Last week and this week were tough. A couple of the toughest we've been through in a while. (So much for a relaxing Thanksgiving break...) Our quarantine bubble, which we all worked so diligently to protect, was broken, and as a result, one family went down with COVID-19 and the other two had to quarantine.
There are always would haves, could haves, should haves in situations like these, but the fact of the matter is that the three families in our bubble were as careful as we could realistically be - working from home whenever possible, virtual school, masked extracurriculars, curbside pick-ups, porch deliveries, small and outdoor gatherings only, no travel - when interacting with the "outside world". But no bubble is perfect, and we all knew that going in, collectively agreeing that the benefits - our mental and emotional health, as well as the mental and emotional health of our children - outweighed the risks.
We didn't know, however, that the contact tracing systems in place in our community and schools would fail our bubble quite so substantially. I won't go into detail, but I will say that if contact tracing had been done correctly, it's likely our last week and a half wouldn't have looked nearly as isolating, frustrating, and scary.
That said, there is always something for which to be grateful...
One
We had a lovely Thanksgiving. We missed our extended families (and cooler, fall-like weather), but appreciated time together just the four of us...plus one cat and four kittens.
Two
After falling in love with Bader, our family besties applied to adopt him, were approved as his new family, and welcomed him into their home. Bader's new name is Binx, and he is as loved and adored as any kitten has ever been in the history of the world.
The hardest part about fostering kittens (besides cleaning up strange poops in strange places and trying to protect the Christmas tree), is saying goodbye and never getting to see them again. Binx's adoption by our friends means we'll be able to watch him grow up, and we're thrilled about it.
In honor of (or perhaps in memory of, by the time anyone reads this post) our Christmas tree:
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| Peppermint Patty (the instigator, and the one who taught the other three how to climb the tree) |
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| Ginsberg |
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| Bader/Binx |
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| Ginsberg and Ruth |
Three
My Christmas cards are in the mail, and all of the Christmas presents I needed to mail to family members have been delivered to UPS. I have high hopes that while I may not have beaten the rush when it comes to this year's shipping armageddon, I have given USPS and UPS plenty of time to deliver everything to its intended recipients.
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| If your Christmas card has a cat hair on it, this is why... 😬 |
Four
Speaking of USPS and UPS... 2020 felt like the perfect year to bring back my "thank you for your service" front porch treat bins for our delivery personnel. I'm so grateful for these essential workers, and this is just one way we can let them know how much we appreciate them.
Five
Shortly after my dance mom friends (our "dance family") found out we were quarantining, treats and goodies started arriving on our doorstep: delicious cookies, candy, and hot chocolate; cute arts and crafts projects; cozy holiday socks; lovely Christmas decorations; relaxing at-home spa supplies; and generous gift cards for food delivery. I've said it before but I'll say it again, I adore and am so grateful to be a part of a group so committed to showing up for each other in times of need. (Thank you, friends! 😘)
(Bonus) Six
(Bonus) Six
Happiness Highlights
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| Hallie's American Girl Doll checked into the doll hospital for a quick head replacement, but now she's good as new! |
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| My friends and I had planned to make wreaths for my birthday, but that didn't happen as planned. I did, however, make my wreath at home with Hallie's help! |
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| Children of the 90s - remember this phrase? I wore my "Soccer is Life...the Rest is Just Details" shirt almost every day. (These masks were a fundraiser for our dance studio - cute, comfortable, and sold for a good cause!) |
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| We grew a second lemon! |
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| Fun with filters... |
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| Ginsberg fell asleep chewing on Hallie... |
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| ...and stayed asleep when she moved her finger. |
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| CHRISTMAS THROW PILLOWS!!! |
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| Beautiful. |
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| Peppermint Patty was only with us for five days, but we loved having another tuxedo cat in the house. |
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| Our local PBS affiliate broadcast Ballet Brazos' 2019 production of The Nutcracker on Thanksgiving. Hallie was SO excited to see herself on television and to dance along with the entire show. We're all missing Nutcracker something fierce this year... |
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| Hallie set out all of her Christmas decor - American Girl and other - and her room feels festive and fun. |
Happy weekend, friends!
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