2 0 2 0 : You've been A YEAR!
But amidst the uncertainties, we've definitely reveled in our extra family time and focused on finding joy in the small things. A lot of great things still happened this year, and I think that's worth celebrating as we ring in the New Year!
...to opening gifts with Grammy Resa + Papa Mark...
...the kids had a lot to play with in the few days before Christmas even came!!!
We decided last minute to dismiss the COVID-fear-bullet and sign up for Christmas Eve Mass, which required a last minute Christmas shoe-shopping spree! Luckily we hit the jackpot at Shoe Carnival and were in and out in no time...
Late on on Christmas Eve, we found out the kids were exposed to COVID a few days prior, so that was a one-way ticket to a quarantined Christmas Day at home. We enjoyed opening gifts from Santa in the morning...
...and a little FaceTime session with Brian's family whose Christmas celebration we missed! :(
When a 10-day quarantine phase ended, Brian's parents invited us down for New Year's Eve. Another big gift exchange and a fance New Year's celebration did not disappoint!!!
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[Three months late, but always better late than never in my book!]
THREE years ago, our sweet Sissy made her grand debut! In some ways, it seems like no time has passed at all and I can't come to grips with the fact that so much time has already flashed by; in other ways, it seems like she's been here forever because I don't even remember life before loving her! HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYYY to our little puppy-loving pal! Scarlett, you are the newest and cutest 3-year-old on the block; you bring so much light and joy to our family, and we love you more than you'll ever know! We had a blast celebrating your puppy-themed birthday dinner [COVID style with just a pinch of family!]...
LET'S PAW-TY!
Would it even be December without a string of Twinkle Toes's shenanigans?!? He was extra busy keeping an eye on Harper and Scarlett this year, and both of them were so excited to pop out of bed each morning and run around the house to see what trouble he had gotten into after his return from the North Pole each night! We weren't sure that Scarlett would be able to comprehend or appreciate the magic this year, but Harper explained it all to her one night by holding T.T. carefully with the kitchen tongs [because obviously, he wouldn't lose his magic this way since he wasn't being touched...lol]. She took the info to heart; and since she's the rooster of the house, we'd hear her around 6:30am tip-toeing around in the pitch black saying, "Tinkle Toessss, where aw woo?" Somehow she always spotted him in the dark and then quickly ran to wake up Harper with the news.
Thankfully, he was on our side in helping to correct a few bad bedtime behaviors [can he be here from January through December next year?!], and Harper responded with several notes back to him! A few of his notes even made it to her Friday show-and-tell sessions at school.
...and one month later, they're still plastered to the kids' headboards hahaha!!!
Thanks for a great Christmas season, Twinkle Toes! We'll be waiting for your return in 2021 with bated breath! ;) :)
