crazy all month. Every holiday season, we have corporate gift orders which is huge towers of pastries and we had to put out nine a day this year for two weeks. It was A LOT. But then, we had a really long break which I always greatly appreciate. It’s about two weeks which gives me just enough time to have some fun, relax, and then completely not want to return to work in January.

Brad and I also spent lots of time in Shoreacres where his parents live - one weekend for a late Thanksgiving and then several days for Christmas a week or two later. I took walks in the morning with Apollo down to the beach to search for sea glass and let him get all sandy - he LOVES the beach. I like spending time there to visit with his family, duh, but also to take some time to take it slow. And I always love a road trip, or any trip, with Brad and it just gets better with little Booger Bear, Apollo.

Christmas with my family was fabulous as always. It was very much stress free again which is great. I guess I’m just old enough now to manage buying gifts for people, decorating, and prepping/cooking meals now and I’m sure Mom loves the extra help so she doesn’t have to do it all! It was relaxing, cozy, and absolutely filled with love and Jesus and I was with all the people I love most which always makes me warm.

Some other highlights of December were so many oranges from out orange tree in the backyard (they are always the absolute best oranges), trying new recipes in the kitchen, and having a little tea party on the last day on 2019 with Mom, my grandma, Claire, and her grandma (and Apollo of course). We set up a table and food in my grandma’s greenhouse, the recipes were easy (I’ll share a tea party menu in a later post), and we had such a good time.

Now, it’s 2020 and I’m a little overwhelmed with coming up with resolutions. I like Callie’s idea of calling them determinations instead and Claire is doing this great thing of challenging herself to try one new thing each month. Then, at the end of the month, she can continue doing it and add something new or stop if it isn’t benefitting her. I’m choosing to hone in my focus more on things that are important to me. So far, that’s my health, my hobbies, and exercising my creativity. To me, that means learning more about photography and actually using my fancy, but now slightly outdated, DSLR, making things with my hands and finishing projects, cooking more with fresh and seasonal ingredients, and working on making and saving more money to support my more costly hobbies like fixing up my VW Van, Vinny, and traveling.

Overall, I’m trying to stay positive, stay present, and be kind.

Brenna

Hello, hello! I feel like I should be writing a short novel after this month but like always, I cannot remember half of what I did. Just keep reading though, it’s all going to come back to me.

I can officially say I made it through my first semester of teaching and didn’t die, cry nearly as much as I was told I would, and still came out somewhat sane. Tired? Absolutely. Am I right where I am supposed to be? 100%. Is it the hardest but most rewarding thing I’ve ever done? You, have no idea. I am excited for school to start back though so I can see all of my babies again!

Over the break I hardly did a dang thing, which is RARE for me but honestly I needed it more than I thought. Well actually, I did a bunch of puzzles. I forgot how much I love them. I did pick up a side gig (naturally) working for my friend Emily, who owns The Slumber Party Club! I’ve spent just about every weekend since Thanksgiving helping to set up the cutest slumber parties! The pics speak for themselves.

Callie came home and that was such a freaking treat. She actually let me drag her out shopping and lasted for four stores before we called it quits. Bless her soul. Christmas Eve and Day were super busy but we managed to see ALMOST everyone. I know my parents are so much happier with who they are with now and where they are but dang, the holiday’s WIPE me out. I got lots of good goodies and ate ALL the things.

JT and I rung in the New Year with our crew who we’ve celebrated with the past few years and it was a blast! It was super lowkey and we played all kinds of games and managed to not take a pic together.

I don’t really have any resolutions for 2020 and I don’t really have a reason why. However last year, my word was “Grace” and that was a constant I kept on like the middle burner all year. This year, my word is “Balance” and I intend to keep things balanced better this year. I’ll still wear my grace bracelet every day but now it’ll just be a little stack!

Well that’s all I’ve got for y’all tonight. I’m fighting a nasty cold and I’m sleepy!