This year, instead of one big vacation, we are taking several mini vacations. This was partially due to uncertainties around Covid, and partially because I was hoping to head to Rome with my sister at the end of the summer. Who knows when that will happen...
But what has happened is the first of our mini vacations: a trip to Calgary. Originally we were going to go to Calaway Park a couple of our days, but they haven't opened yet - again due to Covid. However, we can be flexible...
Our trip started with the leisurely drive down to Calgary on a Thursday afternoon.
Another year, another Easter spent in our home, joining our church congregation only virtually. While this has been difficult, we have been able to keep up with some traditions and also learn about Christ's sacrifice as a family.
We headed to the temple the Friday before Easter, and to our surprise and pleasure, the gates to the grounds were actually open!
We wandered the small grounds and discussed our Savior as a family.
It was a little glimpse of things being normal, and I loved it.
Easter morning itself meant books
and chocolate,
Followed by an Easter egg hunt. It was just warm enough to do it outside,
And everyone had the chance to be successful.
And silly. Always silly.
In spite of the fact we had no where to go, we decided to still get all dressed up.
Because who doesn't like seeing my boys in nice shirts
And Calista in a pretty dress?
With cheesy smiles, of course.
...of course.
I'm grateful that in spite of the challenges of the last year, I can still see my blessings, so many of which come through and by my Savior.
John 8:11-12 "And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." Because of my Savior, I can live in light, not sin.
While many things are still closed, requiring us to change the way we play, this spring break was at least better than the last one. Weather-wise and attitude-wise. Partially because I had some time to prepare for some corona-friendly activities.
We did lots of fun and silly things inside, like put food coloring into bubble mix and then paint by blowing bubbles at the paper.
Messy, but fun.
We set up an obstacle course in the hallway. The kiddos pretended they were theives.
They had to sneak through without touching anything, grab a toy from the boys' bedroom, and then sneak back. I'm not sure they'd make very good thieves, to be honest. Too much giggling.
I buried some dinosaurs in Jello, which the kids got to excavate out,
and eat, obviously.
We set up our own bowling lane,
Since all the bowling alleys are closed at the moment.
We read more than 1,000 minutes over spring break, too. Go team!
We also got outside.
We attempted this little hike, although we didn't make it much further before the ice made us turn back. We played and practiced riding bikes at the church parking lot.
Calista's an expert,
but Craig is a little hesitant still.
I pre-booked a time to go to the zoo,
And we got to see some of the cats up close,
As well as the big horn sheep,
Which was pretty cool.
The boys' favorite parts was probably still just playing.
They love to climb.
My favorite part was just getting out of the house as a family.
And, of course, since the playgrounds are thankfully not closed this year,
We got to swing,
hang,
dig,
and shoot rockets into the sky.
All in all, a pretty good spring break. I'm still hoping we can go to the library next year, though...
As has been the case for everything lately, our Christmas was altered by the pandemic. Obviously, with the border closed (and my parents in Italy) we weren't driving to visit anyone in Oregon, and we decided it was also best to keep our physical distance from Kyler's family...
...especially after Craig's class all got sent home to quarantine until Christmas Eve due to 3 cases in his class.
Still, we were going to make the best of it, including going to go swimming at WEM (after quarantine was over). Oh warm waves, how I've missed you. Of course, this plan had to get scrapped - after we'd already bought the tickets - when the province shut down all pools, gyms, rec centres, indoor dining, etc.
Oh well. Instead we celebrated Craig getting out of isolation by going sledding
and playing on the playground.
Not quite as exciting as water slides and wave pools, but still fun.
Another way Christmas was different was in the kiddos' Christmas concerts. Obviously with all the restrictions, a traditional concert with everyone packed into the gym wasn't going to cut it. But with a lot of hard work from the teachers, the kids all had virtual concerts. Craig had to do even the recordings from home,
and Caleb got to wander aimlessly while his teachers tried to herd him like the sheep he was dressed up as.
But there was also plenty of traditional fun to be had this Christmas. The kids excitedly put ornaments on the tree,
including Caleb putting the star on top, with lots of help from Daddy.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
I made the kiddos get all dressed up for Christmas Sunday, even if our worship services were going to be online and in our home.
And don't they look amazing?
And silly.
Always silly.
We made a gingerbread house,
and then I let them destroy and eat it the next day.
Why not? We got pictures at least, and the longer it sits, the grosser it gets.
We participated in a virtual Rasmussen Family get-together and talent show.
Calista and Kyler played piano,
And Craig used magic and science to cause a volcano to erupt!
It's science!
We got to go see Christmas lights, in keeping with tradition.
The boys fell asleep in the car on the way there, but we got them to wake up and everyone enjoyed looking at the lights.
Once the kids were out of school, we played a lot of board games.
I tried to keep our deals in Monopoly fair - I told Calista she should make me pay her more than $100 for a property that would complete my set, for example - but I also showed no mercy.
Kiddos gotta learn to lose, and who better to teach them than me?
And, of course, it's not a traditional Christmas without presents. We had plenty of those,
and someone to watch over them, too.
The morning started with Caleb asking if it was Christmas and if Baby Jesus had been born yet, as he had asked nearly every morning for at least a week. After I told him that it was indeed Christmas, everyone excitedly started into stockings,
full of socks and chocolate.
And then the real fun began.
The kids were all super excited about their toys, books, and games.
All in all, a pretty happy Christmas morning.
Although they did ask me several times the next week, "what DID I get for Christmas? I have nothing to play with!" Sigh.
They did play with their things, FYI.
Doing Science!
It actually worked this time!
When I mentioned offhandedly a week or so before Christmas that I wouldn't have any presents to open on Christmas - Kyler and I picked out and ordered my present, but it wouldn't arrive on time - the kiddos went to work, making letters, coupons,
and a Packet of Good Things to make me happy.
They're the sweetest (sometimes).
We also kept with Christmas tradition and had cinnamon ring roll for breakfast, and make your own pizzas for dinner. (Not pictured. Sorry.)
Our holiday celebrations concluded with a Disney Princess movie marathon and a New Year's Day walk around a frozen lake, quite near sunset.
As in, we left the park at 4:25. Sunset, like I said.
While it would have been nice to be with family, we enjoyed our time together. Merry Christmas to all!
Kyler and Jeanette got married on the 25th of August 2007, after knowing each other for four years and being each other's rebound date. It's a healthy relationship.
