Less is More in 2024

 Got a text this morning from Matt basically saying one of his goals for 2024 is "waste less."  For everyone this sort of means something different.  Waste less money.  Waste less food.  Waste less time on a wide variety of things.  The list goes on, but I like the idea.  I've tried to be fully engaged over the holiday break.  I don't want to waste any time.  When your grown children leave for college and are gone for months at a time, you cherish the moments when they are home. The house is louder and more alive.  The laundry is always going.  Grocery runs are more frequent.  The pace is different.  I'm fortunate having a job where I am off for two weeks during the break.  What a treat.  We binged lots of television, went to some bowling matches, watched the SWHS girls basketball tournament, worked lots of puzzles, and enjoyed our time together.

I didn't take as many (less) pictures as I probably should have, but the memory of the time is planted in my brain.  

My favorite memory was taking a road trip to Lexington to visit my Mamaw Pogue.  She lives with my Aunt Linda and Uncle Ronnie and is absolutely precious.  It was a treat seeing her, and my aunt fixed us a wonderful lunch when we arrived.  Mamaw gave us a house tour of her bedroom and sewing room for all her quilts.  She makes the most beautiful quilts and is so proud of them.  For Christmas, my aunt Linda asked everyone (back in October) to send her pictures of all the quilts Mamaw had made for our respective families.  She grouped and printed all the pictures together in a large album and gifted it to her for Christmas.  

The quilt above is my childhood Strawberry Shortcake blanket.  It's truly my most prized possession from my Mamaw.  It's barely hanging in there and something I could never replace.  This blanket got me through lots of times in my life - sad, happy, scared, etc.  Blankey was there for me.  Karson, being the first everything, had TONS of blankets gifted to her as a baby.  Guess which one she chose as her favorite and has accompanied her the last 21 years, MY BLANKEY!!!!!  At one point, Mamaw had to re-sew the ribbon border back around it. We're extra careful with it these days and try not to wash it very often.

 

I didn't include all of her baby quilts, but these are the larger quilts she has made through the years.  I also have a few that my great-grandmother made as well.  

 

We ate, visited, played cards, and left with some of Mamaw's treasures she wanted to give us from her curio cabinet.  I came home with a cardinal music box, two magnolia flowers and some smaller ceramic flower baskets.  I also have a couple of things from Matt's late Granny and Mamaw.  It's special for them to share their things with their grandkids.

 

Karson finished up her junior year in nursing continuing to maintain her 4.0 GPA.  This semester she begins her senior year with graduation on Friday, December 13th!!!!  It will be here before we know it.  She is still sorting through ideas and plans for her journey after nursing school.  Whatever she decides, and wherever she lands, I know they'll be grateful having her.  I got these special pictures (below) yesterday as she kicked off the first semester of her SENIOR year!

 

To start the holidays off right, we had a friends dinner at Garcia's Restaurant downtown.  It was our first time there but will not be our last.  What a beautiful venue and delicious food.  We ran into lots of friends while we were there too, guess they've been keeping the place a secret!  HAH!

My dad and his barbershop group had a Christmas show at Greenwood Park.  It's always a festive event that gets you into the holiday spirit.

Because Christmas landed on a Monday this year, we decided to celebrate with the Deaton family a little earlier with Debbie hosting on Saturday, the 23rd.  The picture below is literally the only one I got that day.  Seth gave all the kids cozy house slippers which they immediately put on.

Christmas Eve (Sunday), we celebrated with my parents that morning.  I don't think any of our parents are hard to buy for, but it's sometimes challenging thinking of something they might like.  When trying to figure out what to get my mom, Karson and I wandered into Barnes and Noble one afternoon.  I know mom likes to read and thought maybe a new book or two.  It was like a lightbulb came on when we walked in, and Karson suggested getting her some new reading glasses and board games.  She said they always like playing games with Meme when they go over to her house.  There is a game called Telestrations which we settled on and Karson had played before.  We also purchased the game Mind the Gap.  We had a blast playing Telestrations and quickly realized that some of us are better artists than others.  If you ever get the chance to play it, do it!  Mind the Gap is a fun generational trivia game too.

Christmas Day - we relaxed most of the day at home.  Seems like it was the first time that the kids slept in later than normal.  Have I mentioned our youngest son has been working at the bowling alley since early November?  Over the break, one week he clocked 33 hours and the next 22.  Needless to say, he's been tired mainly because of the late night shifts (not so much the actual hours).

 

Both Miles and Isaac got new guitars.  Miles wanted a new electric Harley Benton, and Isaac liked a 12-string Takamine at Kentucky Music.  I love that our boys are musical and know how to play an instrument. Karson wanted a handful of different things for Christmas this year.

 

The kids surprised us with some thoughtful gifts including an engraved journal for Matt and a hand-painted ornament for me.

Miles is such a goof ball, and I love this picture of him wearing some of his gifts.

  

 

Our tradition of constructing clearance Gingerbread Houses continued this year.  Karson and I scored some Wilton brand houses for $6 at Bargain Hunt.  Oddly, these houses were already constructed so the only task was to decorate.  I'm not sure these are "true" GB houses.  The kids didn't complain and had fun icing and decorating them.

Who are these grown children?  Love them both very much!

New Years Eve was spent with our friends Weston and Larie eating at Novo Pub and winning a few extra dollars at The Mint.  Afterwards, we went over to Southern Lanes since Miles got off work and he, Isaac, Evan and Elizabeth were there ringing in the New Year bowling.

The grind began last Tuesday for me and Wednesday for Matt and Miles.  Bowling started back up, and we had our Spartan Invitational on Saturday.  It was a special day as Miles and the team managed to make it to the final round but came up short winning the runner-up spot.  I was extra proud of Miles and his performance.  He did very well.

Karson left for Louisville on Sunday, and Isaac will leave next Sunday.  Ugh.  We plan to celebrate Isaac's birthday later this week at Kyoto!  Hard to believe he is already 19.