This was a challenging year to say the least...probably the most difficult of my life so far....but I always like looking back and finding the joy in the little things so here we go...
January
Mama's highlight in January is always the NH Winter Wine Fest- as you probably predicted this year's event has been cancelled but we got to enjoy it in the beginning of 2020!
We had a big scare with Papa's health in January but with lots of prayers, he made a full recovery. We are all convinced that he had COVID before it was recognized a month later here in the U.S. After a week in the ICU, he was able to build up his strength and come home!
Eva loved Kayla's special gift of Disney on Ice one last time
The rest of the month was filled with lots of coziness and sleepovers!
and maybe some Valentine Cookie making with Mimi
February
There was time spent with our Dance Pals
and dinners and brunch out with besties...
Plenty of Ice Time at our Home Rink
Miss Thing got her first set of braces off...yes first...most likely will need them again for a different problem...sigh...
She also got a great intro into Field Hockey with the WHS Coach Katie
Daddy decided to run for School Board one last time...and our besties jumped in to help without question- very lucky :)
We enjoyed a beautiful family trip to The Bahamas
and Diana and Lucy took first place in Windham again for the PTA Reflections Program in the Category of Dance Choreography
March
Diana performed in the 2020 Performance Awards and achieved Gold with Distinction and a Scholarship to the AAB Summer Program in NY!
Diana and Lucy took first place in NH for the National PTA Reflections Contest- in the category of Dance Choreography
On Friday March 13, 2020, our world was changed forever. We were put in lock down...the kids started going to school remotely, from home...we started working from home and only venturing out for groceries....we couldn't even go to church or restaurants or see our family and friends.....who would have ever known or thought we would live through a global pandemic but here we are....here is what was able to happen during and after quarantine...
Daddy was sworn in, in a private ceremony so we could not attend
The girls started taking all of their dance classes virtually as well...they wouldn't miss them but there were many tears
There was lots of family bonding time in the kitchen....
and we even exercised together (that may have lasted a week- ha!)
We decided to hold our very own Virtual Daddy Daughter Dance since this beloved annual event was obviously cancelled
April
We got used to wearing masks
We celebrated Easter...COVID style...very sad that we couldn't go to mass in person
and the highlight of our month was Eva's Birthday Parade....many happy and sad tears shed all at once...
May
We had more hope come May...with the weather getting warmer, we started venturing outside more and more and started having some safe socially distant get togethers with family and friends...
But then SLAM...don't get too happy....2020 is not about joy...Daddy lost his job and we lost our breath
We did a good job of living day by day and staying close to our faith....but friends this was the scariest time of our marriage yet...very stressful for us and our family and just the worst...but we moved forward...
We played more golf alone and with our best friends...very happy with the amount of golf we played this year in fact and can now honestly say it is about muscle memory and practice makes improvement for sure!
Diana and I set out on a mission to "Spread The Joy" a few days....and we delivered treats to our friends in town and surrounding towns...we realized when we focused on other people, we truly felt some hope...will always treasure this picture of Diana with Mrs. Mullen and Kate...they staged it of course ;)
June
This was a month of safe social gatherings at our pool and friends' pools...in between job searching of course...it felt good to spend so much time outside grilling and chilling...almost felt normal...whatever that is anymore...
My closest friends showing up for me when I needed them most...
The girls wrapped up their school year...virtually of course....
and Eva got a surprise visit from her awesome teachers...
There was more golf....
and an awesome Father's Day for Our Favorite Dads...
and took weekly Field Hockey Skills Camp Sessions
One of our friends returned the spreading of joy and made some of her "majestic" cheesecakes!
July
We truly celebrated during the 4th of July up at Tom and Laurel's Lake House!
We enjoyed a day trip to Flume Gorge
We planted flowers at Grammy's Resting Place
Rob and I enjoyed an amazing dinner, by the sea, at The Beauport Hotel in Gloucester with our new friends Judy and Chris
There was more golf...
I loved my Saturday morning floating sessions...
and I loved that Windham was able to pull together a real and safe high school graduation for the seniors...
We finally made it to the beach....one of the biggest disappointments of the year was not being able to go to the beach as much...during "normal" years, I go every weekend...this year, we had to make reservations and pay up front and some days we were rained out so there's that...but this day was our first of maybe three times of beach time all summer...
There were extra play dates to try to make up for some of the loss felt from the cancellation of theater camp
Diana got to take her summer AAB classes on line and we even got to apply her scholarship to the total cost!
and Mama started to exhale AND host again
and learned to take my computer outside to work a little here and there....the girls swam so everyone was happy....
We ended the month with a great weekend up at a campground at Old Orchard Beach with our Dance Pals who own property up there!
August
We had our annual physicals and got great reports!
We got our house painted...
Eva felt alive again when she could attend a 1 week soccer camp...
and she loved getting back to hockey
We celebrated 16 years of marriage!
and outside dining at Tuscan became a fave of mine and my Mama's
We made Diana's dream come true and had a birthday photo shoot done....Mrs. Mullen made her day/life when she insisted on attending.....
We celebrated Papa Pete's and Diana's Bdays
September
We started the month with Labor Day Weekend- best birthday celebrations for me and then also celebrating my brother's bday and parents' anniversary
We went back to dance!!
Eva started soccer again and LOVED it- she lucked out with some besties on her team....
Rob and I started "Saturday Morning Date Walks" and proud to say...three months later...we are still at it and it is my favorite part of the week!
Diana started Advanced Ballet on Saturday mornings...
and she made the Middle School Field Hockey Team!
We snuck in some more golf...
decorated for Fall...
and I got to spend an afternoon with my company at our owner's home on the ocean in Mass...we had a photo shoot for our new website and enjoyed catching up with each other after too long...that day has stuck with me...
October
One of the benefits of remote days is a quick lunch break with Mom and a yummy tea/shake
Driveway hockey is a plus when you are waiting for the bus...
There were a couple of trips to the apple orchard- once with our dance pals and once with the Fournier girls...
We celebrated Daddy's Bday
and Joe's 50th (we were supposed to be in Austin TX for Joe's Bday this year- that trip has been postponed to 2021)
and Tom's (50th)
Diana said Goodbye to Sterling the first time- she was grateful that he came back to teach her again though...
There was more field hockey and Mimi and Papa witnessed a few wins!
We BOO'd some neighbors...
and enjoyed the annual Risotto Night
We practiced our party curls once again!
and enjoyed a photo shoot and interview with Windham Magazine
Eva and I started CCD at home...
and we had a Halloween Themed Play Date for some of her besties...
Diana's Field Hockey Team ended up State Champs and she and we were touched with the ceremony the 8th graders put on for the 7th graders- such thoughtful and kind words from Middle School girls!
Mama loved a "spooky" Book Club
and we celebrated Halloween with Dorothy and The Mean Girls ;)
November
We voted in the presidential election!
We decorated for Christmas- the earliest ever!
We spent an entire weekend (yes our whole family) filming this year's Nutcracker- an amazing experience from start to finish!
and we enjoyed our traditions with our family for Thanksgiving- very grateful
Black Friday looked a little different but we were so happy to keep us this tradition too....
Diana joined the Drive Family for some small group training
and Mama got to spend some time with besties to toast Bethany's bday
December
We were excited that we were able to make Zoo Lights with Mimi and Papa happen
There was more decorating and LOTS of wrapping!
Diana submitted a dance to the National PTA Reflections Contest and our Family Friend Amber filmed her this year so she would have a more professional look
Eva played in her very first hockey game "of her career" and scored three goals!
We experienced a very different Nutcracker weekend but it ended up being super fun- a quick getaway with Fourniers to Portsmouth and then the Saturday show and a fun Red Carpet event with Daddy at the Sunday show
Our Elf, Relf, returned and was "quarantined" for his first 14 days
We enjoyed Jammie Christmas
and visiting the Sonshine Soup Kitchen
Christmas Eve was so different this year and so so lovely.....we think we have started a beautiful new tradition!
Christmas Day was full of presents...and yummy food AND welcoming Remi to our family!
This week has been spent working for Rob and me...he is crazy busy and I am getting organized and getting some things done so I can launch 2021 in a fierce way! We have all been getting to know Remi and making him comfortable...he has had us laughing alot....
Exhibit A
and the girls have done a great job hanging together...and pitching in to walk Remi and feed him...nothing too exciting but just what the doctor ordered....we will be decompressing this weekend before work and school start up again on Monday....one day closer to a vaccine making its way to us!
It was a tough year but I love looking back because I think we did a great job staying strong in our faith and finding the joy in every day...not always easy