Invited to Party

I see so many pictures of friends attending glamorous parties on New Year's Eve, beautiful dresses, fancy suits, and glittering lights.

And we were invited last night to a fun party. In fact, we've been invited the last 2 years in a row by good friends who want to include us.

But somehow, we've declined. Alright... it's so true that we would love to at a fun party with our fun friends. But... we've got these 3 little babes who always affect our thought process. Always. ALWAYS!

It would be so fun to have an adult evening ringing in the New Year like I see in all sorts of pictures of friends, or even in 8 million movies who make this evening seem so glamorous.

But for now, our 3 little babes still like us (somewhat). They still want to hang out with us and stay up late. They still enjoy popping balloons filled with fun activities. They still smile and laugh through the night while we are exhausted. They are going on partying hard thanks to a mixture of sugar rush and adrenaline, while watching the clock trying to figure why we didn't set them forward like we had talked about doing the years before.

So... for now, we will continue to have fun with our 3 babes, ringing in the New Year, while wearing comfy pants and my Cheers sweater, dreaming of beautiful dresses, fancy suits, and glittering lights.

Christmas Eve in Downtown Seattle

Our Christmas Eves haven't been a consistent thing since 2015.

This one consisted of carousels, 

city lights, 

long lines to see gingerbread houses, 

and delicious Thai food.

And... that's totally okay. 

Just Another Day with Jocelyn

Gym locker room.

"Faith. You know. My mom says that we should not walk around all willy, nilly naked in the locker room. Does your mom like your area and boo boos out for everyone to see?"

Couple's house in the ward.

"Those guys sure do have a lot of toys for being so old. See mom. I can keep my toys just like they do, and I think they're 100 or something. You're almost as old as them, right?"

Trying to quickly find something to eat.

"Let me help mom. I got this. Ooops. I don't got this."

While on a phone call with a sweet sister.

"Mom, tell her that it's okay to not be able to go to Costco. That's a terrible place." (Nothing in the entire conversation ever hinted at or sounded remotely like Costco.)

Ultrasound room waiting for the Doctor.

"Mom. This looks like honey. But it sure doesn't smell like honey. It smells like a cherry butt."

Win-co checkout line

"I told my mommy I would be a good listener and stop sticking weird things down my pants, like markers, toys, and candy if she'd buy me this gum. And look. She's buying it. So... no more stuff in my pants it is."

Driving home.

"Smiling is my favorite. Just like Buddy the Elf."

Oh, Jocelyn.