Christmas 2020

We bypassed our annual letter and sent just a few cards this year.   Yes even with COVID and the challenges of 2020 this is still a wonderful life I am so blessed to have.  

This Christmas as our turn to have Jimmy's parents for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  It is always nice when family is with us.  When we first married we made the decision to always send Christmas Day at our house, we would travel before and after but we would always wake up at our house.   It has been a sweet tradition that while hard, I am so glad we have made.  And as we have our parents closer by they get to spend the time too with us in our home on Christmas.  

Annual PJs on Christmas Eve 

We got a few snow flurries on Christmas Eve, but they are hard to see and clearly did not stick or last long. 

Bella got a new bandana for her PJs!  We can't leave the baby out and of course she has to coordinate with the family colors for the year!

Maggie was extra snuggly! 

Papa loves! 

Christmas Eve and the stockings were hung and filled!  

Silent night!  Holly night! 

Christmas morning we are up by 7am and ready to do stockings and gifts followed by breakfast (egg casserole, French toast casserole, Kringle, and homemade hot chocolate).     I did not think Christmas could be more fun with teens/ preteens than toddlers but I think it is, or I just appreciate it more and soak it up.  

Girls! 

Grammy and Papa with the girls 

Family picture 

Grammy and Papa Claus 

Our hearts were full! 

Sister gift... Gracie wanted to get Maggie an extra big monkey to match her little monkey.   

 The girls are so thoughtful when it comes to picking gifts for each other. 

Stockings are always fun.  Moofie charger for their electronics were a hit. 

The girls faces were priceless this year!  They were so surprised by their gifts that they did ask for but we kept punting on! 

new iPad for Maggie 

Apple Watch for Gracie 

Against our better judgment we got Maggie a hoover board.   She was so surprised and excited! 

Jimmy the past several years has gotten us surprises (surprised even for Mommy) well after Christmas Day seems to be over, he busts out something.  The first year it was weighted blankets, last year Hamilton tickets at the Fox Theater (which as now been rescheduled thanks to COVID to September 2021), and this year he got us all new Nikes!  He did a great job picking out exactly the ones each of us would love.  

Gracie had not even seen the shoes, just the box! 

For the first time ever since we have been married, we decided to not spend Christmas Day taking all the decorating down.  We rested and played on all the new gifts!  We all needed this. 

And of course Aunt J and Donnie stopped by to end the night!   We adore Donnie and are so thankful for him in her life.  We alway anticipate ending Christmas Day with them. 

The rest of December we enjoyed time home and Gracie continued to recover well.  

xray 2 weeks post op and it looks great per Dr. Bruce. 

PT is going well and having to do some shock therapy to wake up her muscles.  It is hard work but she is doing great! 

Looking good feeling good! 

Not how she wanted to spend her Christmas break, but she is working hard! 

Look Dad...no crutches! (this made us anxious, but she just was standing not walking ...yet) 

So sweet.  Happy Anniversary from Jimmy.  19 Years! 

Anniversary date night!  Happy Anniversary to us!  19 years and you still are everything I wanted, needed and hoped for and more! 

This girl mastered the Hoover board quickly.   

Bella was a great snuggle puppy while Gracie was recovering.  She was very gentle.