We finally got out on a family run this morning, it felt good to move our bodies.

I was supposed to go for an 8 mile long run today but I feel like if I did that I would use too much energy and I would get sicker instead of getting well. I am thinking of trying for my long run Monday morning but only if I am feeling much better. Keeping things really short and easy until then. The running will be there when I am ready.

We spent the day finishing our Christmas lights and prepping gear for our first time up on the mountain to go skiing. We are really excited.

Even our elves got in on the excitement and got bundled up to ride their miniature chair lift.

Just a few updates from our Friday:

It rained outside for about 3 minutes (while it was sunny) so the kids had to go outside and dance, obviously. We spent the morning doing school and Cannon took his math final, he worked through the first grade curriculum really fast and aced his test. I am really proud of how hard he is working and the progress we are making. We need to think of something big to celebrate.

After lunch I did my PT and ran a little on the treadmill while the kids played.

Then the kids and I ran to the library to refresh our stash, I love Jan Brett books, and pick up a pizza for dinner.

Then we had a gingerbread house decorating party to go to.

It was nice to be out and see our friends again.

We are feeling better but still wore our masks because we are following the CDC guidelines, after this weekend we will back to normal.

After the kids went to bed our elves brought some play food to leave out for Santa. This little set is just the cutest and I can’t wait for the kids to see it!

What are you up to this weekend?

Catching up on the last few days with some currently:

Currently enjoying some winter weather.

and had Humphry join us for some school.

and enjoying their friendship.

Currently way too much energy at bed time.

and excited about getting our epic passes,

And currently in a very messy eating stage for Emmy.

Currently living in fleece lined joggers and Ugg Slippers (floor mat from our play kitchen).

and enjoying the elves brining us advent calendars.

Cannon got a Mario calendar and Emmy got a Littlest Pet Shop. I used to LOVE Littlest pet shop when I was a kid! Anyone else play with LPS when they were little?

Currently running everyday in December, I am sure often with the kids in tow. Cannon is ahead of me on his bike. Emmy just wanted a ride in the stroller and it took me back to the days of tiny babies riding in the bob in their car seats.

Baby Cannon 2016

Currently doing nature study on winter ponds

And playing in icicle adorned playhouses.

And reading lots of books for gingerbread week.

What are you up to currently?

The last month of the year is here and I am so excited for all the magic!

Things I am most looking forward to this month:

• Everything Christmas obviously
• All the fun baking
• Getting up skiing for the first time and seeing the mountain towns at Christmas
• Hopefully getting to celebrate with family

My goals for December are to:

• Enjoy time with family
• Get my long run up to 10 miles
• Run + PT every day
• Make our Elves of the Shelf as much fun as possible
• Take time, slow down and enjoy this season
• Plan out our 2023 camping and travel
• Stay healthy, but we don’t always have control over this

Last year we spent Christmas away from home on a super epic trip through New Mexico, Arizona and California. Spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was a dream come true. We were thinking of going on another trip this year right after Christmas but the weather isn’t as easy this year and Cory’s work is needing more so we might not. A little disappointed but I just need to start planning our next big trip so I have something to look forward to.

I feel like November went by in a flash and I don’t even know what we did. The second half was definitely a bummer with being sick but as of tomorrow we should be free to go out and start enjoying all the December festivities.

What are your plans for this December? Any big travel plans?

We were so excited to get to do the Santa Train in Georgetown again this year. We have done this ride in 2018, 2019 and 2021 but always during the day. Now that the kids are a little older we decided they could stay up a little later and take the night train that features the beautiful Christmas lights.

It snowed all night and most of the day so we were treated to a fresh layer of snow. We also had temperatures in the low teens we are not that cold hardy yet!

I love Georgetown at this time of year, they have the cutest Christmas Market the first couple of weekends in December that we will try to get back to.

The train used to run up here from Denver for the mining of Gold and Silver. Now it’s just here in Georgetown and is a fun thing to do almost any time of year.

Masks are not required this year, we are just wearing ours since we were so recently sick.

As it was we almost had the entire car to ourselves anyway. I think the recent snow kept a lot of people away since the train was sold out.

It was worth the snowy drive for the beautiful view.

The lights were so pretty and we were so glad we did the night train this year.

Santa was on the train to greet all the kids and give us candy canes and bells.

This is such a fun tradition, and Cannon said it was the best day/night ever.

Past years’ trips:

Weirdly I love Monday mornings, I love getting to get back to routine and do school with the kiddos. This week we are starting Christmas school.

We honestly don’t have a lot going on otherwise since we are still a little sick, not venturing out and we have a winter storm approaching.

We did our usual, reading, writing, math, literature and lots of stories.

Overall it was a nice quiet day but we are all looking forward to getting better and getting back to normal life.

What does your week look like?

We still don’t have a lot going on in our lives just hanging out, recovering and getting things done as we have energy.

I think this one is sooooo cute.

The kids love this one, and it’s easy. I think one of the reasons I love Elf on the Shelf is that we keep it pretty simple. If we are tired or just not feeling creative we just move where they are and the kids like finding them regardless.

We spent some time setting up the kids’ room for Christmas. I took pictures of their trees that we decorated but I should take photos of the rest of their rooms as I think there will big changes in the next year.

We also have a “kids” tree in our play loft that we all decorate together. The idea of this tree is that all the decorations aren’t breakable so the kids can play with them. This way they can have a tree they can play with and then know they aren’t allowed to touch out live tree that we have in the living room with all of our spacial decorations.

I extra love this tree because we had a kids tree growing up and my mom handed the the decorations down to us. A lot of the wood ornaments were cut by my dad and painted my either my mom or grandmother. I remember putting that plastic candy garland up on the tree growing up and I love that my kids getting to do it now too. We let them put it all up and not worry about things being “perfect”.

Cory was able to finish up the lights outside and we enjoyed some time outside playing in the backyard and driveway. Hoping that vitamin D is helping us.

We spent the rest of the day playing, resting and returning some library books.

I think this type of day will be on repeat until we are feeling better and back to real life, hopefully early next week.

Hoping PT and light cardio make a comeback tomorrow.

The Elf shenanigans are in full swing at our house and I love it.

Today they took a plain roll of paper, drew a string of lights on it and left our dot markers out. The kids had fun coloring on it all day.

We spent some time putting up our Christmas lights, I got these new porch trees this year and love them!

We are still isolating at home but feeling grateful that we have enough energy to get a few things done. Normally we are putting our main/real tree up this weekend but we can’t venture out to get it. We had planned to get a permit and go cut down our own this year but likely won’t now…maybe next year.

In our Thanksgiving box my parents gifted us a Bluey card game. They know how much we love Bluey and had planned on playing it all together after Thanksgiving. Even though we would have much rather been together it was still so fun.

Obviously Cannon (and Emerald) loved it. I will LINK it here in case you need it too, great gift or stocking stuffer.

We decided to drive around a bit to see some Christmas lights as an excuse to get out of the house. I love how some people go all out!

Do you go all out on Christmas decorations? Out of 10 I think we are about a 7 or 8 indoors and a 4 outside.

The day before Thanksgiving I was not yet sick so I went out on a run when the sun was out.

It was so so nice to run outside on our local trails.

The rest of the day was spent at home with these two cuties.

They were pretty sick, but still in good spirits, even sick days are fun with these two. We watched lots of movies, played games and read books.

Later in the day I made a little time for my PT, stretching and rolling. Doing all the things even when I don’t want to.

On Thanksgiving we were all officially sick, at least we all get to be sick and recover together.

We still baked pies, both dutch apple and pumpkin pie. We all worked together, we love cooking with the kids.

We made thankful crafts, I love hand print turkeys so much.

I love that both kids are into crafts now!

We didn’t get to go to our planned family dinner but we did get a thanksgiving to go box from my mom to take home with (the best) turkey and all the trimmings.

No running for me in the last couple days as I was advised to avoid exercise so all my energy could go to recovery. I plan to start including some PT and easy spinning on my indoor bike while I continue to recover.

Please tell me how your holiday was.