New year, new blog book! It's time for another blog dump because I refuse to give up on this blog. As writer Jerry Seinfeld says, "Don't break the chain. But if you do, continue the next day and start a new one." I haven't broken the blog chain that I started in 2006 yet (I've just taken some hefty breaks here and there) and I don't intend to start now that things around here are getting more and more interesting! We've got life to document here, people!
And since we are already a quarter of the way into 2025 on the day that I'm writing this (April 2, 2025), it seems only appropriate to jump back to January 1st and capture just as many memories from the last three months as I possibly can remember. Pictures and blog posts shape our memories beautifully!
In January, we had to get back to life on the 2nd! So on the 1st, we took down all signs of the glorious Christmas season and got ready to get back to school.
The boys gifted Leah a variety of cheeses for her birthday, and we all enjoyed sampling them and choosing favorites. I think the last of the cheese lasted until the end of February.
The kids finished out winter break with so many rounds of Gang Beasts - this silly game makes them all laugh and laugh and laugh.
Instead of plain old New Year resolutions, they opted for 2025 Bingo cards!
In January, we finished the built-ins! Just 11 months after we started the project, and they turned out so beautifully.
Before-
and after!
One night I had some friends over to watch Wicked- one brought Glinda and Elphaba cookies!
With our newly finished built-ins, I much prefer the treadmill to be in the still unfinished exercise room. But I still wanted as much mid-winter daylight as I could possibly get, even if it meant blocking the door to get a glimpse of the window!
In January I had a fancy lunch with Ellen!
Emma started going to stake dances this year! Adam helped her prepare for her first dance.
Just a few months of dancing together for these cuties (Leah came home from the first one and said she felt more like a chaperone than a teenager).
We didn't entirely fail at archery this year, but it was a pretty sad showing for the Morales family overall. Noah rocked the sport though!
He's a good and serious shooter.
In January, my girls left me surprise photos like this-
We played all the games!
Adam and Noah got creative with their Sunday Lego bowties. Noah's fireworks had to stay home, unfortunately.
We received the rendering of the Des Moines, Iowa temple! It is going to be stunning.
The Swahili group became a branch! This is a miracle!
Noah received the Aaronic priesthood as a deacon and Adam became a priest! We are so grateful for the blessings of the priesthood and the opportunities they give these good young men to serve!
So long Primary!
In January, Laney's arch nemesis returned (the school bus). She promptly resumed her afternoon lookout - she loves when that rotten big bus spits the kids back out again!
When making your sibling squeal becomes a form of entertainment, the fighting shirt comes out. Except the fighting shirt doesn't fit these grown babies anymore, so the fighting belt had to do the trick. Look at each other until you like each other!
Pup snuggles make everything better.
Everyone was sick in January. Thank goodness for snuggly blankets and fluids and naps.
Our favorite winter hack- escape to warmer climates! Just kidding, this was an epic but very cold day at the Omaha zoo.
Brave Noah was willing to check out the butterfly exhibit, but he was still a bit jumpy about being in there with all those dodgy insects!
Emma makes us all laugh all the time because she is willing to do the things that some of the kids would be mortified by, like running into the aquarium like a possessed orangutan.
Recreating a picture from our newlywed days,
Or sitting on the same cactus year after year after year.
We love the zoo! But even better, that evening, we met Adam and Dad(e) for a huge milestone - our family's first time all together in the temple!
After years and years of waiting outside, it was finally Noah's turn to go inside! I loved being inside the temple with my favorite people.
In January, we made treats that the Ronald McDonald House. The last time we were there we visited with a family whose son/grandson had suddenly passed away, this time we chatted with a family whose premature baby was on her way back home! We have so, so much to be grateful for in our boring, healthy life.
Not sure what was out the window, but clearly it was exciting!
Noah and I have taken turns hiding this green frog for each other to find for months. In January, Laney found it and chewed it all up, leaving little behind but his beady black eyes.
Good thing she's so cute, because she's the worst dog we've ever had.
In January, we got to visit Gwenny the cat and her hostage step-brother Robert. It's fun to get cat play time too!
Leah finally, really and truly started her job at the RecPlex in January!
We spent a whole lot of time at show choir competitions in January. That is a whole new world that deserves its own post.
Emma and I had a date at Panera in January. This time she got the grilled cheese sandwich that she loves!
I guess Noah died in January. RIP, little buddy.
This just looks like a cold and regular day in January - kids wrapped up in blankets, window shades pulled down to keep in heat, slightly crazed look in our eyes. I'm thinking that we had a 'snow day' this day because the temperatures were just too low to leave the house.
We continued to enjoy all of the offerings at the library in January! I have a testimony of the library and I know that it is true! Our favorite winter obsession from the library was the puzzles - we've had a puzzle table up nonstop all year!
Ducks continue to brighten our winter!
Emma continues to crack us up - a burrito!
And we just plugged along through the coldest and longest of the days. January in Iowa is not for the faint of heart!
But when we spot 12 deer moving through the yard in one morning,
or witness a sunset like this,
we know life is pretty great.
