The 2024 holiday season was the first in over a decade that I took “off” and set aside all my work. Ironically, my brain buzzed with brand-new book ideas every few hours, and I had to mentally whisper, “OMG pleaseee hold onto that for me until 2025!”

Anyway, we kicked off the holiday season with a princess party at our favorite neighbor’s house, and Baby G. attended as Cinderella (the birthday girl was Snow White). I’m still vacuuming glitter out of my car from the bracelets and shiny gift bags. <3

We made homemade rolls & cookies every day (I have the extra pounds to prove it) & I realized that after all these years of eating super crispy cookies that eating them fresh off the pan may be better. But only a little. (Thanks, Mister G.)

We donned matching avocado pajamas for Christmas, and everything under the tree was for Baby G–including this horse that Mister G put together.

Now, this year, she took an interest in actually opening presents, but she became obsessed with the horse and making her new mini Barney* doll some pretend ice cream, so…That was that.

*Have I mentioned that Baby G. LOVESSS Barney? Not the new CGI-crap Barney that I will definitely rant about later, but the old-school purple-costume dinosaur that reigned in the nineties. The Barney *I* watched and loved as a child. There’s a channel that plays episodes all day, and whenever it’s “screen time,” she lights up with excitement whenever the theme music begins.

The day after Christmas, we drove to Nashville to hang out with Baby G’s cousin (Baby S.), and the two of them decided that the best way to spend the evening was riding around a cove in a Barbie car.

I also tried custard for the very first time at this place called “Whit’s,” and I feel like I’ve missed out on this my entire life! We had pizza at Sunshine’s but unfortunately, it was karaoke night. Soooo, we had to get out of there after sitting through one too many drunken performances.

The days leading up to 2025 allowed me to have some of the BEST SLEEP (& movie nights) I’ve had in forever, and I know I’ll cherish this season for the years to come!

F.L.Y. + Hope your season was awesome, too!

Whit

P.S. Mister G snapped this picture at some point O_o