Beginning of December

The beginning of December was unlike any we had ever had. 

The biggest difference was, of course, Covid. That meant there were no live concerts, no parties, no get togethers, no Christmas music party or ward party for us...really different! So, we really tried to enjoy and emphasize the small and simple traditions at home. 

The other big reason this were different was that Mike flew out to Utah to go to a concussion specialty center. He was gone for almost two weeks. He had a wonderful, miraculous experience and really felt like he experienced so much healing, for which we're so grateful. So grateful he found it. We had the means for him to go. For the doctors there. It was just a really good experience. 

But, so surreal to have Mike just miss most of our family's December and so many of the Christmas traditions. 

Here is a pic that Uncle Paul sent us - he had taken it of our home with his drone and then used a cool program for the effects. So pretty! 

We decorated our tree! 

This huge package arrived  - a secret gift from mom to the boys. The boys were hysterical about how hard they tried to peek to see what it was! 

Beau rearranged his room to maximize the space and prepare for his punching bag that he was asking Santa for. It's a great arrangement - gives him tons of space and is very cosy! 

Mike threw his neck out a day or two before he left. He had been so busy with work for the many, many weeks before he left, so he had just missed a lot of family time. This was our one night we were going to have him try to join for our family advent candle and Christmas stories. But, poor guy - this is how he joined! It was quite the trial before he left on his trip. 

Advent candle, and roasting pirate booty over the candle - hysterical and amazing! 

I went for a nice, long walk with Sarah on the canal and we bumped into a couple friends from her ward. 

I took a Saturday afternoon after Mike left to do the outdoor lights. It took me forever, but it was well worth it! Loved them! 

The boys and I went and did the Stony Brook Light Farm Christmas Drive. It was awesome! 

I took myself on a date night to Princeton and enjoyed walking around to see the lights and getting some hot cocoa from Bent Spoon! 

Gingerbread Houses on a Sunday afternoon! This was delightful! And also consisted of the boys eating about a million pieces of candy as they went! 

One of the best traditions in Pennington - Santa comes on the firetruck and delivers presents. It's amazing! The sirens get so loud, kids excitedly run out of the house, and the truck stops at the house and Santa hops out with presents! 

Santa nailed it with a gift for Lewis. A music box that you build into a robot - you build the whole thing. So fun for him! 

The thing that made this Christmas season so special and exciting and happy was that we had some secret elves who started delivering us gifts for the 12 days leading up to Christmas. It was incredible! The gifts were so cute and so thoughtful! The first few days we were just surprised. Then the kids started staking out the elves from the windows in the side music room or from their bedrooms. 6:30/7pm would come, and we would turn out all the lights and the stake out the elves while we listened to a book or something. There was such anticipation and excitement. It was so, so delightful! I was incredibly grateful for this tender mercy that really helped us feel happiness and gratitude while Mike was away. 

Beautiful sunset! 

We had a big snowstorm that dropped about 6 inches while Mike was away. It was amazing! Some of our neighbors (Connor's family) came and plowed our driveway. THANK GOODNESS! I shoveled the whole walk, and it was so heavy. So grateful they helped! The boys just played and played all day in it - it was delightful! 

This is the view I saw when I got out of bed in the morning. Boys already building a snow fort in the back yard. It's amazing how much work it was when the kids were tiny to get everyone dressed to go out in the snow. Now - easy peasy! They just grab everything and are out of here! 

We went sledding to Rosedale in the middle of the day with Connor and Asher. Super fun! 

Beau had his first belt testing for martial arts. So proud of him! He really knew his stuff and did so well. I watched from outside the window because of covid in about 25 degree weather and froze, but absolutely loved watching my boy! 

David's teacher set up a snow playdate at the Toll Gate playground after school one afternoon. What a fabulous idea! She was so excited to run around and play with the kids and let them throw snowballs at her. She's awesome! 

Lewis' school picture finally came! So handsome!