LaFeber Life Lately: A Whirlwind of December-January!!

 Christmas time is always full of activities and fun, but somehow we managed to make it even more busy as we stayed home most of the time and celebrated Christmas pandemic style! Do I wish this damn pandemic would go away and we could go back to life the way we knew it in 2019? Umm, YESSS!!! But has this crazy year also been full of the  most beautiful days because we have learned to live in the moment and make even the smallest thing an adventure? Absolutely!! I can't understand how we are already into 2021 because 2020 felt like the slowest year ever while we were in it, but it also went by faster than any year I've ever experienced! Does that make any sense? Anyways, here is a timeline of pictures from the past month and all of it's ups and downs. I probably drive everyone crazy with all of my picture taking, but I am so grateful to have these precious gems to keep for always. These days with my family are more precious than anything money can buy and I am so grateful for modern technology and that I can have these memories forever :).

Go 49'ers!!!

Isla LOVES the swings! And we have had some beautiful weather this winter so she has gotten lots of good use out of them!

Cowgirl Up!

Oh my heart :). She loves her brother so much and gets so excited when he's around!!

Isla has also been teething constantly for what feels like months so we have had plenty of cuddle breaks during homeschooling so she can get her Mama fix!

We harvested our lemons this winter and they were so beautiful!!

This was a very exciting moment for all of us as we have watched these beauties grow over this past year :).

They were so delicious! Probably the best lemons we have ever tasted! The kids had fun making lemonade out of them :).

For fun friday we a gingerbread house :)

The final product!

We spent an entire Saturday baking Christmas goodies for the neighbors :). Isla even sampled the pretzels for us because she HAD to be involved :)

Exhausted but so happy! It was such a fun experience delivering these and putting a smile on people's faces. This has been a hard year for all of us and it made me so proud to see our kiddos happily working to make the world a little bit sweeter :).

Most of my exhaustion came from this girl and her need to be involved in ALL the fun! :)

Because of the pandemic this year, the only way to see Santa was through a plexiglass window 10 feet away (insert eye roll here) which was totally ridiculous. So we wrote him letters this year instead and dropped them off at the Nightmare Before Christmas house in the neighborhood where there was a mailbox for Santa. And guess what?! He actually wrote back! Each kid got a hand written letter from Santa Claus with a wax seal on it and everything! It was amazing and so magical! I am so grateful for amazing neighbors who have strived to make this year special in it's own way for the little ones ;).

The kids were ecstatic when they checked the mail and we all couldn't believe our eyes!!

And the rest of the time, this is what life looks like. Homeschooling while also trying to feed a baby and keep her entertained for hours at a time.... It's rough. Let's just say that. And I never have enough hands!

On this particularly rough day, someone at Starbucks bought my coffee and pastry for me and I almost cried! Those little things have made such a difference when life is as hard as it has been this year....

Well good morning!!

I love that homeschooling Austin has allowed me to teach him important life skills. Like sewing and playing the piano!

Matchy Matchy!! Evie gets so excited if we can find a way to make her and Isla match!

For this fun Friday activity, we made snow paint! 

The ingredients were shaving cream, Elmer's glue, and glitter!

It's fluffy and fun! 

We made lots of snowman cards and gave them to all the grandparents for Christmas :).

Isla has become a champ at eating solid foods and we learned on this day that she LOVES breakfast borrito's from Roberto's Taco Shop! :)

It has been hard not being able to see Grandparents this holiday season. We have to protect them from COVID-19, so our Governor has mandated that we all stay home and stay away from the elderly. But they have all been sweet enough to send gifts through the mail, and stop by our house with masks on to visit outdoors from 6 feet away. I know, it sounds insane right? That's exactly how 2020 has been. INSANE. I'm scared to ask what is going to happen next.....

Evie and Isla both LOVE bath time together! And I love watching them splash around and giggle :).

Grandpa Nathan gave Evie a fairy lamp kit and she and I both had a blast making them! We were in little girl heaven together!

Are they cool or what?!

A couple of nights before Christmas, our neighborhood did a Christmas parade for the kids down our street! It was silly and fun, and we all loved the spontaneity and joy of it all as we sat out on our porch and watched it!

Plus, since it was cold, it gave Isla the perfect opportunity to wear her teddy bear snow suit! Is she cute or what?!!

Evie shared her fairy lanterns with Austin and her neighbor friend, Bella, while we watched the parade!

Making Slime!!

It has been fun trying to come up with indoor activities for the kids to do while we are all quarantined indoors. This was a good one!

EEEWWW!

Sadly though, as soon as I am focusing on the big kids, Isla finds a way to get hurt and I am back to utter chaos and cuddles... Like I said, I need more hands!

But Austin always finds a way to make her happy again! Like I said, this girl LOVES her big brother! He doesn't even have to try and she just starts laughing when she is around him!

We have our good days, and we have our bad days. This was a bad day. So I treated myself and the kids to a special soda from POP and life got better ;). When in doubt, try sugar and caffeine! haha!

Oh this boy! I am so grateful I have been given this year to have him at home as my pupil! he has grown in leaps and bounds and our bond has become so close :). 

Taking our spelling lesson outside with chalk! I love that homeschooling allows us these opportunities to mix it up a bit :).

The leaves are finally falling here in Henderson and Isla had a blast with it!

She and I just sat in the grass at the park for hours playing in the leaves :).

I love getting to experience to all of her "Firsts" with her :) :).

Evie saved up all of her money and bought herself a new bike! She has outgrown her old bike and this one has a bell, a basket, AND a baby seat for Polar Bear! She was in heaven!! And now she rings that bell the ENTIRE time she rides hehe!

I love my little twin :).

My goal for 2021 has been to reclaim my time for ME. I spent ALLL of 2020 raising a newborn baby, homeschooling my two older kids, working, and basically taking care of everyone BUT me. So this year I am reserving time each day for me... starting with yoga, meditation, and exercise! :)

Let the year of yoga begin!

It's not the same with a baby crawling all over you. 

"Munchies" (as Evie and I fondly call her because we just want to munch her up all the time) is always ready for her afternoon walk! Just look at that face! Don't you just want to eat those cheeks?!

Austin has become obsessed with making "potions" out of essential oils and it has been so fun! He loves reading  my Modern Medicine book and making oils for sleep, and health, and whatever else his little mind comes up with :).

On this day, I had a tummy ache and he made me 5 different potions to drink. I was nervous about it but couldn't say no because he worked so hard! And believe it or not, my tummy ache went away!!

Cheering for Ohio State with Daddy while we watched them lose to Alabama during the National Championship :(. You love hanging out with Daddy and always want him to hold you :)!