The "Finnster, et al."

After two (2) years of thinking we just might possibly be immune to COVID, it finally got us. It all started two (2) weeks ago with Lord Begley. He was feverish and chilled and overall pretty miserable for about two (2) days.  Fast forward one (1) week - I get congested and snotty, hoarse and body aches.  Totally different symptoms, but yep - Covid. Fast forward one (1) more week and Sam comes home with body aches; body aches so bad that he is crying.  Covid.  Could it not have been possible for us all to get it together??? Try has he might, and despite this variant's extremely contagious nature, Finn can't seem to contract Covid.  Despite his constant complaining of vague and unrelated pains, Finn has exhibited no symptoms and has successfully passed three (3) Covid tests.  He finally admitted to me on the way to school the other day that he got in bed with me while I was sick in the hopes of "catching Covid" so that he could stay home from school.  Finn informed me

Will has really enjoyed Christmas this year - and I mean everything about it.  He was especially excited to help me decorate the house.  He followed me around giving me "ideas" for what would make the house look most "jolly."  Yes, that was his word for this season - jolly.  After I would finish one section of the house, he would say "MOM! This looks so jolly!"   He was also very interested in buying gifts for his family, friends and teachers.  Here, Will is writing a Christmas Card to Mr. Elrod - his principal. I wrote exactly what he wanted to say and then he signed it. His card was precious; it was basically Will's stream of consciousness about what Mr. Elrod wanted for Christmas.  Will hanging up his ornaments that he made at school.  He made five (5) ornaments.  He explained each ornament before putting it on the tree.  This was the bag he brought all of his Christmas ornaments home in. He made it himself.  So, Will really wanted a Santa hat this

Two (2) weeks before we were scheduled to move, we had a big snow. A snow so big that we all got an entire week off from school and work.  A whole week off from work is almost unheard of. I was really thankful for this snow.  It gave us a quiet and fun week to enjoy our home together in a way that we never had before - and never would again.  We spent several days sledding, walking along creek in our boots, and building snowmen. This may sound silly, but it felt like a gift from the Father and I savored every moment of it.  The snowman that Pa made.  The last time Will saw snow, he was really too little to enjoy it.  This time, he reveled it in.  We spent so much time sledding - both in the yard and on the road.   It also happened to be around Valentine's Day and Nana had sent up chocolate.  Since we were home, Finn decided that he wanted to bake cookies.  He did well.  The week off also gave us time to pack, patch nail holes, paint and do other things around the house to get ready

This year we took the Begley family Christmas pictures at Christmas Tree Farm in Hendersonville.  It was a great experience.