As is tradition, we celebrated Christmas Eve at Ellen’s house. But not before showcasing my many smiles in front of our decorated tree for the obligatory Christmas Eve photoshoot!

But gone are the days when the camera focused on just me and my snappy bowtie. This year, there was a new cutie in the picture. (My sister. She’s the one on the right. In case you’re struggling to identify which one of us is the cutie.)

We arrived at Ellen’s after mom was somewhat satisfied with her snapshots, and although I was excited to experience the holiday with Genesee, I immediately ditched her so that I could play in the basement with friends, eat holiday ham and meatballs at the big kid’s table, track Santa’s whereabouts online (He was in New Zealand), and run laps around Garrett and Morgan’s new house! Of course, I reunited with my sister once it was time to unwrap her generous gift from Ellen. Because Genesee doesn’t have gift-opening skills yet. And because I’m thoughtful like that. Just call me “Santa’s little greedy helper.”

All in all, Christmas Eve was a blast! I hated to leave such a fun family party, but we needed to return home to execute my Rudolph pajamas wardrobe change and to leave a note for Santa in case I missed him.

And as the story goes, I did miss him, while I snored away underneath fleecey-warm sheets. But luckily, he didn’t miss us…

‘Tis the season to eat your heart out! So, last weekend, I decided to forego my trusty, much-adored, fleecey pants and replaced them with loungy bottoms that had a little more elastic! This brilliant strategy allowed me to overconsume delicious, homemade cookies (baked from Grandma’s cookie dough and sprinkled with love by yours truly) AND fully enjoy scrumptious, homemade pizza (with toppings galore that covered Birrittella’s freshly-tossed, authentic, New York pizza dough).

Even Genesee got into the spirit, by chowing down on her first solid food: sweet potatoes! (She did awesome!!)

Clearly, we all love Stretchy Pants Season, especially when surrounded by family and friends!

There are some drawbacks to having such a cool, chill, mild-tempered, good-natured, practically perfect baby sister:

1. She often makes me look bad. (Genesee is a good-listening, never-gets-sassy, content little sweetheart who sleeps in her own bed, only cries when it’s necessary, and finishes all her meals.)
2. Ear infections go undetected (Since G doesn’t whine or put up a fuss, we get no indication if something is wrong.)
3.  Hmmm… This is kind of a short list. Since I’m struggling to identify an additional downside to my wonderful sister, please refer back to #1.

Poor Genesee! We weren’t even going to make a trip to see the doctor,  but decided to get her cough checked out. Turns out, we discovered an ear infection instead.

On a brisk December night, amidst the calm of fluttering snowflakes, darkness fell over my school and transformed the complex into a magnificent Candyland! The teachers had previously sent us home for the day, but invited all families back for a holiday open house. Of course, since I’m always down for a good after-party, you bet I showed up with bells and whistles and my santa-antler-headband!

The dress code was casual: Holiday pajammies
The menu was delicious: Sugar hors d’oeuvres
The agenda was simple: Have fun.

And, oh what fun I had! Through the Lollipop Woods and across the Gumdrop Mountains, I loved skipping from room to room, exploring the outer limits of every sweet activity. I even discovered Santa Claus waiting for me somewhere between Licorice Castle and Cupcake Commons. So naturally, I told him all of my “needs,” then repeated all of my needs, gave him a big hug, and finally shouted, “Love you Santa!” before finding my merry way back through the Peppermint Forest.

It. Was. Awesome.

Pre-party at Carlos O’Kelly’s

We have arrived! Let. Us. In.

This reindeer is ready!

The rainbow balloon bridge!

I took the path less traveled.

Follow the candyland path

Gumdrop Mountains

Lollipop Woods

Posing with Santa

“Listen up, Santa. I need…”

“In summary, ….”

The whole fam!

Ice Cream Slopes

Do I want a tootatt?!

Don’t mind if I do!

Licorice Castle

Ring toss?

Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy

Peppermint Forest

Gingerbread bean bag toss? I got this!

Cupcake Commons

Cookie frosting station

The taste-test is a success

Candy Castle

The teachers love me!

Super Genesee!

Me and the rents

Mom & Dad (photo credit: Me)

Me and mom

My adventure resulted in nothing but rave reviews and sticky fingers. But beware the other side of Candyland… It’s a dark, quiet, not-fun place called Sleepyland, which I highly do not recommend.

Note to self: Never leave the Candyland premises.

As the clock struck December, we went in search of holiday cheer at Big Al’s Pizzeria, and found it on our taste buds that tingled from the satisfaction of deliciously ooey, gooey calzones.

Then we took our happy, overstuffed bellies to Riverside Park, in search of more holiday cheer, and found it illuminating the sky, as we skipped through the spectacular, sparkling, and-oh-so-magical Rotary Light show.

Finally, to confirm that December joy had spread to other zip codes, we followed the railroad tracks to Sparta, and indeed, we found holiday cheer dancing across the faces of every child perched on the shoulders of giants.

I love this time of year and all the holiday cheer. It’s easy. It’s everywhere. It’s Christmas!

Our little 4-pounder is getting bigger. On November 26th, Genesee turned 4 months old…

… and at her Well Child appointment 2 days later, she suddenly weighed 12 lbs! (and 4 oz.)

Impressive, right? Well, with everybody celebrating, I was afraid it all just went to her head… literally. And just as I suspected, while Genesee’s weight scored in the 11th percentile and her 23-inch length came in at the 15th percentile, it was my sister’s big, bobblehead that landed her in the 61st percentile after the tape measure circling her head marked 41 cm!!

I’m not gonna lie… my ego was a little bruised by her stats that put my documented head measurements to shame, but it’s not a competition. I’m just happy to see my sister growing.

Because I can’t wait until her legs are big enough to chase, but never catch me. I can’t wait until her arms are strong enough to wrestle, but never pin me. I can’t wait until I win every other contest that doesn’t involve head circumference. I can’t wait to spend my whole life overcompensating for my below-average, underachieving, but definitely cute peanut head.

I’m not mad. I’m just happy to see my sister growing.

For the record, however, Genesee cried like a baby when the nurse administered her shots. Let’s all remember how I didn’t blink an eye when the needle broke my skin last month.

Luckily, it’s not a competition.

Mom’s maternity leave ended, so I started my new school today….

“I’m not crying; you’re crying.”

Is it unreasonable to scream and sob like a blubbering mess if your parents have the audacity to leave you in the care of a reputable daycare facility while they head to their offices to earn money so that they can responsibly provide food, shelter, and Matchbox cars for their children?  (Asking for a friend.)

“I want to go home.”

“But I don’t know anyone’s names!”

“Please don’t leave me here with these friendly teachers.”

Okay, so maybe I shed a few tears upon arrival at my new school, but only because I was concerned that we were leaving Genesee in the hands of total strangers. What a terrifying situation for little G…

Okay, so maybe sissy conducted herself more gracefully than me, but in my defense, she didn’t understand the gravity of the situation. She’s young, and carefree, and oblivious, and must not have seen our parents get in the car. And drive away. WITHOUT US.

It should be noted, however, that I quickly recovered from my meltdown. Especially since I boarded a school bus at 8:45 a.m. for a field trip to Viterbo University to see the play, Pete the Cat. I sat in between my new teacher, Ms. Nichole, and my new friend Abbi. We giggled a lot. “It was so silly!”

It was lunchtime once we returned to my new school, so I enjoyed Beef Stroganoff, green beans, and mandarin oranges before taking a nap, checking in on my sister, and then burning off some energy at the playground.

Finally, as the sun began to set on my outdoor fun time, I SPOTTED MY PARENTS!!!!!!!! IN THE PARKING LOT!!!!!!! BECAUSE THEY RETURNED!!!!! I mean, no big deal. I knew they would. Just as they promised, just as they always have, and just like they will again tomorrow. No problem. I’ve got this. Actually, the day was way more fun than my morning screams would lead you to believe.

Wait. Did someone say I have to do this all over again tomorrow?

P.S. There’s a “Hudson” in my class!! It’s not the same as my best friend Hudson from campus, but kind of! This new school thing might work out after all.

When December is near, my family embarks on an adventure to fill our home with the spirit of Christmas and the scent of Evergreen. But since Genesee is too young to fully appreciate my most-anticipated holiday, I’ve carefully constructed a step-by-step process for her to review once she’s prepared to be a more active participant in the Goodenough tradition:

1. On the ride to the Christmas Tree Farm, play walkie-talkie with family in the accompanying truck because that’s way more fun than conversing with family members right beside you. (No offense, mom & dad!)

   

2. Enjoy a hearty Perkins breakfast of rainbow-sprinkled pancakes (compliments of Grandma & Grandpa) and consume enough calories to keep a syrup smile on your face.
   

   

   

   
3. Arrive at Patterson’s Tree Farm and search for the biggest, hugest, most enormous Fraser Fir the world has ever seen.

   

4. Allow yourself to get distracted once in a while so you can pretend you’re a reindeer.
5. Settle on a smaller tree because Dad is the one with the chainsaw.
   

   

   

   
6. Document everyone’s tree-finding success by saying “Cheese” in front of each tree.
   

   

   

   

   

   
7. Bring the outdoors indoors by placing that Fraser in a tree stand and hoping it remains erect throughout the season.

   

8. Sweet-talk Grandpa into inviting us over for a Grasshopper ice cream drink in celebration of the most wonderful time of the year.
   

   

   
9. Return home with a full bully to decorate so hard you break a sweat… and three ornaments. But who’s counting? (Answer: Mom)
   

   

   

   

   
10. Sit back, relax, admire your tree, and impatiently wait for Christmas to hurry up and get here!

    

Genesee’s first Thanksgiving was one she’ll never remember. It consisted of the same old, bland menu and some snore-worthy conversation that left her uninspired and mostly asleep.

But, my sister isn’t rude. She’s just an adorable infant who only consumes milk, requires lots of sleep, and is still increasing her long-term memory capacity.

For the rest of us, Thanksgiving Day was memorable, delicious, and entertaining (thanks to me & Cortney), although it wasn’t the same without Uncle Harley’s stories and laughter echoing throughout the room.

Still, despite missing Harley and many other loved ones, we gather anyway to feed the soul, celebrate togetherness (whether in spirit or presence), and to always remember. Because we know there is joy in connection, that the recipes hold secrets of comfort, and the holiday season has the possibility of magic… if only you believe.

Appetizers!

One of the lovely hosts!

Mini Fruit Pizzas!

The food has earned my seal of approval!

Look at that spread!

Gobble, gobble!

Thanks for Giving all this yummy food, Grandma & Grandpa!

Time to eat!

And…. go!

Genesee wonders when she gets to eat.

Aunt Mary snuggles with G.

Storytime with Uncle Peter and Jeff.

Uncle Peter and G

Morgan meets Genesee.

Genesee and Aunt Ellen

The entertainment. (A ticketed event)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tuesday was my last day at the Campus Child Center. It was bittersweet. “Bitter” because I’m going to miss this place. “Sweet” because I brought cupcake treats to share!

It was also Hoedown day, so I got to dress up in my Western clothes and Nashville boots! We sang and danced and played. But at day’s end, my smile turned upside down as I emptied my locker and gave final hugs to the teachers and friends whom I’ve grown up with over the past two years.

As I walked out the door, questions flooded my mind… Will I ever see Hudson again? What about all my college buddies? And the university functions I like to frequent? Or spontaneous lunches with mom? Will I make friends at my new school?

I know that I’m resilient, and I typically adapt well to change, and I trust that my friendly personality will aid my transition to a new environment….. but goodbyes are hard. I sure hope my hellos will be easier.