A Very Florida Christmas

We decided to spend Christmas in Palm Beach with Grandma and Grandpa. We quarantined for over a week to make sure we were safe. Most of Michigan was closed down anyway, so it wasn't too hard. Also we barely leave the house anyway. We left around 1 PM on Friday and made it to Knoxville by around 10 PM. We watched The Mandalorian, went to sleep, woke up at 6:00 AM and set off again. We hit crazy traffic around Atlanta (and dealt with 2 pukers -- I'll never say who). We made it to their condo in West Palm Beach around 10 PM. Grandma and Grandpa opened wine and hung out with us past midnight! I took this picture to document it.  

The next day we went to the beach. It was beautiful. The water was so clear and warm. 

We took some Christmas themed pictures. It might be the only time we are on the beach for Christmas. Though this trip sold me on the idea of going away more at Christmas. 

We went to the Palm Beach Zoo. It was so nice and clean. I was scared no one in Florida took Covid seriously, but everyone we saw at the zoo wore a mask properly, even outside. I was proud!

We saw lots of fun animals. It was a great zoo!

 

More December

Leah came with me to wait in the Bath and Body Works candle line. We waited for almost 2 hours. She did a great job waiting in the long socially distanced line. I was glad to have her for company! Her hair was still a bit blue from election day. 

We made gingerbread houses!

Ollie happily cuddling with Leah one morning before school.

Crazy socks day!

Christmas cookie baking!

I made this one and decorated him like Donald Trump. Then I bit his head off. Good riddance. 

 

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

We knew we were likely going to Florida to see Grandma and Grandpa for Christmas, so we really went back and forth about whether or not we should get a tree. The girls were completely devastated about the idea of no tree, so we ended up getting a tree per our usual tradition. This year was extra special because we got to go to the original section of the tree farm where we buried some of Rugen's ashes (that part had been closed to let the trees grow for a few years). He used to love coming to the tree farm. 

We picked a slightly smaller tree this year. Hopefully next year we are in a bigger house and can get a huge tree!

We even got our usual Mexican afterward. Take out, of course. 

Teddy really liked the train that went around the tree. He especially liked the remote. He actually lost it and nobody knew where it was for two months. We just found it this weekend. Teddy's currently sitting on my lap holding the remote!

As long as they are home for Christmas, they will match in Hannah Andersson jammies!

Our elves came back! And baby Merry got bigger! It was so exciting to see! We were worried about whether Corona would impact their arrival or stay in our house, and were pleased that they visited as normal.

Thanksgiving

A few days before Thanksgiving we had a snow storm. The first snow is always the most fun. Teddy refuses to wear gloves or mittens, so he couldn't last as long as the girls in the cold. His poor hands were so cold!

I'm so happy I married someone who plays outside in the snow with the kids so I don't have to. I'm not a cold weather person.

Leah helped make macaroni and cheese for Thanksgiving. I completely forgot how much I love homemade mac and cheese!

Teddy acting like he's ready for food. That's funny because he didn't eat anything until the turkey cake came out!

Chris looking like owns the turkey!

We saw a Facebook ad for a turkey ice cream cake from Baskin Robins and the girls were obsessed. It's the small things in the current climate. 

Earlier in the day we went to Aunt Nicole's and spent a few hours outside in the cold. It was nice to see everyone! We spent the rest of the day at home making a traditional Thanksgiving meal for 5.

Halloween!

It's nice to look back and feel like we had a pretty normal Halloween. We went to our (new) usual pumpkin patch and carved pumpkins.

For the first time in a few years, we didn't do any type of theme with costumes. During this phase Teddy was obsessed with "Monsters", so I got him a Sully costume from Monsters Inc. Leah wanted to reuse a dance costume and go with a creepy doll theme. Juliet saw an astronaut costume at Target that she really wanted, so she dressed up like an astronaut. 

Leah and I explored online a bit for a creepy doll look using makeup, and were both pleased with the results. She looks SO BIG and mature. Tear. 

Juliet looked tough and fierce as an astronaut. She's been really into space for a while now and is very interested in joining NASA when she's older. 

The girls really wanted fondue for some reason. We've never made it before, but gave it a whirl on Halloween to try to make up for not being able to go trick or treating. They both liked it! I did, too, but next time I'm going to be more picky with the recipe I use. It was a little bland.

We staked out candy for trick or treaters and decorated the sidewalk. Initially we weren't planning on doing anything, but our driveway was such a mess that I felt obliged to the neighborhood. Usually we go through several large bags, so we weren't really sure what to buy. I think we put out 100ish pieces and brought back in all but about 3-5 pieces. Clearly everyone and their brother went to Cherry Hill Village. Oh well!

The girls dressed Chris up like some sort of goth bat. It was pretty funny! He is always a good sport about these things. 

We tried to scare the girls a bit. We did a few creepy things like disappear without warning and write "DIE!" on one of the cupcakes we had made earlier in the day with red frosting. We swore we knew nothing about it for hours. We made each kid a "goody bag" to make up for not trick or treating and hid them in the woods. By this point, both girls were scared because we'd been freaking them out, and weren't terribly happy to go into the woods at dusk. We scared them a little more in the woods, but then let them find their gifts and head back inside. 

Teddy's favorite gift was a new flashlight. Juliet liked her Barbie, and Leah loved her squishy maker. They also got a ton of candy. It was a fun night and not even a little bit sad like I originally expected. But, I hope next year looks a little more normal.