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It's Not Feeling at Lot Like Christmas (Outside)

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The kids and I had some errands to run. We always have candles at dinnertime during the dark months. Our big beeswax candle that we had for about 10 years finally got used up so it was time to get another. We stopped at the new Foundry Home Goods location. The kids wanted a shaped candle, we ended up going with the tree. 

They also loved looking at all the little wooden animals. 

I never thought of knitting jute to make a scrubbing pad. I'm totally doing this. 

I had to laugh because they were selling our cottage Christmas trees for around $100 each. 

Those things are authentic Northwoods trees.

Temperatures are still not right to flood our rink, but that also means I could work on a different project: adding an outdoor waterproof outlet to our house. We have power to our garage, but nothing on the house and nothing on our breaker for the duplex.

Scott should do a side hustle as an electrician. I'm impressed he can do this. 

I'm not sure I'd pay me to do this job. I did it, but the amount time it took would be embarrassing to an electrician.

You'd imagine that drilling a hole through the exterior and interior walls wouldn't be too much of an effort. But I spent the better part of Saturday doing just that. Then trying to figure out how to pull the new 20 amp line through the hole.


But eventually I succeeded. We'd always needed an outdoor outlet, but lighting up the backyard rink gave me the perfect excuse to actually do it.

Our rink came with a bunch of outdoor lights that we could also use in the summer. 

What Meadow's cooking no one knows. 


Looks like mac and cheese for her and Theo. 

Nordic Ware Spaghetti Florentine. Not going to lie...kind of weird. I served some of my meatballs on the side.

What can't you make in a Bundt pan?

While I was ahead this year on getting Christmas gifts, I still hadn't done any wrapping. Good thing Meadow loves doing this with me. 

Oy, our basement needs some decluttering. 

We have about half of the basement, but unfortunately the smaller half.

We always have fun decorating the presents. 

Apparently filling bean bags is messy business.

Someone needs to teach this kid to play chess.

I don't think it's going to be Brooke or me.


We watched the Grumpy Cat Christmas special, which means that Meadow had to make some fan art.



I must be feeling productive (or work is dying down for the year). Finally patching Theo's bedroom walls before we can paint them.

We let the kids pick the paint color they wanted in their rooms. I remember Theo picked a dark blue and suggested we only go part way up and add a picture rail as well. 

The week before Christmas and all the kids want is there favorite fast meal: Dominos.

Another walk around the neighborhood to see Christmas lights. 

No snow, but plenty of neighbors keeping Kingfield and Lyndale cheery.

Theo wasn't feeling well so we wrapped him up in the wagon. 



You knew we were going to the best decorated house in the area.


Then we opened presents since we'd be heading to Little Chute for Christmas the next day and then be gone for nearly two weeks.

Since we got them the ice rink they just had their gifts from each other. Theo got Meadow a Kiki's Delivery Service shirt and Meadow got Theo a mini Plus Plus building set. 

They also opened their gifts from Aunt Katrina and Uncle Dennis. Theo got a National Park book and 50 Adventures in the US. Meadow got another Warriors series. 
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