2020

Birthday at Jungle Joe's

This year for your birthday we went to Jungle Joes.  We had taken you here previously for Coltan's birthday and you had the BEST time.  When asked if you wanted to have your birthday there you were quite excited!  We invited some of your toddler friends, got some pizza and cupcakes, and let you run wild for a couple of hours.  Birthday success.

Huxley's First Haircut

The day finally arrived when Mom allowed your hair to be snipped!  It was getting really long and you looked like a wild child half of time.  Most days you would not let us put up your hair with a tie, so we were forced to use a couple of clips that would halfway fall out after an hour or so.  You would come back from daycare with your hair looking a mess most days...oftentimes missing 1 or both of your hairclips.  You were not quite sure about the salon at first, but as soon as you learned there was a sucker at the end of it you sat right down.

Playing in the Snow

This was the first winter that you were really able to play in the snow.  We spent a fair number of evenings and weekend mornings after coming home from Jill's house walking around outside or down the trail. Sometimes we even got you to wear your snowpants!  You especially liked to load a bunch of snow in your sled or wagon and eat it as we pulled you along.  We also spent a large portion of time continuously putting your hat back on the pulling your mittens up.  Toddler hands are just not meant for those things.  

Sisters!

The first time you two met each other Mom and Dad were a bit nervous about how Huxley would react. Would she be upset? Angry? Indifferent? Happy? Turns out Huxley was in love! We all sat on the floor of our living for what we hoped would be the first of many happy family pictures (with two young kids, right, dream on).

Did Somebody Say COVID?

Oh wow. Where to start with this post. Covid-19. One of the largest disrupters to modern life in generations. Here's how it started for us:

1. Go to hospital for Liesl's birth on Saturday, March 14th.

2.  Liesl born

3. Leave hospital on Monday, March 16th.

4. Michigan locked down on Tuesday, March 17th.

5. Spend next two months barely leaving the house and not seeing any family and friends with a newborn and toddler.

Over the next 16 months life we knew it was turned upside down. Masks became a political statement. Working from home was the new "in" thing. Zoom stock blew through the roof as millions of people used their spare time and stimulus checks to seek riches in the market. We all had to adapt and find what our new normal was, and what risks we were willing to take. Here is some of what life looked like.

Easter

This Easter was a little different than in the past. The Easter Bunny made an appearance, but it was unfortunately through the window this year. Nevertheless she must have found her way into the house that night because there was lots of candy and toys for you both when you woke up! I think between our house and multiple grandparents house you kids had 3-4 Easter egg hunts this year, and Huxley collected quite a load of candy. Sorry Liesl, a bit too young yet, maybe next year!

Summer Fun

As COVID cases declined going into summer everyone was looking forward to some outdoors time with friends and family we had distanced from for the past few months. We had a lot more close to home adventures this summer than in previous ones. Liesl lost her newborn baby look and started sporting some fashionable hair styles, Huxley and Dad continued to take bike rides to the pond and playground, and we all had quite a few lake days to get out of the house. Mom and Dad even made it to South Haven on their anniversary for a much needed date night!

Fall and Apple Picking

Ah fall, a most wonderous season, with crisp mornings, "sweata weatha", and crisp apples primed for the picking. We stayed in our "COVID bubble" (and continued what is turning out to be a tradition) by going to the apple orchard with the Hudsons. However, we avoided the insanity of Gull Meadow Farms this year and tried out Schultz's Fruit Farm out in Mattawan.  We did all the necessities that are required when going to the orchard: bought donuts and cider, picked some apples, and chose our pumpkins. Turned out to be a near perfect day also!

Halloween

Mom continued the tradition of spending way too many hours making all of our Halloween costumes. This year Huxley picked "Tumbleleaf" as the theme. The costumes turned out great, and the weather was so nice we stayed out for almost 2 hours (quite the change from last year when it snowed and we trick or treated in a packed church we weren't members of...)! Anyway, we also continued the tradition of going trick or treating with the Hudsons. For a COVID Halloween it turned out to be pretty normal actually. More taking candy from tables and bucket set on the ground, but overall there was lots of people having fun!

Liesl's First Christmas

Christmas time! Even with a spike in COVID cases near the holidays we were lucky that all of us could get together. Mom was the only one vaccinated at this point, so the rest of the family got tested prior to spending time together. We spent Christmas morning together as a family. Liesl had a great time ripping off wrapping paper and savoring the huge Christmas day mess. Huxley enjoyed being a good big sister by helping Liesl unwrap presents and showing  her how to use her new toys. 

As is typical we went over to all the grandparents houses at some point close to Christmas. Nana and Papa went overboard with the amount of presents they gave this year (COVID cabin fever shopping spree?), but by far the most entertaining gift to watch others open were the "Man Crates" that Dad got for Grandpa Randy and Gramps.