Holidays and Turning 2020 into 2021

 Mali ~ 

Well, we made it. We got to the end of 2020 in relatively one piece. Whew. We just celebrated New Year's Eve last night and it was one of the strangest "celebrations" we've had. With the pandemic still raging, it was a smaller and quieter evening at home. I mean, we usually have quiet New Year's Eves anyway, but this time Audrey was not able to hang out with us, just like we didn't get to see her over Thanksgiving or Christmas either. It's been a very different holiday season for that, and for a whole host of other reasons. You've been able to spend some real time with some of your friends over the last two months, but most of it has been virtual. Thank God for technology, but still...it's been a challenge, for sure. 

Anyway, for better or worse, here's our holidays' story for 2020. In spite of the strangeness of it all, it definitely had bright spots, too. 

First of all, you and I just had to get out of the house one day and wound up in the Short North where we went thrifting at Out of the Closet and then we stopped to take a photo of you with this awesome flag on the side of Stonewall. Yay for Pride and Cbus being a supportive city!

And of course one of the biggest highlights for our entire country came at the beginning of November, Lao Lao's birthday, to be precise. Our presidential election and the ousting of Trump and ushering in of Biden! Actually, we didn't officially know who won until about November 7th because of the incredible voter turnout and the length of time it took to properly count all of the ballots. Even now, many of the Trump cultists are still disputing the legitimacy of the election. It's insane and a little unnerving that our democracy is being tested so much right now, but I truly doubt there is much Trump can do to undermine the results...although he will try his damnedest to disrupt and destroy all that he can on his way out. *sigh* But, anyway, you wanted to sleep in a bit on the morning the election results were called, but Lao Lao and I hopped into the car and went over to Joe and Tina's house for a Covid-style, driveway, champagne celebration of sorts. 

On another day later that month (I think it was the weekend after Thanksgiving?), we all headed over to Joe and Tina's again for a driveway brunch for some delicious food and laughter. Always good medicine.

And here's a picture of our tree in the front yard because it's beautiful in the fall and your mama is a tree hugger.

More pretty trees, sunshine, and Busy Grizzy. We had one of the most lengthy, colorful autumns in many years, so that was definitely a bright spot for me. Autumn is my favorite season!

And now that we're on the topic of our animals...here is some of my usual animal spam. This pandemic has really given us a chance to spend more time with them this year which has also meant many, many more animal pics than usual. 

Ruth is really enjoying her new home and loves
to snuggle and terrorize the Christmas tree

if you sit still long enough, she'll
come to check you out

she's becoming a professional beggar

and with the cold weather, our kitties are
insisting on snuggling more, too

and Grizz, as well

this guy just likes to hang out in
the sunny patches

well, I guess they like the sun, too...
even if it is in Bun Bun's room

is this a cat...or a giant cottonball?

and this weirdo wrapped himself in the rug
like a burrito, for no particular reason

bird-watching duo

always the stinker...playing w my keys

but also likes to nurse sometimes, too

there was a pizza on the oven...I think
they were holding vigil for it

and more cats hanging in the bunny room...
looking back now, I wonder if they knew

the last picture I took of our sweet Bun Bun

Sadly, on December 12th, our Bun Bun passed away. 3 years to the day that his brother passed which was an interesting serendipitous happening. He became ill, not eating or moving around much, and in the span of less than 24 hours, ended up dying in my arms on the way to Medvet at almost midnight. It was so sudden and jarring and painful, but I am so grateful that we were all in the car together when it happened. It still hurts, though. We all grieved in our own ways afterwards. Now, I like to think that he is pain-free, happy, peaceful, and once again with his brother, hopping through lush grasses and nibbling on all of his favorite treats and herbs. Rest in peace, sweet bunny.

Flipping backwards a bit to Thanksgiving, as I mentioned before, it was a different celebration this year. Just the four of us, eating together after a lazy day with lots of cooking. This was the first Thanksgiving that Daddy has been able to truly enjoy his time off and not have to worry about airplanes or pilots interrupting his holiday. It was glorious. So, in spite of all the ways the pandemic has shifted everyone's lives, there is still much for which to be thankful.

yes, she actually caught a piece of turkey neck skin!

this needs a little explanation...Daddy was trying 
to recreate years past where you were so tiny he 
could hold you on his hip...and you were a
good sport to let him try again ~
look how long you are, now!

What with your social life being largely on-line anymore, as well as much of your schooling, you have been staying in your room SO much more lately. The tween years have taken root and I am doing my best to not miss you too terribly while you carve out your own identity and build bonds with your tribe, aside from immediate family. In spite of the natural increase in independence and space between us as you are growing into a teen and eventual adult, I savor the moments you do allow to maintain our bond when you choose to take a long walk with me in Westerville or in our neighborhood, or when you sit up with me at the kitchen table and we chat over tea (you) and cocoa (me). You have been struggling with a break up with Seulgi (Bryden) lately and so have been navigating the many new challenges and emotions that come with that. Our walks and talks have dealt a lot with this new experience and I am so grateful that you allow me into these sensitive and vulnerable areas of your world. I treasure our conversations and the jokes we share. While these moments may be more rare as you individuate from me, it just makes them that much more precious when they occur. 

In other bonding adventures...we also attempted to cook/bake together a few times!

these Christmas cookies actually
turned out really well!

so festive and pretty!

then you and I tried to make tang yuan for the Donghzi 
festival for winter solstice - they did *not* turn out
as 'festive and pretty' as we'd have liked. 
(recipe pic on top, ours on the bottom. ha!)

We also went to the Wildlights at the zoo to try to get in the Christmas spirit. It was a beautiful sight and I actually enjoyed it more because of Covid since they were limiting how many people could be in the park at one time. Fewer crowds = a happier mama.

you and Lao Lao up ahead...acting silly

Then you attended the Westerville tree lighting with your friends. I actually love this picture and think it looks like an album cover of some sort. Ha.

you, Aimee, Orin, and Bryden/Seulgi

uptown Westerville at Christmastime

inspired by the lights around town, we bought a
giant ladder and finally got lights on
the top of the house this year

We took our friend, Tanisha, to see the drive-thru Christmas lights near Alum Creek and also surprised her with the Griswold Delaware house on the way home. It was fun to see her face light up and squeal when she saw it. That definitely helped boost our Christmas spirit. 

I love how ridiculous Lao Lao can be...
bringing fun to all occasions

hard to see but we're all smiling!

Christmas lights are one thing, but the quickest way to get me in the spirit is to bring me snow and boy, did Mother Nature deliver in December. There were really only two snowfalls but they were timed perfectly. On the first one, we took a walk at dusk/dark and with the white snow brightening up the ground, it felt like it was still daylight.

snowball fight!

And now...something that I had actually been worried about and dreading for a few years...but it actually turned out better than I ever imagined it could. The truth about Santa...

I enlarged this letter so, hopefully, it's easier to read.

Speaking of absurd lengths...here's a picture we sent to Brad (of Stacy and Brad) in VA to help cheer him up and make him laugh as he recovers from his broken back. You're getting quite talented with a pair of clippers, kiddo!

what a weirdo

Once we shaved your dad, (what a weird sentence), we decided it was time to decorate our Christmas tree. Lucky "helped", kinda.

elf magic

two ornaments from Stacy that were
perfect for this year

and this is one of your favorite houses in Westerville, their decorations make
you crack up every time

remember how I was talking about our talks
earlier in this blog?

we finally got you to watch a movie with us and
it inspired us to eat this stellar breakfast!

just a cute pic of Ruth, examining her Cat-mas
tree that Lao Lao decorates with cat toys

And remember how I was saying that Lao Lao is so ridiculous that she brings fun to any occasion? Well, she played Santa Paws on Christmas Eve this year, walking from house to house of all the dogs she is friends with in the neighborhood and dropping off specially addressed cards and dog treats, directly to each dog. I accompanied her and most of the people were so touched and thrilled. I love this, and so much more, about my mom/your Lao Lao. 

Santa Paws aka the Doggie Cookie Lady

remember how I said that our snowfalls this year were perfectly timed?
well, this pic right here is from Christmas Eve - with SNOW!
(on our way to watch a movie at Lao Lao's)

And these two pictures below describe one of the best quiet moments for me every single year. The second pic tells why...

Lao Lao made sure to put a special Christmas morning surprise on my car (right outside your window) for when you woke up. 

it's not even an early Christmas morning but
we're all still very tired, including Grizz

someone (aka a kitty) got into a gift

Lao Lao is as excited as the dogs for their gifts!

the obligatory stocking picture (you're so cute!)

The next three pics are outtakes and the final group selfie in front of the tree. 

kisses from Suzy and giggles from you

there we go...

you've been doling out love bombs to both of us lately...
hugs out of nowhere, snuggles when we least expect it
(you have no idea how much that makes our day, week, or month!)

After presents and breakfast were all done, we headed outside with the dogs to enjoy some of the Christmas day snow. 

couldn't locate the sleds but our butts will do nicely

Grandmas with snowballs have no mercy

the dogs had a BLAST!

Later that afternoon, Memaw and Papaw came over for gifts and dinner. Once again, a lot of extra precautions were taken due to Covid, but it was worth it. So nice to see them and attempt some sense of normalcy this holiday. We social-distanced and wore masks for most of the evening except when we were eating and then for a few quick pictures. It wasn't ideal but we did our best. 

I do have to mention that when Memaw had asked you what you wanted for Christmas, you told her a cactus, gum, and chocolate. You cracked both Memaw and Papaw up with that answer. Oh, the grandchild who is so easily pleased. 

can you believe you are almost as tall as Memaw?!

Grizz is such an opportunist

The day after Christmas I needed to decompress and regroup with a quiet, solo walk in the woods with all of this magical snow and winter wonderland. 

always my favorite spot on our trail

solitary walks are healing balm for my soul

I even found an icicle shaped like Santa's hat

breathtaking

When I got home, we dug out the sleds and hit the slopes at sunset.

the only drawback was this bush that kept
eating us at the bottom of the hill

And just like that it was New Year's Eve. Quiet and anti-climactic. Not even a ball drop to watch on TV. However, we made it and that's the most important and reassuring and hope-filled part. The opportunity to start again...or just continue to keep on keeping on. Either way, I am grateful. 

the Hoppin John that Lao Lao brought for us
to eat after midnight to bring us good luck

Suzy did not appreciate the fireworks 
from our neighborhood

but, we did give Daddy a fresh cut for the
New Year - with that racing stripe, he was
committed to the whole head-shave now!

I am being pragmatic and cautious about the new year, but you...bless your beautiful heart...are being optimistic about it. As we watched the countdown, you insisted on counting down and your enthusiasm invited ours into the fold where we counted and cheered right along with you at midnight. Many hugs and kisses were to be had, even with all the furry family members. 

I have no idea what this new year holds for each of us, but I do know that I will choose to follow your lead into 2021 of being hopeful, open, enthusiastic, and optimistic about what's to come. If 2020 has taught us anything, it's that we can handle A LOT more than we realized and that those curveballs *can* bring us closer and make us stronger. 

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Love, 

Mama