Christmas Concerts 2020

You are probably wondering why I even brought up the idea of concerts during this Covid Christmas season. The elementary school filmed each kid separately playing their own little holiday song including Baby Doll, but we were forbidden from sharing. 

The middle school bands filmed their concerts at school and we are still waiting to see them. The only concert that actually felt like the real thing was at the high school.

You probably remember that Sport is a senior this year and he plays the trumpet in Bingham's top band, the Wind Symphony.

They did a fantastic job playing all of their Christmas songs as well as the ones planned for the fall concert that was cancelled. 

That blond head in the middle is Sport. I'm so glad we had the chance to enjoy one live concert this year anyway. Here's to more success, good health, and music in 2021.

Christmas Letter 2020

Dear Friends & Family, 

It has been a rough year for our world and no different here at home although many good things have happened. Not all of Curly’s baseball tournaments were cancelled. We had a fun trip to Idaho and another to St. George so he could play. Baby Doll got to dance in her Spring Recital, but only because our director erected a temporary stage in her parking lot so people could stay distanced. Scout played in a couple of volleyball tournaments before they shut everything down. Dog Walker managed to graduate from UVU with his BS in University Studies and they had a drive-through graduation and a big party afterward. Honestly? Best.graduation.ever!

In July, Teach and Twiz and their little family moved to New Jersey. The transition was difficult for all of us. They are now expecting a little one in July. Bossy and Gamer are also having another boy in February! We added one new grandbaby this year. Princess and The Frog’s daughter, Duchess, was born in October. We didn’t get to see her until the first part of December since our family contracted COVID-19 about that same time. Everyone came through with flying colors, even my 85-year-old dad who lives with us.

After 5 months, Crafty came home with the rest of the missionaries from the Philippines. She is taking a year of classes at BYU and then plans to return to her mission next summer when we hope COVID will finally be under control. Prima Donna continues to be a free spirit.

My sweetie works at home as does Crafty, Bossy, The Beast, Beauty, and Drama Queen. Sport struggles a bit with the changes during his senior year at Bingham. He had hoped to go to a dance or two and run his clubs, but he was chosen to be the Sterling Scholar in FACS, so that was pretty huge. He also received his Eagle Scout Award in an outdoor ceremony 6 months from the date we originally had planned the end of March. Scout is the only one on a hybrid schedule; all the others go to school 4 days a week.

Curly got a whole season of football and The Beast’s oldest son, Little Warrior, wanted to come with us to every game. We have had lots of time with their family this year and I have loved getting to know their boys better. Drama Queen has been amazing at helping the kids with homework. We don’t love wearing masks, but having church at home was a learning experience for all of us. We discovered that the size of the congregation didn’t matter as long as we were serving God.

We have had lots of time together! We learned to play spikeball and pickle ball. We took a trip to New Mexico with the kids and my sweetie and I went by ourselves to Oregon in November and last January on a work trip to San Diego. We also spent a week in Park City while my sweetie refinished our floors.

We will all be so grateful when things finally return to a little more normal. We miss seeing family and friends. We hope you all have a fantastic Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year.

 

Love from Twelve Makes A Dozen

Christmas Performance 2020

So many things have been canceled because of COVID-19, that we held our breath right up until it was time to drive to the school for the performance. There were so many restrictions! The kids had to wear masks until the moment they stepped onto the stage. Audience members had to have 3 seats between family groups and masks, of course.

But once the kids were on stage, they all just looked so excited to be there, you would never have known we had a pandemic raging. Baby Doll danced with three groups this year. This is her jazz class class and she is 2nd from the left.

For her ballet class, the girls wore their own Christmas dresses. She is on the front row with the cornflower blue skirt and white top.

She did an amazing job as usual. Only 4 of us were allowed to watch her from the school, but because they streamed the video, even Teach watched her from New Jersey!

Baby Doll's last dance was her tap class. We were especially excited for this one because Curly is also in that class! He didn't dance last year, so he had some catching up to do, but after a few weeks, it was like he never stopped.

So proud of these two!!

Gingerbread Houses

A few years ago, Bossy wanted to start a new tradition. She wanted to get everyone together the evening of the Christmas Devotional and make gingerbread houses.

Now obviously, with the pandemic, we weren't able to get everyone here, but she arranged for people to bring soup, my sweetie made bread, and everyone brought their own house kits and some extra candy.

We had so much fun!

Look how cute they turned out.

My sweetie and I made a lighthouse in honor of our trip to Oregon last month.

It looks like my photographer missed a couple of people. But Bossy, Drama Queen, and Scout all made amazing houses as well.

This one is probably Scout's.

We all hope you have a Merry Christmas and a sweet new year!