Hindsight is 2020

 I know so many people felt this way about 2020- 

And 2020 was a truly bizarre year.  Everyone wears a mask now.  It's not a big deal anymore, and it's far stranger to see the occasional random person who isn't wearing a mask.  Growing up and all the way until this year, the only people you would ever see wearing a face mask were doctors in surgery, children with cancer, and old Chinese women.  That sounds silly to even say, but that is exactly what it was. Now everyone wears a mask, and I think it's great.

Big groups just look bizarre now.  We don't see them in person, but to see a crowd gathered in a movie always brings the comment, "Well that obviously happened before 2020".  Jason and Emma were looking at pictures of our 2019 visit to Temple Square and Emma observed with mild horror, "no one is wearing a mask.  And there are so many people." You just don't see that right now. 

Some things have changed for the better.  Six feet of social distance in stores is a great idea that I hope sticks around.  There is no squeezing in with strangers or standing too close to anyone ever.  Stores use more hygienic practices than ever before, and it's great.  

Some things have changed for the harder.  It has been hard to socially distance for so long, even for a family of homebodies.  

But for our family, it was truly a wonderful, one-of-a-kind year to remember. 

In simple terms, we were together.  We could forget the rest. 

But really, there is so much that we will always remember about 2020. 

2020 was the year that we moved.  We've been talking about it for years and this was the right year to do it. 

2020 was the year we homeschooled.  I don't yet know how we will all come out of this experience, but for now, it has been such a treat for all of us to do school and work at home.  This year more than ever before we learned the value of a happy home and a family that enjoys being together. 

2020 was the year that I stopped looking at the clock so much, and it has been an absolute indulgence to feel so free from the confines of the ever ticking time and relentless schedule that is life. 

2020 was the year we really figured out scripture study for our family.  And home church was a special experience that I will never forget.  It was the year that our kids learned how to bear their testimonies with confidence at home and I hope they will take that confidence with them into 2021. 

2020 was the year that we learned to fully appreciate what we have, because we truly never know when it will be gone.  Something as simple as going to the library or visiting with a neighbor or friend or running to the grocery store or dropping the kids off at school or going to church or the temple or planning a vacation and knowing you'll be able to take it... all of that changed in 2020.  There was a time in March that we went to bed at night and genuinely did not know what the world would look like when we woke up in the morning.  We will always remember that.

Similarly, 2020 was the year that we learned that the important things stay the same even when the world is constantly changing.  Our testimonies, how we treat our loved ones, and how we choose to act and react in the face of difficulties does not have to change based on our circumstances.  This year we learned that we really can do hard things!

2020 left us with a beautiful view, both literally and figuratively.  No one knows exactly what the future holds, but I do know that we are never going to forget all that we did, saw, learned and experienced in 2020. 

13, 11, 9, 7

 Boy we cut this picture extra close this year, but the tradition holds strong! The day before Leah's birthday everyone lined up in the basement, against the tan wall that we need to paint, to take the annual sibling picture.  

Here they are, the cutest babies in the whole wide universe.  

And sometimes the silliest. 

The best of friends!

This was by far the quickest siblings photo shoot we've done so far.  I guess the 8th time is the charm!  Of note, Leah and Emma's super long hair, Adam's short pants because he's growing like a weed, Noah's snuggy Christmas socks, Leah's braces, Emma's glasses, and, of course, Laney had to be in the picture because Adam loves her soooooo much.  We all do but he melts into a puddle of cuteness whenever she's around. 

And just to remember why I take this picture every year, here are a few randomly selected pictures from years gone by.  

2017- ages 10, 8, 6, and 4

and 2015, ages 8, 6, 4 and 2. 

Time flies indeed!

Leah is 14!

Leah's birthday finally arrived!  I think she is still sure that she has to wait longer than anyone else for her birthday to come around each year, and boy was she excited when it was finally her turn!

Daddy and I decorated her room with balloon chandeliers the night before and she was sweet enough to pretend to be asleep while we ripped tape off the roll and figured out how to place them.  And they turned out so cute!

A perfect way to start the day- with breakfast in bed! Let it be known that Leah chose cinnamon rolls over orange rolls this year.  After breakfast she came downstairs for presents!

 Some were virtual, 

and some were jam!  

She had a busy day of celebrating planned out, so we were quickly out the door and on our way to thrifting with besties!

Thrifting is always a bit of a gamble, but over the course of two days of shopping Leah found all kinds of great new clothes at a bargain price! And when we started wilting we headed to lunch. 

Complete with cake!

And a mask because it's 2020. 

I was there too! 

After more shopping we picked up the boys friends and headed back to the house for cake and sledding and fun at home. 

And, of course, the day was zipping by much too quickly, so decisions had to be made.  Leah's original plan was to have fondue for dinner on her birthday, and most definitely not on New Year's Eve, but she also wanted to keep playing with Sarah into the dinnertime hours. After a quick council in the pantry, she decided that they would continue playing and that we could do L-ondue on New Year's Eve- Leah's fondue.  And that was delicious too!

Leah's birthday celebration extended over the course of several days this week, including another shopping trip where we found and enjoyed some macaroons!

And we went on a dinner date with Daddy- so many good opportunities for connection and tasty foods with her birthday celebration! 

And we loved celebrating Leah! 

She is our guinea pig, bless her sweet heart, who is just as patient with her first-time parents as we try to be with each of our kids.  She understands (I hope!) that we've never parented anyone older than her before and she gives us lots of grace as we try to figure this all out together. 

Leah is growing up!  Literally- she's at least 2 inches taller than me now and she humors me when I put my head on her shoulder and call her "mama". 

And she is growing up in other ways too- we're having lots of conversations in our house about learners permits (age 14 in Iowa!), cell phones, social media, first jobs, first dates, high school and seminary in our house right now. 

Leah is a good friend.  She cares about how other people are feeling and she is thoughtful about the words she says to them. 

Leah is stylish!  She's learning more about how she likes to dress and do her hair and she loves painting incredibly intricate designs on her long fingernails!

Leah loves the Keeper of the Lost City books, drawing, listening to her jams, FaceTiming with her bestie Sarah, and hanging out with Karlee, and she has dove right into making new friends in our new ward, including the cutest trio of girls named Lyssa, Findley, and Findlay.  

Leah loves having her own room.  She was always more vocal about the joys of sharing a room in our old house but she recently confirmed that she is 98% happy to have her own room now. 

Leah is a peacemaker.  She comes up with solutions that calms everyone down, and that is a huge blessing in our home!

Leah is creative!  She loves to come up with new ways to decorate herself, her sister, her room, her computer, and anything else she can get her creative hands on. 

Leah's testimony is growing.  She reads the Book of Mormon every day, she remembers and works on her personal goals, and she has gotten more comfortable bearing her testimony, both at home and in church. 

Leah loves Cole Baby!  I'm not sure why, but I do know that her siblings love that about her.

Leah is a saver.  She doesn't have excessive wants, and she has money in the bank to show for it. 

Leah is a good storyteller.  She is learning the art of timing and the punchline and she knows how to deliver a story that is fun to listen to.

Leah has a strong sense of right and wrong, and she makes the right choices because she knows that they will bring her greater happiness. 

Leah is independent.  She has excelled with virtual learning and is lucky enough to have majorly skipped over some of the worst parts of middle school.  She also recognizes and appreciates the lessons that she has learned in school, both academically and socially. 

Leah is willing to work hard and learn new things.  She helped with the derecho clean up this summer and she learned how to drive the terraferminator! 

Leah is a blessing to everyone who knows her and she is going great places!  Happy 14th birthday sweet girl- we love you!! 

Sisters, Sisters

 There were never such devoted (or silly) sisters!

Christmas Day

Christmas Day!  The most wonderful day of the year!  This year felt a little different for many reasons, mostly because we live in a new house!  The kids rooms are upstairs and ours in on the main floor, which meant they couldn't come into our bedroom in the morning without passing the Christmas tree.  So we told them all to stay upstairs until 7:30, which they almost made it to.  Everyone was up and ready to go by 7:20. 

And they quickly saw that Santa found us!

.

He brought new sleds! 

He brought Legos!

He brought books!

And there were lots of other presents to unwrap too!

Adam made me this beautiful box, with a chocolate orange inside-

Emma helped Laney open her stocking. Laney was so excited to rip apart her new toys!  We now call this one Tripod the Christmas Alpaca.

Everyone enjoys the newest installment of the blog books.  This one is extra exciting- the story of the first half of 2020!

Not surprisingly, the boys asked for lots and lots of Legos for Christmas.  More surprisingly, Emma did too!  There were Legos everywhere on Christmas morning, Christmas day, and all through Christmas break!

Tiny Master Wu!

Leah and Emma got matching "Not today Satan" shirts.  

The most exciting present was discovered under the new Christmas tree after the initial Santa excitement wore off- a kayak!  Actually two kayaks but we could only fit one in the room.  Leah was surprised to discover it in there and everyone was thrilled!  We are all excited to get to spend lots of time this summer exploring the two lakes and the river that are just outside our door.  

In sadly typical Mom fashion, I'm not in any of these Christmas day pictures, but Emma is holding the binoculars that I got to enjoy all of the birds outside our windows. What a great gift, and not at all creepy because you can't see into any of the houses that are nearby.

At some point in the afternoon we brought the piggy down to enjoy a seed-filled Christmas ice cream cone.

And Laney took a trip on a sled. 

We FaceTimed with family, ate a delicious Christmas feast, and played and relaxed all day long.  It was a wonderful Christmas, with lots of happiness and smiles and hugs and gratitude and excitement and joy- everything Christmas should be!