MLK Day at it's BEST!!

 

Today we celebrated MLK day by having the Marions over for the afternoon.  I am SO thankful for the friendship these kids have . . . there are never any fights or arguments . . they can literally play for hours with no parental figure needed. :)  They arrived after lunch and started with a game of Throw Throw Burrito.  Then it was outside to play for the boys (rolling down the hill, riding scooters, tug of war, football, etc) and the girls started their normal kitchen routine (messy goodness in the form of mini cupcakes this time).  I worked on taxes and enjoyed listening to their many conversations.  It was a fantastic day off school!!

Welcome 2021

Today we welcome a New Year, a chance to start fresh and with a renewed mindset.  

2020 was a year like no other, one filled with sadness and loss, but also one that caused us to reflect on the many things we have to be grateful for.  Here are a few of the things I'm choosing JOY over . . .   

Although we said goodbye to two very special women, my grandmother and Aunt Cherry, there is hope in knowing we will see them again.  I cherish the many memories we have with them and know that they are happy, healthy, and healed in Heaven.  So grateful they didn't have to experience COVID in such a weak state.

Yes, the kids have spent almost the entire last year at home doing school online, but they are still learning.  Preston's anxiety is at a low point and he is back to loving school.  Savannah was grateful not to have to dress out (ever) for high school PE.  They have a great team of teachers and have learned to use time wisely at home.  Also, Dave is a rockstar in German.  It's been so neat to see him helping Savannah with the new language.

Shipt has given me the opportunity to meet so many people and build a lot of relationships.  I'm looking for ways to love people better as I deliver their necessities.  In addition, it's been a huge supplemental income, like more than I was making teaching!  I LOVE my job and am learning to balance work with time at home with the family.

Dave's job is still going well.  He is a great boss and continues to be kind, loyal, generous, and honorable in his work.  Not only that he still works all day and comes home to love us well.  We are very thankful the shut down of the world did not affect his job!

Although the gyms were closed for months, one of my favorite aerobic instructors started posting online workouts daily from her garage.  It took some getting used to, but oh my word what a blessing it has been to have these convenient workouts stored to do anytime that is best for my schedule.  It has saved me hours in travel time to the Y and back by doing the workouts at home.

We are grateful our church was capable of providing Facebook feeds of the service each week.  We certainly miss seeing our church family (and the preschoolers we served) each week, but this has been awesome to have church at home.

Lastly, we are so blessed to be happy and healthy.  Although we have had moments that were less than stellar as we learn to be home a lot more, we are also enjoying more time to play games, go for walks, and accomplish a few projects too.  The kids have become better friends and have teamed up to avoid boredom.  

So although we say peace out 2020, we take with us many valuable lessons learned and memories made.  Here's to an incredible 2021 ~ hopefully one filled with joy, health, laughter, special memories, and a release from quarantine.

Drivers Ed Celebration

All week Savannah has been doing driver's education online.  It was no joke!!  10-4 straight on zoom Monday through Thursday.  So today, after taking (and making 100%) on her exam, we celebrated with Marble Slab take out!  What a fun way to wrap up this crazy year of 2020.

Preston's First Swipe

Preston received a Visa gift card from the Page family for Christmas.  He was THRILLED and couldn't wait to make his first solo purchase.  So on Sunday, our family walk landed us at Lowe's where he started his list of things to add to his treehouse . . .  and where he was able to make his first "credit card" purchase.  He bought a bucket. :)

Christmas at Home!!

The kids were up bright and early anxiously awaiting to see what Santa brought, but we managed to keep them in their rooms for a while until we could be a bit more alert. 

They opened stockings and Santa gifts first!  Each was excited to get a few favorites from their list, but they really liked the stocking candy.  LOL

After the downstairs gifts were opened, the cooks (Savannah and Dave) went to work with our homemade french toast breakfast.

While the breakfast was cooking/soaking we headed upstairs to exchange gifts from each other.  Preston was so confused when he literally opened a box of rocks from Savannah. . . but his real gift of a neck gaiter was also in there. :)

It was a fun morning with a few special gift surprises for us all.  Dave included another handcrafted card, which I was so thrilled to read.    

 It was such a wonderful day, at home, celebrating the birth of our Savior.  So thankful for a relaxing day to enjoy together as a family.

Christmas Eve in Mebane

 With all of the craziness lately, it really didn't feel like Christmas Eve.  We didn't get to enjoy the entire day together (both Dave and I worked in the morning) and we had to miss the Christmas Eve service at church too since they didn't have a morning one.  We also had to miss our annual take-out dinner from Chili's.  BUT, dinner at Denny's did not disappoint!!!  We drove to Mebane and had a late lunch/early dinner with my side of the family.  It was wonderful to see the cousins and spend time together.  We ate, laughed, open gifts, and then drove back to Charlotte.  It was fast and furious, but we enjoyed our time together for sure!

Preston's Gift Came Early!!

While we were away, I arranged to have Preston's gift built in the back yard!  Corey was so gracious to volunteer to build it for us and did an awesome job.  It was super dark when we got home on Tuesday, but we knew Preston would see the treehouse right away this morning so we let him open the gift early.  He went CRAZY!!!  His top three gift ideas were "swimming pool, cell phone and treehouse" so this was what we opted for this year. :)

 I can already tell both of the boys will spend lots of time in the house.  Preston is anxiously awaiting to get some neat things to add to the house . . . lights, a rope ladder, a safe, fireman's pole, etc.  LOL!  Super thanks to Corey for making this happen and for doing such a great job!!