A Much Needed New Year - 2021!

Everyone has been so critical about 2020, with the pandemics and riots and unrest.  "Good riddance, 2020!  Dumpster fire. Worst year ever! Forget new years eve, happy new year!" Etc. etc. etc.  But really, just as President Nelson said, I feel "Unusual times bring unusual blessings."  I have felt that this year.  It has been hard, many challenges and changes, but many great things have happened that wouldn't have otherwise.  We've had lots of family time.  Lots of quiet time.  Lots of time learning to be more patient with each other. We've become more accountable for ourselves and our learning, both things of the Lord and things of the world.  We've become better connected to our extended family, as we've started more family meetings. On Sundays with the Stoddards, we have a virtual meeting where we take turns talking about our week, and then we take turns organizing an activity.  We've had baking contests, virtual tours, talent shows, craft making, science experiments, and more.  It's been a blessing and a way for us to all come together, especially as we're all spread out.  We also Facetime and Google meet more often with the Ryerses.  We've had more time outside, appreciating God's creations.  We've gained greater appreciation for teachers.  We've learned how wonderful the community was, in serving and thanking health care workers.  We've learned how important it is to look out for neighbors. We've learned how important relationships are, real face-to-face interactions and hugs. We've appreciated good health and a healthy body when we weren't so healthy.  We've learned how life can change in the blink of an eye. Good lessons. And yet, we are ready to look to the future and turn the page on this year, looking forward to good things to come. 

To celebrate New Years Eve, we hung out at home and played some games, then we went to the Wilhelm's in Billings to make pizzas, chat, watch movies and play.  We made some berry trifle and cookie trifle, yum!  Lucy started not feeling well though so we came home early.  Lucy went straight to bed, but the rest of us made it to midnight.  The kids made some cute 2021 hats, and had fun with that.  Glad for a new year!  It is a new year. New changes. New challenges. New goals. New set backs. New opportunities. New roadblocks. New successes. New failures. New growth. Always growth. Wishing all a 2021 full of growth and all the good things!

Christmas at Home with Company

So this year Christmas looked a little bit different.  We did get Covid-19, so we decided since some of the kids didn't get sick until after us and technically wouldn't be done with quarantine until the 26th, we'd stay home.  That received some mixed reaction.  Some of our kids were excited, but mostly they were sad, as we've always gone home for Christmas.  Mark, Mayela, and Amber offered to come up and keep us company for Christmas, as they had already had the virus in November and were immune.  The kids were very excited about this prospect, so that's what they did!  We watched the "Christmas Star" which was super neat, but a little overcast.  

Tuesday, we played and chatted, cooked and made sugar cookies that we painted, had an indoor snowball fight and watched a movie.  Wednesday, since we were done with quarantine, we celebrated by going to Get Air and Applebees in Billings.  The kids had a great time bouncing, except Em, who still wasn't feeling great.  We still have to split up in two groups, I love hearing the kids happy chatter and laughter on their own table.  Then we went shopping for a bit, and then went to see the lights.  There were some pretty spectacular ones, including "Whoville" and "The North Pole", and we loved the teepees up on the Rimrocks, the music houses, and the house with all the blow ups.  Super fun!  

Christmas Eve, we slept in (we did just about every day), then we finished making our piñata, Mayela made buñuelos which is a Mexican fried dough with a dipping syrup, we frosted and decorated the rest of the sugar cookies, the kids played lacrosse out in the backyard with Uncle Marko and Amber, and talked and laughed and played.  In the afternoon, Dave and I ran some gifts around, then we got ready for our dinner.  We combined some of our families traditions.  First, we had our program which we always did on our side of the family at Grammie's or Aunt Lois & Uncle Keith's, where everyone participates.  Cov and Lucy did an Irish dance and both played the piano, Callahan and Emma did a digeridoo and toilet dance (they played truth or dare with Amber and Mayela the night before so that's what spurred that), Amber and Mark did a comedy improv sketch, Mayela and Mark sang a Christmas song in Spanish, I played Silent Night on the flute, and then Dave played DJ with the Mandalorian Carol of the Bells.  Then we played a Christmas Truth or Dare game I made up a few years back. We ate dinner next, and had pizza, since that's what we do for Christmas Eve/Brian's birthday.  Then we did our piñata, we made a Snowman one this year.  It wasn't thick enough, so instead of hanging it and hitting with a stick, we ended up holding it and having the kids punch it instead.  We did a little Christmas carol sing along for a bit.  Then the kids got to open their pajamas, which were Avengers Snuggies (except Emma said she was too cool for that, so she wanted just a black one and we got blue for Amber). The kids really liked them!  After that, we read the scripture relating to the another name of the Savior which we had done all week, discussed the question, and put that ornament on the tree, and all went to bed a little too excited to sleep.  

Christmas morning, the kids slept in until 8 (well mostly 8, Cov and Lucy were at 7:30) and we read Luke 2 first which is Mark, Mayela and Amber's tradition, and was a nice way to start things off.  Then they lined up. The kids were so excited!  She got a Peppa Pig watch and a Minnie Mouse trunk full of dress ups, Covey got a Batman remote control car and turtle craft you can paint, Lucy got a doll named Lucy and a sewing kit (and she earned a spot on Team Santa this year, which caused some big tears), Cal got a hoverboard, and Emma got a rock tumbler and nail be-dazzler. Oh and Amber got a drawing pad and a Ramen kit.  I love their absolute excitement, and they were also very grateful!  Cov kept saying "Thank you, Santa!"  or "Thanks, Mom & Dad!" over and over.  From us, they got their nativity, a couple of new games, and Em got a bedazzler, Cal got some headphones, Lucy got a Polly Pocket set, Cov got a robot kit, and Sydnie got an Olaf.  The kids opened presents from Grandma and Grandpa, which were fun, and they opened their presents from each other they've been working on. This may be my favorite time.  They are so thrilled to give what they've been working on!  Emma made Sydnie an Elsa Minnie headband and gave her a Minnie Stamp set to go with.  Sydnie was so happy!  Cal made Emma a couple of slouchy beanies, which he was quite proud of and some fuzzy socks, which Emma really likes and wrote "I love you from your head to your toes" on the bag.  Lucy made Coverton a cute little cabin play house and got some cowboy figures to go with.  They are already playing a lot with it!  Sydnie made (with my help) a little Roblox guy and a Roblox gift card.  They are so sweet, this might be one of my favorite times of Christmas!  For our families, we made a Christmas with our Ancestors book and told of our ancestors from different countries and the traditions that they might have celebrated with things that go along with it.  In Denmark, they have gnomes all over, so we made gnomes.  In Ireland, they put candles in the window, showing they invite the Christ and anyone who needs a place to stay so we put battery operated candles in there.  We did a marzipan pig to go along with Riselmande rice pudding recipe to give to the person who finds the whole almond in their dessert. We had Christmas crackers in there, which were (and are) popular in England.  And we put other fun things in there.  I hope everyone likes them!  We had a breakfast of lemon blueberry coffee cake and Falls Brand sausages.  Then we played all day with toys and games!  We watched the Ryerses Christmas broadcast, called up Mom & Dad, and messaged and video chatted with family from all over.  For dinner, we made chicken cordon bleu, homemade rolls, mashed potatoes and gravy, and had a spinach salad.  We acted out our nativity while Dave read the story.  Cov was Joseph, Lucy was Mary, Cal was a shepard (with Jazzy playing a sheep), Amber and Emma were the "Wise women" and Sydnie said she didn't want to do it, but ended up adoring baby Jesus anyways.  It was less than reverent at times, but I am thankful for the day, and every day to celebrate our Savior.  As we've been home more and not hustling and bustling as much, I've had more time to reflect on Him.  Recently I listened to the great All In podcast and they interviewed John Bytheway who talked about the 3 levels of Christmas. I thought of it again and again this season as this is what Christmas is really all about. Level 1 is trees and Santa Claus and making cookies and all the holly and jolly. Level 2 is all about the Babe and Bethlehem, the star shining bright and coming to adore Him. The third level of Christmas is the adult Christ who became the Messiah and atoned for us. "The man who keeps Christ in the manger will, in the end, be disappointed and empty. No, for Christmas to last all year long, for it to grow in beauty and meaning and purpose, for it to have the power to change lives, we must celebrate it at the third level, that of the adult Christ. It is at this level—not as an infant—that our Savior brings his gifts of lasting joy, lasting peace, lasting hope. It was the adult Christ who reached out and touched the untouchable, who loved the unlovable, who so loved us all that even in his agony on the cross, he prayed forgiveness for his enemies. This is Christ, creator of worlds without number, who wept because so many of us lack affection and hate each other – and then who willingly gave his life for all of us, including those for whom he wept. This is the Christ, the adult Christ, who gave us the perfect example, and asked us to follow him. Accepting that invitation is the way – the only way – that all mankind can celebrate Christmas all year and all life long." There is also a video on YouTube I found that John Bytheway posted inviting us to "Have Yourself a Level 3 Christmas".  It's a great message!  I am grateful that He is the Light of the World and because of Him, we have no reason to feel lost or in the dark.  He is the way! Let's not leave the Babe in the manger but let's let Him change us today and every day.  

Saturday was kind of another day of Christmas, we put together more toys, played with what we got more, did some games, and went to Billings to visit the mall, see the new Croods and Wonder Woman movie, and got some donuts.  It was pretty fun!  The older kiddos had an "almost all nighter" and stayed up playing and laughing and talking until late.  Sunday, we ate breakfast (cookies, anyone!?), watched our sacrament meeting, Mayela and Amber had their YW lesson, we played our new game from them Throw Throw Burrito over and over, which was a hoot, helped them get their stuff together, had brisket chili and cornbread and sent them off.  The kids were sad about the family leaving.  They are so helpful and fun and Marko keeps us all laughing!  Sydnie told Mark and Mayela "I love you so much, I want to keep you as my pets!"  We got a kick out of that.  Right after they left, Cov said how much he missed them.  The week was a blast and went by fast!  Just like that, it comes and goes.  But I hope we keep that excitement for life and giving and the love and light of Christ with us always!