I had deemed this week the week of no. You may have seen that on the forum. You’ll have to log in to be able to read the post btw. Thankfully I did deem it so. I had a lot going on.

My oldest got her license finally on Tuesday. I can tell you that yes, it does make a difference living in district to how I feel about this. We live in district and she looks so much like me there is no mistaking who she is before checking her id. Then we know a lot of people in the town next to us that are fire as well so we have it covered there too. Then cops in both towns and the county cops. We’re golden for coverage. lol

The first day we were sending her out it was raining cats and dogs. It’s the Seattle area, this is how it’s always going to be. Nothing like getting over my fear of her driving alone by throwing her out in a downpour to pick up her brother. I wanted to send money with her and promptly forgot. I remembered well that when I first took my brother out we didn’t go home. Thankfully the youngest had some cash on him because of course he texted they were going to the store. Aww adult bonding, brings a tear to the eye. OK, eyes, stop picking on me.

I had a major proposal to write up that day and it was completely out of my comfort zone. Like freaking out, out of my comfort zone. It didn’t pan out at this time but so many things have come from me taking that step that I’m stuck with a permagrin. I grew a lot on Tuesday. I also opened up a lot to a group that I’ve been a member of for many years. Creeped them out with my honesty but that’s how it goes lol

Now we’re off to the start of a new month. This month hubby only has his “k” day off. Then he also has 2 extra days that he took as shift trades to cover the most amazing summer we’ve ever had planned. Which is a good thing because it’s also the summer before our oldest goes into her senior year.

The winds are a changin’ I’m going along for the ride quite well at the moment. Other moments not so well. But I’m excited for the future. The possibilities, the fun, the personal growth. What are you looking forward to this week?

Oh what a day!

No, I didn’t schedule this post. I’d actually planned on it being a Christmas Eve post but I missed that by a bit. lol It’s 1:30am right now as I start this post and it’s been busy, busy, busy. But it’s been very cool since hubby was on shift and very different than other holiday shifts. It could have been pretty sad easily and I’m thankful for the help making it more fun.

I’d like to start with a disclaimer that I’m up so late because I had to finish my Mom’s present. Of which I could have finished how long ago? My fault completely there. BUT then I also had to wrap other presents. See, hubby was busy harassing me to make a list for over a month of what I wanted for Christmas, but he just made his final list 4 days ago. Yes, that gave me a ton of shopping time didn’t it? Plus it wasn’t the same stuff he was talking about a month ago, then not the same stuff that he said he wanted 2 weeks ago. Got stuff off his list an finally figured out what to get my family as well. Next year I really need to plan that out better.

Thankfully, I was able to buy his Kindle Fire straight out of my own money so I could hide the purchase. We’ll see how it youtubes. That’s the biggest thing he will be doing with it so I think it will work just fine.

When he works on a holiday it kinda sucks. But I try putting new traditions in when I can. If I need them, then of course the kids do as well. I have brought these kids up with odd traditions because of our odd schedule over the years with construction and fire. I was going in with a combo of some previous years plans before the talk went out to have Christmas Even dinner at the station.

Working at the main station means planning any event there can be kind of a joke. It’s generally really busy. However, we all tried to plan for that. We have a Ronco Rotisserie and used it to cook the beef. It didn’t take long and they could set it and forget it. The kids and I were coming in during that time so there was no emergency issue. None of us want to burn down the station. How embarrassing would that be?! All the other wives brought in dishes to share. We had PLENTY of food.

The guys were just cleaning up and most of the dishes done when the tones went off. We got darn lucky with the timing. It was just us girls with the kids waiting to see how long the call would be. We’re all comfortable with each other so it was different than hanging out has been in the past. Fun time chatting a bit, catching up and eventually giving up on the guys coming right back. Lot’s of other stuff we all had to do.

The kids and I then drove around looking at Christmas lights for a couple of hours and annoying each other with music. I wish I had enough power outlets to create the smurf house in red at our house. It was amazing and pictures just can’t give you even close to an idea of how bright it is. Their neighbors must have to get blackout shades to sleep.

I hope you have a Merry Christmas with your family no matter where they may be this year. Look at creating new traditions wherever possible