It’s the last Wednesday in November which means two things – 1: It is time for a What’s Up Wednesday post. 2: Christmas is right around the corner!! After summer, Christmas is my favorite season and I am already loving the lights, decorations, music, and movies.

I am joining Shay, Mel, and Sheaffer to answer these questions:

WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK…
Monday: Meatballs
Tuesday: We ate out at Mission BBQ – YUM!
Wednesday: Mrs. Geiss’s Dish (an old family favorite)
Thursday: Shredded Chicken Tacos or BBQ
Friday: Pizza
Saturday: I’m not really sure what we’re eating
Sunday: Red Robin

WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT…
I am reminiscing about all the memories that are popping up in my On This Day/Rediscover The Day reminders. First Thanksgiving, first Dazzle Dash, first airplane ride, Hilton Head/Beach Thanksgiving, etc.

WHAT I’M LOVING…
I am loving all the Christmas lights that my neighbors are starting to put up. Each night when we drive home, there is at least one more house with their lights up.

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO…
We had a great Thanksgiving weekend with a bunch of my cousins and their kids. It is heart warming to see the kids having so much fun together and hearing all those giggles! We are in a little break right now because soccer is over and basketball is only one or two days a week.
I ran my Fellow Flowers Strength Virtual Run with Jamie this month. I love our runs together! We also met for a quick run on Sunday after Thanksgiving and it was a great way to finish the fun weekend!

WHAT I’M DREADING…
I am not really dreading anything right now. I love December – seeing all the friends and families, the decorations, the music, the movies, the lights! It is all wonderful!

WHAT I’M WORKING ON…
I am planning a new event at school – Jolabokaflod reading night – and I think it’s going to be a great evening! Joloabokaflod is the Yule Book Flood in Iceland. They celebrate on Christmas Eve, everyone exchanges books and then reads their book while drinking hot chocolate. At our night, we are going to read, take a hot chocolate break, and then read some more. Sounds perfect to me!

I am also planning our annual school-wide book club. We are doing something a little different this year and it is going to be great! In the past we’ve read The World According to Humphrey, Charlotte’s Web, and The Mouse and the Motorcycle. They are all great family read alouds!

WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT…
I am excited to take the boys to see The Nutcracker next week. I haven’t seen it since 2002 and it will be the boys’ first ballet. I alway love looking for something new for them to experience. We are going with Jeff’s whole family and my parents. It is going to be a fun Christmas experience!

WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING…
I have been watching all the Hallmark Christmas movies. I don’t care if I’ve seen them before or if they are brand new. I turn on the television in the evening and it is all Hallmark, all the time.

I’ve upped my treadmill time so I have been watching the Real Housewives of Orange County and Dallas and American Housewife while I am running. They really help to pass the time.

I just read two winter books and talked about them here. I have been working through Ninety-Nine Glimpses of Princess Margaret by Craig Brown. It is 99 short stories and perfect to pick up when I have a moment. I am currently reading An Anonymous Girl by Sarah Pekkanan and Greer Hendricks. I just got to a “gasp” moment and can’t put it down!

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO…
I am listening to all the Christmas music. I love our local all Christmas music stations and Holly and Hallmark Sirius stations. I have a few Amazon Prime playlists that are all Christmas music that I love to play at work or on Alexa in the kitchen.

WHAT I’M WEARING…
I have been wearing my new Christmas shoes and some graphic T-shirt’s.

I decided to imitate my friend Michelle’s style and pairing a chunky, fun necklace with graphic t’s. It is so cute when she does it, so I am hoping it’s cute when I do it too.

As I type, I can hear the wind howling so I am getting ready to break out my sweaters and boots. Brrr….

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND…
I am pretty excited about this weekend! Jack has his first league basketball game on Saturday. On Sunday, we are heading to Hershey Park for their Christmas Candy Lane! It is one of my favorite traditions in the Christmas season! This year it is supposed to be way warmer than in the past so we might get to ride some big roller coasters! I can’t wait.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH…
I am looking forward to so many Christmas traditions!! We are changing a few because the kids are older and ready to try some new things.
I am really excited about Jack’s first band and chorus concert in December! He has been practicing a bunch and is pretty proud of his trumpeting.

WHAT ELSE IS NEW…
I am doing to fitness challenges to keep me moving throughout the holiday season. I signed up for the Zooma Winter Warrior challenge. The Winter Warrior challenge actually includes two separate challenges: the Holiday challenge and the LoveRun challenge. The Holiday challenge focuses on moving at least 30 minutes a day, 5-6 times per week and including 1-2 days of self-care/rest/relaxation. The rest part is a little tricky for me because of my run streak, but I am working hard on the self-care and relaxation. This part is 7 weeks long, from November 12 – December 31. In addition to the exercise/self-care goals, I also get a Facebook accountability/support group, weekly emails with tips to succeed, and some fun swag at the end.

I am also doing the Fellow Flowers Holiday Move Your A** challenge. This is my third year doing the Fellow Flowers challenge and this is the challenge that changed my thinking about intentional movement. The goal fo this challenge is to intentionally move your body for 30 minutes a day every day from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. I love this challenge. This one is free. It has a Facebook group (search: #FFHolidayChallenge 2018). This year they have a calendar to fill out with your movement. I am a little behind in filling out my calendar but not in my exercise! Part of the challenge includes identifying why you moved each day and there are fun because… pictures to add to your post. It’s not too late to join! I hope you will! This supportive group of women is one of my favorite things on the internet!

BONUS: WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR ELF?
I don’t do anything with our elf. Choo Choo is totally Jeff’s responsibility. He doesn’t make a mess or do anything crazy. We tell the kids that Choo Choo is there to see good behavior to report to Santa so why would he be a bad example??? They love to look for him each morning and don’t seem to care that their friends’ elves do all kinds of crazy things. Thank goodness!!

I hope you have a great day full of sunshine and books!

☀️ 📚 😎