December 2024

Well, the time finally arrived for the reason we went to Disney on this trip, the Christmas Party. We got to the park early and started riding some rides. We started with Brinley's favorite, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. While we were in line I started asking the kids what things they wanted to do at the party. I got a little upset because nobody was commenting on things that they wanted to do. I had been researching for weeks about what all to try and do and then the time comes for decisions and nobody speaks up. You can tell in the top picture that the kids hadn't recovered fully from my little episode in line. Maybe the ride was just what we needed though because we were in much better spirits afterward. The kids just wanted to ride the rides, but I wanted to focus on more of the things that you couldn't have on a normal day. We did some compromising and did a little of both. 

We met some characters. Some of the lines were not very long but we would try and have Jennifer or myself stand in line while the kids did something else. We also got lots of compliments on our matching pajamas. It is also a lot more fun when you get to talk with the characters. The costumed characters only get to talk with their actions which can make things interesting. 

Some more pictures from our meet and greets with characters. I think they should really try to redo the Abu costume. He looks crazy. 

The fireworks show was awesome. Disney really knows how to do the holidays right. I also would love to have the budget for the fireworks. There is no telling how much money that they spend on these every single day.

The longest wait of the night was to meet the characters from Winnie the Pooh. The kids were both excited about meeting them. Jennifer waited in line while the kids and I rode a ride and then we switched out so that Jennifer could go get some hot chocolate. We finally met them after 20 minutes. 

We also took some of the offered magic shots that they offered around the park. It is always fun to see what they add to the photo. They just tell us to look or do something silly in a certain direction.

The ride we were all excited about getting to ride was Tron. It is our favorite ride as a family. Nobody typically sits out on this ride. The middle pictures were the only one where something went bad for the night. I put our backpack with Landon because he had extra leg room. Well, during the ride on one of the bumps in the ride I heard a clanking sound. Turns out that my water bottle fell out and was at the bottom of the ride. We filled out a lost and found item form. Unfortunately, I got notified by email when I got home that they were unable to find our bottle. 

The kids were not excited about me getting photos with almost every photographer on Main Street. Landon even took his mother’s jacket from her because he was cold. 

The other perk about the event is that you get free cookies and drinks. The hot chocolate was delicious, but the apple cider and egg nog left a lot to be desired. We tried most of the cookies at the event and then stocked up on some for the rest of our trip. I personally thought the sugar cookies were the best. I think this was honestly the best party we had ever attended. I feel like we got some much accomplished for the night. 

It was just magical getting to see it “snow” on Main Street at Disney. Last year when I saw it I thought it was a bunch of bugs showing up in the spotlights. 

Apparently meeting all the characters at the party sparked something in Brinley. She wanted to start meeting everyone. She also started having them all sign her Stanley water bottle. 

We stopped for a little photo shoot and we told the photographer that we only wanted pictures of the kids. He turned around to snap a picture of Jennifer and I. He initially tried to take a picture of another woman that was close to me. I had to tell him that’s not my wife.  

We finally got to meet and get a picture with Mandolorian. He acted like he didn’t want to get a picture with Landon, but I was not going to take no for an answer. I followed him around until he said we could. I even took a photo for another family and waited through multiple other interactions with other guests. 

Landon and I headed over to Epcot to ride Guardians and Brinley and Jennifer stayed back at Hollywood Studios to meet more characters. It makes me sad that we didn't start meeting all of them earlier in the year. We could have met almost every character during the past year. 

Brinley rode the Tower of Terror all by herself. This is huge because when she was 4 years old I talked her into riding with me by telling her the ride was just like an elevator. She had vowed to never ride it again which saddened me because it was one of my favorites. I got her to try it again this year and she found out how much she liked it too. 

Landon and I went to ride Guardians. It had been broken down earlier in the day when we were all at Epcot. It got opened back up and we were able to ride twice because we used the girls virtual queue passes too. 

One last trip to Club Cool. Landon truly loves this place. Anytime we are close he wants to go in and get some drinks. 

We ended the last night at Disney at the Magic Kingdom. We rode everyone's favorite rides one last time.

First time ever that Landon and I were both able to max out the Buzz Lightyear ride. I had shown him over the past year all the right targets to hit to get the most points possible. After we got him maxed out I had to get mine up. I couldn't let the little guy out do me. 

I got these two one last of their favorite treats at Disney. Brinley loves the Mickey ice cream on a stick and Landon loves a bucket of popcorn. I am so glad we brought the buckets for popcorn with us this time. We forgot on one of the trips and had to buy another bucket. 

Our last ride on Brinley’s favorite ride, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. 

We spent the last part of our time taking some pictures on Main Street. The kids were over it, but I was just trying to soak in the last moments at the park. I am not going to say never, but I think it is going to be a while before we go back. 

We got Landon one last treat before leaving the Magic Kingdom. Brinley had picked out a sweat shirt that Grandpa was going to give her for Christmas. Landon looked but couldn't find anything that he wanted. So, cotton candy it was. 

How it started and how we finished. The picture on the left was from our first trip to Disney and on the right was our last trip. These two sure are growing up. It won't be long before they are both taller than Jennifer. 

Our financial advisor for the past two years has had a Christmas gathering at the Kentucky Theatre. They had snacks and we got to watch Home Alone 2. The kids look forward to this because they love getting all the snacks during the movie. 

We came home and had to get started on decorating the house. We started with the kids doing their own gingerbread house. Brinley definitely got Jennifer's creative genes and came up with a very elaborate decoration. Landon was busy most of the time eating his candy. 

McKinley and Taylor wanted to go out to a couples Christmas party. So, we volunteered to watch Nora. We played with all her toys, the kids fed her dinner, read her some books, and we even wore our sunglasses at night. Jennifer helped her make some Christmas ornaments to give to her parents. 

Our last alphabet date just so happened to be the letter Z. We headed downtown for a lunch date at a restaurant called Zim’s Cafe. It was a nice little restaurant. We had a good lunch. After getting home we shared some Zebra cakes to officially close the book on the alphabet dates. 

McKinley and Taylor started a little tradition a few years ago where they would take the kids to Five Below to pick out gifts for Christmas. They get gifts for one another and for both Jennifer and I. The kids have a lot of fun picking out gifts and it is always fun to see what they get everyone. They also took Nora to eat at Chick-fil-a for the first time. 

We decided to celebrate Christmas with my parents and siblings in Columbus this year. We all headed up on December 14th to begin the festivities. We all arrived and snacked and talked before deciding it was time to open gifts. Apparently the early morning got me because I passed out. My siblings said they thought I might have narcolepsy. The kids all enjoyed opening gifts, at least I’m told they did.

The cousin crew picture gets harder for some and easier for others. Brinley is now the keeper of Nora until she can remain seated for the duration of the photo shoot. 

Next on the agenda was heading to a church that had a walk through nativity and story of the birth of Jesus. This was a really neat experience. The kids all really enjoyed getting to pet the animals at nativity. 

Next on the agenda was dinner at a place called Granddaddy’s Pizza. We all arrived and I quickly went to find the only TV in the place that was showing the UK vs Louisville game. It just so happened to be between to tables eating dinner. I didn’t care. I just wanted to watch the last five minutes of the game. Well, in that five minutes of game action the dinner plans fell apart. Nora had a meltdown (tired and hungry), there was a wait to get in the restaurant, and Eliana fell and busted her lip open. Plans quickly changed and we all headed back to Andrea’s. Only good news at Granddaddy’s Pizza is that  I got to watch the Cats finish out the win. 

That night after the kids went to bed we had our yearly sibling rivalry game. It used to be the pickle ornament competition but we got to rowdy over that so Dad comes up with some type of game for us to compete in to try and win the prize. This year consisted of 5 mini games and the winner had to win 3 of them.  There was a balancing cup challenge with ping pong ball, darts, 50 piece puzzle, maze game, and a word search. I was only able to claim victory in one, but it was my specialty the jigsaw puzzle. McKinley ended up victorious this year and took home the special edition silver coin. 

The next morning we all got up and went to watch Olivia in her ballet program of the Jr Nutcracker. She was one of the mice and she did an amazing job. She had told her mom that she was nervous because so many people were coming to watch her performance. Well, she did great in the spotlight.

We all headed over to the Rusty Bucket for lunch after the ballet. We enjoyed a nice meal together before having to head back to Lexington. 

We came back from Columbus and Landon wanted to play one of the games that he got for Christmas. Jennifer and I played Qwirkle with him. It was close, but I barely beat him. It is a fun little game. 

Brinley’s travel softball team had their annual Christmas party. Some of these people have become like extended family members we have spent so much time together. They had a gingerbread house competition and also played some squishmallow volleyball. I am ready to see how much all of these grow and develop for summer ball after working out with their respective school teams. Excited for a summer of fun at the ballpark. 

This has been one of my favorite Christmas traditions that we do as a family. Sox years ago we did this puzzle and it took us over 55 minutes. This year we did it under 29. I also think it is crazy that 4 times we have had the same last piece. I believe everyone just does the puzzle because I want to, but we all get into it once it starts. 

We all went to church in the morning, but it was the kids week to work in children’s church. So we all headed back to the night service so that we could all hear the message together and all enjoy the candlelight 

Christmas Eve I had to work for a few hours. After I got off I came home and finished up a puzzle that Andrea had gotten for me while I was recovering from surgery. Then I had heard about another church having a candlelight service so we headed over to check it out. Crossroads did a wonderful job and I am so glad that we went. Next I gave the kids and Jennifer an option of Chinese or Waffle House. They picked Waffle House. After dinner we came back home and watched Christmas movies and opened up the presents that the kids got each other. One game they got was Family Meme Night so we all played it. Brinley ended up pulling out the victory. 

Christmas morning was really different this year. It was the first time I didn’t have two children waking me up from a dead sleep to ask to open presents. Landon and I got up early and he played video games while explaining it all to me. Brinley didn’t get up until 10 am. I had just finished making breakfast so we ate before any gifts were opened. We opened gifts while watching the Disney Christmas Parade on TV. The kids opened their gifts. We spent the morning doing their Harry Potter puzzles. Earlier in the week I had asked for dinner requests. We ended up deciding on steak and shrimp, sweet potatoes, corn pudding, mac and cheese, rolls, and Olive Garden salad. 

This year we took some advice from a friend of mine and got the kids 4 things: something to wear, something to eat, something to read, and something they want. We (Jennifer) got them things for their stocking too. 

It was a beautiful day on Christmas and the weather was in the high 50's. I told Landon that we should go out and throw some lacrosse ball around. Tryouts will be here before you know it in February. 

The old guy has never let me down since I asked for peanut brittle one Christmas as a child. This year I wondered if he would be able to deliver it. Earlier in the week I had asked people about their favorite Christmas traditions. My tin of peanut brittle has become one of mine. 

Brinley had told me that in class she learned how to make monkey bread. I told her that we could make it over the break. Well, Winnie the Pooh showed up to help me bake this delicious treat. I was told afterwards that her school one was better, but she hadn’t gotten the recipe from the teacher before school let out. 

Back a couple months ago Landon asked to go to Skyzone, a trampoline park. When we got there they had a deal going on for a fall pass. If you went 3 times then it basically paid for itself. At the time Brinley said she didn’t want the pass. Well, someone has kept randomly deciding that she wanted to go jump with her brother. I have learned my lesson and I should have just gotten her the pass too. Landon has gone close to 30 times. It would be awesome if it wasn’t a twenty minute drive across town. He spends most of the time playing dodgeball so I in my head rationalize it as strengthening his throwing arm. 

He has also discovered back flips. He has gotten really good at them. Only problem he has at the trampoline park is little kids walking into the area where he is flipping. The other day I watched him hit 3 backflips consecutively. I was really impressed. 

Winter time and being stuck in the house always makes me want to do puzzles. Landon doesn’t love puzzles as much as me, but he asked me to help him with this Mario one that had been in his room for quite some time. It is really hard because it doesn’t have your traditional rectangular border. Doesn’t matter we finally knocked it out. 

Landon had been trying for quite a while to climb the taller warped wall. Well, on the last day of his fall pass he was finally able to do it! He was so proud and I know wanted to explode with excitement, but he slid down the pole and I thought we could leave. Nope, he said dad I want to do it again and he did!

My family finally agreed to take a picture in our Christmas pajamas. I told them I refused to take the tree down until we got one last picture in our Mickey Mouse pjs. 

Jennifer came up with fun games to play every hour while we waited for the ball drop. We watched Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and the fourth installment of Die Hard. We had a good time finishing off 2024 together. May 2025 be a year full of growth spiritually and to live life to the fullest everyday. In 2025 I want to be more like Jesus and less like me.