SNOW!!!

We got snow – probably almost 7-8 inches.  It was beautiful.  Because it was Christmas Eve when it came down, and we were celebrating the next day, it took us some time to get out in it.  Pepper was the best.  He is small and can’t just walk through it.  So, he leaps – like a bunny or a cheetah pouncing.  He loves it. 

 

We just used our neighbors small hill to sled instead of going for the big hill.  It didn’t matter.  Snow and sleds are fun.

    

You know what else is fun? Groutfits – a gray on gray outfit.  I learned this term from my nieces at Christmas.  I’m still unsure if it is cool to have a groutfit or not.  Jeremy tried his hand at it though.

Yoh Christmas

We finished up Christmas at our house and headed to Grandma Yoh’s for a Zoom Christmas with our out-of-state family.  It was our best option, and it was good to see everyone. 

Grandma had bought safari hats and binoculars for all the grandkids.  Then, she sent them on a lion hunt by playing this music while they mimed the motions. The girls had fun with this; the Minnesota cousins were not quite as involved.  It was a great idea!

    

The cousins exchanged gifts.  It was fun to see them open gifts we had thought of for each of them – remote control dinosaur, Spiderman watch, and dress up clothes to name a few.  I would have loved to get a few of their big hugs after the gifts. 

Then, the Minnesota Yohs signed off – nap time was calling for Zadie!  We stayed on with Jen and Arturo to have the girls open the gifts they had sent our way.  Their gifts are always very thoughtful and unique.  This year, they gave the girls a box filled with colored clay and clay tools to create things. 

We also gave Gloria the gift we had gotten her – a pitcher with the design she remembers her mom having. 

After everyone signed off, we had lunch with Gloria – stuffed chicken breasts, ham, scalloped pineapple, baked corn, and roasted baby potatoes. 

We then finished exchanging gifts from Grandma to the girls. 

    

We stayed to chat for awhile before heading home to build legos, eat supper, and head to bed.  It was a good (but quiet) day.

Our Christmas

On Christmas Eve we usually go to a candle lighting service at my church.  We did not hold one of those this year.  But the church put together a very nice service we viewed online at 7pm.  It had a nice mix of music and readings.  We didn’t get dressed up in our finest clothing, which is good because we hadn’t really purchased any fine clothing for this year’s celebration. 

The girls worked during the day to prep for Santa’s arrival.  They both had written a story and then typed it out, so that Santa could take a copy home to show Mrs. Claus.  Before bed, they left the stories, a note, cookies and milk for Santa, and oats and carrots for the reindeer.

    

We celebrated together as a family on Christmas day. 

The girls were very excited this year to give each other gifts they had bought.  We had given them some money to purchase each other gifts, but they both chipped in additional money to get the other one something a little more expensive.  Their excitement for this gift shows in these pictures.

              

Pepper got a few little gifts.

    

The girls were creative with gifts for Jeremy and I this year.  Madison made a light saber for Jeremy.  Ellie gave him special coupons (2 back massages, not be used at the same time and homemade breakfast, valid only on the weekends).  Madison made me some creative bookmarks.  Ellie sent me on a scavenger hunt – each clue containing something that she was thankful for about me – that ended with a box of homemade chocolate chip cookies she and Madison had whipped up the day before.

    

The girls received 2 big gifts from us this year – a big Lego set (a bus for Madison and an airplane for Ellie) and an electronic device. 

         

They have already had fun with both of these.  They knocked out their Lego set the day after Christmas.  And have been using the electronics regularly (no worries there!).

It was a relaxing opening of gifts.  Madison said this was one of her favorite Christmases because she was so excited about what she was giving.  It is neat to see that joy in giving. 

Ediger Christmas

The great question this 2020 is “To gather or not to gather?”  While my family has generally said no to the gathering (no Easter, no Mother’s Day, no Memorial Day, no Labor Day, no Thanksgiving), we did say yes to Christmas.  I could give you all the background, all the reasons, all the rationale, but to be honest, it was worth it, and it was needed to be together.  At this point (10 days out), there have been no repercussions; and we are thankful. 

We gathered for Christmas in Ashland this year.  We have done this a few times in the past.  It gives people more room to spread out while being together.  Some people came the night before; some came the morning of; and some came for the afternoon.  There were various levels of comfort, and it worked out just fine. 

  

We had hamballs and shredded pork with cheesy potatoes and a salad for lunch.  Followed up with a plethora of sweet choices. 

We took the traditional family pictures. 

      

After lunch, we spent time sharing the Christmas story (from Matthew this year), talking, opening gifts, and being together. 

         

For the stockings this year, mom and dad had t-shirts made with Hocking Hills on them.  They had gifted a trip to a cabin to us last Christmas that would have happened in April over spring break.  It was cancelled.  This is the replacement gift.  We will go in June for a couple days to get away, hang out, and hike.  The shirts were pretty cool. 

To help tell the shirts apart the grandkids got numbers on the back (by birth order). 

Overall, it was a good day.  I enjoy being with my family.   Of the things about COVID that are hard, this has been the hardest for me personally.  I miss times to hang out, drop in, catch up… be a family.  For now, I’ll take a good day when I can – and this was the best day.

Advent: Weeks 3 and 4

Jeremy sold a homemade chocolate pudding pie at the Thanksgiving Day Sale.  His buyer cashed that in one weekend, and we all benefitted.  Jeremy went to work with his mom on a homemade pie crust and pudding.  The pie turned out perfectly; it was later topped with homemade whipped cream for a delicious treat.

Some of Pepper’s moments … Buried under a pillow – his choice, not our doing!  Watching the “fire”… actually he jumps on the chair to stare at his Advent calendar of treats.  Waiting while Jeremy is in the bathroom – he does this frequently to whoever is in there in hopes they will take him for a walk when they come out.

         

Well, the tradition continues, but I am getting worse at taking pictures.  So, here is a brief run-down on our Advent Calendar activities:

Day 12 – Christmas Movie Night.  We at pepperoni rolls and watched Christmas Chronicles 2 on Netflix.  It was a good movie to enjoy together as a family.  The girls always love movie night, especially paired with pizza.

Day 13 – Wrap presents.  This one is getting easier every year.  They are becoming much more adept at wrapping up gifts on their own.  So, they wrapped gifts for Ediger cousins, for each other, and for the Yoh cousins.  The Yoh cousins needed wrapped and boxed for shipping.  It fit surprisingly well in a box we had. I hauled it to Pack Ship on Tuesday with hopes that FedEx would deliver it in time; they did.  (I wanted to use USPS because I feel a need to support them since I really enjoy getting letters in the mail; however, they could not guarantee a Christmas time arrival.  I appreciated their honesty … and actually they had a better price.)

Day 14 – Attend a concert.  This was supposed to be Madison’s 5th grade band and choir concert.  I had a feeling it might go virtual, but I thought it would be released this day, and we could still “go.”  It wasn’t.  They sang a few songs and played bucket drums and boomwhackers for the band portion.  Here is the link if you would like to enjoy it, too.  She is the third row up on the right side in a gray sweater and white mask. 

Day 15 – Eat Snowman Pancakes.  We had to put this one off one day also – this is the year of flexibility!  Jeremy happened to be out of town and the girls didn’t want him to miss it.  I got out fixin’s the next night for the feast. 

         

Day 16 – Unwrap a Cozy Surprise.  This has been a new addition the past two years.  They often have pajama day at the end of school before break, and it gives them a choice of a new jammie to wear.  This year, they got pjs to match their American Girl/Our Generation dolls. 

       

Day 17 – Take Gifts to Neighbors.  Our plan was to take over some cookies we had frosted.  We have yet to do this.  I am not sure exactly why this didn’t happen that night, but it is still on my to do list. 

Day 18 – Christmas Carol through a text message.  We did this (one day late).  If you feel a need to be caroled to by some energetic, but not angelic, singers, take a listen.

Day 19 – Drink Hot Chocolate.  An easy one.  And a tasty one.  The girls like a good vanilla steamer – warm milk with sugar and vanilla… whipped cream an added bonus!

Day 20 – Celebrate Christmas with the Edigers.  I’ll post separately about this one. 

Day 21 – Make Red and Green Play-doh.  We haven't had play-doh for awhile.  This was an easy, but fun activity to do.  It was new to the calendar this year.  I think they will end up using it during break quite a bit. 

Day 22- School’s Out Dance Party.  Turn on some Christmas tunes and party!  I did attempt some pictures of this, but all I got was blur.  They were very active dancers!

Day 23 – Stuff and Stamp Christmas cards.  This was supposed to happen earlier, so people got the cards at Christmas; however, the photos didn’t get done in time, so I put it off.  I picked up the pictures, printed the labels, and copied the letter.  Then, today, we stuffed and stamped them.  They were put in the mailbox the same day.  I hope you all enjoy them.  (Side note: if you are an avid blog reader and didn’t receive a card, let me know and I will add you to my list!)  We also went to the home of church friends to look at their driveway/yard filled with luminaries.  It was beautiful.  They also passed out delicious hot pretzels.  This was a tradition the father remembers doing in Kansas as a boy. 

Day 24 – Attend the Christmas Eve Service.  We will do this virtually tonight at 7pm.  I doubt we will get dressed up as we did for Easter, but it will be good to have a focus for the night leading into Christmas. 

Day 25 – Not there yet, but I bet you can guess what it is…