I was excited for Christmas at the beginning of December.
We are still doing Young Women activities online. We made little gingerbread houses one night.
Brian and Timmy tried on our vintage 70's track suit from Ye-Ye. They are almost big enough for it.
One Friday I volunteered at Welfare Square and came home to an awesome surprise! Peanut had two babies without me! So began the crazy baby goat December. Christmas prep got put aside as baby after baby started coming over the next few weeks. We ended with 9 adorable tiny baby goats!
We had people visiting and paying for baby goat and pony parties. It was super busy but super fun too.
We did a few non goat things in the middle of this baby goat crazy December too. We took a day trip to Provo where we visited BYU. We started at the Museum of Art and I was surprised at the time the boys (especially Timmy) wanted to spend looking at and reading about all the art.
Then we went to the BYU Bookstore. All Brian wanted for Christmas was BYU stuff. The boys spent forever looking and picking out pencils to go in their stockings.
After walking all over BYU and driving past our old apartments and stomping grounds, Mark and I took the kids to "our" restaurant. Carrabba's will always be our restaurant as a couple, because that is where we went on our very first date back when we were at BYU. I still can't believe I made Mark buy me the most expensive steak on the menu on our first date! I am so glad that didn't scare him away for good. The Carrabba's filet is even better now that I order it rare. A thing I learned from Mark in our first few years married.
One of my sweet young women chose to get baptized in December. I felt so blessed to be a part of her baptism. I played the piano for these girls as they sang Peace in Christ. It was a beautiful experience.
Our friend gave the boys cookies and frosting to decorate Christmas cookies.
They spent winter break hanging out and playing games like Magic the Gathering.
We made some Hello Fresh meals and learned a bit about cooking.
Timmy used Pip as a leg rest while reading. There was a lot of reading happening in addition to game playing.
I spent hours putting together Christmas gifts and treats for my 27 young women.
Then Christmas Eve arrived! We were going to go to the Ranch, but Timmy came down with a cough and we decided it was best this year to stay home. Mark made an AMAZING prime rib. We were just sad we couldn't share it with my family like we had planned.
After dinner we read and sang through the Christmas Eve Nativity program. We didn't dress up, but the Spirit was strong in the room and the music was beautiful. The boys helped accompany on the piano.
The boys went to bed and we filled up the empty tree skirt with some gifts. We did not wrap a single present this year. The kids knew what they were getting and life was nuts with the arrival of the baby goats, so this is what we did. I actually really loved it. There was no extra garbage to clean up after and dispose of on Christmas morning. It may be a new tradition.
Brian got his BYU stuff and Timmy got his YETI cup he had been waiting for for months!
Mark and I got darling letters from Timmy.
And my favorite gift was this ornament Brian made for me with the laser cutter at school. He had the chance to make whatever he wanted for himself and he chose to use his turn with the laser cutter to make this for me because he knew I would love it. I will cherish this forever!
My parents stopped by for an outdoor socially distanced Christmas day visit. Their gift to us was an amazing supply of toilet paper, paper towels and water. So appropriate for 2020 Christmas!
Ping Pong and Foosball were also part of Christmas day as well as Zoom time with the Hsiao family.
Over the break we busted out the tiller to start leveling the field for Spring planting. I can't believe we could do this in December! Where is the snow?
And Murray City gave us free top soil so we spread that out in the field too! Not the typical December yardwork! The boys did the hard work while I drove the tractor.
New Year's Eve arrived and Mark needed to get something from his brother so we met him half way to Logan. He had two ducks he was giving away so we took them up to the pond at the Ranch to be friends with our lonely duck there. They are super happy on the pond.
We stayed for a masked party with my parents and Mandy's family. I am glad we could participate in the balloon tradition!
Timmy was super glad to play Pie in the Face. He organized everyone and kept score.
We got home at a reasonable time and the boys went to bed. I went out to do the night farm chores and took a minute to say good night and happy new year to my favorite part of 2020...Mini Meadows Farm. Mark has installed beautiful string lights that light up the animal pens at night when I am out there. I love them.
I get worried saying it, because I don't want those who struggled so much in 2020 to feel sad, but I truly loved the year 2020. My dreams came true in 2020. I got so much time with my boys, and with Mark and with my animals. I grew a garden, I grew a farm, I grew myself. I learned so much and stretched myself in that learning. Goodnight 2020. Thank you for all you brought and gave to me.
