On the Twelfth Day of Katiemas, I Tried to Take a Family Photo

File under: The more you wiggle, the longer this takes

Bonjour!

Happy New Year from Joyful Living! To round out my celebration of the holiday season through the Twelve Days of Katiemas, I’m sharing one last post detailing my activities. I meant to share before Christmas Day, but, alas, we were making rather merry and I was not at my desk (and how!).

📸 Capturing Special Moments

A public service announcement for my dear readers: Taking a picture of a toddler is basically impossible. These little wigglers are the ultimate moving target.

Dachshunds are no better; a veterinarian once wrote in Le Chien’s notes that he could not complete the exam “due to wiggly.” So taking a picture of both boys together is almost a lesson if futility. You see the two best results here!

Photography tip for kids and dogs: Set up the scene as best you can and start clicking the camera. Just keep shooting and hope that one of the thirty (or forty, or fifty; le sigh) shots you take comes out!

🎄 Wrapping Up the Twelve Days of Katiemas

I spent some extra time relaxing and reconnecting with old traditions and rituals this holiday season, more to get back in touch with myself and what I love than anything else. In future years, L’Husband and I will keep the warm and cozy vibes going as Le Bebe grows and can understand, participate, and enjoy activities with us more.

Some Katiemas activities included:

• Eating a bag of marshmallows,
• Enjoying a Taylor Swift Christmas sugar cookie,
• Entering my Auntie Mame era, and
• Decorating the house with festive Snoopies (and one Woodstock).

For my final installment, I’m sharing some of the fun and festive things I did in the last days before Christmas.

Having Christmas Eve brunch avec la famille at Cracker Barrell.

Starting a new book (not a magazine, and actual book!).

Watching the George C. Scott version of A Christmas Carol (1984), the best and only worthwhile version of the classic Charles Dickens redemption tale. I have deeply held opinions about this.

Defrosting and reorganizing the deep freezer, so Santa doesn’t think we’re hoboes.

🕯️ Embrace Your Season

Thank you for reading about my journey to relax and enjoy the holidays and make time for rest and self-care at the end of a long 2023. A new year awaits, hopefully full of promise and peace.

The new year is here! What are your plans?

Merci for reading and please subscribe and share!

À votre santé,

Katie