December 2023

Welcome Christmas!  December was a busy month, as expected, but a whirlwind of fun as well.

First gift received is always a family favorite: the Beardmore Christmas Goodie Platter!

This plate of deliciousness never lasts long around our house.  My fave item was the oreo brownie.

As if the Goodie Platter isn't enough of a gift, the Beardmores (+ Chele) also invited us to join them at a Wine Tasting at Airfield Winery.

This is a pic of me taking a day off from work for my Annual Christmas Shopping Day.  I successfully completed ALL my shopping & most of my gift wrapping...it was December 7th.  No stressing for me!

Unfortunately, I missed a lot of action at school that day.  Presley was involved in a lockdown at school as a result of one student trying to stab another student with a box knife.  No one was hurt, but there was a lot of emotional damage from some students and staff.  This happened right outside of the Counseling Center where I work.  Maybe God knew that I needed to be off campus that day.

Because of his outstanding GPA/grades, Maddox earned automatic acceptance for 6 college universities.  It would appear all of my nagging was worth it!

Our 2023 Christmas card

We were invited to a Christmas Dinner at the Smiths home where the only thing more impressive than the beautifully prepared table was the amazing food.

Our hosts, Rick and Michelle

I sure do love this girl.  My beautiful red Christmas dress was procured from her store, Haute Madre

The final event of Dylan's football season was the Banquet.  Because he practiced with and joined the Varsity team in the playoffs, he received a well-deserved commemorative t-shirt.

Here's the first pic we've seen of Maddox and girlfriend, Chloe.  They spend a lot of time together and are just the cutest couple!

This is Sophia, one of my 8th grade cheerleaders.  She's been a favorite student of mine for years....and not just because of this adorable candy sleigh she and her mom gave me for Christmas!

At work I get a lot of 7th grade students that hang out in the Counseling Center during lunch.  I came up with the idea of people bringing in a stocking and we would all contribute to fill each other's stockings.  They loved this idea!  Here's a pic of those that were part of the fun along with their filled stockings.

This was my haul by the last day before Winter Break.

This is Penny and Mika, more of my cheerleaders and favorite students.  They are TA's for 2nd period and spend a huge chunk of that class period in the Counseling Center with me.

On Christmas Eve Eve, I spent 8 hours straight in the kitchen preparing food for the upcoming parties.  Unfortunately, I had a devastating casualty....

I dropped one of my precious measuring cups. This was from the set I bought during my Magnolia trip last April.  The set is made of ceramic and I told the kids there were not allowed to use them. I wanted to cry.

Christmas Eve service at Crossroads Community Church

Finally it was time for the Christmas Eve Snackfest!

This is baked dough with mozzarella melted inside.  It was so good!

Teague mastered the charcuteries again!

Dylan created a non-alcoholic Grinch Punch and I made a Cranberry Spritzer cocktail to be poured from glass ornaments.

Individual 7-layer dips

Merry Christmas!  While I don't have many pictures, please trust I have a lot of videos of the unwrapping frenzy.  The kids got some items they didn't ask for, but absolutely wanted.

Then it was time for Christmas Brunch with the Rivas's and Grandpa Bruce

Mimosas

Yum!

Later that afternoon we headed to Auntie Rhacelle and Uncle Jeff's house for garden salad and baked potato soup (mini corndogs for the kids).  After all of the crazy eating of the season, we very much look forward to this traditional meal.

Too many corndogs.

Auntie Rhacelle had a fun Christmas Carol game for us.

Dylan celebrating with a self-made Italian Cream Soda

This month marks 28 years of Teague working at LaClede Chain.  Sadly, this Facebook post is the only recognition he got for his years of service.

Presley helped me get some materials for a milestone celebration.

HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY MADDOX STEPHEN!

Here's a better pic of Maddox and Chloe.

Enjoying Hungry Sasquatch Pizza.

Dylan still needs a lot of driving hours to get his license.  With an open day, he drove us an hour away to Keizer, Oregon, and he got to experience his first meal at In-n-Out Burger.  It was so good!  

The Beardmores invited us to a Wine Blending and Tasting at Willamette Vineyards one afternoon.  Before our reservation, we went over to their home for charcuterie and a pre-reservation cocktail.  Amber was crafting green apple martinis with a caramel sauce rim.  Although Ryan passed on the cocktail, he enjoyed the caramel sauce.

At the Wine Blending, Teague and Amber created the best blend.  Such a fun experience!

That wraps up December and 2023.  We had some great moments.  Now on to 2024 where we will add another driver on the road, graduate our oldest child and hopefully exceed all expectations!