wrapping up a weird year

Our world forever changed in March.  We embraced a new way of life and have slowly found some normalcy as we wrap up this weird year.  We're hopeful things improve in the new year and hope that we start to see even more small glimpses of our old normal.

Bryce lost his LAST tooth to wrap up the year!

We celebrated NYE with some fireworks!

After some early evening fireworks we headed to the Shipleys for our 8th NYE with them.  These boys met in their first year of preschool and by the second year they were best buds and so were our families.

Even with 8 years difference, these girls always have a fun time.

Cheers!

Bryce asked to stay up until midnight this year so we said sure.  Luckily we stayed at the Shipley's so long that by the time we got home we didn't have too much time to kill.

Happy New Year from our family to yours!

Christmas week

These sweet sisters surprised Emmy with some Christmas treats on Monday night!

I have relaxed more during this break than I have in my entire life.  It's been so nice!

On Wednesday, Christmas Adam, we made our cookies for Santa.  I bought some piping bags this year and perfected my royal icing.  Their cookies turned out great this year!

Emmy also had her piano recital on Wednesday.  She just started lessons in September and she's doing so well.  

She played Away in a Manger, Angels We Have Heard on High and This Is Not Jingle Bells.

We went to Nana's for Christmas Eve as usual.  We broke our traditional meal and had Chinese.  New tradition!  

After dinner and gifts we went to our Christmas Eve Service.  

Things looked a little different this year, but we celebrated the same Savior!

All smiles on Christmas Eve even though we made them go to bed earlier than normal, ha!

Christmas morning.  

Bryce was a happy camper.

Emmy finally got her air track!

We babysat our preacher's son so we had a little addition to our family Christmas picture this year.

MeMa and PaPa got the cousins a go kart for Christmas.  They were excited!

We wrapped up the day with a charcuterie dinner at Nana's!

Unplanned twinning in the exact same sweater!

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!  Here's to a happy and healthy new year!

it's almost christmas

When school started in the fall we were so thankful to have the choice to go back in person.  We had no idea how long it would last, but we made it to Christmas break without going virtual.  We ended up getting an "ice" day off of school on Thursday so Emmy only had 4 days to sport her Christmas attire this week.

Emmy has been friends with these girls since kindergarten.  I just had to snap a "now" picture on them on Friday when their first grade Christmas party picture popped up on my Time Hop.

Bryce's school had spirit week this week.  I forgot to get a picture of candy cane day on Monday, but he wore red and white.  Tuesday was plaid/flannel day.

Wednesday was Grinch/green day.

Friday was tacky "sweater" and fuzzy sock day since they missed school on Thursday.  He opted not to wear fuzzy socks.

Wednesday was cold and rainy and I couldn't wait to get home from work so I could curl up under a blanket, read and enjoy the lights.

Beef stew for dinner was perfect on a cold/rainy night.

This little guy was delivered on Thursday morning and was full of lots of yummy treats.

It's not Christmas until Santa comes on the fire truck!

Bryce finished up a 6 week strength training and tumbling class on Friday.

We drove around and looked at Christmas lights last night!

Our church went back to virtual services today so the kids weren't able to have their Sunday school class Christmas parties but they were able to have a virtual party.

They played minute to win it games, made gingerbread creations, and played kahoot!  It was a fun time.

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

all about emmy this week

We woke up to snow on Monday!  

It was enough to give us a two hour delay while the county decided if we could stay home.

We ended up having school but it sure was nice not to rush around before work.  The kids even got out to enjoy it for a few minutes. 

This little guy thinks he has his own place at the table. 

Emmy dressed up for Christmas everyday in our daily countdown to Christmas break.  One more week to go!

Covid really put a halt to our sports season in March and the kids missed plenty of practices and meets/games but we've luckily been back to almost normal for a while.  Emmy moved up to level 3 this season and has been feeling the pressure of the higher level, but she's worked hard and it showed at her first meet today! 

She placed first on vault, third on bar and floor, fourth on beam and third place all around!

She looked so official in all her competition gear.  The girls even got a new team face masks.  So 2020!

I'll try to take a few more pictures of Bryce next week!

ringing the christmas season

 My mom surprised me with a wine advent calendar!

We realized Emmy has enough Christmas shirts to wear a different one to school everyday leading up to Christmas break.  This was week one of three.

Give me all the peppermint desserts!

Kings Dominion ended up opening for a few days for the season and we were able to reserve a spot!

It was a small crowd and there was lots of cleaning.  We felt very safe and were thankful for a normal Christmas event.

It was a chilly day so the masks were actually enjoyable!

Bryce ran into a couple of his baseball buddies when we got there so he went around the park with them and had lots of fun.

Love the Eiffel Tower lit up at night!

Our town's annual Christmas parade (which comes down our street) was cancelled this year due to covid.  It's always a fun way to kick off the season so we still wanted to do something to celebrate.  We had a bonfire with Christmas themed food, eggnog and of course our tacky attire!  

How we feel about covid!

It's been a hard year, but it's been nice to experience a few Christmas traditions even if they're a bit reimagined.