SUDLOW CHRISTMAS

Sudlow Christmas was at the Downing house this year!  Again, it was difficult to figure out plans with Covid.  We didn't go anywhere besides school for 2 weeks leading up until Christmas, and Josh was working from home still, so we felt generally as safe as possible gathering to celebrate.  My parents  and both of my brothers and their families came over.  Betsy and Nathan joined us outdoors, and the Rancurets joined us via Zoom.

Kids presents and adult gifts from mom and dad:

Good, dirty Santa:

Beverages white elephant:

I tried to do stations of gifts, but we all ended up in the front living room, haha.  It was a bit crowded!

Hannah got an earring subscription from Aunt Betsy that she was excited about:

Lucas was a little excited about his Mario jacket!

Happy Birthday to Jesus:

Aleah found the pickle this year!  The kids were excited the Aldermans carried on the tradition at our house this year!

Thankfully, it wasn't too cold on this day!  Although SOMEONE cranked my heat to 75 and didn't tell me, and I was sweating to death cleaning up that night.  Hmmm (PAUL).  

Super cute apron made by Aunt Emily:

Quilt made by mom:

My beverage win from Betsy, yesssss:

We started mom's fiesta collection, which dad had also planned to do, and he WAY outdid us a few days later!  

So glad we got to celebrate Christmas together during this crazy year!!!

Thanksgiving

 

Thankfully, Thanksgiving was almost a normal celebration!  Both of my brothers and all of our kids were at Papa and Grandma's to celebrate!  

Papa had just put together a new display of Aunt Linda's cabinet and Sudlow/Schnackenberg memorabilia:

Courtney Downing and I both bought these shirts, haha!

I was thankful for this day, for sure!

JACOB'S 10TH BIRTHDAY

 

We had a hard time deciding what to do for Jacob's 10th birthday during Covid.  A family party was not an option at that time, and we were really uncertain about a friends get together.  In the end, we let Jacob invite several buddies over for a completely OUTDOOR party.  It worked out really well, and I think they had a lot of fun.  

They played whiffle ball & football and didn't want to stop:

We made good use of our new firepit (one of Josh's Covid projects):

We really missed Landon, but with Covid and Lincoln's cancer treatments, there was no way they could take a chance.  We of course totally understood, but we still missed him!

And there was basketball too, of course:

Aleah made Jacob birthday coupons and cards.  How cute is that:

He got A LOT of Nintendo money from his friends and Papa Steve:

Grandma Jody and Papa Bob mailed him a personalized Illinois shirt:

We got him Legos and a new basketball:

Jake couldn't have asked for better birthday weather! After church, we went to Turkey Run to hike on a gorgeous 79 degree day!

We didn't have dinner plans, so we stopped and picked up steaks for grilling on the way home, as well as a Dairy Queen ice cream cake!  We missed our extended family, but we had a great day celebrating him as a family of 6: