February 2021 Rec-Cap

We continue to learn from home, spend as much time outside as possible, and do our best to keep our bubble small.  As Spring draws closer, we are encouraged by signs of normalcy up ahead.  

The highlight of our month has been being allowed to be with both sets of grandparents without regulations and rules standing in the way!  There have been lots of hugs and cuddles to make up for all the months this year where we have been hesitant to be affectionate with the ones we love.  

Another sign of progress: we took our first "trip" in a year!  

Destination: Wallace, ID where we skied, swam in the empty hotel pool, and relished in the long forgotten treat of sleeping in a hotel bed!

Change is coming, friends!  And we are so excited!

January 2021 Re-Cap

Another month has come and gone and our stats are still the same:  

We are still healthy

We are still safe

We are still grateful

We are still anxious

We are still restless

We are still thoughtful

We are still hopeful

We are still hunkering down, doing our part, waiting things out, and doing it together!

Family reading hour- everyone in one big bed

Book Title: Daddy Is Awesome
By: Lizzie (age 6)
Chapter 1:  Dad's Beard- I love dad's beard because he can give me a scratch with it. 
I never want him to shave again!  
Chapter 2: Dad's Hug- I like dad's hug because when he hugs me then he cuddles me. 

Family hike

Alice's first swim meet: She did awesome, especially with big brother to expert tips and advice!

Homemade comfort food is a great way to get through this pandemic!
Pictured:  Eric's famous sushi

 Alice's chicken noodle soup (an after-ski imperative), Lizzie's curried beef buns

Jonas' project: rebuilding and updating an old computer with a new hard drive! 

Family ski time is the best- and it's COVID friendly! Hooray!

December 2020 Re-Cap

 COVID has stolen a lot from us this year, but not everything.  Not the most important things. 

For example, Alice celebrated another year around the sun this month- can you believe she's nine? 

COVID stole traditional Birthday parties with lots of friends and family members gathered from far and wide....but it did not steal cakes, presents, decorations and banners, Birthday dinners, singing, and special girls who don't need a party to know that they are awesome.  This magical human made of pure light and joy has not been deterred by this virus.  She continues to brighten our lives every day. 

Yes, COVID stole our opportunities for socializing regularly with friends, but it didn't steal our ability to leave the house for long hikes on sunny afternoons with family.  

COVID stole our yearly tradition of trekking downtown to visit with Santa, but we figured out a work-around.  Santa came to us this year....and he reminded us of someone we know.....

It's true:  COVID stole cookie exchange parties with friends, but it didn't steal our creativity.  We still decorated those cookies, by golly.  We just kept them to ourselves this year! 

Fact:  COVID prevented us from attending the Nutcracker Ballet live this year- one of our favorite holiday traditions.  But it didn't stop us from getting gussied up and streaming the Pittsburg Ballet rendition of the Nutcracker in our own living room.  

It's true, we didn't get to have those huge family gatherings around the Christmas tree with a room full of aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents, but we did get to have a quiet Christmas Eve with Grammy and Pop and that felt like a balm.  Christmas morning at home was downright peaceful- the most relaxed Christmas Eric and I can recall- and we spent the rest of the day hiking and soaking up the fleeting sunshine we receive on these short but glorious winter days. 

And, yes.  COVID has kept us away from loved ones near and far, but we were able to sneak up to the lake with Grammy and Pop, Erin, Brad and the twins for a long overdue reunion. 

Take that, COVID!  You may have robbed us of so much, but you can't take our Christmas spirit!

November 2020 Re-Cap

 Friends.  Family.  Neighbors. 

We're hanging in there.  We're staying home (with a few exceptions). We're doing the hard work of keeping each other safe. We're appreciating our health, our warm home, our full bellies and our beautiful surroundings.  We cherish the love that you all send to us. 

We are grateful.