It started snowing last night and continued off and on til this afternoon. It's not the fluffy snow, but it's still super nice to see when I look outside... or at least the front yard, ha. The backyard is a bit muddy. The kiddos had a blast today, throwing snowballs and crunching around. This was Cole's first snow, so it's special anyway. He thought it was awesome.
In the past, I started teaching in September or August and we'd finish up sometime in June. In 2019, I started teaching in September, then found out my kids were skipping assignments and lessons, so I had them restart the school year. We didn't finish until October 2020... A whole year of school. I was so burnt out. I was mad at myself for slacking with Elias, for not being more attentive over the lessons and checking work, etc. So, I gave us all a break, then decided we would start the school year with January. A New Year, a new year. This is 9th, 6th, and Kindergarten, with a tiny distraction who also wanted his picture taken. The day went well, Elias might be left-handed, and I'm hoping for a good first week. I'm doing things differently this time. We're only using Abeka for math since I can't wing it, but everything else: science, history, art, music, language, etc. will all come from the library and other sources. They're even learning their instruments (piano for Jac and recorder for Leah) and foreign language (Spanish). This month we're reading about Martin Luther King Jr. for history, as well as poisonous plants and edible flowers for science. I'm also having them learn about Egypt and for grammar, they're keeping a weekly journal. It's a little more relaxed and I think they'll enjoy it more. Elias will still be in a curriculum since I already bought it and he'll also be learning history and science along with the big kids. He already loves The Magic School Bus.
A year in review: 2020.
See also:
2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 and 2009
1. What did you do in 2020 that you'd never done before?
*Experience a pandemic. Have a panic attack.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more for next year?
*I think the only one I kept was weight loss. I lost 20 pounds.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
*Katie had baby Aliza.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
*No.
5. What countries did you visit?
*None... still.
6. What would you like to have in 2021 that you lacked in 2020?
*A normal fucking year.
7. What events from 2020 will remain etched upon your memory?
*Trump is no longer president (yay!), the pandemic, and anxiety is a helluvadrug.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
*I lost weight and got into biking and eating homecooked foods more.
9. What was your biggest failure?
*We didn't buy an RV. I didn't get to go back to school. And I wasn't able to send out birthday cards like I wanted.
10. Did you suffer an illness or injury?
*I had a panic attack that sent me to the ER.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
*Swing set for the kids.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
*Zac got a raise.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
*Jac... he spent most of the year addicted to video games, as well as lying and sneaking video games. We're working on it.
14. Where did most of your money go?
*Barbies... for me. And Christmas... lol.
15. What did you get really excited about?
*I enjoyed the Quarantine Holidays. Those were fun.
16. What song will always remind you of 2020?
*Not sure. I spent most of the year listening to the My Favorite Murder podcast.
Christmas came up relatively quick this year. I dunno if it's from being cooped inside and our usual routine has been thrown out or what. It's a little bit nuts that last year, everything was normal, we were hugging our friends and exchanging gifts with family, and completely optimistic of 2020 and what it would bring. Buncha suckers.
Christmas Eve was not a good day. The kids were fighting, I was on the receiving end of large quantities of teenage backtalk and toddler tantrums that my emotions overflowed into my lap probably three times. I was overwhelmed with trying to make things feel "magical" while trying to avoid grief feelings and the whole day was shitty. I made chili, which was easy and quick and felt more comforting than struggling to peel boiled eggs. I also made Zac and myself stockings while he wrapped gifts. After a hot shower, my mood lifted slightly and I baked homemade gingerbread cookies. Mom came over and visited for a bit, the kids opened their stockings and their gifts from Jena, then had a few cookies before bed. It was a struggle getting them to actually get in the bed, as they weren't in the mood to listen. The boys went just fine, but the big two... I dunno. I was *this close* to cancelling Christmas.
Deep breaths.
Christmas resumed.
Alcohol helped.
This morning, we were abruptly (though expectedly) awoken by a small voice exclaiming, "OH. MY GLOB," followed by our five-year-old bounding into our room and onto our bed, saying, "Santa brought the presents into the house! They're under the tree! Come see them!" That kiddo brings his own magic to our family, for sure. Leah woke up shortly after, Zac made coffee, and I spent some time telling most of my contacts "Merry Christmas". It was freezing this morning to where the bucket of rain water was frozen over well past 2pm. It rained most of yesterday so the ground was sloshy and not snowy, much to our disappointment. I assume Santa heard "wet Christmas" when I asked for "white Christmas". Oh well, maybe next year. Everyone was happy with their gifts... mostly candy. I ate way too many sweets and felt restless for a bit, then had a nap around 7pm. Awesome. I think my favorite gift is my weighted blanket. Here's hoping my anxiety eases at night.
Anyway, Happy Holidays and hopefully next year is less isolated and full of hugs.
Leah's hamster, Biscuit, died tonight. Last year she developed torpor from having her cage near the patio door and it was cold outside, so Zac spent half an hour or so warming her by the electric heater until she was back to her regular self. This morning, she was feeling cold, but limp and breathing, so I spent some time trying to warm her up. She seemed sleepy, but was breathing alright and occasionally opened her eyes to look around. I told Leah not to worry and we cleaned the kitchen. After about an hour or so, Leah told me Biscuit hadn't moved and she was feeling worried. So, I checked on her and moved her little house she was under and her little body was stiff and cold. Leah was upset and I gave her some space to grieve, then put Biscuit in the freezer to keep her safe until we could bury her. It sucks. I'm sad for my girl, but just a little relieved as we've got five other pets and four kids, so... You know. She was a sweet hamster, though.
I was able to get my temporary crown today. My dentist called me yesterday and had an opening, so I jumped on it. There was a new girl and she accidentally numbed the wrong side because there was a handwriting misunderstanding. However, the correct side was numbed before they started and the anesthesia started wearing off right when they were finishing up. My mouth is sore, but nothing I'm not used to from previous sessions. And I didn't have any cavities! I go back in January for my permanent crown.
This morning, we made a spontaneous trip to New Orleans to meet up with Katie and her kids so we could bring her some posters she ordered through Zac. I'm still waiting on packages from last week, so I didn't want to risk anything happening if we decided to mail hers. So instead, we just drove out there for the day. The USPS is nuts right now.
We met up at Cafe Du Monde and had some beignets while a performer with purple hair created enormous bubbles. The kids really enjoyed that. Spencer, Jac, and Leah climbed trees while Elias and Jacob chased each other. Baby Aliza was so smiley and sweet! We mostly caught up on gossip and walked around, pushing strollers. City Park was setting up for Christmas, so we were able to see a few props. I had stopped at Walmart to get a pair of shoes for Cole because after being in the car for a while, I figured he'd want to walk. Luckily, he wore himself out and slept most of the way home. I'm so glad we took the trip. It felt like a relief to be around a friend and pretend things were normal.
I got a call from my dentist yesterday that they had an opening and would I be interested in a cleaning. Um, yes. I was supposed to go back in March, but the pandemic happened (is happening?) so it was postponed. With my periodontitis, I'm supposed to go every six months, so of course today's cleaning left my gums super bloody and sore. Also, bonus, I've got a crack in my upper right molar between my current crowns. So, next month, I'll be getting Crown Four. Lovely.
Christmas is two weeks away, which is nuts. I'm still waiting for some Amazon deliveries to get here and they're delayed, so I'm doing that thing where I'm stalking my tracking numbers and obsessing over the mail. All four kiddos are outside right now playing on the swing set, so it's quiet and I should be cleaning something but I'm just enjoying the silence.
I've always wondered why there are 12 days of Christmas when there should be 25. Who picked 12 and why? The cold and quarantine is getting to me a bit, but the numbers are rising here and I'm just trying to stay in more and occupy myself.
Anyhoo. It's December, obviously, and I just (TODAY) finished my shopping, quarantine style. Mostly online. Zac has to go out today to buy canvas supplies so I can paint Ashley something, but other than that, I'm done.
It looks and feels like Christmas in the house. Cold and colorful. It's cold outside, also, but not enough to snow. We're getting a lot of rain, which sucks because of the mud. I'm trying to do workouts in my bedroom since biking makes my joints scream, so there's that. I hate how brief the autumn weather was. It felt like hot, hot, hot, hot, hot, hotter, hotter, hot, cool, hot, cold, cold. I want to move north so the seasons are predictable.
