Day 2800 | Variety Show

For the first time ever, I’m not doing a team update on the “00” tick-over to 2800. I don’t have a current full family photo to use and this week is just too bonkers to pull something together. Instead, I’m giving myself some grace and posting about some of the fun daily activities until I can get my team post together. You don’t mind, right?

These sweet photos are from the 4-H variety show at a local senior living center. It’s one of my favorite 4-H activities of the year and this one was no exception. The boys both played piano and enjoyed sweets afterward. Not bad for a weeknight!

Day 2799 | Sharing is Caring

These two. They’re good friends.

Day 2798 | Fireside Snuggles

Another day, another cat snuggling photo. This time, the cat’s sleeping in a bag! Can you believe the craziness over here?

Day 2797 | Book Launch

We got to celebrate the new book of one of our a favorite people! I’m beyond excited to bust into A Forty Year Kiss. I’ve heard it’s the perfect pre-Valentine’s Day read.

Happy reading!

Day 2796 | Wacky Winter Dance

Robbe and I had a great time at his school’s Wacky Winter Dance last night. Fun times with good friends. Nothing better!

Day 2795 | Cats and Donuts

Nothing to see here.

Day 2794 | Battleship Victor

This guy smoked me at Battleship this morning. He only had two non-hits! A bit of luck and some skill made for a quick game.

Day 2793 | Winter at the Lake

Another beautiful winter weekend at the lake. The temps were warmer than they have been so we managed cross country skiing AND ice skating. Lots of relaxing by the fire, reading, and hot tubbing, too.

Now if only the days would go by a bit more slowly.

Day 2792 | Basketball is Back

This guy is back shooting hoops this winter. Tuesday evenings are now basketball evenings. We’re settling into bleacher life just fine.

Day 2791 | Thankful for Sunshine

When it’s -22 outside, everyone needs to soak in the warmth however they can. Thank goodness for sunny days.

Day 2790 | Sledding

One thing I’ve learned about winter in Wisconsin: you never know when the snow and temperature will cooperate. For that reason, we snuck out in the 35 minutes we had between school and piano lessons to hit the hill. And we found a good one, too.

Day 2789 | Making Valentines

We led a Valentine’s Day craft for our 4-H club this week. I made these woven heart baskets when I was a kid so I decided to share the project with the next generation. We made a whole bunch of them to share with the seniors living at the apartment complex where we’ll perform a variety show in February. So fun, right?

Day 2788 | Shooting Sports

After almost two years, Chase is back for another round of 4-H Shooting Sports. Not to be left out, Robbe will be joining for the second session to learn archery. One of the most off-brand activities we do, for sure, but it only meets once/week and we don’t need to buy special gear for it. Count us in!

Day 2787 | Snow!

A lovely weekend at the lake turned into a winter wonderland with the first real snowfall of the season. In my opinion, there are few things more beautiful than fresh, crisp snow. And the rosy cheeks from wintery air makes it even better.

Day 2786 | Cat Sling

I received this cat sling for Christmas and I can tell it’s going to be my new favorite thing. Marvel loves to snuggle but most of my life is consumed by activities that require me to move around or at least have two hands. Enter: the cat sling!

Today was the first successful sleeping session. And it was a total dream. See what I did there?

Day 2785 | Hot Off the Presses

Look at these two making the local paper! They’re famous! Thanks to our sweet newspaper delivery person for a great article. :)

Here’s the link to the full article. Enjoy!

Day 2784 | Cookie Decorating

This guy attended an older youth 4-H event tonight (he’s an older youth now!!) and decorated all these cookies. So many cookies! He’s basically a professional now.

Day 2783 | Sleepy Kitties

Can you handle these two?

Day 2782 | Post-Christmas

This is what a lot of our days have looked like post-Christmas. Quality time in front of the fire assembling gifts alongside cats. A dream!

Day 2781 | Here's to 2025!

We had a quiet New Year’s Eve at our house last night – just how we like it. It was packed with some of our favorite things: a delicious soup buffet followed by a yummy dessert, a comedy special on tv, and an epic Heptathlon Game Challenge.

What seven games did we play, you might be wondering? Here’s the lineup:

Our New Year’s Eve Heptathlon Game Challenge categories:

1. Outdoor: Ghost in the Graveyard

2. Active: Popdarts

3. Board: Doomlings

4. Card: Kent

5. Video: Super Smash Bros.

6. New (to all of us): Pick a Pen - Garden Edition

7. Pinball: Avengers

It turns out you can accomplish a lot when you stay up until midnight.

Happy 2025 to all of you! I hope this year is the best yet.