The Railsback Family: December 2024

It's the most wonderful time of the year! It's also a pretty crazy time of year for our family with soccer and Nutcracker and kids studying for finals and and and... And when we are able to create a quiet space, to reflect on the year and the birth of a King, to be together as a family and enjoy the quiet and the lights and the familiar hymns, when we realize that life is full of imperfect and life is also good, because God is good... That's when I feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be.

Sometimes the lights are on your tree. Sometimes they are on the firetruck in front of your house because you smelled gas and the firemen did too but they couldn't figure out why but good luck with that. Sleep tight. :) This is the second visit from the Longmont FD in one year, if anyone's keeping track. (Stealth photo credit to Sarah Mae)

Speaking of Sarah, she had a lot of fun playing basketball. I love middle school intramurals.

She's not afraid to dribble or take a shot.

Cutest. Puppy. Ever.

Clifton made a quick trip down to OK for a surprise birthday party for Grandma Clyde and got to spend some time with Jack, Grace Owen and Judah.

Annika (far left) in her Symphonic Orchestra holiday concert.

The Christmas photo.

The Christmas photo if we were doing a shoot for JCPenney.

After their regular fall season, Annika's soccer team competed in the National Premier League (NPL) which allows them to play against other teams in the Mountain West Division all winter long. In Colorado. Time to haul out my heated gloves and heated vest.

December means Saturday dress rehearsals for Nutcracker which is barely controlled chaos.

Our kids all had commitments, so for the first time ever Clifton and I hit the Christmas parade of lights kidlessly. I love me a small town parade.

More soccer. (We have a dad on the team who takes photos with a real camera so if it's not a blurry mess, it's probably not my photo!)

It's been so great to have coaches this year who push the girls hard and also realize they are young and create space for them the explore other passions and talents.

Yep, still the cutest. And maybe a bit high maintenance with the pillows.

Sarah's before photo...

...and after with braces, and expander and a Herbst appliance.

Walking by the lake in a tank top in December. That's my kind of December.

Tech week! Warming up for Nutcracker rehearsals. This picture cracks me up, I think for obvious reasons.

Naomi was the Sugar Plum Fairy this year and it was magical and full of every emotion, from some pretty low moments of physical pain and self-doubt to the joy that comes from nailing a role that has been her dream since she was three. Nutcracker will get its own post because it's Nutcracker. :)

Jess, our old nanny and the best nanny in the whole wide world and one of the best parts of our kids' childhoods, was back in town for the holidays so we got to see her and meet her new husband and catch up with her amazing parents over dinner.