Day 265: Ready for the New Year!

We are all ready to ring in the New Year! Closets are cleaned, Christmas is packed away, and Issa reorganized her room again! Her room has become her bedroom, classroom, and occasional dance studio. Yesterday, she was feeling like it was cluttered and a little too eclectic. So...we set to work. We edited anything out that didn't match her "vibe." Bright colored blankets got packed away. Extra pillows were given away. She no longer has a recycling box in her room, opting to just bring it downstairs every day. The rocking chair and mirror that she no longer used went into storage, which meant we could move some furniture more towards the corner, creating more floor space and a more open feel:

After the edit, her bed and nightstand are more streamlined and in her colors:

She's old enough we don't have to worry about the hope chest getting damaged, so those blankets disappeared, creating a cleaner look in the corner:

And we purchased a set of drawers to hold her teas, snacks, and candles, getting rid of an assortment of baskets and bags:

The end result was on very happy Issa:

 

And I will take that any day!

Day 264: Making Space

We are slowly making space for 2021! Issa has completely cleaned out her room, sending things to Goodwill and making space for her new things. Brad and I have been slowly working through our room, the garage, and the kitchen, clearing out things we no longer use or need. Evan likes to live in his squalor. 

We are also slowly packing up Christmas. The snowmen will stay out, but Brad took the outside lights down before the temperature plunge again, and Issa and I took the tree down yesterday. Our house always feels huge when we start taking down Christmas, and I'm pretty sure Brad is glad to have his ottoman back:

And Frosty is glad Brad has his ottoman back:

Today, we should finish making space for 2021--just in time to celebrate tomorrow!
 

Day 263: Ninja 5k

For the month of December, the dojo was hosting a virtual ninja 5k. You walked or ran your 5k where and when you wanted, and all of the entry fees went to the dojo scholarship fund. We were in, and yesterday, we walked our 5k:

We started at Gold Park and walked through downtown and out to Ayr Mount. It was a beautiful day for a walk, and it seemed like the whole town agreed. We saw so many people out and about, and we really enjoyed getting some fresh air and nature. I have a feeling we will be repeating this walk often--or at least as often as the crazy NC weather allows.
 

Days 260-262: Merry Christmas!

We had a lovely weekend celebrating Christmas in North Carolina. On Christmas Eve, we went to Mom's house for Christmas around the world. Aunt Shannon was very tickled with her wrapping this year. Those would be Evan's gifts wrapped around the banister:

And Issa's were an elephant:

We ate all manner of things, the highlights of which being Welsh rarebit and stuffed dates. Brad was also thrilled to have his very first gluten-free puff pastry.

When we got home, the kids got ready for Santa. No milk this year:

We are now certain Evan knows, but the magic is still fun. We will keep going until they ask us to stop.

Christmas morning, the kids had strict instructions not to wake us until 6 and to have the coffee made. They did not disappoint:

Santa had been there, and Issa's coffee cake was warm and ready:

The stockings were filled:

Evan was most thrilled that Santa delivered his racing system:

It is pretty cool. He now has pedals, a wheel, and a gear shift to use with his racing games.

Issa was very excited by her airpod pros and cases:

The dogs got new giant balls:

And the cats got a whole assortment of hot cocoa toys:

We had a quiet morning, cooking and playing with new toys, before we got dressed for lunch:

Issa had made another beautiful tablescape:

Mom and Shannon joined us for a traditional Christmas meal:

We even flambéed a figgy pudding! We spent the rest of Christmas snuggled up watching White Christmas  (a classic) and Klaus (a new to us movie that will be a favorite).

The rest of the weekend we rested. We got to the bottom of the kitchen and found new homes for Christmas gifts. We watched The Prom, Wonder Woman,  and Soul. All were amazing! A weekend of rest was just what we needed...and a toast in our new mule mugs:

Today we are doing a 5k as part of a fundraiser for the dojo scholarship fund, and we have plans this week to work on some projects. There will also be plenty of time for rest and just being, and I couldn't be happier about that.
 

Day 259: The Celebrating Begins...

Yesterday, we started our Christmas celebrating in earnest! We went to Nana's for the annual sugar cookie baking:

Please notice Issa's strategic photobomb:

Between cookies and dinner, there was board gaming:

After dinner, we headed back to our place. The kids were very thrilled to open packages from Uncle Nick and Aunt Beth:

Evan is very excited for some epic laser tag battles over break:

Issa is loving her new earrings:

And she spent part of last night reorganizing her bathroom thanks to these drawers:

We ended the evening with matching manicures:

 It's hard to see but they have Christmas lights. 

Today will be full of cooking. We'll go to Mom's tonight for Christmas Around the World. There is just something lovely about this Christmas-y time of year.

Day 258: Emmanuel

 As part of my work, I need to listen to every press briefing that our governor and health secretary hold. Changes are fast and furious, and I have to be ready to pivot--and help my beginning and student teachers pivot--on a dime. Hearing straight from the source is mission critical right now.

That said, I've lost count of the number of briefings I've listened to in the past few months. I will admit I have cried on more than one occasion. Yesterday, however, was the first time I was moved to tears in the best way by a news conference. 

Yesterday's briefing was one more plea for people to stay home, keep celebrations to just immediate family, and to move Christmas services to a virtual format. The final speaker was Reverend White, and I wish I could remember where his church is. It has stayed virtual since March, and I would gladly tune in to listen to this man preach.

Yesterday, his message was Emmanuel, God With Us. He reminded us that Isaiah stood in the wilderness foretelling Emmanuel, God With Us. On Christmas, Jesus came--literally Emmanuel, God With Us. Now, in the midst of this crazy pandemic wilderness, He is still, and always, Emmanuel, God With Us. Not God With Us in a building--God With US. Where we are. It was a beautiful reminder for this season and always.

Day 257: A Night of Lights

Last night was a night of lights for us. It all started by our utter amazement at the grand conjunction. Issa literally say in the road in wonder:

She captured a great shot of the two planets so close together:

And one where they really do look joined:

We then went to drive around Hillsborough to look at Solstice lanterns and lights. Buddy had left us a scavenger hunt for lights, which was very fun. Evan appreciated having a goal, and it really was fun looking for specific things. We finally found the last one, a train, in Waterstone. Everyone seemed to up their Christmas light game this year, and it was so fun to see so much holly jolly.

When we got home, we decided to play Uno Dare, and Evan was all too thrilled to get to mess up Dad's hair:

It still feels strange to have less hustle and bustle this year, but I am really loving all this slowed down family time.

 

Days 254-256: The Beginning of Break and The Solstice

We are fully settled into break mode around here. I have officially lost count of how many Christmas movies we have watched, and the Christmas projects are in full swing. Yesterday, the kids made a gingerbread house:

Evan was kneading the frosting. I don't know why it had to be done above his head. I do know the end result was pretty cute:

Issa and I also made a hung lanterns for the town solstice celebration:

We really like the ones we made out of paper doilies:

 Tonight, we plan to drive around town to see all of the other lanterns and lights! The kids also made gingerbread ninjas this morning.

I am looking forward to a whole week of this cozy Christmas mood...

Day 253: 'Tis the Season

'Tis the Season for colder temperatures and helping friends, and we have had both this week!

After a lovely Sunday, the bottom fell out Monday. Tuesday, we realized that although we love all of the light from our back windows, those windows were freezing. Enter some new curtains:

We will likely keep them open when it's not too cold, but they made a huge difference temperature-wise for us! 

I've also spent quite a bit of time in a friend's kitchen this week. He owns a chocolate shop, and Covid forced him to lay-off all of his employees. Christmas is his biggest season, but he was drowning. I've been going in, masked and gloved up, to help package orders. I take him dinner; he gives me dessert. We both think we have the better end of the deal. There is no better place to be than his kitchen, thick with the smells of cocoa, peppermint, and roasting nuts. I don't know a ton, but I can follow direction well. Luckily for him, a former employee who opened her own catering business just had to close it, so she is now helping him pretty much full-time, which means he will need me less. It's wonderful! She knows how to do all of the things and can help him organize the business side of things. But...I can now break a two or four ounce piece of chocolate bark within .1 of an ounce on the first try. Most importantly, it's been really lovely to help a friend.
 

Day 252: Almost There...

 We are so close to Winter Break around here! Getting the kids out of bed this morning took a little more coaxing, and I will admit I'm wearing a Meredith sweatshirt and yoga pants because my only meetings are with colleagues at other campuses today. We are squeezing in one more meeting about some collaborative projects before we all shut it down for a couple of weeks. I promise no one will be dressed up.

We have big plans to do nothing for two weeks, and I can't wait. 

Day 251: Weirdo

Inks has a new surveillance spot:

This ridiculous cat likes to be anywhere she can see what is happening but be completely away from the dogs. They are starting to work out a tenuous truce, but more often than not she swats at them on the way past. Buddy wants nothing more than to play with her; Neela is content to just leave her alone.

She has brought so much joy to our lives. She now works out with me every morning. She loves laying under me when I'm in plank, and she finds ways to get head scratches. This morning, she was most excited that my warm up was running in circles and then touching the floor; she positioned herself to get a scratch every time I touched the floor. She even curled up in my lap while I meditated. 

I am so very grateful this little ball of fluff and attitude came into our lives. She brings me great joy.

 

Days 248-250: The Highs and Lows

This was a bit of a roller coaster weekend. Issa had dress rehearsal at the studio this weekend. Usually, that would be a full weekend all day event with lunches together and everyone crammed into the studio. Not so much this year. It was still so, so good to see her dance in costume, but we were watching from the windows. The Company came in shifts. Issa had a hard night Friday night. By Sunday, though, she was back to being excited about the season. The dances are looking good, and the costumes are actually comfortable.

The boys spend Saturday in the woods with the dojo. They did a wilderness survival training, and a good time was had by all. Evan has put some wilderness gear on his wish list, and I have a feeling my boys will be spending more time in the woods in the near future.

Saturday night, Mom and Shannon came over to watch the Hip Hop Nutcracker with us. It is the first Nutcracker Brad didn't fall asleep during! The story was a little different, but once we embraced that we loved it! Issa had actually taken a class with one of the dancers, so that was pretty cool.

Sunday was a full day of holly jolly, which ended the weekend on a high note! We spent the afternoon masking up to make cookies for the neighbors:

The highlight, though, is the week-long selfie competition Buddy brought. We decided to play parents versus kids, and we are in a selfie battle! The first one was with blue lights:

Then it was eating Christmas cookies. You get extra points for photo bombing a competitor, so the kids were very proud of this one:

And then bad decisions were made. One of the beauties of NC is that the weather is wildly unpredictable. Yesterday, it was 70. We decided to take a walk after dinner to look at the Christmas lights. (Our neighborhood has gone all in this year!) One of the challenges was a snow angel. Since there is no snow here, I decided to sub a leaf angel:

It was wet. And cold. And I had to pick a slug of my arm when I stood up. But it was also hysterical. I am imaging a lot more hilarious pictures will emerge this week...

 

Day 247: The Final Piece

I would be lying if I said all was right with the world this morning. I'm still struggling after yesterday--missing schools and teaching in person and kids even more--feeling even more certain that we need to be virtual for right now. I'm in a bit of a funk, and I'm letting myself feel all the feels for another day.

But...I am also trying to not let myself go too deep into my feelings. I went to the grocery this morning and found some fun things for next week. I've got Christmas music playing in the background, and the last piece of perfection is now in our front yard:

These little gingerbread men make me so happy:

It's such a weird season right now. So much joy but also so much fear and sadness. Both are okay, and we will be okay...
 

Day 246: Back in a School

This morning, I went back into a real school with actual children in it for the first time since March. This was me in the parking lot:

I'm still processing some pretty big feelings.

First, it was so stupid good to be back in a school with kids. I miss watching them learn in person. Those lightbulb moments just feel different behind a computer screen. I missed the feel of cinderblock and tiny chairs. I missed clipping on my nametag and signing in. I missed watching teachers I taught teach when I am actually in the same room. That all felt so very, very right. I was back home.

But right after I snapped this picture I put on my mask. On the way in they checked my temperature. I watched my former student teach her heart out. She was masterful. She kept those tiny humans engaged and learning for the two hours I was there. She also reminded them six million times that their masks had slipped, that we can't share our pencils, that we can't hug our sad friend right now. I watched her disinfect the same thing a million times and help kids sing while they washed their hands--again. She is working so hard to teach and keep kids safe in a pandemic, and as I watched all I could think was "it's not if, it's when." Through no fault of hers! Littles are not meant to go to school this way; it's too much of an ask. 

What broke my heart most was the response on social media when I posted. Teachers knew exactly what I meant. They are so tired and worried and frightened. Some that have been back for a while talk about the acceptance that everyone will get it; they just hope for a mild case. And when it's not? People who aren't teachers just want to be back, and I do get that, but at what cost? 

At this point, I won't be back in schools until January, and even that I'm not banking on given the rising numbers. I will spend a lot of the day trying to sort myself out, and like every teacher I know, when the kids need me I'll be right back in that building.

If you are reading this and you know a teacher, please check on them. We are not okay. 

 

Day 245: Dark Magic

 Last night was one of those family dinners that I wanted to freeze in time. Since I have fewer meetings, I had made spaghetti with homemade breadsticks, which is always a family favorite. We saw our first snow flurries yesterday, and the day just felt a little extra cozy and magical. We lit the candles, and Buddy had brought a bowl of Would You Rather questions a few days ago that made its way to the table.

The fun of dinner, though, really started with a little unintentional elfin dark magic. Yesterday, Buddy brought North Pole Snowman Juice, which tasted a lot like water with some spearmint. I interpreted that to mean that this is the juice snowmen drink. The rest of my family, however, is convinced it is made of snowmen. It turned into this whole elf versus snowman war story. It was hysterical. 

We spent nearly an hour playing Would You Rather and laughing. It was nothing extraordinary, but it was just lovely. I'm hoping for more of that magic this month.

Days 243-244: So Holly Jolly!

This was a very holly jolly weekend! Brad and I really wanted to find somewhere this season to safely take the kids. We usually have parades and concerts and all manner of holiday hoopla, and we knew we would be missing it. Enter ELF: The Electric Light Fantasy at the Wilson Whirligig Park. We only told the kids we were going somewhere fun, and then we loaded up in the car. When we got there, we received out very cool glowing souvenir cups and got a prime parking space:

The Whirligig Park is pretty cool by itself:

But the light show was incredible:

The lasers were perfectly synced to Christmas music. I think we all had different favorites, but the TSO finale was really something. 

Sunday, we watched the virtual Hillsborough Holiday Parade--all 17 minutes of it. We did get to see Issa and TTP in it, so it was worth it. Then we finished our tree:

I love our little tree. Every ornament tells a story, and it just make me so happy.