Winter Holidays 2020

(*Just don't pay attention to the dates posted...again I'm over a year behind but trying to catch up!)

We decided to come home from our beach trip in time for Thanksgiving, even though we would be alone again due to covid. We like our tradition of watching the parade and dog show while making our own little Thanksgiving dinner. 

Black Friday we head out to cut our Christmas tree per usual. We decided to leave early because the Christmas tree farm we go to (the only one near Waco) sold out pretty quickly the prior year. It's a good thing we did because we pulled up about 15 minutes before they opened for the season and there was a long line of cars even in the cold rainy weather. I guess everyone was looking for some fun/normal due to covid. We got very wet and muddy, but the rainbow as we waited in line to pay had to be a good sign, right?

so wet and (TX) cold

great rainbow and our biggest/best tree yet

pizza and Elf when we get home

it really was big for us (and Pixie liked it!)

Christmas Kitty (and so patient)

Advent is always my favorite

the advent calendar/mantle decor

I tried to do a little more for advent this year since we were still stuck at home. We have 24 paper trees on our mantle and last year I put a little treat under each one, but this year I put an "activity" to do each day. (This is so funny looking back, because coming up with a different activity and actually having the time and energy to pull it off for 24 days is so not me. Covid really turned so much upside down.) Some of the activities:

make a treat bucket for the delivery people (we kept this one up all year, it was so fun to see how happy the delivery people were just for a bag of chips or can of soda)

decorate inside (I made a huge paper garland I love)

make gingerbread houses (we usually did this with the Scheetz, but stupid covid, so my mom sweetly sent us a kit)

put up outside decs (we added the narwhal and slot to our random collection)

outside lights

more gingerbread

buy gifts for foster children

Woodway Elementary drive-thru polar express

treats and fun to see teachers

drive-thru nativity

with a real camel

whipped hot chocolate

make paper snowflakes for the windows

decorate cookies outside with friends

make more cookies

another treat of some sort with Christmas sprinkles

virtual piano program for Gaga, Grandpa, and the Campas

they humored us by dressing up to play their Christmas songs

drive thru light display

Christmas Eve waffles

We made a lot of cookies this year (again trying to make up for everything Covid cancelled)

hot chocolate with whipped cream and sprinkles in our new (Grandma's old) santa mugs

Santa hat day (even for virtual schoolers)

drive around and look at Christmas lights

Some other December happenings:

we went to see *something* (?) that Space-Ex had launched recently

Texas everything! Are there Minnesota or Wisconsin Christmas plates??

always Skyping with fame on the big screen

we continued outdoor hang-outs with friends and Misty and Twilight enjoyed the blankets I put out for guests in the winter

we didn't need blankets everyday...oh how I love sunshine and warm weather all year round

Our church always does a sweet totally impromptu children's Christmas pageant at the Christmas Eve service, but since we weren't having a face-to-face service this year, our children's pastor sent out some lines to each of the kids and asked us to film some parts that they then combined to make a video. It was amazing!

Ada was a sheep- her line was "baaa" and "baa-baa"

Ruby was a shepherd and had a few lines

We did get to "go" to church on Christmas Eve for a drive-in parking lot service. Everyone stayed in their cars and I sobbed as we sang Christmas songs "together". I know I wasn't the only one having a hard time.

we always try to take a "nice" family picture before church and it's usually a fiasco

but then a friend snaps a pic at church that turns out so good, however this year we had to make do with our own selfie

the stockings were hung by the chimney with care (and the girlies were in their Christmas pjs)

quite a pile

mom had the idea to get skateboards to encourage outside movement

dad had the idea of a nintendo switch to spoil them

Pixie loved her new present

you guys got up too early

we skyped with the fam and opened presents together- auntie Sam won with matching cousin crew shirts!

mom tried out her new shoes

while the girls tried out their skateboards

We surprised the girls by leaving the next day for San Antonio. We planned what we hoped would be a covid-safe trip to get out of the house for a few days. I wanted to take advantage of visiting some fun places while we were close (in case we ever decided to move;).

the Alamo

beautiful view of the cathedral from our hotel balcony and they put on an amazing light show at night

we stayed right on the river walk so we tried to visit in less busy times of the day, always eating outside at random times too

so fun to walk around

very pretty decorated for the holidays

it was way too busy for our comfort level (there was some big sports event happening)

but thankfully everything was outdoors

the hotel was great- they had "to-go" breakfast we took to our room and hot tubs on the roof! we claimed one to ourselves each morning as soon as it opened

we also went to the zoo and they had a lego instillation too

Ruby liked the birds

I talked Steve into renting a horse-drawn carriage ride our last night

the girls picked out which carriage to take

and we rode around looking at the lights

the girls peppered the driver with questions about the horse the whole ride

their favorite part!

It was a nice way to end the year with something fun and special. Like everyone else, 2020 was a hard year for our family but, like our Christmas card said, there were many blessings along the way and we really appreciated some of the moments of slowing down.

"2020 gave us a slower pace, family movie nights, evening walks together, work & school in our pjs, extra lego time, no-rush mornings, our fluff-ball Pixie, and an appreciate for all we have."