January

At the beginning of January, Megan moved from primary into the Young Women's Organization and Josh was ordained a Teacher. Megan was excited to finally be in Young Women's. And we took Ollie on some cold walks. He wasn't sure what to think of Nate's new hat. And while Nate was out of town I took the kids sledding at Soldier Hollow. I'd always wanted to go and so did the kids and it was a lot of fun! We also decorated cookies to take to our Joe Biden loving sister in the ward that we minister to, Lia and her friends asked to the Preference dance, and the girls played with Ollie in the snow. They made snow cones for him which he loved! And later in the month, we tied blankets for a young women activity, Megan and Samara went ice skating (they were brave souls--it was freezing!), Nate received his first royalty check for his book, I painted Lia and Laura's dresser, and we went to see the Ice Castles in Midway. Megan and I had been wanting to go for a long time and we finally made it happen. It was a really cold, but fun night!

                                                   

New Year's Eve

I got all the Christmas decorations put away and was finally feeling better just in time to have surgery on my knee. I tore my meniscus and did something to my knee cap and both needed to be repaired. I was supposed to have surgery earlier in the month, but I had to move it--twice--when we got covid. Everything went well and after feeling so crappy with covid, the surgery was easy peasy. Nate and the kids took great care of me and I was just happy to not be nauseous anymore and to have my lorna doones. The kids spent New Year's Eve with their friends and Nate and I spent it at home watching a game on the couch in the basement. The best part of New Year's though was the delivery we got that day. Nate bought a grand piano before Christmas and had it delivered on New Year's Eve. Laura heard the commotion downstairs and when she realized what was happening, she starting bawling. She was so surprised and so happy. The piano is for everyone, but Laura will most likely get the most use out of it. It was a great way to end the year. 

Christmas

On Christmas Eve, Nate took Lia and Laura and Megan skiing while Josh stayed home with me. I was out out of quarantine, but not up for skiing and Josh wasn't dying to go. The girls and Nate had a good day and I was glad to have some company at home. That night we went on a scavenger hunt with the Nelsons that Janet arranged so we could get together on Christmas Eve without getting together. She had several stops around Salt Lake that we stopped at, including the house with all the lights, and ending with pictures of the Savior's life. Afterward our family went out to dinner and then went home to open our Christmas pajamas (including a pair for Ollie which the kids were really excited about). Christmas Day was quiet. We stayed home with our family but had a visit from Janet and Kent which was a really nice surprise. 

Mid December

Laura got covid first, so she was the first to recover. And since Nate didn't end up getting it (or Megan or Lia), he took Laura to her piano recital. Josh was supposed to play too, but he was still technically quarantined so he had to stay home. It was streamed so I got to watch Laura from home. She played so well! The Christmas recital is my favorite one of the year. And we love her's and Josh's teacher Ashley. We've been with her a long time and she is fabulous! I was sad Josh didn't get to go, but I think he was honestly relieved. The next picture is what we did every day until the term ended right before Christmas...homework at the table (while Megan did something else on the computer because she was basically done). The kids were good sports about it under the circumstances. By the time we were out of quarantine, the term was over. So no one got to go back to school before it ended for Christmas break. It wasn't easy finishing projects and taking finals at home, but they did it. At the same time, I was feeling awful. What started out as just a bad headache for me got worse. The nausea and body aches and chills were terrible. Some of the day I felt okay, but other times I sat at the table or in my bed and cried. Nate and the kids were so helpful and our families were great about checking in, praying for me, and dropping off meals. I tried to keep Megan entertained and get ready for Christmas when I was feeling decent. Nate worked from home and took care of things and managed to squeeze in a ski day or two after we were pretty certain he wasn't going to get it. One of those times, he crashed and hit his head really hard on a tree. Thank goodness for his helmet! He may not have walked away from it if he wasn't wearing a helmet. 

December

December started out business as usual with piano practice and school work, and Nate's book hit the shelves at Desert Book, which was exciting. And we celebrated my mom's birthday at a party Steve planned with my sisters and Ryan and Heather. And then Nate bought a few additions for our yard and the field for Christmas. After he added the llama to the field, a few other things mysterious appeared in the field courtesy of our neighbors. It was pretty funny. And then everything hit the fan. Laura got covid, and then Josh, and then me. We spent the last two weeks of the school term doing online school--the worst two weeks of the year (other than the last couple weeks in May). Megan missed her Christmas celebrations at school, and Josh, Laura and Lia had to take finals and finish projects at home. Nate was out of town that first week, which was good for him, but it was a hard week. Someone melted down everyday about something. Laura was sick for a few days and Josh was sick for a week. I felt pretty good for the first few days, other than a bad headache, so I tried to think of some things that Megan could do while we were stuck at home. All the other kids had lots of homework, but Megan didn't. So we made a gingerbread house and sugar cookies and played with Ollie.