My Aunt Ann, surprised us with a box full of sundae toppings for Christmas! The kids were SO excited to see all of the options!
We didn’t have any ice cream in the house on Monday, so they had to wait a day to make their sugary creations. I think they would all tell you they were worth the wait.
The PTO at the kids’ school put together treat bags for all of the students prior to going on winter break. We really are grateful to be part of a school community who has worked so hard to keep the kids engaged and connected during the pandemic.
The Shecklets decorated our Christmas tree tonight. They hung Astrid’s “A” ornament first.
The finished tree got two thumbs up from Shecklet #4.
Shecklet #3 also asked if we could hang a stocking for Astrid. We had an extra one (the white bear) that someone had given us the Christmas prior to Shecklet #1 joining us – but we ended up using a different one for him. It turns out it’s the perfect addition to our mantle this year.
Part of our nephew’s 2020 Christmas present is a stuffed gnome I made. (I saw one that a college friend made and thought I’d give making one a try.) Shecklet #2 helped by stuffing him. I think he ended up pretty cute!
This year’s St Nicolas Day gifts include the usually new ornaments and chocolate coins as well as window clings (since all of our Christmas ones had their last run in 2019.)
I also have two ornaments for Astrid – her “A” initial like her siblings as well as a little pink sled with 2020 that I will put her photo in. The kids also asked for their own photo ornaments to remember her by – I’m still trying to figure out what those will look like or be.
Shecklets 1-4 are getting cactus ornaments for 2020. Jake’s Aunt Nancy sent the kids mini cactus plants after Astrid died, so when I found these ornaments I thought they would be perfect way to remember the live gifts the kids received in memory of their little sister.
Thanks to COVID (that’s a phrase I hope we one day never have to hear again,) the kids’ school pictures were canceled. I took pictures in the fall, but in order to be included in the yearbook, their photos need to be taken with a plain background and the kids have to be wearing their uniform shirts. Here’s what we came up with using the camera on my phone. I can only imagine the variety we’re going to see in this year’s yearbook.
Shecklet #2 finally used a gift card from his birthday (from his aunt and uncle) to buy ski goggles. They arrived today. Now all he needs is snow. It’s December 1 and the ground is bare. 2020 continues to be the year that keeps on giving.
Food and friends. That sums up the perfect way to spend Thanksgiving. We were grateful to have time with our KC friends. (We did pre-visit COVID testing and had negative results.) The kids picked up where they left off the last time they were together in May and the adults had time to catch up on the last 6 months of life. It was great to relax, hang out, and on Thursday, cook in the kitchen with my friend.
I am probably biased, but this meal was one (if not the) best Thanksgiving meal I’ve had!
These kids keep growing like crazy!
No visit would be complete without a photo of Shecklet #4 and her godparents.
Came downstairs to this pleasant sight.
Yes, Shecklet #3 is reading a comic (by Marvel) about Mother Teresa.
I had a request from Shecklet #2 to make applesauce. My MIL gave us a bushel of apples from the orchard she works at every fall so I could fulfill his request.
I spent the morning chopping and now I have a very happy 12 year old. (And about half a bushel left for another batch later on.)
