Christmas 2024

 

Christmas Eve was a whirlwind in the kitchen! A mini-epic breakfast (only one pound of bacon), followed by Christmas cookies, ending with meatballs (2:1 ratio beef and venison) in the crockpot for dinner later. All before 4pm Christmas Eve Church service! 

The holidays are definitely all about eating. We treated ourselves this year to a specialty cake from Once in a Blue Moon Bakery (sidenote - same bakery my mother ordered our wedding reception cakes from). :) 

Appeased both parties - one half chocolate cake and the other side vanilla cake!

Time for Santa!! Santa worked really hard that night putting that gaming chair together!

Moose approves!

Two happy boys on Christmas Day! 

Kade started us off that morning with his first gift. 

I think it's safe to say that he loved it! Don't worry - Brock opened his present right after and wouldn't you know - he got the same one (just a different color)!

After a true epic pancake breakfast, we were back on to opening the gifts. Now Brock was all smiles with his Roblox gift card. 

And the computer mouse he had been wishing for! 

One word that gets used in our house a LOT to describe things - Brent just thought it was so fitting to get Kade a shirt with it on it!

Guess he liked it! 

I love the sincere smiles!

Moose got to open his stocking too. I guess he was a bit frustrated - he doesn't usually eat his toys, but one of those feet did not last long! 

Super cool for Brock's room! Thank you Grandpa and Grammy for so many wonderful things!

Christmas dinner consisted of filet mignon, cooked medium rare (rare + for Kade - he likes it red!), mashed potatoes, tater tots, and green beans. 

Alas, the only two pictures I took before our dinner - everyone was hungry!

Dessert, Round two = Cannolis. We treated our Italian dog to some Italian pastries. 

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from our home to yours! 

Christmas 2024 with Cousins in Huntersville

 

The Eason crew and Papa & Nana all traveled down to Huntersville the weekend before Christmas to celebrate the holidays. It was a packed house - with many different opinions on how to cook steak (see above picture of all the guys congregating around the filets!) 

Nevertheless, it was an amazingly yummy meal paired with Nancy's famous mashed potatoes! 

Kade and Maddox reading a mini Bluey book together - one of Kade's advent calendars. 

A lovely group photo of everyone around Nana Phyllis and Papa right before we opened presents! 

Maddox played Santa and handed out all the gifts to everyone. 

The next day Asher was feeling a little more lovey with his Uncle Brent. 

He even asked him for some cuddles on the couch! 

Alas, it was time for Papa and Nana to head home - they had arrived one day earlier than us. Even though it was freezing that morning, the boys were outside playing an intense game of soccer and had to be corralled over to say their goodbyes! 

I stayed warm with Asher inside doing finger painting. 

The bigger cousins spent quality time together building forts, playing on Nintendo Switches, soccer outside then repeat all said activities! 

After Sunday night dinner, I had the boys line up for a cousin picture! I think Asher was a bit apprehensive and stuck with his big brother. 

And a funny one! 

Brent and I treated the big kids to Baskin-Robbins for dessert. Poor Kade was promised Dairy Queen after completing his Black Belt testing, but we finished so late that night, Dairy Queen was already closed!! 

This was our view of Asher and Riley as we exited the driveway! 

Thank you so much Brian and Nancy for your wonderful hospitality while we were there and all the lovely gifts for our family - Papa and Nana too! The boys very much appreciate their cousin time - Kade even stated it was his favorite memory of 2024 on his New Year's Resolution sheet! 

Kade's Black Belt Promotion

On Friday, December 20th, Kade tested for his First Degree Black Belt. He had to score at least a 7 combined score to earn the belt. First event was his Forms - Choong Jung 2-B.

He completed two rounds of sparring - going against boys his own size. He did fairly well - slightly hard to keep your eye on Kade as there were quite a few students and officials on the floor. 

Board breaking was the last event for Red/Black belts testing for First Degree. We watched some higher ranks attempting to break two boards with more intricate kicks and punches - really cool to watch! Kade had to position his board at just the right height and attempt to break both back to back. 

He was able to break the board with his kick on one and break the board with a punch on two. His kick earned him a solid 3 points for Board Breaking. 

There was a long break in the action as all the students and spectators waited for the judges (teachers) to tally up the scores and confirm if their students passed. Finally, they formed a long row and called up only the students who passed to be awarded their belts. Kade was called for Cary Ten-Ten school!!  (you can spot Kade to the far right making his way to the line of judges!)

Chief Master Wegmann announced these students all received their First Degree Black Belts Decided! 

Very special that Mrs. Beddow was the one to tie Kade's Belt! Love the high fives she and Master Beddow gave Kade! 

Kade posing with all the awarded new belt group from Cary Vision Ten-Ten! 

(there were some students that unfortunately did not pass this round)

One final picture to really show off Kade's journey - starting in the Tiger class and working up for his Black Belt! We are so proud of you!!