Gingerbread Chaos, Candlelight Dinners, and Wisdom Teeth Shenanigans {December 2024}

Well, December’s wrapping up, and as usual, it’s been a whirlwind of holiday chaos, traditions, and a little bit of extra joy. It’s time to catch up on some of the most memorable moments that made this December one for the books (and, dare I say, a little bit wilder than usual). Buckle up, here comes the rundown!

Let’s kick things off with the gingerbread house competition. If you know Jessica and Grayson, you know they don’t just make gingerbread houses. Oh no, no, no. They took the challenge to heart. We’re talking about elaborate architectural masterpieces with frosting that could rival the top-tier bakeries of Paris.

What did I contribute, you ask? Well, I stuck to my usual role: sitting back, sipping hot cocoa, and pretending not to notice when things got “competitive.” There may or may not have been frosting wars, the occasional gingerbread roof collapse, and one dramatic moment where Grayson nearly threw the whole thing out because of one crooked wall. But in the end, they both proudly displayed their “creations,” which, let’s be real, were basically just sugar-coated chaos in house form.

Next up, our ongoing tradition of dinner by candlelight all through December. Nothing says “festive” like eating dinner by flickering candles and pretending you’re in a Christmas movie, right? Sure, the kids grumble about the lack of overhead lighting (because apparently the ability to see what’s on your plate is important?), but hey—it’s a family tradition that’s here to stay. It adds just enough romance and just enough chaos to make even the simplest dinner feel like a special event. It's the little things that makes this season unforgettable.

Oh, and speaking of unforgettable… Abby came home just in time to bless us all with her famous Saramele (Romanian cabbage rolls). Let me tell you—this is not just food. It’s an experience. A heavenly, meaty, saucy, rolled-up experience that makes you wonder how you’ve lived your life without it.

Every time Abby makes her Saramele, we basically just sit down, eat until we’re in a food coma, and talk about how we should probably make it more often (but we never do, because let’s be real—it’s a labor of love). So thank you, Abby, for saving us from the ordinary. You always manage to make every meal feel like a celebration.

Now, if you thought this December was chill, then you haven’t heard about the epic saga of Jess and Nate getting their wisdom teeth removed on the same day. Yes, you heard me correctly. Both of them, on the same day, in the same car, off to get those teeth yanked.

As a mom, I took immense joy in purchasing their surgery T-shirts—because if they were going to be sedated, they might as well do it in style. Actually, we were on the way to Lethbridge when I remembvered the instruction for them to each wear short sleeve shirts for easier administration of IVs etc. They only had long sleeve hoodies on, so I was forced to run into WallMart and find something for them both. I didn't have long to choose, but I think I found the best designs for the moment. 

But the real fun began when they came home. Watching these two sedated psychos navigate recovery together was like witnessing a live-action sitcom. Jess could not stop crying, agonizing over the fact that the nurses "just did such a good job and she never got to thank them."  Meanwhile, Nate, who had somehow morphed into a philosopher, kept asking deep questions like "What's wrong with Jessica?"  At one point, I looked back to find the two of them practicing how to flip ME the bird. Their fingers were not quite doing what they wanted them to. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed every second of that chaos.     It was pure gold.