Emma’s Secret Hideout

Emma made herself a fort behind the recliner. She asked to sleep there, but I said no since she has been waking up every night crying. But she enjoys playing there during the day. We have been enjoying the lazy days of winter break. 

How she left it last night when she went to bed.

She was mostly being silly. She hasn’t been super obsessed with presents this year. 

Playing opossum.

Riding a donkey

Daddy came home early today. 😁 

Tea House

We went to the Tea House today with some friends. A great way to spend time on Christmas break!

Chef Emma

I have been trying to update the blog, but it has been giving me trouble lately. I think I need to stick to short posts. 

Last week I was finishing up all the Christmas craziness of shopping, mailing, etc. I was so busy I offhandedly asked Emma to make dinner. So she did. And she was very proud of herself. And we ate it. 

I also baked about 20 dozen cookies for the cookie crunch on base. The pinwheels were Emma’s idea. 


They turned out pretty good!




All ready for her Christmas program at Church

Weekends with Daddy home!

We are all enjoying having Daddy home every day! Even if he is busy, which he has been, we know we will see him some each day...AND the next day! Before if he was busy on an off day we could go like 3 or 4 days without seeing him much at all. This weekend he had his wood working class, and Emma and I went my friend’s art sale. We also did other random things, but mostly it was nice to have him home for both days! 

Opossums. Although I think Daddy wishes he was really asleep.

See her smile?

Trying on Daddy’s fire helmet 

Someone didn’t eat her lunch and was starving for dinner. After eating all her grilled cheese and tomato soup, she shared some ramen with Daddy. With seaweed. 😝 they both love it, I do not.

Christmas tree, take 2

Well we are getting ready for the next two weeks that are filled with Christmas parties and other activities. Last night I had a PWOC event, and when I got home I saw a lovely little tree all decorated. We never did find a tree stand, and our real tree is looking sad. Steven has gotten this tree at the thrift shop on base. He also got a desk too tree for Emma. He told her she could have it when her room was clean. So they cleaned her room and she got her tree. 

It was weird for Emma to help with a fake tree. I don’t think she knew they existed. She told me they had to put it together. And told her friend she had a fake Christmas tree....I don’t think he understood. Most people have fake ones here, so not sure he knew what a real one was. 

Here is the front of her from the last post. 

New schedule

Today Steven started his new schedule. He is on 8 hours, which means he will be home every night. I don’t think he has been home every night for dinner for at least 3 years, maybe more. We are all excited. He woke up early this morning, so he went in early...and came home early. He did homework with Emma, and I made pfeffernusse while Emma did some crafting. Then we all ate dinner together. I think this will be a good change. 

We had a good earthquake this morning. Neither Steven nor Emma felt it, but I did. More things wiggled than normal, too. Probably because we were so close to the epicenter.

I have been making pfeffernusse for like 12 years. I have never had so much trouble with it as I have had this year. First my dough was too dry and crumbled, I couldn’t even pick up the cookies to move them without them crumbling. So we added water and chilled it again. Well, I added too much water and now they are sticky and spread when baked. 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️ if you get pfeffernusse this year, I’m sorry it’s weird.

I am still working on my French braiding skills. Aunt Grace game me some tips, but I think I’m still making some mistakes. For starters I think I’m puking I’m too much hair each time? I will keep trying. And I should have taken a picture of the front of her! We got this cute nightgown at the thrift shop!