The season started with orchestra and band concerts for Callie and Graham. I am always so pleased to hear how the instruments sound when played all together. I can't hear my kids, so I always wonder why the feverish practiceing beforehand.
They were both told to wear Christmas colors. Graham was thrilled to throw on army green, though I missed the Santa hat sorely.
For dinner before Graham's concert, I copied the food from Elf. In addition to spaghetti, on the counter were such things as m&m's, marshmallows, and pop tarts.
Graham went for it!
When Callie seemed less than thrilled with her concoction, I told her, "You know, you don't have to finish that." She looked relieved. There is a bit of a running joke in our house when the kids scrape their plates. My chair at the counter is right by the garbage can. They can't get very far from momma's watching eyes.
While Grayson was home alone over Thanksgiving, he took advantage of my absence and scraped his leftovers into the trash. He knew he had his smell back when he came out from his room one morning to a putrid smell. He hadn't taken the rubbish out in a week!
For our Christmas card, we recreated his time home. After mailing them out, I had two cards left. However, I noticed that only one was on the counter. Grayson said, "When Corbin was over, he was laughing really hard at it. Then I saw it in his car."
That's some good feedback!
Callie was especially helpful in getting the house sparkled up for the season.
She asked me where the Shwiboggen is. I reminded her that it is of the resurrection so it's in the Easter tub. Then I got to thinking how right she is. There would be no Christmas without Easter. I put a Christus by the nativity.
We enjoyed an evening reading Christmas books while we snuggled on the couch.
My book club book for the month was
An excellent read.
Matt helped me re-cover a couple of barstools that were tearing. After doing just two, he said, "I can't believe you have recovered all of these by yourself before!"
Ava flew home! Yay!!! Now that the decorations were up, I could get a deep clean in. I spent all day getting everything just so! I had to go down to Orem where I met up with Matt for a Sam's run. I came home pretty pooped. As I walked in the door, the music in my head went, "Wa-waa-waaaaaa." Dinner hadn't been cleaned up (though there was not a crumb leftover), the mudroom was full of coats and shoes. I just sighed and started unloading the car. I am glad I didn't say anything. Having the kids busting and rubbing shoulders together during the season is what it is all about.
We kept the tradition alive by drawing on a calendar each day of the month, though it was mostly me (wink). It made me happy to see the kids pull out calendars from years past, "I remember drawing that!"
The calendar acts as a journal in some ways. I can glance at it and see that Graham painted his room on the 9th (side note: while we were at Home Depot getting paint supplies, I saw a MOUSE run across the floor. I perched my feet on the cart, totally freaked out.)
Grayson chooses not to draw. He prints and pastes BYU things.
Katrina was so thrilled about getting fired from her dreadful job that she drew about it.
And check out that drawing of the Arizona memorial by Graham, on Dec 7th, of course.
Callie drew to remember that she got her braces tightened and then went to the Gap with Ava.
Ice skating! Once again, we joined in on Friends of the Sherriff day.
Callie invited a friend along. When her friend pulled out her money, we assured her, "It's our treat" 😉. she was a friend of friends of the Sherriff.
Ava and I decided to throw a little bridal shower for Sami Bocanegra. Covid Style. The eight of us fit nicely around the table.
Matt was going to take the boys somewhere to eat during the shower. However, I said, "It's your family, stay!" So, they made a plate and ate at the counter.
The week before, while at book club, I saw Jamie's aunt, who lives here in Heber. I invited her to the shower. When I heard a knock on the door, I said, "We have a very special guest!" Jamie bawled when she saw who it was. The resemblance is so strong, that Laurie and Donna thought it was Jamie's mom!
My girls all pitched in and we put together an "evening in" gift basket for Sami. I'm not gonna lie, it was a little difficult for me to part with the Twilight saga.
Sami chose her mom's birthday as her wedding date. I gave them heart necklaces as a symbol.
For party favors, I gave everyone little jars of my homemade cranberry jalapeño jam. After all, in marriage, you need a little sweetness and a little spice! I also kept some in a basket by the front door along with white chocolate popcorn. It was handy to return the favor when someone brought something to the door.
I was glad I had made so much food when my dad and some of Grayson's friends came over that night to watch the game. Usually, they are a bit timid about dishing up but they must have been hungry because I had to make more rice and meatballs.
Matt's drawing ushered in Christmas Eve!
Christmas Eve day was very low-key. I finished tying some baby blankets for some of Katrina's friends who used to be in the ward. Katrina bundled up in her sub-zero coat and we walked them around. She said, "I bet you wouldn't dislike winter if you had a coat like this." We had a nice chat on the porch with one of the moms. It was a chilly day, but standing in the sunshine, we were getting rather warm. On the way home Katrina said, "My back is all sweaty now."
The Bocanegra parties continued on Christmas Eve with a big-old-bash at the Air BnB they were staying at.
Callie and I decided we wanted to do something fun for the littles so we put together a fishing game. Nothing has changed, kids love to fish!
Anela had a fun game where we could unwrap cellophane till the music stopped. Some people walked away with full-size candy bars or cash! Grandpa Mike even played. He looked like he was having such fun at the party. Grayson sat and visited with him for a while. Since Grandpa forgets what is told to him immediately after, Grayson had a little fun with him, "I am from Switzerland, I am in America to play basketball." Grandpa's eyes grew wide, "Really????"
We got to meet new baby Kahea.
I sure love this bunch.
Katrina wondered if Grandma should be at such a large gathering since she is in the high-risk category for getting the virus. I told her, "She would rather be with her family and take the risk." I guess we all would.
We continued our traditions at home with new jammies, a program, and our bells! Ava started laughing when she opened her nightgown. Apparently, she has the same one in Hawaii except it has short sleeves! No wonder it looked like something she'd wear.
I asked who wanted to go with me to deliver the "best lights" awards. Callie was the only taker. Katrina suggested maybe that tradition be retired.
I noticed another tradition that was retired.
There were no cookies left for Santa this year... bringing equal parts of sadness and relief.
We enjoyed the magic of Christmas. We sorely missed Mallerie, who chose to stay on the island in preparation for her trip to Costa Rica. 
Oh, the rushing excitement!
Poe went crazy for the catnip toy. This pose just might make next year's calendar!
Callie was the only one who put in a wish this year and that was for a penny board. 
For brunch that day, Matt invited a single sister from our ward to join us. Grandma and Grandpa stopped by later for some lunch and visiting. Grandpa helped Callie tune her violin. We played games, watched movies, and relaxed. 
This is Christmas 2020. That's a wrap.
The day after Christmas Matt and I attended a sealing at the Payson Temple for a couple in our ward. Matt told me they had invited us. Then he told me, "But I told them we can't come." I asked, "Why can't we?" He said, "I'll call them back!" And with that, I was able to be in the temple at least once a month since August.
Break Dance!
Christmas break consisted of more of the same! Ashley threw a party that ended in a dance-off.
I made delicious groundnut stew, homemade bread, homemade jam, and homemade eggnog!
It was wonderful to have Katrina around. She flew back to Texas on the 28th.
On the 29th, we attended a luncheon before Sami's wedding. It was a very chilly day but, instead of cocoa, we were served slushies. I noticed the kids weren't drinking theirs. They said something was off with the taste. On the way out to the car, Ava spotted the problem. The slushie had been mixed in an old pickle bucket! The drink is now referred to as, the "pickle slushie."
The reception wasn't until that evening. For that reason, we had all day to kill in Utah County. Ava got her nails done with her friends while we hit the movies. It's a rare thing these days to have a new release shown in theatres. Pinocchio was playing. "We'll take it!" No complaints.
The next day Grayson said, "Ya know, the more I think about it, that was a good movie." Matt concurred.
Matt and the boys beat us to the reception since we had to pick up Ava. Apparently, we missed a mother-son-dance that Grayson was horrified by. He told me, "If I have to do something like that at my wedding, I just won't get married."
But we all agreed that Kelson and Sami are a perfect match. She looked lovely and Oh so happy. I wished Jamie a happy birthday. She said, "You're the first one to do so!" Oh, dear.
I got a photo of the siblings before everyone blew covid bubbles all over the bride and groom as they ran away. Ha-ha.
Our New Year's Eve was one of the most mellow that we have had in years. I still made poppers. We still made noise at midnight but it felt a little too chill with just the four of us at home that night. We watched It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.
Aint that the truth.
See ya 2020!
I don't say that in the same way that everyone else wants 2020 to—as Solly would say, "Stick it!"—I say, "See ya" as in, "Bring on another!" I found 2020 to be so rewarding. In addition to catching up on my life, I went back to school, began building myself up from the ashes, and saw so much beauty! Literally. From Lake Tahoe, to Island Park, to Yellowstone, to Lake Powell, to Hawaii. Matt and I even got away a couple of times to connect. No complaints!
God is good, life is good. There. is. a. plan. You just need a focus.
After all, hindsight is 2020.
