Merry Christmas 2021!!!

To be 100% honest, Christmas this year for me was rough. As the first Christmas since my separation, I was pretty emotional. I am happy to report that Damien had a great one so I'm very thankful for that. I couldn't do it without the unwavering support from my family. 

Tablet time

Ready for Christmas morning!

This is hands-down the best present I could have ever received from Damien. I almost cried after reading it!

Damien also decorated a bottle and made a crystal for me at school. He's so sweet!

Merry Christmas!

First off are the gifts I bought myself from money I received from my parents and grandma. I used my new slow cooker for my Christmas roast and it turned out great--yay!

I also bought myself an AeroGarden which I've wanted to try for years and a bubble tea set with a cute cup.

VIDEO: Opening Presents

I also got a solid chocolate Hersey's kiss and a US themed rosary from my parents.
So the rundown of gifts for Damien are as follows:
From Grandma and Grandpa Hanks: a solid chocolate Hersey's kiss, a gold rosary, a voice changer (thanks for that), squishy eyeballs, and a 15 lb. weighted blanket.
From Great Grandma and Tom: Mario Party Superstars and two VR video games
From his friend Elijah: Roblox mystery boxes

Scott came over later in the morning for round two of gifts. From Grandpa Whitehill, Damien got new Switch controllers and rechargeable batteries.

Opening a gift

From Great Grandma and Grandpa Whitehill, a giant Hersey's kiss (this kid LOVES chocolate I think more than I do).

Lastly, from Scott and I: An Oculus Quest 2 VR headset with a carrying case.

Being silly lol

As always, thank you to everyone for the Christmas presents! Very much appreciated :D

VIDEO: Voice Changer

VIDEO: VR - Job Simulator

VIDEO: VR - Until You Fall

Trying out the new VR system. Damien picked out his two VR games already: Job Simulator where you can pick from a bunch of odd jobs (mechanic, chef, office worker, etc.) and Until You Fall which is where you fight bad guys with swords. Quite the workout!

We've had a lot of snow since Christmas! I don't think the pictures I take ever quite show it well enough.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

 Almost another month later...I can't believe it's ALMOST Christmas. Wow. It really snuck up on me this year. Things at work have been busy, which isn't anything new. Damien is doing well. I'm just looking forward to a wonderful Christmas together. 

Damien cracks me up with his creativity. His use of the doge dog as a fast food worker who says "This job is torcher (torture)." LOL

It's been difficult to wake up in the winter months and a sunrise alarm clock was suggested to me. It really helps!

Thanksgiving this year went well. Damien and I were invited over to my supervisor's house to spend it with him and his family. Damien had a great time playing with the kids. Personally I found the socialization piece to be quite exhausting, but I figured it would be a nice way for Damien to spend the holiday. 

I got the tree up the day after Thanksgiving. I also bought a new star for the top this year

At the end of Nov, Damien's school held a Family STEM Night. They served us pizza and then they had various science activities throughout the school to do together as a family. Damien and I spent most of our time with the Spheros activity where you program a robot ball. It was a lot of fun and I'm glad we went.

Using the tablet to enter commands that controls the ball

Spheros Video

I created an edible soil (pudding, oreos, and marshmallows)

I asked Damien if he needed soap and he said yes and that his bar was getting low. I went to look and THIS was what was left. HILARIOUS! That is the smallest bar of soap I've ever seen in my life!

At the beginning of Dec we had a blizzard and got about 7 inches of snow.

Due to the blizzard I decided to start a puzzle!

Last min I decided to go to my squadron's holiday party. We didn't win anything, but it was a nice time. Damien just woke up from a nap right before this pic. I love it :D

After the blizzard it was cold for the rest of the week and the snow didn't melt so we went sledding. Damien FINALLY got to use the new sled he received last year for Christmas.

Sledding Video

I finished the puzzle this week! Damien helped finish it up, but otherwise wasn't really interested in it.