A Very Merry Christmas 2020

I got exactly what I wanted this Christmas, and it wasn't anything that was under the tree. Having spent the previous week isolated with Oma and Opa, we felt comfortable inviting them down to spend Christmas together with my parents. The pod squad was complete! The kids were over the moon to have the attention of both sets of grandparents and we were so happy to be with all of our parents. 

First things first, quarantine haircuts

In between present wrapping and final Christmas prep, we enjoyed the great weather, games, and dips in the pool. All of a sudden, it was Christmas eve. We enjoyed a lasagna dinner before the Christmas Eve service at my parent's church. They had arranged a single, outdoor service where the congregants could stay in their cars and listen in through the radio or bring lawn chairs and spread out in the parking lot facing the church. It was a beautiful evening and it was one of the most memorable Christmas Eve services. During Silent Night, while the flame was being passed around, paper lanterns were lit and sent into the sky, framed by palm trees. Really special. 

The kids loved shaking all of the presents that were out under the tree before Santa came and were very excited to open one each before the service. Maeve opened a very cool LED writing pad from Uncle Matt and Aunt Krista and used it to write a letter and draw a picture for Santa. 

We were all disappointed that the children's service with performance couldn't happen this year. Jude was very responsible with his lit candle though. 

Back at home, we tracked Santa online before sending the kids off to bed with visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads. 

Christmas morning was a wonderful blur. Maeve plowed through her presents, Jude savored his a bit more. All the same, we were finished opening in time for a sit-down breakfast. 

Nana read a lot of Magic Treehouse books to Jude in the past year and made him a wall hanging. Maeve got the rolling Frozen suitcase she had been talking about for weeks.  

Oma got the kids fun bathrobes! 

The whole family got gear from my aunt and cousin's new webshop: Travelybug! Check them out for cute t-shirts and mugs!  

There was one very special present for the kids under the tree. Pops created a prototype for the Dutch Canal Dollhouse he created for the kids! The kids got to unwrap it and help put it together. He will make it out of wood next and then we'll figure out how to get it! He and Nana made a dollhouse for my sister and me when I was Jude's age and he's already constructed one for Peyton. A great retirement side hobby! 

Pop's made jambalaya for Christmas dinner, a new yummy tradition! 

Sadly, the party had to come to an end. Pete had to leave the day after Christmas to get home in time to quarantine before school was set to begin January 5th. Oma and Opa planned to leave that day as well to make their way to North Carolina to celebrate Christmas with Matt, Krista, and Addy. Everyone left with very full hearts for the special time we'd had together!