Christmas COVID Style

It was a different kind of Christmas this year. Last year, we created our own Xmas Eve traditions and we continued them this year starting with a big breakfast from our favorite brunch place (Buttermilk) followed by church (on TV this year) and appetizers. We did manage to sneak in opening presents at Grandma’s house with the cousins. Everyone was masked up and we didn’t eat there in an effort to be safe. 

Christmas Day was spent at our house with a leisurely morning of opening presents, eating our brunch leftovers (yum) and walking the dog before watching some football and eating dinner. (Usually, we spend the afternoon with Tom’s side of the family but everyone decided to gather the week before at an outside masked up get together to open presents.) Even with no plans, Christmas Day went quick nonetheless and I think everyone got exactly what they wanted including all toys (no clothes) for Hailey and a new phone for Austen (that he didn’t think he was getting. Peyton is in that inbetween toys and clothes phase so she was very happy with her Athleta and Abercrombie. Of course she counted the presents and was thrilled she had one more present than Hailey and many more than Austen.

The day after Xmas is a kids PJ all day in our house but they needed to get out of the house after 2 days so we drove through the Naperville Xmas light displays this year and some were truly amazing. We wondered how much their electricity bills were for the season. Our favorites were the ones you had to dial in through your radio and the lights moved to the music. 

Once Xmas is over, our attention turns pretty quickly to Peyton’s birthday. So we’re in birthday mode now as Austen’s birthday comes pretty soon thereafter. And we can’t forget the turning of a new year. I think we’re all ready to say goodbye to 2020.

Merry Xmas Eve

All Masked Up!

Athleta - yay!

Calico Critters Border Collie Family

Socially Distanced, Masked Up Gift Exchange 

Another Surprise - Pulisic ⚽️

One of Our Favorite Xmas Houses

Our House with Xmas Eve Luminaria

Jingle Bells COVID Smells

That was the theme of our Xmas card this year and very apropos. The vaccine is here and slowly being distributed to the first tier. Many physicians we know have already gotten their first dose. 

And, while Xmas won't be what it has been in years past with lots of holiday gatherings and family time, we're passing the time checking out the local holiday light displays (one house timed their lights to two holiday songs to make a whole spectacular light show where you tuned into a radio station to follow along) and watching lots of holiday movies.

Last night, we did a walking tour of a holiday light display at a nearby park district. It wasn't too cold out so it was nice to get outside and enjoy a brisk after dinner walk. 

This past weekend, we had the most fun though. I'm not big on building gingerbread houses. I've taken my kids before to a cute nearby ice cream shop to do a small version of them with friends, and Tom has bought the store made kit to do with the girls before but this year I just really wanted to plan an activity we could all do together but make it fun for all. We did just that. I bought 3 really nice and big gingerbread houses from LaBriola Bakery. We worked in teams (except for Austen) and spent about three hours together creating our masterpieces. When we were done I posted them on Facebook for everyone to vote. That was the best part! The kids had so much fun watching the votes and reading the comments. The winner was Tom's and Hailey's house (It's All in the Details). Tom just kept adding more! Peyton and I worked hard on our Cozy Winter Cabin made out of lots of frosting and Tootsie Rolls (thanks Papa for all those Knights of Columbus donations) and it was neck and neck with Austen's The Three Little Pigs' House with a roof made out of Life Cereal. We all are already thinking how we can beat Tom and Hailey next year so it may just become a holiday tradition in our house. 

We've really tried to make the holidays special for the kids despite the pandemic and us being in a Tier 3 situation with not much to do with others. So far I think the kids have enjoyed their time with us but I know they're ready to resume their normal lives with their friends too. Soon. We hope. 

What We Do For Our Pets

It's no surprise to many that I consider Sadie my fourth born child with special needs. (I considered Adler my first.) Since she was 14 months old, we've been dealing with a number of issues with her. She requires a lot of time and a lot of care. She can't get up without one of us assisting her so there's a lot of lifting and attention needed just to make sure she can get what she needs like a drink of water or down the stairs to even just go to the bathroom. Things that most people/dogs would take for granted. 

We've done a lot for Sadie trying to make her whole again and after 2.5 years and diagnoses of Wobblers and arthritis, we are dealing now with two bilateral knee tears. We're lucky because she can walk pretty well with her combinations of pain medication but that coupled with her arthritis once again had me seeking alternative methods to improve her quality of life. I'm not content to just let her be and say that we've done everything we can for her. Just like one of my kids, I'm going to advocate for her and figure out the best course of treatment that can help her. 

She has been getting regular courses of acupuncture and physiotherapy but I wanted something more long term that would reduce the number of pills she takes every day. I had read that stem cell therapy was very safe and effective in curing arthritis and repairing knees in dogs especially for Berners. I called the stem cell company and asked some questions. Got a referral to a physician in the city and Sadie had her consultation this past Saturday. It was a long appointment made more challenging by curbside care due to COVID but the doctor is very optimistic and believes that the stem cell therapy could significantly improve Sadie's life where she would be able to climb stairs again on her own and get up from a sitting position. The results too can last anywhere from 1-5 years as well. I'm hoping for closer to 5. 

Her procedure is scheduled for early 2021 and I think that has to be a sign too. Good things coming in 2021 for all of us and Sadie too!

 

Holiday Traditions

 Usually this time of year is very busy with parties, shopping and sports but all that has slowed down now due to the pandemic. Our traditions have to change and there's not as much to do since we can't do much  inside now that winter is upon us and Tier 3 has gone into effect again. 

We were happy to get in our annual tree cutting event with our friends albeit with some minor adjustments of masks and no lunch but we were still grateful we were able to do it as it's always the perfect way to kick off our holiday season. 

We usually visit some light displays every year too picking a different one each year. This year, we chose the Morton Arboretum drive through light parade. It definitely was a different experience than walking with a cup of hot cocoa in hand and much quicker too but it was kind of nice to view the lights from the warmth of your car. We weren't as cold afterwards so we celebrated by hitting the drive thru of Andy's Frozen Custard!

During the week, we decorated ornaments for our town's Christmas Trees. Peyton had to create her own ornament for her Girl Scout tree while Hailey (and Tom) contributed her decorating skills to her soccer tree. Lots of fun decorating and then hanging the ornaments while viewing other trees on the promenade. 

The holidays are work too so this weekend, we put the kids to work stuffing our Christmas cards into their envelopes, stamping and sealing them. We got out our almost 200 cards out in record time considering I didn't have a good photo of all of us this year (due to COVID) until our Xmas tree cutting excursion. It wasn't all work though, the kids watched A Christmas Story while they worked too, laughing at how the little boy had the same name as their grandpa, and all the antics and bad food they had to eat.

Sunday was a bit more festive decorating Christmas cookies. We first made the homemade sugar cookies (NY Time recipe this year) and then rolled out the dough. The kids had fun discovering all of our cookie cutters for the season. We had bought some new sprinkles and icing that included great ways to outline your cookie this year. Some of us were deliberate in our artistry while others were quick to get the frosting on to eat it, but it was a fun family night together while the Christmas music played and Sadie snoozed nearby only waking up when the cookies were baked and she not so subtly let us know that she too wanted one! 

It sure is a different holiday season this year, but we are determined to still do some very festive things with our family. It may be one they remember forever and tell their kids and grandkids about some day.