Captains Log: Day 290 New years Eve......bye 2020

New Years Eve ball...

As I was down there looking at it I couldn't get the song New years Day by U2 out of my head.   I remember hearing it when it came out that year blasting it after one of the New Years Celelbrations when the fire works were done and we were walking to the car as it echoed through the buildings.  The First line : "All is Quiet on New years Day"  and  " Nothing Changes on New Years Day." floating around in my head.... It's meaing is different this year.   There will be no celebrating by the ball, no crowds of people. The streets will be quiet.  Even though  we are changing the calendar to another year doesn't mean what we have been dealing with will change.  We still stuck in this dystopian nightmare... and the darkest days yet to come. This is the part I wish I could skip past.   Winter with the plague and it going nothing but up.   School is still hybrid,  Vacation has been lost. I will be fully vacinated by the middle of Jan but with the kids I still can't do much.    I know its all goign to take time to get back what we once had but we will and that is hope. 

 

Alex's little friend... He wanted to take him home

So we did Olive Garden Take out...... I got Family Meal Stuffed Shells that had to be cooked in the oven. It also came with bread sticks and salad.  Alex LOVED stuffed shells! (despite the look on his face.  He ate 3!)

Snacks later...

Captains Log: Day 289 Almost over

Can it be true? Is it almost over??? We are not stuck  in March ....

Its been a year like no other.  One that will go down in the history books not for a few days or for a few months... the entire year.  It was hard at times and that's fine. I have had hard times before in fact personally its the quietest its been in a long time.   Which is good since the rest of the world wasn't.   So we can't go where we want or do what we want, or go to events,  Its a part of life to adapt.  

Don't get me wrong, I love going places and doing events and seeing if I could out do the year before with places and things we did. This made you sit back and evaluate this.  I mean really evaluate this and forever asking what can we do?? 

Instead of seeing the Easter Bunny or Egg Hunts we went to more parks and to visit grandma and Grandpa.  Instead of the Community Pool we got to know our neighbors better and  check out different areas or pools and visit Grandma and Grandpa.  Instead of playgrounds , we took hikes.

We learned how to sew, to cook things, to do puzzles with Grandma and Grandpa.  We learned how bless we are to live in a country were we normally didn't have to worry about supply and demand  but did this year which makes you think.

We got to have the Blue Jays here even if we couldn't go see them.  We finally have a great football team  again and even though we can't really see them too. 

This year made you see the true colors of people not just with the social/racial injustice but how people truly feel about each other.   This one bothers me...

For all that 2020 tried to do,  I look how good I have it.  Enough money, food and home. Healthy family and friends.  There are years I didn't have that, years I struggled, years I didn't have peace.  Its made me who I am, resilient.  And as far as 2020 goes ... I like looking at the positive things, I will cherish the those  memories and I hope my kids do too. 

We did errands today and went to a bunch of stores.  Grandma has sure spoiled this one since he pretty much has only been out to the stores with her.   I'm forever fighting with him about not getting anymore stuffies.  (This kid LOVES all his stuffies.  I do mean ALL)  We went to Hobby Lobby and ended up getting another thing they could mine gems and a few other cool toys. We went to the Mall and Target too. oh did he want a stuffed Panda bear in the worse way.  Mind you he did talk me into a  Mickey Mouse rubber duck, a reindeer stuffy, a globe and the mining thing.  He's not a cheap date.

 

Captains Log: Day 288

So we are inbetween that weird time of Christmas and New Years and really don't know what day of the week it is let alone what day.... then again that has been the feel of most of 2020....  only a few days left.   Glad to see this year go  and I wish at the strroke of midnight it would get out of the twighlight zone but it will not.  I'm going to be in this akward reality too come the middle of January when I'm totally vaccinated and most people aren't and still in a heap load of mess from the holidays. 

Anyway signs around when we drive.... 

Jon the great scientist..... LOL .   He got a chemistry set for Christmas and wanted to try it out .. luckily he did the simple ones of baking soda and vinegar or citric acid to amaze Alex....

Captains Log: Day 287 Monday Night Football

Didn't feel like going into Walmart so pick up it is........

Bills on Monday night Football

When you got the most crazy, generous and  a$$-hole fans in the league you win the ultimate fan contest and a billboard anywhere in the world... so you put it up by the New England Patriots Stadium  to rub it in...

Ready for some FOOTBALL!!! GoBills!!!

Captains Log: Day 286 The Little Things

Sometimes you do find the good that is around you. Things you would have missed if the world wasn't like it was.  This maybe one of them.  I have seen other people post pics of this on line and went out of my way to find it.   The pictures don't do it justice and this is someones home.   Its amazing and they do have constant cars around this house. Anyway I think I enjoyed this magic more than the kids.

 

Captains Log: Day 285 Snow

So we got the snow that we were supposed to get yesterday...Today thankfully and we had no place to go really so we stayed at home and randomly tried to dig out.  Alex was not amused by this much snow.   Even in the morning it was still above his knees and and had trouble walking in it.  

Jonathan talked Alex into coming out again and they played a little longer in the snow even though it was deeper. At least therewas paths now.   I think we got up to 18.5" of snow.

Relaxing after being outside.

 

Christmas

We opened more stockings after our Christmas meal and they played with a few toys they got.... now stuffed and tired.   

We stopped on the way home to see Andrew's other grandparents but didn't stay as of COVID and didn't want to take the chance.  

Snow had fallen in Buffalo and looked absolutely beautiful. 

Jonathan's Computer set up...

Some how I feel like quoting the Grinch but in a 2020  version... Christmas came without the usual fan fare like old fashion Christmas, sitting on Santa's lap,  Christmas parades,  City celebrations. or tree lighting Ceremonies.

 Lights still could be seen, places could be decorated and fun could be had and new traditions made.

The Pandemic didn't break us, it changed our way of thinking and the Christmas spirit remains.

With all of that being said.... I'm very grateful for my family being healthy and here and honestly that's all I really ever want and knowing this year was a challege to be this way... so very blessed.

And in Buffalo.... yes they had a WHITE Christmas..