Christmas Day 2020

The kids were kind to us and didn’t get up too early. I love the excitement though! Probably my favorite moments are when they exchange gifts with each other. Copper described his gift to me before I opened it. Bottom shampoo! 🤣 It was hilarious! I loved gifting Chris his Wee Box! It’s a subscription to a monthly box of goodies from Scotland. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 I ordered early so I was able to wrap up the first one. It had a beenie cap, a clock with a thistle to ring in the new year, a 2021 calendar with pictures giving clues to what that month’s box has as a theme, shortbread for First Footing, and a sign that says Lang may yer lum reek, which literally means, “Long may your chimney smoke.” The best way to wish someone a long and healthy life.

That afternoon we went to Michelle and Dennis’s house and had Christmas lunch and gift exchange with their family, Grandma Wilson, Nana, and Aunt Casey. It was the first time we were all together inside  since maybe last New Years. It was good for our souls! We played games and kids played hard!

Christmas Eve 2020

This year we spent most of the day lounging around. It was the most and least stressful holiday we’ve had in a long time. I actually felt prepared better this year and wasn’t scrambling last minute. We usually go to Christmas Eve service with Nana and Aunt Casey. This year it was a drive in service which added its own fun. We took the kids’ battery tea lights and parked next to Aunt Casey’s car. Afterwards we went home made a Tuscan sausage soup and sugar cookies for santa. One of my favorite things we’ve started doing is letting the kids open a present of new books. This year I also got Chris a couple and he got me one. It was bliss sitting quietly for a while before bed and everyone enjoying their new books.

Chris got The Nutcracker and Other Christmas Tales and Letters From Father Christmas by Tolkien because he and the bigs just finished The Hobbit.

I got a beautiful book about Scotland because I can’t travel there right now.

Elle got Lucky’s Guide to Wintertime Whimsy and How to Draw Cute Beasts because she loves the Spirit show and drawing cute things.

Todd got Gravity Falls and DuckTales graphic novels. Gravity Falls is new to him and he loves DuckTales the old and new shows.

Reese got an Elephant and Piggie and I Can Be a Gymnast Barbie book. She has really picked up on her reading and loves the Mo Willems books. She also loves Barbie and her gymnastics class.

Copper got a Paw Patrol nonfiction set and The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Grey Bridge. He loves Paw Patrol so that was a no brainer. The Lighthouse book is one Chris and I first heard about from West Wing. He actually loves it! Especially at bedtime.

virtual Park staff party

We had our annual end of year Park staff meeting/party on Tuesday virtual. Mr. Will put together treat boxes, a gift exchange, and games! He randomly assigned everyone a name and we bought $10 gifts and dropped them off at the office with the “to” on the outside and the “from” hidden inside. I got our deaf minister, Zeth. He loves his cat so I got him an Catvenger tshirt from Etsy. It was hilarious and I’m so glad he loved it! We picked up our gifts and treat boxes but couldn’t peek until Tuesday. Will had all the ladies in the office help with treats and everything was so yummy! We played some virtual Christmas games and had a blessed time as best as we could! They are a fun and hard working crew that I’m blessed to work with!

Ornaments 2020

Ornaments for this year are:

Todd- Scooby Doo , because it’s one of his favorites

Elle- 101 Dalmatians TV, because she loves dogs

Copper- Ironman, because his nickname from one of my coworkers is Iron Dude

Reese- unicorn, because she loves all things sparkly and magical

Thanksgiving Playlist

During this year, we’ve found it fun to make a playlist for holidays. Here’s our Thanksgiving 2020 playlist:

Come, Ye Thankful People Come - Simple Hymns featuring Leigh Nash

Crowded Table- The Highwomen

Waiting On the World to Change- John Mayer

Home- Michael Buble

Home- Phillip Phillips

Kind and Generous- Natalie Merchant

Hello- Adele

Memories- Maroon 5

I’ve Got Plenty to Be Thankful For- Bing Crosby

Lovely Day- Bill Withers

At This Table- Idina Menzel

What Wonderful World- Louis Armstrong

Autumn in New York- Billie Holiday

Thanksgiving Theme (Peanuts)- Vince Guaraldi Trio

Gratitude (Remastered)- Beastie Boys

Wild Honey Pie- The Beatles

Thank God I’m a Country Boy- John Denver

Take Me Home Country Roads- John Denver

Blessed- Thomas Rhett

Blessed- Martina McBride

I Could Not Ask for More- Sara Evans

Over The River and Through the Woods- Goofy

Doxology (feat. David Crowder Band)- Passion

Come Into His Presence- Don Moen

Give Thanks to the Lord- Keith Lancaster & The Accapella Group

Doxology- Keith Lancaster & The Accapella Group

Great Is Thy Thankfulness (Accapella)- Anthem Lights

He Has Made Me Glad (I Will Enter His Courts)-Maranatha! Kids

I Will Bless Thee Oh Lord- Annie Herring

Thank You Lord (feat. Thomas Rhett)- Chris Tomlin

Thank You Lord (Intro)- Chris Tomlin

Count Your Blessings- Kids Choir

Red Dirt Road- Brooks & Dunn

What would you add?

christmas trip to guymon

Really proud of our cubs! On our way to Guymon yesterday we lost a bolt out of one side of the breaks. They really worked together and had great attitudes during our mini-crisis. We had just gotten to Enid and had to pull over about 50 yards from a Sonic. In the rain. They were troopers walking with me to the bathroom. There’s also no shelter from the rain at sonic. We did order lunch, but then had to walk back to the van. We we’re going to get a tow truck, but ended up driving about 3 miles to the Honda dealership. About a little over an hour later, one new bolt in, several trips to the bathroom to dry clothes with the hand dryer, and one and half bizarre episodes of the Discovery channel show Homestead Rescue and we were back on the road!

the gathering place

We took our first trip to The Gathering Place while in Tulsa. It’s this new gigantic park on the river. We spent a couple hours and really enjoyed it. It’s beautiful, and has so many spaces to play. You really can’t do it all in one trip. Chris and Casey took the big three, while I followed Copper around. He loved playing, but didn’t like the sand at all! He loved going barefoot on the padded stuff though. The Christmas lights made it even more beautiful. We can’t wait go back!

easter 2018

This year the kids had "spring break" right around Easter, really just Good Friday and Easter Monday, but it didn't line up with OVU's break so we planned to stay in WV. We wanted to go to NJ, but Copper hates the car still, and Kathy and Weston were so great to come to us. The kids also had missed so much school from the teacher work stoppage I really thought they might take away those days, but they didn't.

The weekend before, though, we particiapted in the egg hunt at OVU, and then went to the Mid-Ohio Valley Easter parade in downtown Parkersburg.

We went to Grand Central's egg hunt Saturday morning, then had Elle's party Saturday night. Then we decided to get donuts, church at Grand Central on Sunday morning, then our house the rest of the day. We at Mississippi pot roast because Kathy and weston got in town later than we anticipated and missed eating that before. We also had Pioneer Woman mashed potatoes, green beans, and rolls. And we had pie, but not from scratch this year. A birthday, and easter all in the same weekend was really too much.











The Easter bunny visited everyone, and the kids loved hiding eggs. We also played Elle's new board game, "Beat the Parents," a kids versus adults game about who knows Disney trivia better. Think the kids won, but can't remember.

We even took a walk because the weather was nice, but everyone was pretty tired by bedtime. It was a good day! One thing we can say is that WV is serious about holidays. They go all out for everything!