A Pattern of Words

A quiet end to 2025.

Bringing the birthday girl her gift! Pancake birthday brunches are my favorite types of birthdays.

Wearing my dress from roughly 33 years ago, handmade by my Mama and my Mamele.

Some days they’re besties and some days…they’re not.

In the past year I’ve stepped away from social media more than ever before (with constant sliding back into bad habits, for sure). But this makes receiving Christmas cards even more special than ever before. ❤ I value each and every one!

I forgot how much of a hit ANY craft gift is at this age, but thankfully V did not and picked out this Paw Patrol painting set. The girls were completely enraptured with it. (perfect for Boxing Day laziness!)

Christmas dinner at our house. When our neighbors moved last spring, they put out about 10 boxes of Christmas things they were purging, including multiple brand new, still packaged Christmas crackers (like the British ones you pull). They were a HIT with the adults. Even I didn’t realize they actually “snap” with smoke and all! Each came with a toy and a paper crown and a joke and made for lots of fun throughout the meal.

Did we eat chicken parmesan and noodles for Christmas day? Yes, we absolutely did. It was delicious. (Aciu to Linas and Mama!)

My house is where I get cozy, colored-light energy and V’s house is where I get classy, calming, white-light peace.

After a wonderful family weekend with the N’s, the Monday before Christmas came pell-mell with cleaning and baking and all the things.

Games and acrobatics and all sorts of cousinly high jinx.