Christmas 2020

We had a wonderful Christmas. We didn't realize till afterwards that we didn't get many pictures. :( 

We spent a fun Christmas Eve at my parents with cousins. The kids always have a good time together. 

This was probably our first Christmas Eve in years where Travis and I weren't up till 1 in the morning getting presents out and ready (no bikes, trampolines, or furniture to put together...). We actually enjoyed a nice, peaceful evening together.

Christmas morning is always so magical.

This was probably Jaxon's favorite present. He only asked for allen wrenches and a lock box for Christmas. This is him opening his lock box (a box with a combination lock on it). It truly was like Christmas morning for him.

 

We even got a visit from Grammy and Pappy, but due to the virus could only stay for a few minutes. 

We spent the rest of the day together having fun and catching up on ZZZ's while the kids played. Ginger's already asking how much longer till the next Christmas. :)

Ginger Turns 4

Ginger is now 4 years old. We certainly love this firecracker in our family. She absolutely loves her preschool and all the friends she has there. The English is coming slowly, but that doesn't stop her from trying to speak it with them. She just confidently makes up the words she doesn't know. ;)

Happy birthday, Ginger!

Nothing unusual here

We're just up to the same ol' stuff.

Ivy is a notorious escape artist. 

Violet always loves to surprise me when I pick her up from school by popping up in the passenger window. This time she had an extra surprise. 

I'm not sure what it is but the kids love going to our properties whenever a tenant moves out. They help clean if it needs cleaning but usually they just love playing in an empty house.

We usually spend Friday mornings at Mamie's house with cousins. The girls were excited to decorate a gingerbread train together. Getting ready for Christmas!
 

Halloween 2020

Due to rising Covid numbers, we decided not to go trick or treating this year, but we had a fun Halloween party that was just as memorable!

We decorated the house and played some Halloween music to get us in the spooky mood. Then we pulled out the pumpkins and knives and carved some silly and sad faces (Ginger wanted a crying pumpkin). 

The kids took a break downstairs watching some nostalgic Disney Halloween cartoons while Travis and I took a breather and prepped the next activity, pin the spider (or ghost or pumpkin) on the web! It was harder than they thought.

After another break of Halloween clips, we decorated Halloween cookies and cooked the Jack o Lantern pizza Grammy and Pappy brought us a couple days ago. Nothing better than pizza and soda.

We took pictures of costumes and the kids trick or treated at our own door. Then it was jumping on the tramp until it was time for one more old cartoon and then bedtime. 

The kids had so much fun, I'm not even sure they missed trick or treating. ;)

Fall Break at the Cabin

We've been long overdue for a vacation. The kids wanted to go back to the cabin in Idaho since we left it a couple years ago. We weren't able to go to the same one but... the kids have a new favorite cabin!

This trip was special because we've never been up in the fall before. It was definitely cooler! We loved spending time together inside and outside. 

These two are the cuddle bugs of the family. Really.

We did our usual visit to Ponderosa State Park. Did some hiking and took pictures on the cliffs (my anxiety is usually pretty high keeping everyone at a safe distance).

Went to Cascade Lake for some fishing, since swimming was definitely not an option this late!

Violet caught her first fish (Rainbow Trout- good size, too!) about 10 minutes after casting. She didn't want to see Travis gut it but she did try a tiny taste of it back at the cabin. Ginger couldn't eat enough of it.

Travis also showed the kids how to make a lantern from a can, sock, and lamp oil.

We also had fun with slingshots, frisbees, hammocks and exploring. And when it was too cold they played with Legos and Blu-track inside while Travis and I just relaxed by the fireplace. Violet found a "sleeping" chipmunk and brought it inside to show me...that was fun...

We're already missing the peace and quiet, and all the adventures. But they know we'll go again!

School Starts (Pandemic Edition)

In an effort to social distance, our school district decided to split the kids up alphabetically and have them attend 2 days a week, the rest being online. Our days are Mondays and Wednesdays. They were SO excited to go back. I was too. ;) It's been nice being together for so long, really, but Jaxon needs to continue working on his social skills, and that can't happen without being around other kids. Add in the Chinese immersion factor and back to school they went. They have to wear masks in the building at all times and each desktop has a tri-fold, transparent wall.

Jaxon is in 3rd grade now. He chose a Boxcar Children Book- he read a ton of those over the summer.

Violet is now in first grade. All day school, plus her first year of Chinese. She chose her Princess book, always a favorite.

And Ginger started preschool! I was nervous she'd have a hard time since Sunbeams was a bit traumatic for her, but it looks like she's grown up a little since March. :) She was so excited! Her school is on our same street, so it's super nice just walking her over. She skips and giggles the whole way there, she just loves it (and so do I- she's really been needing this!)

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She'll have two years of preschool, which I'm fine with since it'll give her more time to learn English.

Everybody has loved going back to school. After being away since March, it's been a welcomed change!

End of Summer

We've been having lots of fun the past month. A couple days before school started we spent a morning picking berries at McBrides. The kids always love it so much, it's been a fun tradition. We used them to make jam later on.

The older kids had a sleepover at Mamie's with cousins. They had been looking forward to this for a long time.

Violet goes to the ice rink a couple times a week to practice. This day there was only one other person on the ice besides Violet. She thought it was great!

Violet left this note in her tooth bag (with her tooth) under her pillow for the tooth fairy. Guess money isn't enough anymore?

"Tooth fairy, please give me all kinds of powers."

Brad and Kami invited us to their cabin their building on Labor Day. The kids loved exploring and riding the four-wheeler.

We're excited for school to start!