The holiday season 2020

It was such a different holiday season than what we are used to. We usually have multiple Christmas activities planned and lots of fun to be had. COVID killed those plans this year. Although it killed our plans, it didn't kill our spirit. We still had a great holiday season. 

We were supposed to go to Gatlinburg again for Thanksgiving, but we decided it was not a good idea. People seem to be flocking to Gatlinburg during COVID unfortunately, and it's crowded! It was disappointing, but we still made the best of it. We were all well and able to spend Thanksgiving together as a family. That was definitely something to be thankful for. 

We started "decking the halls" before Thanksgiving. We needed some Christmas cheer. Since we didn't have any plans the holiday season we (or I) spent money on things like a pink Christmas tree for the playroom. 

After getting multiple (insanely high) estimates on outdoor light installation on our house, we decided that the best route was doing it ourselves. We typically don't put out lights, but we figured everyone needed some extra Christmas cheer this year. I loved to see it out there every night and will probably put them out every year now. 

I love seeing our house at Christmastime. 

Adam suggested we camp in the basement one weekend so that's what we did. We put up the tent in the basement, ordered pizza, and went to the fantasy of lights. 

Paige and I both had a blow up mattress in the tent, and it was actually pretty comfortable. This is my kind of camping. Ella slept in her bed and Adam was on the couch. 

This holiday season did bring about a little excitement. One Thursday I was at a hair appointment and received a call from Ella's school. She was a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID and had to be sent home. Add on the fact that she had to be "quarantined" for the next week and a half which meant virtual school. It was a little daunting at first, but it ended up working out. She was BORED and missed school but survived it. While in quarantine, I ordered her hamster, Judas, a santa hat. We dressed him up and took his picture. Getting a santa hat on a hamster is no easy task!

The month of December is filled with Christmas fun at preschool. I loved the Christmas crafts Paige brought home. 

A socially distanced visit from a masked Santa in a shaved ice truck... totally normal during COVID. 

Instead of a Christmas program this year, preschool had a Christmas party for the kids with activities. They also sang a few songs and recorded them. Parents could not be there, but the kids still had a great time. It's fun to see weekly pictures posted on their facebook page each week. Although we can't be present at parties and such, it is still fun to see what our kiddos are up to. 

We went and picked up a charcuterie board one Saturday and Paige wanted to get a picture in front of this setup. 

      Ella and Paige were so happy to make it to Christmas break. Ella had the "ultimate dress up day" on her last day. She wore Christmas tree onesie pajamas.  

The last few days of pre-k before break were filled with Christmas activities. Paige had so much fun! 

Last but not least, we made Santa cookies the day before Christmas Eve. They didn't turn out that great, but Paige had fun making them. She loves anything that makes a mess. :) 

Gary and Lacey tied the knot

After months of planning, the day finally arrived. What should have been a big wedding with a lot of family and friends and a big reception, turned into a small wedding with a small dinner after. COVID ruined a lot of things this year and weddings were one of those. 

Lacey still made the best of it. She was bound and determined to get married. Although we were worried, it turned out to be a great day and wedding. 

Lacey and Gary got married at Nobles Chapel which is where Adam and Lacey's Grandma was married. 

The flowers were so pretty! I loved my bouquet. 

Lacey was burning up in her dress so one of the bridesmaids stuck a fan up her dress. 

Adam and Lacey's Grandma is in the nursing home and not doing the best so Lacey called her before the ceremony. There was not a dry eye in the place. 

Rylee was the flower girl and looked adorable. She was tired and didn't enjoy the ride down the aisle in her wagon as much as Lacey had hoped. It was a long day for a baby, but she did pretty good. 

Mr. and Mrs. Monyhan 

There was a small dinner at R'z cafe after the ceremony with dinner and drinks (a few too many). I can honestly say it was one of the nicest receptions I have been to. There is something to be said for small weddings. 

We meant to get pictures in the bathroom like the old days, but we forgot. Lacey and I have had a lot of fun times in the past at family wedding receptions,  but now we are old and can't do those things. 

It was a great day celebrating Lacey and Gary and the best part, no one got COVID from the wedding. :) Lol 

Happy Halloween- 2020 style

 Like everything else this year, Halloween was also different. The family was supposed to go camping at Lake Rudolph for the weekend which could have been so fun (pre Covid). We reevaluted after fall break and decided it was not a good idea. Instead we stayed home, skipped trick or treating, and just got together for a little halloween party at my parent's house. 

Adam and I dressed up this year as "Queen bee" and a "worker bee". 

Paige was a princess... a very pretty princess! 

Ella was an anime bear. She tried to wear fangs but it didn't work out too well for her. 

When we got to my mom and dad's house we saw this in the backyard. At first I thought they had dressed up skeletons to look like them. My dad dressed like my mom and my mom dressed like my dad. They pulled it off well. I had no idea from behind that they had actually swapped. 

We had great weather that night. We ate, played games, and enjoyed a fire. 

Who knows what next Halloween will look like, but we made the best of this one. We have been thrown quite a few curve balls in 2020, but I feel like we have always made the best of whatever situation we are in. Even though we didn't have our typical Halloween, we still had fun and spent time together. :) 

Fall Break

 We were supposed to go to Destin for spring break in March, but COVID hit and pretty much everything closed down. We changed our reservation and ended up going for fall break. Although the weather was perfect, the crowds were not. I have never seen the beach as crowded as it was that week. We try to avoid people at all cost (pandemic or not..lol) so this was not ideal for us. Most people were not wearing masks or social distancing. It's a sad world we live in having to worry about that stuff, but we do! 

We arrived at the beach just as the sun was setting. It's a tradition to order pizza,  drop our things and go out on the beach. 

There is nothing like the beach at sunset. It's so pretty, and sunset pictures are my favorite. 

I have a picture of Ella like this since she was around 3 years old. She has grown so much and is almost as tall as me. 

The next morning we took the golf cart to the grocery store to load up on groceries for the week. Only Ella would get a carton of chicken wings for breakfast. 

Then we were off to the beach. Look at the enthusiasm! 

We (as in Paige and I) had some great beach days. She is my beach buddy. Adam and Ella don't like the sun and sand as much as Paige and I do. I rent us two chairs and an umbrella for the week, and we are set. 

All week we went from the beach to the pool. That's about all we could do this trip since we were vacationing during a pandemic. We choose to live life still but try our best to do it as safe as we can. 

I enjoyed my $14.00 margarita at the pool. That was my one and only drink as I was not about to keep spending that kind of money on a drink. 

That night we drove the golf cart over to Baytown Wharf. We ate dinner (our only dinner out), and Paige rode the carousel. 

We were at the beach everyday by 8am. It was nice to be out there before the crowds. I love the picture of Paige. She has always enjoyed the beach. 

That afternoon we had tickets to the gulfarium, and Paige and I were scheduled to do the dolphin encounter. Ella didn't want to since she had already done this when she was five. Paige ended up crying most of the time, and Ella took over her spot. Ugh!! Ella and I enjoyed it though. 

We did not spend much time at the aquarium since there were way too many people. 

Adam and Ella joined us at the beach for awhile that afternoon. The water was really shallow and warm which was great for playing and searching for shells. 

We were at the pool some nights until it was almost dark. 

I don't think I have been to Florida and spent as much time on the beach as we did this trip. Although we are not the type that can camp out at the beach all day, we spent a good amount of time out there looking for shells and playing in the water. 

Paige also enjoyed being buried in the sand. 

Paige loves looking for shells. I think it's just the thrill of the hunt. You never know what you will find, but we never found anything but tiny shells. 

Our beach trip wouldn't be complete without a picture at sunset. I have had my dress for at least a year waiting for the perfect time to wear it. There was not much dressing up in 2020 considering there were not many places to go. 

We never venture outside of Destin and had no clue the small towns of 30A were so close. We will probably never stay in Destin again now that we have found Rosemary Beach. It's so quaint and almost like another world compared to Destin. 

We explored the town, shopped, bought some 30A souvenirs, grabbed some coffee, and headed back. 

We hit up the pool one last time since it was our last day and prepared to head home. Thankful for another trip in the books with the family and also thankful we didn't get COVID while we were there. :)