2020 to 2021

Michael got this hollow football in his stocking and it was taking up too much room staying whole.  I decided to cut it up on the 30th.

Thank goodness it was hollow!

I had to go in for my standard every two weeks COVID test on the 31st.  No worries, I was not having symptoms.  Because I was already out of the house I went to Trader Joe's and bought a bunch of appetizers for us to snack on all afternoon and evening. 

Chips and queso in bed.

Elliott joined us.

My new sparkly plate that I got for New Year's decor.

Setting a festive table. 

Appetizers for dinner.

Michael and I spent most of the evening in bed.

He thought this face was funny. 

We joined the kids around 11:40 for some NYE TV. 

This was before midnight.

This was after midnight. 

On the 1st we drove to Tucson to eat at my uncle's.  I wanted a 2021 family picture, so we scoped out the backyard.  I thought this was the perfect backdrop. 

See, we just crop 2020 out!

There was one big chunk of plum pudding left, so we flamed it again. 

Nick caught half of his face on fire.

Scorched

Not scorched

Elliott didn't want to say goodbye to Gus. 

The first sunset of 2021.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand SCENE!  

2020 ends and 2021 begins.

19 years

Our 19th wedding anniversary was on Tuesday, December 29th.  We have been saying all year, well since March, that our anniversary would be our first time eating out in a restaurant since the pandemic began.  With AZ infection rates flying out of control though, it didn't feel safe.  We also didn't think it was safe to watch a movie in a theatre, so all of our normal anniversary activities went bye-bye.

I did pull one of the garlands from our wedding reception out of a storage bin and made a lovely centerpiece out of it.

Then I took pictures from every possible angle. 

We ordered breakfast in. 

After breakfast, which was definitely brunch time, we went to Total Wine to buy some wine for our dinner, 

and to AJ's to buy a cake.  

We liked this one, but it was $30! Single layer cakes are always $15, so they were charging $15 for the flowers!

Waiting for them to write on, and box our cake. 

I think it was perfectly lovely, even without the $15 flowers. 

I once again made a whole centerpiece in the dining room. 

Cake comparison!

We got all dressed up in fancy clothes and had Spencer take our picture. 

Then we totally changed into casual clothes, ordered dinner in, and ate in the dining room.

Steak for Michael. 

Duck for me.

The bottle of wine we specifically bought for the night was set aside because the cork broke, so we drank the bottle we bought because it had a cool label.  Whatever!  2020 had no rules, so it was fine.  The wine was good too. 

Post-Christmas, Pre-Anniversary

Chugging right along through the holidays......

On Saturday the 26th we drove over to Reid Park in Tucson.  I grew up going to this park.  The zoo (in the park) is expanding, and unless people can get it stopped, they plan on removing this big hill and one of the duck ponds to make space for more animals. 

  

People are not happy about it. 

As we walked into one of the playground areas I told the kids I used to play on these turtles all the time.  They completely did not understand what I meant by that. Ha!  Spencer was like, "so you stood on a concrete turtle and called that play".  Hey, it was the 80's!

There were some beautiful trees in full color. 

On Sunday the 27th Michael and the kids went to go see his parents.

My mom and I took a very successful trip to the good Ross in Tucson. 

And made a double batch of laundry detergent.

My dad and I had boozy mochas. 

That evening I drove over to my brother's house to get some rotating shelves he no longer wanted to keep. 

This little bun bun was hanging out by my car when I left.

I ended up staying for a glass of wine and a zoom meeting with some friends. 

 

My phone was sitting on the table and was open on the camera.  I thought this looked artistic. 

The zoom was open in front of football.  I found it to be very distracting. 

I drove home on the 28th.  I took this picture to show Michael I was on my way.  They came home a few hours after me.

I stopped for some Eegees (a local sandwich place) on the way.  This was the drive-thru.

And this was the car when I got home.  It was extra crammed because I had both of the big shelves in the back. 

I had just finished unpacking everything when Michael and the kids got home.  I even carried and set up the shelves for Spencer's room. 

They rotate, so there are shelves on the back too, but this is what I did with the front.  I like it!

Upcoming schedule:

Our anniversary

The 30th, 31st and 1st

Hello 2021