- Last night Robby said that we would leave at 8:40, but he didn't give the call to leave until 8:50. Graham was a little anxious since he had to do the offering this morning, but Anderson was fine being a bit late since he was working on his Sunday school homework.
- We did the church thing this morning, and afterwards we went to Nonna and Pops' house for lunch and to celebrate my birthday. They had pork tenderloin and a huge birthday cake. Plus I had birthday presents to open-a card from Nonna filled with cash, plus a few things from Jason-a few things that are just perfect...maybe because I helped him pick out a few things.
- Robby left to run some errands, and then the rest of us headed to the house. The kids were loud once we got home, but I hushed everyone and told them that I was about to take an 18 minute nap. I did take my nap before driving Campbell to Benton for her Dgroup.
- While she was there, I ran a few errands and marked a few things off my list. Afterwards, I picked Campbell up, and we ended up at HteaO to spend some of her gift card. Meanwhile, Robby returned home from his errands and took Keaton to her Dgroup in Bryant.
- Everyone made it home, and we had a little bit of time before leaving for the Wilson's house. Tony made breakfast for supper which was a hit. The kids stayed and visited a little bit before coming back home. Robby and I stayed even longer to visit, and we had to brave the crazy cold weather to get home.
- I had big plans of taking Bentley on a walk tomorrow-I already had her coat and my gloves and hat laid out. However, I can just tell you now that since the temperature is going to be crazy cold.
January 5, 2025
January 4, 2025
- I think that we have done quite a bit today, but I have also spent quite a bit of time on the couch, and it has been perfect. I did get up to put my loaf of bread in the oven fairly early this morning.
- I was excited about this loaf because before I baked it, it looked like all of the bread that I see everyone else making. My other loaves have never looked like that. Also, when this came out of the even it looked better than any I have ever made before.
- However, it tasted the same-maybe I have been doing it right all along...or maybe any type of craftiness is just not for me. I was able to take up the straps on Reagan's dress-it sure is not done well, but it at least will get the job done.
- My next try at craftiness tonight was my crochet kit that I got for Christmas. I did pretty good at started, but the kit didn't come with the prestarted part, so I have to figure that out. The goal is to crochet a blanket by the end of the year, so I guess I have some time to figure it out.
- This morning Robby and I ran a few errands-I was also able to pick up a few birthday freebies: a sephora sample, a tropical smoothie smoothie, and a bundt cake. That was a good start to my birthday week.
- We came home so Robby could watch some of the basketball game. Before too long, Keaton and Reagan left to do some shopping at the Promanade. They ended up with a necklace for Reagan. Robby and I left again soon with Campbell to drop her off at a friend's house. When we returned home, Anderson soon left for a birthday party.
- Reagan and Whitman are upstairs watching tv, Keaton just finished making cookies, and Graham is on his xbox. Meanwhile, I'm back on the couch in the living room trying to decide between spiced tea or hot chocolate.
January 3, 2025
- Today I decided that maybe Fridays are my favorite day of the week. I was up decently early, but one of the girls let Bentley out of their room while I was in the kitchen. Even though it wasn't that early, Bentley was ready to go out, so I had to stop my chores to take her on a walk.
- After our walk, I came back and worked on my sourdough loaf-I'm trying a new recipe since the last time I tried sourdough it was a flop-or should I say a brick. This recipe takes around 48 hours so I hope that it will be worth it.
- The big boys were getting up as I was walking up the stairs to wake everyone up. Anderson and Graham went to basketball at 1 and were there for a long time. Whitman, Campbell, Keaton, and I went to Nonna and Pops' house. Keaton wanted to borrow a jean jacket so we ran over there to pick that up.
- Once we made it home, Reagan left to go walk and eat with some friends. Whitman and I then started to work on some cinnamon rolls. I haven't made homemade cinnamon rolls in a long while, and Whitman said that he was never going to make them again. He was just going to use canned cinnamon rolls.
- They were worth the work though-unfortunately, I didn't get them baked before the big boys had to leave for Rock Creek tonight. They did enjoy them when they came home though. They were winners of the nerf gun battle so that made them happy.
- Keaton went to a birthday party-it was a murder mystery party, and her character was Miss Teen New York so she had black dress, tiara, sash, and even a gun since she was also involved in the mafia. Keaton also won because she correctly guessed the murderer.
- The Wilsons came over to sample a few cinnamon rolls this evening. So we visited for a while, and Shannon even rode with me to pick up Keaton from her party. I've made my list for tomorrow so hopefully I can get a few more things marked off before school starts on Monday.
January 2, 2025
- This was the first day in a while that I had a list to work through. I moved through it pretty quickly and around 11 I had to wake the girls up. We had a few stops this morning.
- First, the girls and I went to someone's house to go through their clothes-they had things sorted and priced, and everyone left with something. Reagan found a few things plus a black dress which Keaton is already planning on wearing tomorrow. Campbell found a few sweaters, and Keaton only came away with shoes.
- After our shopping trip, we had some time to spare so we ran by Sonic. Then Reagan and I dropped Campbell and Keaton off to babysit. They so enjoyed it-and the price per hour for babysitters these days is enough that I might consider marketing myself as a babysitter.
- They worked for 3 hours, and while they were there I took Bentley for another walk. She usually only gets to walk for 1 mile during the day, but today was 2 miles-and she really has slept since we came back. The poor girl is exhausted-I can't even imagine how she will act when she is old.
- After a football game this evening, Robby, Campbell, and I went to eat. It was good, and we came home with plenty of leftovers. Before we left, Reagan made herself pasta and bread, and she also made enough for Graham. I think that everyone else had leftover pizza though I still have so many leftovers in the fridge.
- Now, everyone is settled in, and it is pretty quiet in the house. Football is on in the living room. Reagan is watching tv in the bonus room-she and Anderson switch off about who is in the bonus room. She will watch a show, and then he will go and watch a show-they act like the bonus room tv is the only tv in the house.
January 1, 2025
- We enjoyed this last official day of the break for sure. (Now, tomorrow and Friday are still break days for the rest of us, but not for Robby.) Everyone slept in a good long time this morning.
- Our lunch was at Grannymom and Grandpa's house where we ate lots of black eyed peas and hog jowl for good luck and wealth. I'm not sure which one of those is supposed to be for wealth, but maybe we needed to have another helping of both.
- I had forgotten to start the dishwasher last night-nothing makes me madder. But by the time that we came home from Grannymom's house, it was finished and ready to unload.
- We didn't do a whole lot this afternoon-it was fairly quiet around here. Campbell did watch some news and eventually asked, "why do they keep talking about the same thing?" I just encouraged her to turn it off.
- Around 4, we were about to leave for the Wilson's house, but a football game was in overtime so we stayed to watch that. Then we drove down the road for more football watching, more visiting, and more eating. We had enough food there for a crowd, so there were plenty of leftovers…again.
- We stayed through the football game, and then came home. I started on a few things around the house-organizing my recipes and making a bit of a food plan....and I really didn't come up with anything!
December 31, 2024-New Year's Eve!
- We started the morning with a colonoscopy for Robby. That was a new treat for both of us. Thankfully, his prep yesterday wasn't too bad, and today went perfectly smoothly. Plus, he got a good report so that makes it all worth it.
- Now, I did get a little bit bored having to sit in the waiting room for so long. I read my book some, played on my phone some, and listened to some youtube a bit; but it was still a long time.
- When his test was over, he felt fine so we headed out for some errands. First stop was Sams for some pizza and other things. Then on to Walgreens to pick up pictures followed by ChickFIla to pick up nuggets, and then finally home.
- This afternoon we didn't really do a whole lot, but this evening was full of fun. Reagan opted to stay home, but everyone else joined us at the Crafts.
- The big boys only stayed through supper, but the rest of us stuck it out past midnight. Whitman enjoyed hanging out with everyone, and he is actually still going strong upstairs. Campbell and Keaton are in their element with a house full of girls and little kids.
- Robby and I sat at the table most of the evening long chatting with everyone who came and sat for a little bit. There was so much food, and we brought quite a bit home as well. Once we made it home, we straightened, and now, Robby and I are going to go to bed..but I think that Graham and Whitman just started a soccer game upstairs.
Dennie Family New Year's Resolutions for 2025
Here are this year's resolutions:
Robby:
Visit 2 new states in the camper.
Tara:
Crochet a blanket.
Drank 3 bottles of water a day.
Reagan:
Drink more water.
Anderson:
Have a great first semester at college.
Graham:
Run more
Campbell:
Drive by herself (She will turn 16 this year.)
Keaton:
Drive (She will be old enough to get her permit this year.)
Whitman:
Practice driving (He will just turn 12 this year.)
Alrighty, looking back at our resolutions in fun for me which is why we keep doing this...even though we rarely complete many of them. Here are last year's resolutions and our results:
Robby:
Eat at 5 new restaurants (possibly, but that might be a stretch)
Go to 5 new state parks (nope)
Tara:
Read 100 books (yes, I actually read/listened to 182 books)
Watch 50 Hallmark movies (I, honestly, don't think I watched a one)
Walk 12 different trails (nope)
Reagan:
Earn a few scholarships (By no means is her college free, but she did pretty good at earning scholarships)
Spend more money (She is already working in finding a summer job to replenish her cash, so I guess she did just fine on this one.)
Anderson:
Work more (maybe some)
Graham:
Lift weights 3 times a week (sometimes)
Dunk (I don't think that's happened yet)
Campbell:
Drive more (The girl has her driver's license)
Go to Top Golf (We actually did that one)
Keaton:
Go on a cruise (I just told her she couldn't say that for this year's resolutions-it didn't happen)
Whitman:
Improve at spelling (He's getting there, but a spelling bee probably isn't in his future)
Spend an hour outside each week (ha, ha!)
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