Happy 24th Anniversary!

Derrik and I celebrated our 24th anniversary by going out to eat (Olive Garden in the backseat) and drove around to look at Christmas lights.  Our plan was to go to Magic Mountain and see the park decked out in lights but due to the rainstorm we had the night before, most of the lights in the park were out.  We've rescheduled our trip and I'll post it when we get to go.  ❤

We went out to celebrate our anniversary
in our slippers!  Never left our car!

Dinner in the backseat

Olive Garden parking lot

Christmas Day

For the first year that I know of, we all slept in until 8 AM!  Presents started at 8:30 with Ethan sitting at the kitchen table and the rest of us around the tree.  After presents we had monkey bread, eggs and sausage and then played with our new toys.  We zoomed with Mom and then had a late lunch of roast beef, hash brown casserole, sweet potato casserole and rolls.  We had a great holiday!

  

Christmas Eve

 We ordered in Chinese food for a Christmas eve lunch, zoomed with Dad and Suzanne, watched White Christmas, Muppets Christmas Carol, had leftovers, went for a walk, watched the Christmas Eve service online, and once Cameron got home, opened presents!  We had a great day!

Facetime with Ethan during lunch

New Christmas card display

Matching pajamas and group photo "covid-style"

Cameron Tech Work

Cameron worked at the Christmas Eve services at church this week.  His co-worker, Leo, got a great picture of him.  He also got a recording of him directing cameras during the service.  It's so fun to see him in his element!

This is the audio of him talking with the other camera operators during the service.  You'll hear his voice and others talking, as well as the singers.

More Covid testing

The line for free testing at COC

 Derrik and I both got retested in the last week and both tests were positive.  A household full of people, even if they are very careful, can be easily exposed.  Our hope now is that Ethan will escape with a negative test and we can all go back to "normal!"

"Positive" emails

Covid calendar for our house

Paper Snowflake Star

 Ashton and I got our craft on this week and made a paper snowflake star!  It turned out pretty and we hung it to admire.

Zoom Birthday Party for Dad

 We celebrated Dad's birthday over zoom yesterday!  His birthday was two weeks ago but we had to celebrate him.  We each gathered in a quiet spot and had a meal and cake over zoom.  Gifts and words of honor followed!  

Positive for Ashton

Ashton tested positive for COVID this last week.  It appears 2020 wants to go out with a BANG!  Derrik and I have yet to get back our results, but Ashton tested positive.  Cameron is out of quarantine and feeling good and Ethan has consistently tested negative.  Ashton's symptoms are very mild with only a stuffy nose so far.

We're hanging in there and enjoying lots of quality time without getting too close to each other.  :)

Ashton's Virtual Band Concert

 Ashton performed with the marching band last night in a virtual format.  The seniors wrote their own show music titled, "Arcade."  Students then spent the semester learning their part.  The final step was recording their individual performance to put together in show.  It was amazing!  I'll attach the video.  Hint: He will almost always be found in the lower left corner with the bass drum.

I'm also including a video of his audition for which band he is enrolled in second semester.  He's had a great semester and we're so proud!

Early Christmas gifts

 We donated some of our Christmas money to Food for the Hungry this year.  We each gave the organization funds to do different things.  Derrik bought a water filtration system, I bought four story books for children, Ethan bought 2 chickens, Cameron bought 2 textbooks and Ashton bought 20 facemasks!  It was a fun way to give to those in need.

COVID outbreak

Enjoying outside time

 Cameron tested positive this week for COVID.  That information threw our household into full lockdown for 10 days.  LA country was already in lockdown mode, so it wasn't a big shift.  Ethan and Cameron had to miss work.  Cameron stayed in his room all the time and was only allowed to leave to use the bathroom.  He had his own case of water and his meals delivered.  His symptoms were mild and he recovered from them pretty quickly.  Derrik, Ethan and I all got tested but were negative.  We're hoping for negative tests when we retest next week.

Private bathroom

Tray outside his room with things
he might need

Smiling, but sick

Joining us for dinner via facetime

Derrik and I preparing to drop off our
tests.