If we were on a coffee date, I would tell you that today is goody day at my office and it’s the very best office holiday of the year! No, it’s not remotely healthy (hello gluten & sugar), but it’s delicious and super fun to visit everyone as you fix your second third plate. I made these herbed crackers and Ella begged to take some for her afternoon snack today. Since Sophie is gluten free for now, I had to whip up something she could have, too! I melted allergen free chocolate chips, then almond butter, then topped it with crushed gf chocolate chips. I broke it apart into fudge-y chunks and it was amazing. Two work treats and two afternoon snacks complete.
If we were on a coffee date, I would tell you that I am finally done with my Christmas shopping. Josh would tell you that I say that all month long and continue to buy things, so let me just clarify. The girls’ lists are completely checked off, Santa has tidied up his workshop and the only thing left to acquire is a single gift card. Sure, I might add something to my cart between now and next weekend, but if I don’t, all will still be well.
If we were on a coffee date, I would tell you that our elf and the tooth fairy met in the night on Saturday. Sophie finally lost her fourth tooth over the weekend and we’ve all breathed a sigh of relief. It has been hanging on for dear life and she wouldn’t let us touch it, so basically I couldn’t even look at her. Now she has a two-tooth gap in the front, a perfectly adorable lisp and her tongue peeks through her teeth occasionally. Essentially, it’s the best possible thing to happen, ever. She’s adorable.
If we were on a coffee date, (and while we were already talking about Sophie) I would tell you that she is rocking this gluten free lifestyle. I’m sure we have so many more hurdles to cross, but she has been so agreeable and is teaching her class about what she can and can’t eat. We’ve navigated IHOP and Chick-fil-a and we even whipped up gluten free pancakes over the weekend. We have eliminated one of her prescriptions and she’s still feeling great, so we’re thinking we might have figured things out. We got a referral for a pediatric gastroenterologist in January, so we’ll be getting even more information very soon.
If we were on a coffee date, I would tell you that I went to an amazing flea market on Saturday. We usually venture out for Christmas shopping to celebrate my mom’s birthday (tomorrow!) and this year was no exception. I spent the day with my sister, my mom and one of her best friends, and we bought ALLTHETHINGS. I finished up my holiday shopping and got so many cute, vintage items while we were out. I found a wire dish rack for my kitchen, five floral juice glasses (I’m slightly obsessed with vintage coffee mugs and barware), a glass Christmas tree candy jar, two brass deer and a fun brass and glass shelf for Josh to hang in our bathroom.
If we were on a coffee date, I would tell you that I am still working on my word for 2017. I feel like I didn’t pay commune enough attention in 2016, but I’m giving myself a break. I kind of got off track on all fronts during the latter half of the year and since it’s too late to fix it, I’m thinking towards the new year instead. I’m leaning towards a more practical word this year, something active and hands-on. Any guesses?
If we were on a coffee date, I would tell you that I would love for you to join me in writing letters. I’ve hosted two monthly letter link ups and I’m looking forward to growing the party in the coming months. Would you invite your friends or join in yourself? You can even use some current content and turn it into a letter!
If we were on a coffee date, I would tell you that I am looking forward to being a better blogger next year. I posted much more frequently in 2016, but I felt like I shared more things and less heart. I’m working to balance my content a little better and to be more willing to share what’s really going on. I’m also on pins and needles thinking about sharing our renovation with you in real time! I have a hilarious home video that my dad shot when he built the house in the late eighties and I’ll be sharing parts of that with you as an introduction in January. After that, we’ll be sharing a video series, along with several written posts per month. We are looking forward to making this house our home (again) and having it comfy and cozy and ready for parties by this time next year.
If we were on a coffee date, I would tell you that I am finally ready for a dog. Josh and I have talked so much recently about adding a four legged friend to our family and I think we’ve finally hammered out the details. After losing B last year, we needed lots of time to recover. People handle that loss differently, but we both agreed that adding a dog to our family too soon would have been a disaster. Even a year later, we are both grieving big time, and the move only exasperated things. We all wanted her to experience life here with us and I found myself crying over it a couple of times last week. We toyed around with a dog for Christmas and then one in the spring, but finally decided to wait until the girls are out of school for the summer. I’ve already talked with the breeder, so we’ve made a pretty firm decision and now we just play the waiting game. After much discussion, we’re opting for an inside dog again, and although we went with a different breed, it is very similar in size and temperament. Is it weird that we’ve already named her and she won’t even be born for six more months?!
