2020 :: week 50

 

December 6

The big kids put together this Hershey Kiss Tree using the supplies that Nana sent in the Christmas box. As I understand it, Anthony's Grammie would make a bunch of these trees each December and give them to her neighbors and friends for Christmas. It was their first time making a tree like this, and after the learning curve of figuring out where to place the pin in the Hershey's kiss to get it to stick, it went pretty fast. 

December 7

We continued our tradition of doing something festive for FHE. This week we went to what is affectionately nicknamed Paulie's Penguin Playground in Olathe. We met the Allreds, Wilsons and my parents and wandered through the never-ending inflatables. All the kids had fun, but Miles was especially fascinated. 

December 8

Our mornings ebb and flow. Currently we are in a good place with our morning routine. Miles loves getting to see the kids for a bit before they go. We found out today that several of Lauren's friends' families have COVID. I spent the afternoon making chicken and rice soup and then Lauren and I delivered it after school. The community spread is pretty high in our area right now, which I suppose is expected ~2 weeks after Thanksgiving. One family thinks they got it from a home health professional that helps bathe their grandma. The other family does not know where they got it.

December 9

Lauren and Will joined Anthony and the youth for their ice skating activity at Crown Center. They had both been begging to go, and when the activity came up it seemed like the perfect way to kill two birds with one stone. Will went ice skating with a friend towards then end of season last year and has been asking to go again ever since. He had a great time. It was Lauren's first time ice skating, so it was a bit harder for her. Anthony is a good sport to go because he does not enjoy it. I love ice skating, but alas, I do not have a calling with the youth.

December 10

Miles fell while I was cooking dinner and cut the corner of his eye. I think he hit it on the brick fireplace, but am not certain. I could hear him playing and was looking over at him every minute or so. He came walking over to me while I was buttering bread and when I looked up I did a double take! I took him to my neighbor who is a nurse and we decided he didn't need to get stitches. The area was puffy but the cut was not deep. We cleaned the wound, pout Neosporin on it, and covered it with a band aid. Within 24 hours it was already looking a lot better, though I think he will always have a slight scar there.

December 11

We spent a few hours Friday afternoon doing one *hopefully* final push of getting the leaves cleaned up. We wanted to get up as much as we could before the rain and ice hit next week. I got things started, and then Anthony finished things up when he got home. Miles enjoyed playing in the kiddie car while I raked. He has yet to figure out that he needs to pull his feet up when he is on the inside, so it worked out better for him to push the empty car around. 

December 12

I snapped this picture of Elliott as I was helping him get ready for bed Saturday night. It just screams, "Elliott!" to me. He has sports paraphernalia hanging up on his side of the room just like Will. He hung up a mini wreath because to decorate just like his older siblings. He likes to wear the Elf pajamas even though they are a little small because he loves the movie Elf, but he doesn't wear the pants because he gets too hot. I forget how puffy his hair is until it's wet and weighed down. Elliott is delightful and I think I will look back on 5 year old Elliott and miss him for the rest of my life.