The best part of Auntie having a Silhouette is the custom vinyl cutouts that she can make, and then press on to shirts and sweatshirts for the kids.

Each of the boys got one this Christmas.  Tad got a new Batman hoodie, but the little boys got ones that you just can’t find in stores (at least in their sizes).

And they’re just perfect for each of them!

The first day back at school kind of took all the ginger out of Thumper.

I really thought he would sleep in, but he and Rerun woke up at 6 am, when Ane was getting ready for school.  We told them to stay in bed.  By 7 am, we finally gave up any hope of them staying in bed.  (YOU WILL REGRET ALL THE SLEEP YOU MISSED OUT ON SOMEDAY – JUST ASK YOUR SISTER AND BROTHER.)

Thumper was a happy camper at school, and then happily came home early for his regular ABA session… and then crashed hard on my shoulder before dinner.  Oops.

He slept in until 8 am the next day.  Smart kid.

Before we went back to school, we got to celebrate Danny’s 17th (!!!!! really!!!!) birthday at the pool!

As you might guess, this party is always a hit with my kids.

Tad got to chill in the hot tub, Rerun tried out the giant slide solo for the first time, and Thumper went down the giant slide with Ane for the first time.  Ane also went over to the lap pool to stretch her swim team muscles, and Tad jumped off the diving board into 12 feet of water for the first time – and was stunned to discover the concept of “pressure.”

I think we acheived our goal of wearing the kids out for a full night of sleep, so they would be fresh the next morning to go back to school.  I was probably a little too successful with Thumper, who nearly fell asleep on the way home (before he could eat dinner).  I had to give him my phone (so he could watch some Disney+) in order to keep him awake.

We finally had our Oshogatsu feast last Saturday!  Our spread always looks good.

Baby Cousin assumed the role of “quality control inspector” for the evening, and helped herself to some kamaboko during her inspection.

She gave us the thumbs up, and dinner commenced.  Now it really DOES feel like a new year!