December was jam packed with festive events this year. I think that being gone for almost a week for our Disney trip and having a shorter winter break for the kids made the month fly by, and we fit a LOT into December.
In fact, the very first day of the month brought the return of one of our favorite events: Tuba Christmas! Luke hasn't been able to attend since 2019 (COVID caused it to be canceled in 2020, and the event conflicted with our marching band banquet in 2021 & 2022). However, this year, the date was open and Luke convinced 3 other tubists from NWHS to join him in playing at the concert:
It was a wonderful evening of music, and we were once again amazed at how lovely an ensemble made entirely of low brass sounds. I was so proud of our 4 NWHS tuba players for sharing their love of music with the community and performing Christmas carols on a Friday evening for fun. What awesome kids!
Mark and I had a date night to attend Wake Forest LoveFeast that Sunday, and this is one of my very favorite Christmas traditions. It is a gorgeous service that brings me to tears every year with its beauty. There's nothing that gets me in the true Christmas spirit more than this act of worship:
We had the honor of attending the June Alice Memorial Regatta (JAMR) this December for the first time. Luke's beloved rowing coaches, Scott and Katie Jones, began this regatta to honor the life of their first daughter, who was born stillborn. The JAMR reminds us all that we only get one life, and is a day that we remember and celebrate that life. They began a non-profit that supports parents of stillborn babies by providing bouquets of flowers to moms as they leave the hospital. June's Bouquets brings beauty to women in their darkest hour, and ensures that mothers do not leave the hospital empty handed. Scott and Katie are incredible people who took the worst thing that ever happened to them and transformed it into a blessing to others. Their work has expanded to hospitals all over the country, and Luke's rowing team is a community of support. The JAMR was a morning filled with love, joy, racing, treats, and celebration:
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| NCRC Youth Rowing Team. |
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| My boy, doing what he loves on the water. |
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| Leah joined the JAMR relay by biking on land. |
The Running of the Balls has been on my December bucket list ever since we moved to NC ten years ago. This is an annual night-time 5K through the Sunset Hills area of Greensboro, and it's a giant block party of thousands of people. There's live music, hot chocolate, and streets decorated with lit Christmas Balls. The run/walk raises money for our local food bank, and it was SO MUCH FUN! Millie joined us for the race, and had the best time enjoying the lights and festive atmosphere.
Mark was the emcee for the Ugly Sweater Day/Contest at church this year. This photo doesn't fully capture the ridiculousness of his outfit... his suit had actual flashing Christmas lights. This guy's got holiday style, for sure!
The annual FOL Christmas party is always a fun night (which starts out with a respectable sit down dinner and ends with middle-aged parents dancing to 90's hip hop and rapping into microphones). It's a great night out with friends, and I didn't allow Mark to wear his Christmas suit to this party:
Luke's winter rowing season means that he has practice 5 nights/week, so Peanut was in charge of putting most of the ornaments on the tree this year. Thankfully, Santa Millie helped her:
We do a mini-family Christmas with the 4 of us before we celebrate with extended family. It is our tradition to exchange gifts that we buy each other and go out to dinner before the craziness of Christmas morning. This year's celebration will be noted as the one where Luke received a bathrobe from Leah and hasn't taken it off since mid-December:
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| Hot Sauce kit. |
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| Back to Back presents. |
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MixTape 80's candy!
Mama loves a good theme (carried over from band season). |
December also included Luke's winter band concert, holiday gatherings with friends and neighbors, and several school events. The kids and I volunteered at Samaritan Ministries (the soup kitchen in Winston-Salem) over Winter Break, and I share these photos as proof that Luke does, in fact, know how to clean, cook, and wash dishes (contrary to his practices at home):
Leah went caroling at a local nursing home with her fellow Student Council representatives, and this festive crew always plans fun events and ways to give back to the community:
Christmas is just around the corner!
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