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Merry Christmas & so long, 2020!

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By Sarah


This Christmas included a cancelation of our plans to join family in Utah due to Covid numbers there but we tried to make the best of staying home.  We baked cookies, celebrated Michelle's virtual Holiday Performance with Chinese food, wrapped and delivered presents, and waited on the sledding hill for a giant cloud to move so we could see the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter aka The Christmas Star.

As part of Danny's Christmas presents we rented out our favorite laser tag place and let him bring two friends along.  I drove the boys in my car and Hubby drove the girls in his truck.  Emma also had permission from Danny to come along and I'm glad she did.  We all had a wonderful time with not only laser tag but also rope climbing, bumper cars and the arcade.  So much fun to own the place for a couple of hours.  I wouldn't be surprised if Danny asked for the same present again next year. The next day, on Christmas Eve, we got into matching pajamas and took a picture with a tripod that has been hiding in the mechanical room for a while.  We listened to a great little podcast episode that was funny and powerful about Christmas (Focus on the Family Broadcast Christmas Stories Season 4 Episode 5).  We woke up Christmas morning to lots of presents.  No 2020 blog would be complete without Grogu (Baby Yoda) in there somewhere.  Kate is pictured with a tapestry to finish off the new room she got for Christmas, Danny is with the Erector Set my mother gave him that used to belong to my Uncle Perry.  Michelle got a Loungefly backpack for when we can return to a Disney vacation (whenever that will be)!  I love that I was able to surprise her since I'm super bad at keeping secrets and the kids found where I stashed the presents because I accidentally left the closet door open.  Hubby got an Apple Watch and I got Ruggable washable rugs for our home.  In the afternoon we got to open cousin draw name presents over FaceTime and we had a wonderful lunch with my parents planned and made by my wonderful husband.  Somewhere in there we watched both Christmas Chronicles movies on Netflix.  It was a simple but wonderful Christmas.
After Christmas (December 30th) we were able to reserve a spot to go ice skating together as a family.  It was so nice to be there without the usual crowds.  It was a nice reminder that some wonderful things have come out of this year.  2020 wasn't we were expecting but we can be grateful for the good that did come, acknowledge the disappointments, and with faith and hope look forward to a new year. We celebrated on New Years Eve by making a balloon clock to pop every hour starting at 1pm and cupcakes also in the shape of a clock to eat after dinner and share with neighbors.  The children insisted they wanted to stay up until midnight this year.  I think they were afraid 2020 never end so I actually let them stay up for the first time. Amazing how things like Mancala, Minecraft, a new Disney movie (Soul) and YouTube can keep kids awake without wearing their parents out. Lol. I am happy to report the clock really did move from 11:59 to 12:00 and we can all go to bed now. Happy New Year!

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