It was another lovely holiday season, complete with the now-familiar viral disruptions that seem to have become the post-COVID norm. We spent Thanksgiving at the Cove and had a wonderful time. Hazel started to fall ill during our travels and rhinovirus subsequnetly made its way through the house, taking the kids down in turn. Wes ended up with pneumonia, and someone was home sick for three weeks straight. We had to cancel our Seattle getaway and scale back many of our pre-Christmas plans.
By the time Christmas arrived, everyone was on the mend, in time for the traditions we love most. We celebrated early with my family in Clackamas, then hosted Christmas Day at our house with the Leitz/Rallo crew. Steve made a standing rib roast, and with less time spent in the kitchen, I was able to fully enjoy everyone’s company. The Magnolia Rallos stayed overnight, we spent some relaxed time in Gig Harbor, and then headed back to the Cove for a few days—highlighted by epic sledding afternoon at Badger Mountain.
Once we returned home, we kept things slow and cozy: board games, biking, hiking, skiing, and plenty of movie nights. Remembering how drained I felt after the holidays last year, I let the mess linger and prioritized quality time over productivity.
Owen’s behavior leading up to Christmas was a challenge. Big emotions often come with big excitement for him, and it brought out some tension in all of us. After the holiday passed, he found his footing again, and the second half of winter break felt much lighter and more enjoyable. Getting called off work for both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day was an unexpected gift. We made it to Crystal for our first ski day of the season and went to a NYE party with neighborhood friends. I ended the break feeling grounded rather than depleted.
Looking ahead to 2025, we set a simple family goal: more intentional time outdoors. We’ve always loved being outside, and while I’m pretty sure we’re already hitting the mark, this year I’m tracking it—aiming for 1,000 hours of time outside.
No comments:
Post a Comment