December 2020
The last month of 2020 is starting to wind down and I can honestly say I'm glad. Covid has definitely made the year memorable. but not to dwell on Covid, we made our December worth while for the kids. We jammed packed the whole month with Christmas festivities and made the month fly by with looking forward to the next activity.
December 1, our elf Sugar Socks showed up for his month of shenanigans. The thing this year for the Elf on the Shelf community was the Elf showing up with a mask or even quarantining for 14 days. As much as I loved that idea because lets be real moving the dang elf is a pain in the butt and sometimes we forget to move it, I didn't Covid to take that away from our kids. I just wanting one thing that wouldn't involve Covid and take away yet another sense of happiness from an activity or holiday. So our Elf didn't take part in Covid restrictions. That was one thing that I had control over and I was going to keep it that way.
The following weekend December 5, we headed to the zoo to see their lights. The temperature was "chilly" and by chilly I mean a whopping 1*. Don't worry the kids were very bundled up! And I mean picture Randy from A Christmas Story bundled up. This year the lights at the zoo were phenomenal! Last year almost all the lights were burnt out and the cages and exhibits were dark and it was very disappointing especially with how much those zoo tickets cost! This year the lights were bright and full and so pretty. Again the only downfall was that all the cages and exhibits were dark and you couldn't see any animals and with the kids being older this year, they were kind of disappointed so we promised we'd take them this summer to see the animals full on! But just because the animals were non existent at night we plan to continue to go every year because we all enjoy seeing the lights and getting out exercising.
December 13, we did something new! We went to see the light displays at the Botanical gardens and they were amazing and breathtaking! We cant wait to go during the summer to see all the flowers bloomed. We wanted to do the gardens last year but we didn't make it. I also wanted to go with my group of friends but no one seemed interested so we just never went. The gardens had real "ice cubes" filled with lights, they had old vehicles decked out in lights, and had the place lit very well. This experience will become a regular for us as long as we are here. Walking around the gardens the temperature was a lot nicer. And nicer i mean roughly 12* but no one was freezing and the kids, even Dustin was having a great time playing in the snow and it was great watching them!
December 18, we went against Covid restrictions and had a little gift exchange for the kids with friends. Never in my life did being sneaky give me such a rush of excitement hahahaha. The kids loved being with each other and playing with all their new toys. It made me think of being home for the holidays and being surrounded by siblings and cousins. But close friends and their kids will have to do in the mean time and I wouldn't change it. The adults had a good time talking and catching up. The house filled with laughter made the suckiness seem less sucky. Being with friends, dressing alike and playing off an inside joke was the highlight of the night and i would never deny that it was a good time even if we were simply "breaking" the rules. But hey were are human and sometimes human interaction is all we need especially when you go weeks and weeks without any interaction beside your own spouse and children.
December 19, we did our number one tradition we've started here in Alaska. We loaded up the kids in the car and once again headed to the Fairgrounds in Palmer and went to the AK Christmas Factory and saw Santa and his helpers! Last year we went during the day and even though it was lit up you couldn't see the lights so we decided this year we would go when it was dark so we can get the full effect of Santa's workshop all lit up. We started in the bakery with Mrs. Clause and her delicious chocolate chip cookies and hot chocolate. We then headed toward Santa's sleigh where we helped fix it and power it on. Who knew a little Christmas magic would power it. After the sleigh was up and running we headed to the toy factory to help the toy elves build a sled for little Landon and after everyone helped, the elves gifted us some magic keys to Santa's workshop. Our last stop was a visit with Santa. He guessed Noah, Kynslee, and Dustin's ages as well as their school grades and it just tickled the kids. They each told Santa what they wanted for Christmas, Noah said he wanted Legos, Kynslee a Barbie Dreamhouse and Dustin a moose. Santa got a good laugh out of that! But to end our night at the Factory, the kids each put a star on the Wishing Tree in hopes their Christmas wishes would come true. I pray that all their wishes come true even the outrageous ones.
December 23, base held a drive in movie where they showed the movie Elf. We treated the kids to Burger King for dinner and they even got to eat in the car! Halfway through the movie the inflatable screen blew over and it was great. We laughed a lot as people from every direction were running up to the screen to push it back over and tie it down so it wouldn't fall over again. After the movie, we drove home and watched more Christmas movies because what is Christmas without lots and lots of Christmas movies.
December 25, we had a very peaceful Christmas at home and the kids enjoyed everything they got. The big ticket item they each got was a Nintendo Switch and they love them. Noah also got a Red Ryder BB Gun and Kynslee got an Easy Bake Oven and Dustin got a paint easel. Which the boys are waiting patiently for Spring so they can use their toys.
All in all we had a very jam packed and peaceful December. Hoping next December we will be able to go home for Christmas or have family come here. But until Covid clears up you can find us at home doing home Renos and entertaining our children! Wishing everyone a Happy New Year as 2021 approaches. We love you all!
Love,
Ashleigh
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