Going Through Life One Blog Post at a Time
Happy New Year from 1/4 of our family to yours! Laura is at a friend’s house to ring in 2021, and the rest of us are hanging out at home, eating pizza, and relaxing. 2020 was certainly an interesting year. Let’s hope for a much calmer 2021!
Andy completed the Rapha Festive 500 today. He rode over 500 kilometers (311 miles) in six days. He was happy to finish, but he said that he probably would not do it again. He can feel the fatigue and he missed a lot of Christmas break time with us. Regardless, we are proud of him. Way to go, Andy!
We had Family Movie Day today. We started with “Iron Man.” The kids had somehow never seen it. I blame them because it obviously could not be the fault of Andy and me.
Next up was a Christmas classic, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” Laura had seen it before, but John had not. It is now one of his favorite Christmas movies.
We ended the night with “Die Hard.” Andy and I consider it a Christmas movie.
We ate “crap food” – meaning buffalo wings, mozzarella sticks, summer sausage, cheese, and more – and enjoyed the movies together. It was a great way to spend a day of our winter break.
Homemade Marinara with Meatballs is simmering on the stove.
Next up is homemade pasta made with my new KitchenAid attachment! Should I make Bucatini or Rigatoni? Do I be traditional and make Spaghetti? Maybe, I could make Fusilli or Macaroni! Decisions can be so hard.
I decided on Rigatoni, and I learned a few things about using the new attachment. It was surprisingly easy once I got everything working properly.
And, yes, dinner was delicious if I do say so myself!
How do you buy a new coat for a growing, near-teenage boy? Well, you buy two sizes too large, knowing that the coat will probably fit perfectly within the year.
Andy has been wanting to complete a challenge in Strava called the Rapha Festive 500 for the past several years. The challenge is riding 500 kilometers between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Unfortunately, the weather has never cooperated and he has never been able to complete it. He is trying again this year and took this photo coming home. Wish him good luck and safe rides!
Christmas was different for us this year, but it was still a great day. While both Laura and John know about Santa Claus, I found Laura up and staring at the Christmas tree at 7:00 am. I love that she still has that “Christmas morning excitement.”
As the kids have gotten older, we have had to find new ways to mess with them on Christmas morning like giving them each a lump of (char)coal! John would not open his after he saw what Laura got.
The kids loved their presents. John was excited to open six different hoodies. Yes, he actually asked for hoodies. Also, he really liked his new Scout book cover, video games, gaming keyboard, and XBox controller for his computer.
Laura was especially excited to get her “dream” colored pencil set along with an art portfolio, the comfiest sweatshirt “ever”, several books, and various Destiny 2 things.
Don’t worry about Andy and me. We were not left out of the fun. Andy received three, signed Phil Gaimon books and a Cookie Fondo t-shirt…
…while I WON the present lottery! I can now make 12 different types of pasta between the two attachments.
The rest of the day was spent playing video games, relaxing, and preparing food. Andy made Prime Rib again this year.
Uncle Jeremy joined us for Christmas dinner and we enjoyed great conversation, good beer, and the last of the day.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!