Happy Friday! This has been a great week. We’ve had family dinner a few nights, lots of swimming, and some good holiday cheer! I am linking up with Erika, Narci, and Andrea to share my favorites this week.

Favorite 1: CHRISTMAS SPIRIT!! I love all the Christmas cheer and spirit that has started spreading. We are Christmas decorating purists – nothing before Black Friday. But once Black Friday hits, it is like Christmas explodes in our house. I love how this gets my kiddos so excited for Christmas. We start spreading Christmas cheer around school, our community, and with our family and friends.

Favorite 2: MOVEMENT CHALLENGES!! I am participating in TWO movement challenges this holiday season. They are with two of my favorite organizations – Fellow Flowers and Zooma. The Fellow Flowers challenge is a free group with a goal of 30 minutes of intentional movement each day. This is the challenge that changed the way I thought about exercise and moving my body two years ago. Search #FFHOLIDAYCHALLENGE 2018 on Facebook to join. The Zooma challenge is focused on 30 minutes of movement 5-6 days a week and purposeful self-care 1-2 days a week. The self-care is the tough part for me, and most people, during the holidays. The Zooma Holiday Challenge is full now, but you can still join the Love Run challenge to start a run streak. Tomorrow is day 700 on my run streak and it all started January 1, 2017. 1 mile run every single day. For almost 700 days.

Favorite 3: Family Dinner!! We have had quite a few family dinners this week. With Jeff’s work schedule and the kids’ activities schedules, we don’t get to have family dinner quite as much as I would like. The good news is that we have been in between fall and winter high school sports so Jeff doesn’t have to stay at work as late. We usually eat dinner around 4:45 so we can get to practices at 5:30 or 6. This makes it pretty tough for Jeff (and most working people) to be home to eat that early. So, Jeff’s been home most nights lately to eat with us and it is so wonderful!!

Favorite 4: BUDDIES! On Thursday night the boys got to hang with their buddies at dinner and after swim practice. Jack’s baseball team had a restaurant fundraiser at a local restaurant. A few of Jack’s buddies came in to support the team! it was fun for Jack and Luke and the grownups to see everyone! Then after swim team practice, a few friends from Jack’s basketball team were shooting around in the on the court. Jack changed quickly and joined them to play for a bit. Jeff got to hangout with the dad while they were playing. I ran into Jodi at practice and got to talk to her for a while. All the Parsons got to see a buddy or two that night. It was a great way to spend the evening.

That’s about it for the week. Feel free to check out some of my Christmas Favorites and my What’s Up Wednesday post for what we’ve been up to. I am looking forward to a weekend full of sunshine and books! Sunday’s weather looks amazing and perfect for our outside activities that we have planned.

☀️ 📚 😎