Zoey our Elf luckily escaped getting Covid at the North Pole and came with her traditional Advent Calendars for all the kids as well as other fun tricks and surprises like a gingerbread house kit and a request Santa Beard by Spencer who considers himself Santa's best helper. The kids after watching some Elf on the Shelf movie really wanted her to bring her Pet Reindeer but unfortunately he was exposed to Covid and had to stay at the North Pole but hopefully next year he can come visit.
If it was up to my kids we would decorate for Christmas late Oct/ first of November but with finishing my blog book getting Christmas Cards ready and mailed in addition in the normal busy life I'm lucky if it's the first of December when we get out the boxes of decor. Spencer was anxious as ever to try on the Santa suit and the kids were giddy to see all the decorations again.
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| Spencer's little corner he decorated himself |
We also had a few Holiday excursions. Emily went with her friend to a light show at the fair grounds and then ice skating with some other friends. We went to the Elves at Gardner village, the Grand America Holiday Windows and Gingerbread house and of course our favorite Christmas light house.
The girls and Aaron had Piano Recital at the same time. Sorry no pictures of Aaron but I heard he did excellent. Spencer also had a short Christmas program with his preschool that they broadcast through youtube to the parents. Emily's orchestra also performed a virtual concert as well.
The YW continued with a few fun zoom activities. Emily won the most creative cookie decorating project. Our ward also sent around luminaria (candle in a paper bag). We all lighted them up one night and drove around the ward looking at all the yards and then drove through the church parking lot where the Bishopric handed out a present and then drove past a waving Santa.
My kids were gracious enough to pose for our classic Sunday Christmas dress photo.
Nona gave out the Christmas jammies early and my kids enjoyed them all season long
My kids were heartbroken at the thought of Christmas eve without presents, cousins and pizza at Nona and Papa's house. I'm glad others felt the same and we celebrated with a few.
Christmas morning brought lots of smiles, hugs, joy and a few surprises.
I was so happy to get a new table runner from Pauline and my mom gave me a new Santa for my collection.
Celebrating Jane's birth is always a joyful part of December. She wanted to bring Crumbl cookie up to Papa and Nona's on Christmas Eve. Christmas night after everyone including Jane had gone to bed Emily and I made a big poster, blew up a bunch of balloons that we threw into her room in the middle of the night and then the next morning I snuck out and picked up a Jamba Juice just for Jane for when she woke up. Jane was over the top excited when she opened her big sunset pillow she wanted for Christmas but was sad she didn't get. We sure love our "practically perfect" Jane.
We headed back down to Teasdale for a couple of days to spend time with the Pace's then we ended 2020 with Papa and Nona and JB's and Mary's family where we spent lots of time sledding and being pulled behind the cam am.
Look at all these cute faces we were able to welcome 2021 in with!
