As I was getting ready to sit down and write this, I looked through pictures to decide which ones I wanted to include- and I got so emotional. I keep seeing so much about what a terrible year this was, but honestly- we had some of the best times together. I am sad for those who lost loved ones or had hardships- we experienced some too, but there was also so much good. I’m going to just share some of my favorite moments with you guys because who doesn’t love a good review?!
This was our first family picture taken at church in January 2020. These are some of my favorite pics to look back on! I can’t get over how tiny all of the kids look! At this point in the year, I had just decided to go to Suzy School and officially work on making my Instagram more than just pretty pictures.
Ok- I can’t get over how different Hayes and Vivi’s hair is from then to now! For Valentine’s Day we celebrated in a big way around here and let baby Viv have some of our popcorn trail mix that we made! We made homemade cards, had some fun breakfast ideas, and read a lot of Vday books. I remember feeling so happy just being their mom. I had started to share more things on my blog at this time, and we were all just having fun with trying out new recipes and things to share with you guys!
In March, we officially went on lockdown, but as crazy as it sounds- I didn’t mind so much. I started working out at home (with my four little helpers and Brad occasionally), started baking more and being way more resourceful with groceries and toilet paper haha. We settled into our new little normal of just being home and spent WAY more time outside. I was supposed to be going to Suzy School this month, but it got postponed.
We plant a garden every year, but last April the kids and I decided we would make this our project. We drew out our rows (and made it all much smaller than our previous year’s gardens) and had so much fun picking out types of seeds we wanted to include! It was a lot of work just getting it all ready, but this day was so much fun and so special. Brad helped us get the dirt all ready and plant- but then it was all up to us!
Easter Sunday- quarantine style. We still got up, got dressed, and had breakfast and watched church together as a family. Even as I type this, I am so teary-eyed. I remember this being the first time during all of the covid stuff that I felt a little sad, but also so so grateful. Grateful for a church that made sure we could still worship even if we couldn’t be there, thankful for a Savior that knew all of the things we would all be feeling and the hardships we would be facing and who gave his life to save us all, and grateful for my family and our health. We had a big easter egg hunt just the 6 of us and ate way too much Easter candy… which made the day even better!
Couldn’t forget this little guy’s third birthday! He requested a special cake with “Bob” (a Bobcat piece of machinery) and some Berkshire pigs (like ours) to top his cake. It was such a sweet day just celebrating our little Hayes man.
We would go to Brad’s office every Thursday and do our schoolwork for the day, then head to lunch with him before going home. Once everything with Covid blew up, we stopped going because of him treating patients in the clinic and the possible exposure we could get. This was the first day we ventured back out for the weekly visits we had missed so much. We wore our masks and did our school work in our homeschool room in the back. I think we were all just so glad to get out of the house!
Can you tell how proud the kids are?! We FINALLY got to collect our first garden harvest!! This picture really is so accurate- the kids worked in this little garden every single day. I would look outside and instead of playing, they would be out picking veggies, thumping watermelons, weeding the garden- or even eating tomatoes off the vine. It was the sweetest, and I look forward to planting another one this year! I wouldn’t trade that time out there alongside them for anything.
June in Mississippi is HOT! This is how we spent the majority of our days in this tiny kiddie pool, and we loved every minute of it. Best $25 ever spent!! haha. When the kids would have rest time, I would find myself out here just hanging out and relaxing. The amount of outside time that we spent together was literally one of my favorite things about this crazy year! Another big one was Hudson’s high school graduation! We went to watch him then had lunch with him at Patio 44. So very proud of him!!
July was one of my favorite months for so many reasons! We took our first family vacation, Charlie turned 6, and we picked our big ol’ homegrown watermelon! This vacation filled my cup in so many ways! We haven’t taken a vacation in a long time because in the last few years we have been having babies and purchased a business so this one was really special for me. It was also pretty amazing because all of our kids slept in their own individual beds the whole time! Just such a good recharge for us all. We had takeout and went to the beach or pool each day except for the last one- we celebrated my Charlie man turning 6 with a dolphin cruise and DQ ice cream cake! Best vacation and just what this mama needed.
When we got home from the beach, I launched my Arbonne business! I had been using the products since May when quarantine got the best of me, and I decided it was time for a reset. I did two rounds of the Thirty Days to Healthy Living and knew I would be an Arbonne user for life so it just made sense to become a Consultant and officially share them! Such a special part of the year for me!
In August, alongside some dear friends and fellow homeschool mamas, we officially started Crestwood Day School. Our little barn home transformed to a little downstairs/outside schoolhouse every Wednesday from 9:30-1. Such a special day for and definitely a highlight from 2020.
I mentioned earlier that we started spending way more time outside this year due to quarantine and all the time at home. Hiking trips became one of my favorite things! We would load up, head to Red Bluff and hike for hours and play in the creek there. Even Vivi was a trooper!
In September, I FINALLY made it to Suzy School in Golden Colorado!! I had applied the previous December, then due to Covid it got moved from March to September. This was a huge trip for me. I went to Suzy School with intentions of growing as an influencer, but ended up leaving with a different vision. It was the first time I ever voiced out loud to anyone other than my husband- my dreams of starting my own clothing line. I gained so much on this trip, but more than anything- I gained a sisterhood of lifelong friends that are truly my sisters from another mister.
October was another full month for us! I officially launched my monthly capsule wardrobes and have had so much success and positive feedback with that. We celebrated this little love bug turning 2 on the tenth! Even the cats had fun lol. One thing Vivi did during quarantine was terrorize our kittens and she did it to her best ability!! We even took another family day trip to New Orleans to celebrate all the kids’ birthdays for the year since parties weren’t really doable. October is always one of my favorite months!
Ok hands down of my MOST FAVORITE moments this year!! We do family costumes every year, and this year it was Charlie’s turn to pick the costumes. Of course, he picked Star Wars so we went with it. We made a family Reel on Instagram that was the most liked and viewed post on my page for the year. The kids had fun, Brad and I had fun, and we ate ton of candy. Win for everyone!
November was the month of travel it seems like! We took a trip to Lake Tahoe for our ten year anniversary. It was so relaxing and cozy and even snowed on our last day there! Next up, I took a girls trip with my suzy sisters to New Orleans to do some work for the Pontchartrain Hotel, and then came home and renewed my vows five days later on our actual ten year anniversary. It was a big day for our family and for Brad and I.
December is the most wonderful time of the year!! We crossed all of our traditions for the year off of our Christmas Tradition Bucket List, drank all the hot chocolate we could manage, and literally had the most amazing holiday season I could have asked for. Then we celebrated Olivia’s 8th birthday to finish out 2020. As we end this crazy year that’s been so hard for a lot of people, I can say wholeheartedly that my little family has been blessed beyond measure. My heart is so full, and I’m looking forward to what 2021 has in store!
xoxo,
Lindsey
