The Cannon Fab 5: December 2025

December started out with decorating. Avian and I really wanted to put the lights up so we started getting the lights boxes down. We figured while we were up there getting the lights we might as well get the tree. AND if we were going to get the tree, we might as well get all the ornaments. AND they are in the boxes with all the other decorations, so.... The house looks amazing and we are ready for the holidays.

Breaking out my Christmas wreath

Percy in his holiday finery

Darby in his holiday finery

The holiday season also means that there are lots of opportunities to dress up for themed days at school.

Dressed up as Cindy Lou Who for Grinch Day at school

12/3 - Steve flew to Utah to spend some time with his Mom. While he was gone, I got my pre-op lab work back and my kidney levels were way off. The doctor isn't worried and just told me to drink more water. I am trying not to worry and I am definitely drinking more water.

12/4 - Steve spent the day visiting everyone. He started with EllaRene, then went to his Mom's and ended up at Derran's. He is having a great time seeing everyone.

12/5 - Steve had some free time and wandered into Kindigit Designs to look around their gift shop area. He got to mee Dave Kindig and even took a picture with him as proof. I am a little jealous. We love watching his show "Bitchin' Rides". If we ever have a ton of money just sitting around, we want Dave to update a car for us. He is incredible.

Picture proof of the celebrity encounter

That night I went to the Harrisburg Relief Society activity. It is really nice getting to see all the ladies in the stake at their various activities.

12/6 - Avian, Val and I got Totinos pizzas and watched Wicked For Good. It was a fun and relaxing night...until it wasn't. I was up all night with the worst case of food poisoning. I will never be able to eat a Totinos pizza again!!! Worst cramps ever!!

Carpool on an exceptionally cold morning. I had to be completely bundled up. It was in the low teens.

A few days later we were all walking around without coats on.

12/7 - Steve is safely home from his trip to Utah. He had a good trip and enjoying seeing everyone

Grandpa Bear for Sam (Eric and Kate's little guy)

12/9 - My 56th birthday was a good day. I was spoiled both at work and at home. The PTO always spoils the staff and this year for our birthdays we got a basket full of our favorite things. That night, Nick came up for dinner and cake. I had everyone at home and that is the best birthday present ever.

12/11 - I saw on Facebook that the local Angels and Sparrows was in desperate need of help. Their sponsor had backed out at the last minute and they had no gifts to give the children at their annual Christmas party for families in need. Steve and I had a blast shopping for the toys on the list.

12/12 - Steve dropped off the toys after eye appointment and he said that there were several cars unloading gifts as well. I love it when the community sees and fills and need. Avian came to LNC to help in the Art 1 class. They are working on digital art and Avian was excited to get to teach them some skills. It also happened to be the day of the annual cookie walk for the teachers. Avian helped me pick out the cookies for our family. Later that night we all went and supported Nick as he ran the Huntersville 5K. He came in 2nd in his age group. I love watching him run.

12/13 - We were back up at Birkdale the following morning for the half marathon. He came in 10th in his age bracket and ran the marathon in 1 hour 45 minutes and 58 seconds. That is right where he wanted to finish.

Before the race

Nick is in there somewhere.

Nick is in the blue hat.

While Nick was out on the course somewhere, we walked back to get the truck, which was up by the starting line, and bring it closer to the finish line. Avian and I had to take some pictures of all the vultures lurking around the trash bins. We thought it was too good of a photo opportunity to pass up.

We got back to the finish line in plenty of time to watch Nick finish with a time of 1:44:32. That was a little faster than he expected and put him in 10th place for his age bracket.

Across the finish line with a big smile.

Showing off the new hardware.

There were some cool medals with this race.

We went back home so Nick could get cleaned up and then headed to Kung Foo up in Birkdale for some lunch. The rest of the day was spent getting Nick set up with renter's insurance, Avian and Steve working on the chalices and me making breadsticks. Val helped out in all three.

12/14 - I got to attend the YSA musical sacrament meeting with the Stake Relief Society presidency. We try to support all the wards in their special events. Back at home we did some baking as a family. I loved having everyone there.

12/15- One of my co-workers, Cindy, is retiring at the end of the year and I decided, at the last minute, to make a t-shirt quilt for her that everyone could sign. I love making these blankets. They are really fun. After that, I gave Avian a quick hair cut. Steve spent some time helping a friend make a cutting board.

I think it turned out well. Now to have everyone sign it.

12/17 - I went to the LNC holiday party and won an inflatable Santa riding a dinosaur! To make the day even better, Mags, one of Avian's roommates, is coming to stay with us for a few days.

Kathy, Alicia and me. I love my coworkers.

12/18 - Mags, Avian and Leah came to help in art class. It is fun for the younger students to see what the graduates are doing. The girls loved being there as well. We had a retirement lunch to celebrate Cindy and send her off in style. I brought the dinosaur to school to help with the celebration as well. She loved the quilt. We will miss her. Steve also found out that he was getting a raise and a bonus this year. Wohoo!

Jennifer, Brandon, Cindy, Dr. Graham, Sarah and me.

I got one picture with the dinosaur before sending him home with Jennifer for her grandkids. He will be happier there and Steve will be happy he isn't on our front lawn.

12/19 - While at work, I got a distress call from the Stewarts. Justice had just found out that the building she was living in while going to school was being condemned and she had until the end of the day to get her things out. It was a half day at school so I left right at 11:30 and drove to Greensboro to help move as much as we could in the truck. I loved spending time with Justice and Journey getting the place cleaned out. We got most of it out except for a few bigger pieces of furniture. Back at home, Mags and Avian were dying Avian's hair green again. Never a dull moment.

12/20 - Val and I went shopping for shoes and clothes. She was amazing at how much we could buy if we shopped carefully. We went to Going Going Gone first to find shoes. They have really great prices on their clearance items. We were able to get 4 pairs of shoes with the budget we had set for shoes. Next we hit a bunch of different Goodwills with our list of needed items to fill out the wardrobe. It was really fun!!!

12/21 - Avian joined the shopping and we found some really great Goodwills that we had never been to before. Val is stocked up with jackets and sweaters now.

12/24 - Christmas Eve with the whole family. Nick spent the night so we could spend some good family time together. We had Christmas Cradles for dinner. Steve and Nick drove to the church to see if they could find James (a homeless man who has been staying in the woods behind the church). He wasn't there. We watched Klaus together and then went to bed.

12/25 - Christmas morning was fun. We opened the presents in our stockings and then the presents under the tree. Breakfast was laid back and relaxed. After breakfast we took a walk and then relaxed a little bit more before enjoying a charcuterie board and watching Speed Race (the highlight of the day for me!!). Afterwards, Nick went for a run, Steve and Avian worked on a project and I figured out my new serger.

Avian and I had fun wrapping this one.

Surprise, not a drill. It was his favorite drink and two t-shirts
"It's not hoarding if it is lumber" and "It's not hoarding if it is tools".

Charcuterie at its finest

12/27 - I hemmed some pants for a customer and delivered them. Avian and I went to lunch and got them some new shoes. One of Val's friends, Clara, came to stay with us for a few days.

12/28 - At church, there were not many people there. I led the music and Steve counted people. We were all filling in for each other. Back at home, Jade came over to visit and see Clara while she was with us. We had pizza for dinner as we had a crowd. It was a fun night.

12/29 - Avian and I took Tim to Hilbish for a checkup. We also did some shopping for school supplies and the ingredients for New Year's Eve.

12/30 - I wen to dinner with Liz Grindstaff. We had a good time catching up.

12/31 - My pre-op appointment was very overwhelming. There were lots of instructions, but the ladies were really good at answering all my questions. I had some time to kill between my appointment and going to the Borkowski's for a fitting. I went to Target and killed some time looking around. At the Borkwoski's, I got to meet Kate's roommate, River. She needed a dress taken in and some pants hemmed. She was super nice. Back at home we all chipped in and got the Chines New Year meal prepared. Nick and Arianna (his new roommate in February), came to dinner. We had never met Ari and really liked her immediately. She is going to be a good roommate for Nick. After dinner, Nick and Ari went to a party and we watched the ball drop. Goodbye 2025.

Avian's projects/gifts for their roommates -