cousins and colors

 

Choice Time in Bs Class

I was set to take in 2 choices in December, but ended up so sick I couldn't make the second time.  However, I did get to take in journals for the kids to decorate (and sent in materials for the godseyes).

 

Pre Christmas Fun with Friends

Ads had his (now) annual white elephant gift exchange.

We had dinner with good friends (and she had plenty of games and craft fun for all of us).

I took a crew up to the mountains for a ski adventure (Brian was still sick but joined us later).

    Annual "Champbong" party.  We had plenty of other fun events (and some we missed due to illness), but its been a good Christmas season.

Zoo Lights

 

7-Minute Nutcracker performance

B played the part of Drosselmeyer in this year's class performance of the Nutcracker, where he even had a dance solo!  

exhibition

Exhibition this month featured the vault. I took some pics and short videos of B showing off his hard work. B does gymnastics at the very same gym that I went to many years ago, which still has photos of my old team on the wall (took a picture of one of those too just for posterity). Also included a photo from his other gymnastics class. 

School Holiday Performance

 

B and Ads performed together in their school's Winter Welcome holiday event. B wore a t-shirt and tie for the occasion and sang while "playing" a cardboard guitar.  Ads wore a sweatshirt (of course) and accompanied the group on piano. 

Tucson- Part 2

I grew up going to my dad's parents house for Christmas every year.  We had a huge gathering of my dad and his 3 brothers and all of their kids (and many other friends and extended family).  My grandma cooked huge meals and the kids played.  After my grandma died, its been tough to get everyone together in the same way.  

While we weren't all there, this Thanksgiving was the first time it felt like the big gatherings I grew up with.  

And as in typical Imig fashion, we started Thanksgiving running the Turkey Trot (the full 5K).

Our family rented an airbnb across the street from my cousin, which turned out to be useful in many ways, but especially with kitchen space.  My parents and Ads prepped some traditional dishes for our family.

My cousin made some incredible vegetarian meals (many of us are vegetarian).

These two are just 6 months apart and buddies.  We somehow came home with "Tony" (a sourdough starter that our cousin showed Ads how to feed and care for.)

My dad's older brother didn't join us, but his wife did!

And my dad's youngest brother and my aunt.

We also did an escape room together which was really fun and we escaped!

 

Tucson- Thankgiving

We drove down to Tucson for Thanksgiving to be with my dad's family.  My cousin who lives there has 2 kids that our kids adore and my cousin in Long Beach also came with a son that gets along well with our kids!

They played some video games...

Went to defy for one of their birthday parties...

We went for a long hike in the Senora National Park...

Played some VR...

Took the huge crew for a pottery day...

And swam and played croquet.  All before Thanksgiving.