Dec 2020 was hopefully our only Covid Christmas. We tried hard to make the most of it, and I think we succeeded!
As soon as the boys were home from Tulum, we got out the xmas decorations. Everything turned out more beautiful than I expected! Also, the boys had a lot of fun playing with all the nativities as we unpacked them. I love that part of xmas so much.
Some random pics later that week…
The boys had recently watched Cool Runnings, so they used this giant box as their bobsled and kept reenacting the famous scene. It was so adorable. “Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme! Get on up, it’s bob sled time!”
Dallin loved and still loves going to the piano to improvise and play songs by ear and sometime to read a new song and figure out new things with me. I love hearing his own tunes.
The kids got their first Covid tests. ?
Homeschool math and STEM time!
We took a trip to the zoo and renewed our passes!! Shortly after we went there, they closed everything down again. It was so nice to enjoy the sunset on the sky ride.
Without zoom school happening all morning, the kids had a lot of time to play and be kids. They really got into the train set for a few days and it melted my heart.
Tanner could play while I read with Dallin, and then we would switch.
I started the Whole30 diet, which might seem stupid to do at the beginning of December. But I knew if there was any time to cut back on sweets, during the holidays would be the time. I was fully committed to the diet because I wanted to see if it would make a difference in my back pain levels and/or if it would help my mental health. I learned so much about myself and my relationship with food. These banana bread cookies were pretty decent.
Meanwhile, Jeremy took the kids to 7-11 for slushies!
We all decorated cookies. I was really proud of myself. Not only did I refrain from eating the sweets, I had absolutely no desire to try them.
Our decorating supplies were slim, so I decided to make it a challenge for us to see how creative we could be with very little supplies. We really pulled off some cute stuff!
The holiday season was much slower this year, and I honestly really liked that!! My favorite was being able to enjoy downtime by the xmas tree together.
For PE one day, Jeremy had the boys make an obstacle course in the area of our street that the boys call “woodchip heaven.” They had a blast.
An evening at La Jolla Shores beach!
On the way home, we saw the temple lights. They would not let us walk on the grounds. Very silly stupid rules. Even at that time, we knew that Covid doesn’t spread well outside. At least they still had lights up for us to see.
Jeremy put together a really cool interactive product tasting– all on zoom with his marketing team. It took a lot of work and creativity, and I was really proud of him.
I kept teaching in the park!
This is the boys playing mini-basketball in their room.
They figured out how to have a hideout on the top shelf of their closet. So cute!!!
Homeschool lunch and recess outside by the fort.
Tanner’s designs for things at Fort TOD.
Our famous tradition for a Wassail Party was kept small this year.
We were glad that Johanna and Matt could join us, but it felt really weird to have only two people with us. Tough to process and embrace, but I did end up embracing it. We had a lot of fun singing for 2+ hours. Highlights included Dance to Jingle Bell Rock and playing a tossing game to the beat with the snowmen. I also played a song or two on my ukulele.
They stayed the night with us and the following morning, the boys played with the hockey sticks that Matt and Johanna gave them.
We made xmas chains for the boys to count down the days till xmas.
The boys enjoyed a hike with Jeremy. (During 2020, we took a LOT of hikes).
For our Nutcracker tradition, I bought virtual tickets to the Hip Hop Nutcracker. Both boys kept asking about it and the day finally came! We each got our nutcrackers and our comfy xmas jammies. Then we curled up in the bed to watch. It was a really unique and fun show! All the music was the traditional ballet music by Tchaikovsky. All the dancing was hip hop and modern style! We had a great time together.
But I would be lieing if I said we didn’t miss being in a real theatre. It sucked to not hear the music live or see the dancing happening right before us. I guess the main perk is that it didn’t matter if we were sick, we could all see the show this way. (Last year, Dallin had a fever and couldn’t come with me and Tanner to the San Diego Civic center).
At home or in a big theatre, I am so pleased that my kids love the music and stories that the Nutcracker is all about. It was a really special evening of love and bonding for the 3 of us.
We found the same place that we saw xmas lights last year! The houses were lit up amazing! Not as much activity on the driveways, but still a lot of fun, and it was nice to do something exactly the same as last year. Helped life feel a little bit normal.
I made this awesome music map of There is Peace in Christ. I was so proud of it! And was able to teach it to 3 of my voice students.
Poor Jeremy, he literally fell asleep while in the middle of talking to me.
I figured out how to make the most adorable nutcrackers!
The Northern lights!
Dallin asked for a funny hairdo with pony tails. His hair got pretty long this time!
Playing in Fort TOD.
Watching something like Studio C.
Visiting friends from church. They had a beautiful Christmas village!
Santa!
I love it when my kids play around with all the music stuff we have. They made a stable with the bells.
My dear friend Angie made us these awesome ornaments for us. It inspired me to get the kids making some ornaments, since they normally would be making some in school and at church.
We got very creative in capturing the essence of the year.
