Holidays and Celebrations

  • 2016 Year in Review

    1. What did I do in 2016 that I’ve never done before? I took the Louisiana bar exam. Which was my third bar exam, but my first (and last!) attempt at the Louisiana one specifically. THANK. GOD. 2. Did you keep your resolutions? I do not appear to have made any, which is not a surprise given the chaos of our Christmastime move last year. 3. What new lives brought you joy? The tiny, fluttering little prince currently occupying the womb of my youngest sister.  Due Memorial Day! 4. For whom did you grieve, if anyone? The me that I was before this election. 5. Did you travel anywhere exciting? We had…

    Comments Off on 2016 Year in Review
  • Final Holiday Recap, Part Four and the End I Promise

    After the Williamsburg day, I arrived home and was able to heat up the turkey filling, slap it in some tortillas, and make up two trays of enchiladas and a double batch of Spanish rice right quick. I was glad I had pre-made the turkey part, as it was much quicker that way, and we were eating by 6pm. We had leftover creamed corn as well, and it was a pretty perfect way to use up the leftover turkey. This was our last day in Williamsburg, and again after getting the kiddos down, we all piled into the childless suite for some football and chatting. We also did some pre-packing,…

  • Holiday Recap, Part Two

    The next day, we all piled in the car for another day of travel for me – to Colonial Williamsburg, which was our Christmas 2016 destination. The car ride was not too bad, though Craig has entered a whiny phase. When he’s distracted, he does ok, but when he gets bored, he just whines like it’s his job. There was some grumpiness from our Littlest on this trip, but not too much, and we made good time. We stopped briefly to drop off an iron table at my sister’s place, and she kindly agreed to take Jack in her van the rest of the way, giving him much more leg…

    Comments Off on Holiday Recap, Part Two
  • Holiday Recap, Part One

    I’ve taken a bajillion days off. It’s been largely wonderful – with a little stomach flu thrown in – and I’ve still got tomorrow’s holiday off. I’m going to use this time to do a few things, including a Costco run and file our new Christmas gifts into their respective homes, and also update here! This holiday season had its ups and downs. The family time was great – the rest of the season was pretty hectic, as I failed to finalize all shopping and baking prior to December 1 – a rookie mistake, but with the move in late summer and then billing so much in the fall, I…

    Comments Off on Holiday Recap, Part One
  • Reaching for the Christmas Spirit

    My mood these days remains uneven, as I deal with the anxiety brought on by the election.  So many people at risk now, both from foreign and domestic policy.  I feel like the small-minded cruelties, the “strict authoritarian father” form of rule that we fled when we left Alabama has now swept across the whole country.  I guess you could say I am mourning the compassionate and inclusive America I thought we were moving toward, not to mention the country that I caught a glimpse of where women were fully respected, fully human, and seen as fully capable of leadership and not just toys for powerful men’s sexual pleasure and domestic/administrative…