Christmas Card

 

20 ways this year brought us “2020 vision”

20 + evening walks Jason took around the neighborhood with the kids. 

19 kids in Jason and my Sunday School Class that we miss so much, but try to keep in touch with through emails, texts, and drop offs.

18 months old: Dane’s age when Eve was born this summer.

17 restaurants we got take out from during lock down.  We felt much sorrow for the mom/pop shops so we made a huge effort to patron their businesses.  We have such gratitude to be in this financial position.  We know what the other side looks like.

16 Deacons in Brock and Noah’s priesthood quorum.  They divided the quorum into 2.  Brock and Noah are in the same one and Brock serves as the First Counselor.  It wasn’t the year we had hoped for with brothers as Deacons together – no camping or hiking.  But having them pass us the sacrament in our home each week has reminded us the true meaning of being a Deacon.

15 months is mom’s FAVORITE age.  Also the age of Dane when quarantine started, so instead of the usual zoo, park, aquarium, pool, and children museum visits (the BEST thing to do with 15 month olds) we learned how to do zoom calls, take walks, read books, and play in the back yard.

14 days the older kids spent in Utah with family after I had Eve. 

13 packs of hot glue Megan and Noah have used while crafting in the basement.

12 new recipes tried which included dinners, desserts, and gluten free (for Megan). We baked our way through quarantine! The kids helped make dinner since our evenings were slow and now they can all make a batch of cookies or brownies by themselves… which is amazing!

11 forts built to do remote learning in.  Most of these were made in their rooms, over their beds, or using their bunk beds.  Madison has set up a tent in the front room and even decorated it for Christmas.  Most of the time the girls do their school work together in their fort.  They have become great friends since Covid started.  Both of them say it has been the best blessing to come out of this; I agree!

10 minutes spent on personal reading in the Book of Mormon, then we go around and share one thing we learned, liked, or felt – that is how we do our family scripture study/Come, Follow Me.

9 books read aloud by Jason.  Our favorites have been Harry Potter, Mr. Terupt, and The Hobbit.  Speaking of reading, back in the Spring the girls won district in Battle of the Books the night before the district announced cancelling all events… a tender mercy for sure!  And way to go girls!!

8 boys knocking on our door all summer.  The boys started hanging out daily with a new group of boys. They live in our neighborhood, several are brothers, and all in their Deacon’s quorum.  It has been great watching them form strong bonds with the other boys in the ward.

7 sports/activities cancelled: basketball, gymnastics, football, baseball, softball, plays, and animation class.  Some got cancelled before they started, some mid-season.  We have had some sad disappointments.  But have loved our slower days, evenings, and Saturdays.

6 pool passes given to each family to go swimming each week this summer.  “What do you do if you have more than 6 people in your family??” “Umm… that isn’t an issue for most people”.  We divided up a lot. ; )

5 days a week that Jason works remotely from home for Charter Communications.  This has been the BEST gift and we all love having him home.  I couldn’t have said that 5 years ago and am grateful we had the unemployment 2 years ago so our adjustment to having him home all the time was already done.  He doesn’t have a home office and we are grateful he is willing to wander around the house and work wherever we are not. 

4 hours of labor before we welcomed Eve into our family.  She has been such a joy.  We call her Evee, or Evee-Bee most of the time. 

3 chrome books borrowed from the school district so we could actually do our remote learning.

2 precious babies in our home.  Having a toddler and being pregnant or having a newborn during 2020 has helped up keep a lot of things in perspective and kept balance.  While it kept us from doing a lot of things during the Spring (bike rides, hikes, camping) it kept us from swinging wildly from extremes of crazy/productive to depressed/ hopeless. It kept us on a daily routine, a slower lifestyle, and family focused. 

1 happy home! (plus 1 new mini van)