...St. Nicolas Day 2025

This morning we started out firstly grateful that Krampus didn't take anyone from our household.  We were somewhat worried about Maddie, but she was still here.  She woke up, and of course I was playing my new Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special soundtrack as she opened her latest advent calendar piece.  It is Rocket's toolbox, with a few cameo items in it.  

Then downstairs she went to see if there was anything in the boots left at the chimney.  Yes, of course there was candy in there!  We've been blessed to get that same chocolate Santa year after year from Aldi's and it's always a bit of an issue with timing and trying to get there just right and finding this one thing, but yes, I happened to be there at the right time and got it again... and there it is at the fireplace this year.  Also in there, you'll note, is some tasty candy from Buc-ee's.  Seems like Santa Buc-ee is at it again, and may be doing that the rest of the holiday season here.

INSERT PICTURE:  TAEKWONDO

We went to taekwondo after this, some Team Edge practice.  Maddie and the team were doing better and better as the practice went on.  It'll be a good demonstration this week when they perform together.  I was over mailing Christmas cards off, and getting stamps too.

Mom spent the day putting stamps on cards that she's filled out.  We'll be ready to mail our Christmas cards out to everyone.  This year we added some pictures of us from the cruise several months ago.  

Another stop I made was at Goodwill, and the idea was to find some ugly Christmas sweater material for tomorrow.  I didn't find anything much there, but I did get some more vinyls and a few Christmas small Christmas presents.  Then there was some grocery shopping - for tacos!  After taekwondo, we got home and Mom had everything all prepared.  Nate showed up, and the four of us had a Mexican lunch there.  Nate, Maddie and I used the Buc-ee's hot sauce, the labeled "TACO REAPER."  For some reason, I didn't put together that this had CAROLINA REAPER in it, and so yeah... it was hot.  Maddie has no problem with it, but the rest of us didn't exactly enjoy the sauce so much as endure it.  That was hot stuff!

Maddie and Nate were working on a puzzle after this.  I did another game for the Bug's Life booklet, a word search with different bugs listed in it.  We were watching the Gatlinburg Christmas parade, and that looked pretty fun.  Maybe some day soon we'll make it up there to see that one.  In the meantime, tonight's big plan was to go to the Ashebrooke Subdivision and see the lights there.

INSERT PICTURE OF ASHEBROOKE SUBDIVISION PIC HERE

We had a nice time riding through the neighborhood.  Not all the lights were up, but a huge amount of lights were on and a good deal of traffic slowly meandered through the neighborhood.  It was a lot to see!  

After getting home, Nate left us and Maddie, Mom and I watched "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" before heading to bed.  Yes, there was reading from "Hogfather" and prayers too.  We've got a busy day tomorrow, so off to sleep we went after this.  It's been a good day, especially if you're a UGA fan - today the Dawgs won another SEC Championship.  I think that's three in five years?  Anyway, they're doing well, so you can imagine a lot of celebrating tonight in Georgia.