Like most things in 2020 Thanksgiving needed to be done differently than we traditionally do.  Our family stayed home and celebrated with just the five of us, but we made sure to make all the foods we love so much.  It was a whole lot more work making everything, and not just bringing a few items, but it was well wo…

Making choices has been extremely hard for me this year. I am a careful planner full of lists and schedules but I find myself now debating back and forth with even the smallest decisions because I just don't know if the cost is worth the reward. The fact is that I have to decide or I am just stuck in limbo, in a s…

After going months with being together as a family every day (and all day!) it feels strange to spend so many hours apart.  We are thrilled that we all have the ability to resume life a bit more closely to what it looked like before, but we have learned that we really still need our family days. When possible I love …

Since Covid started we have been trying to make decisions based on our comfort level and we have been trying to be extremely understanding when other people have a different comfort level than us.  Right now it is not easy to stand for what you think and not feel pushed and pulled by others. This stage of my adult lif…

I am so happy to say that Nate is starting back at work today. It is good news, and I know that fact.  It is thrilling, stress-relieving, and something to be so joyful and thankful for.  However, I will miss his smile during the day, the way he makes me laugh, the quiet times, the music, the joy he has given me eac…

Aliya recently got braces on and I am in love with her new smile.  She was so excited about getting braces that she watched every YouTube video she could find about braces care.  It was as if we were taking her to Dinsey World the way that she counted down the days until the big day finally arrived.  We are so happy …

If there has been one thing that I have practice this year more than any other year of my life it is taking deep breaths.  This year has been overwhelming in so many ways and finding the ability to stay calm in the midst of it all has been of utmost importance to me.  If I think about everything at one time, my mind i…

We have caught our first sickness since last February. Between wearing masks and washing our hands constantly we thought we may never get sick again, but all good things must come to an end.  Our family had sore thoughts, runny noses, and the dreaded cough.  Needless to say, we had to get covid tested to be certain …

I am a voter, always, no matter what. I have sat on crowded bleachers late into the night to vote for our schools, I have stood in long lines to vote for presidential elections, and everything in between. I take pride in labeling myself as a voter and educating myself beforehand so that I know where my votes will go. …

We tried to make Halloween feel like Halloween should, but with older kids and a pandemic, there was just no denying that it was different.  The kids did not go trick or treating this year but Aliya did enjoy hunting for candy with her cousins in my sister's home and Dylan went to an outdoor movie night with a c…