Brian beat me by one point in Terraforming Mars, but then as we were putting the game away we discovered a card that gave me an extra two points which I’d forgotten to count.
All
Brian playing with the girls on the mattress–letting them walk up his legs, body slamming, crawling under each other.
Coronavirus Will Change Our Lives
I don’t think Jesus was paying for the bodies. Those are a bonus.
We keep it low-key this year, although one of us has a new favorite board game…
Eating lunch at Michael and Esther’s house after playing at the park, and Brian just looked so manly and gorgeous.
Melissa and Brian share their favorite and least favorite movies they first viewed in 2019.
It was 8:30 at night, and Brian and I hadn’t eaten. I had wanted to make burgers, but it just kept getting later and later as we tried to get the kids into bed at a decent hour. Finally they were down, but since it was so late I considered just scrounging. Brian, self-sacrificing that he is, said that would be fine with him. I felt dissatisfied with how the night was turning out, and after a minute of internal debate declared I was going to make the burgers anyway. He looked so pleased, I knew I’d made the right decision.
One Sentence From Each of the First 10 Books Read by the Podcast 372 Pages We’ll Never Get Back That Sums Up that Respective Book
Shen Yun performance with Brian
Playing with Lydia and Amber on Saturday morning, carrying them in our arms and treating them like babies. They loved it, and were so sweet, cute, and giggly.
Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked I shall come into the living room.
Amazing
Brian selfishly recorded a podcast for himself and Melissa. And Ben De Bono of The Sci-Fi Christian. And maybe Matt Anderson of The Sci-Fi Christian. Only for fans of the podcast 372 Pages We’ll Never Get Back, anyway.
Former co-worker Mike Kastrantas’s arcade game records on Twin Galaxies
I can’t think of a good analogy for this
Melissa and Brian discuss their favorite books read from 2019. And their least favorite.
Goodreads recommendations need work
Eating lunch with the family at the table. Everyone was happy and content, eating well without complaining, and we read Little House. It’s the most peaceful and content I’ve felt in a long time.
Melissa: If everyone in the congregation is in the choir, who will they sing to?
Brian: God. Boom! Mic dropped.
You know what they say, love is an action. Also known as sex.
Melissa and Brian revisit last year’s resolutions, then reveal their big 2020 goal (and a few small ones).
Podcasting with Brian for the first time since Penny was born
Christmas Letter 2019
Gary Larson, welcome to the internet
My dream: I dreamed about poop and the upside-down world
I had a whole gaggle of 100-point bucks in my sights, sleeping peacefully on their feet, like cows.
My Verse
Melissa joined Seth Heasley on his podcast, Hugos There, to discuss N. K. Jemisin’s 2005 Hugo winner, The Fifth Season.
Mine and Amber’s sandwich: Wolf and Moon Jelly
Ping Pong Rules
The WCE somehow comes up with 242 Catholic denominations. That should be a big glaring red flag that it has been a bit—how shall we say?—free and loose with the word “denomination.”
My movie: “Cats Poop Everywhere But Not in the House”
My movie: “Insulation Monkey”
In Scorn of Frogs
Six Degrees of Ioan Gruffud
When will I see the Sun?
The funniest word is “hornk”.
My game: “Hippos Are Dead: Bad Guys Don’t Like Animals”
Brian joined Seth Heasley on his podcast, Hugos There, to discuss Susanna Clarke’s 2005 Hugo winner, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell.
I can’t help being linear
Josh Wainwright’s bird: the Indignant Dirt Dobbler
Motherhood
The Glory Days
Never knew Pantone had a color of the year!
Brian and Melissa share their top simple pleasures.
Melissa gives 10 tips for mothers trying to train their children to sleep through the night.
My philosophy: When you go through life being amazing, amazing things happen.