Giving Thanks, COVID style.

Sub for Santa year 11

 The Governor suggested that we don't meet with more than 10 people that we didn't live with. How did we pick who was going to come to Thanksgiving and who wasn't? We all met at Mom's, the Thomases in their masks, and had a lovely linner. Mom had a great spread and it was beautifully decorated. It was kind of nice not having to run to American Fork and G & Chris gave us a "make your own Thanksgiving dinner" package so we literally went to Mom's and got to chill the rest of the day. THAT was something I didn't mind. 

We gathered our Sub for Santa gifts again this year- there were less kids this year because Lindsay said, because of COVID, they had to limit how many they could accept because they could only have 3 people in the building to prep at a time. We had two kids this year- a girl Mc's age and a boy K's age. This is a tradition I love and I am grateful that we get to do it every year. 

The Karens Take Cali 2020

We ALL needed a break. Holly Jackman had Marriott points, we booked a hotel, flights and ventured to Cali for the weekend. It seemed a little weird to be going to California since the Governor there has locked down pretty much everything but, overall, it was AWESOME. We could sit in the hot tub but not by the firepit. We could sleep in the same beds but we couldn't have a roll away bed. We couldn't eat IN restaurants but could order food and walk 20 feet away to an outside table. We had to wear masks all over, but not at the beach. The weather wasn't super warm but the company was great and I am SO grateful to call these women my friends.

We spent the afternoon at the beach- it was chilly! Suzi, Kristie, Holly and I walked for quite a few miles and almost got sucked out into the tide at one point. As we walked the pier, a fisherman saw us coming and was like, "I saw you guys get all wet. You run pretty fast!" and laughed. It was pretty funny. 

Suzi was our driver- a 12 passenger van. I was the co-pilot. 

All of us on the ferry to Balboa Island. We ate way too many Cronuts, laughed, chatted about COVID, our kids and callings. (Holly Jackman, Missy Muramoto, Lacie Trout, Krystal Bryant, Kristie Lucking, Ashley DaBell, Suzi McAffee).

Downtown Disney was open so we decided to make the morning of it. We had to use a Fastpass system to even get in to the stores to shop, all the Cast Members were super snippy about making sure we were ALL wearing our masks appropriately. We had some lunch at LaBrea Bakery, and some delicious hot chocolate. The gates were closed and it was REALLY sad to see Disney so empty. The skies opened up right as we walked to the car and it started to pour. 

 It was tough to come back home after a weekend of desserts, good conversation and just enjoying a little bit of "normal" during this crazy year. Glad for great friends and women who bring joy to my life. 

I want C A N D Y

Halloween started off with Mc coming with me to High Fitness. It was a hard class and she even did a few burpees! 

 I am pretty sure Mc and her friends decided like, last year, to go as the Sanderson Sisters. Mc as Sarah, Azia Hessing as Mary and Kate McAffee as Winifred. They were the PERFECT trio. I am pretty sure this costume was made for Mc. We found a makeup tutorial online and Sarah Sanderson came to life. She went trick or treating until 9 PM with friends (not sure how many years we have left of that) and came home loaded with candy and exhausted. 

Kingston have moved onto all things scary for his costume. We found this creepy morph suit at Wal-Mart and he knew he had to have it. The only downside, once the face was zipped up, he couldn't see really well (ha). It was a smart costume choice because he didn't have to wear a coat and no one knew who he was. 

The Rake

Enzo THINKS he likes things to be scary- until that is, you try to make him go in the Halloween store. We had yet another year where we have ONE kid who won't go in. He had wanted to be a skeleton for a long time so when Target had some pajamas and gloves (costume and sleepwear- two for one) it was meant to be. He was wary about painting his face and spraying his hair but was happy with the end result. 

I opted for Beetlejuice this year- hair ratted to the hilt, a pound of make up on my face and an e-bay men's costume for the win! Mark wore my Texas Roadhouse winnings (hat with attached braids) and went as Willie Nelson. The weather was not too chilly and for it being a "COVID year" there were still lots of trick or treaters. A lot of people made PVC pipe tubes that went from their door to the steps so there was "contact-less" candy delivery. I just handed out candy like a normal person, a normal person dressed as Beetlejuice. 

Hallo-Willies 2020