Skip to main content

Hollidaze

This year we got our first real tree. It took me awhile to convince Scott to go that route versus the fake tree. We still set up our other two trees so now we have a Christmas forest.

One for Brooke, one for me and one for Peanut.

Does Peanut look a little different and less cute to you? That's because when we were carrying in our tree the little punk escaped. When I was leaving for work I noticed him sitting on top of our neighbors garage. When we went over to get him we noticed he had chased another cat up a tree. Apparently Peanut is afraid of heights because he wouldn't go up the tree (thankfully). At somepoint during the chase he lost his handkerchief collar. 

I actually made breakfast today. Egg and cheese sandwiches. 

I spent way too much of this time butchering a turkey and turning it into...well, you'll see.

After separating all the easily accesible meat from the bird, I made a turkey stock.

Scott was busy in the kitchen all day while I did laundry.

I made the meat into ground turkey.

I then chopped veggies for a white chili.

We had to run to the grocery store to pick up some things. Pulling into our driveway we spotted the neighbor kids. Scott insisted they come inside to see our Christmas decorations. 

They weren't impressed, but were fun to hang with.

They tried playing with my super hard puzzle that I've been "working" on for almost a year. Then I suggested we try an easier puzzle. Scott's old Where's Waldo floor puzzle. We played "Can you find...?" until they got bored and left. 

Soon after they left Tyler, Emma and Olive came over. We were originally going to continue with our Friendsgiving tradition and have it today. Scott and I weren't really in the mood for Thanksgiving food again and Emma had a few photo shoots throughout the day, so Scott offered to make dinner before heading out to the Holidazzle parade. 

While the soup was cooking Scott made some turkey sausage.

I told you I was making the turkey into a lot of meals. I also saved the fall-of-the-bone turkey from the stock. 

It was getting late and the soup wasn't ready yet. We decided to skip dinner at home and get a slice or two at Pizza Luce on the way to the parade. 

I wish we would've had time to order a whole pizza.

We hadn't been to Luce in ages, so this was kind of exciting.

Then we walked over to Nicollet on this mild and foggy night. 

I had been to this parade twice before. Once with my sister and friend Morgan and another time with my parents. It was fun to go with an actual kid and see their perspective on it. 

Emma and I took pictures of  one another.


They turn the lights off on Nicollet and all the floats and people are lit up by Christmas lights. 

Everyone loved the parade, especially Olive.

I think Tyler liked it the most. 

Back at Tyler and Emma's, Olive showed us their Christmas tree before heading off to bed. 

Then it was time for games and glogg. 

With a snack in between. 

And hot cocoa.

To see more photos and hear Emma's perspective on the day go HERE. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Chicago Chrismukkah + Michigander Xmas

 Before heading out on our trip we let the kids open their Christmas gifts from us. A knitted sweater for Theo and a kitty dress for Meadow (I fixed the straps for her) both made by me. I wanna a sweater. Scott got them new compact sleeping bags. We all got smaller sleeping bags this year and we'll now have a lot more room in our car. This year we had talked about hosting my family at the cottage. Then meeting up in Milwaukee, then meeting in Chicago. But in the end we made stops in Chicago and Lowell this Christmas. We left on a Sunday which was nice to have a few days to prepare. On the way down to Chicago we stopped at our favorite roadside restaurant, Foster Cheese Haus. We had plans to break up our drives so we didn't have to rush like we normally do. We had made it just before the cheese haus was set to close for the winter. Just not enough folks stop here in winter and snowmobile season is becoming shorter and shorter this far so...

Northwoods NYE 2024 - Wild Ice Edition

After our stop in Dunbar for lunch, we drove the last hour to Three Lakes for Northwood New Year's Eve.  When we arrived we were greeted by Rudolph.  I love the addition to the Christmas decor this year. It was time for Second Christmas after all.   Grandpa must like playing with fire. Theo will not lose even if he lost. Deer pancakes for our first morning at the cottage. At least for Theo. The rest of us just got plain old pancakes. I'm not sure why, but they're always better when Grandpa makes them. I recently read that you should take a 30 minute walk after eating. Scott and I didn't bother getting dressed and headed outside. That was just my sister talking, but oddly I think it makes my reflux worse.    Another New Years with no snow. There was a tiny bit in the shade. Theo got to cut down the tree this year.

Random December Happenings: St Nick, Ice Skating and Pizza Night with Friends

Theo had his friend Ben come over and they skated for a couple hours. Snack break.  I was surprised to see the kids still outside when I got home from work. Theo has been loving the rink this year.