Christmas 2020

While this year has been anything but, we made sure that Christmas is like any other Christmas day...time spent together as family, relaxing and enjoying our food and gifts. Both children were really excited leading up to Christmas Day and all their cheer and excitement is what makes this day so special. I know this is probably the last year Amelia believes in the magic of Christmas as she already seemed to question certain things this year. So I tried to savor every moment and the sparkles in their eyes. 

All the gifts were wrapped and I felt great of being done early this year with shopping so that I could enjoy Christmas Eve without being out and about, especially while we are in another Covid spike here. That was until my little boy loses his favorite football to the drainage pipe the day before Christmas, mommy steps into action and hunts down another one in the freezing cold. Three stores were a no-go but I found the same one he lost at Walmart. Luckily, it wasn't crowded yet. I felt like a kid in a candy store when I saw it. He even wrote a letter for the elves to take back to the North Pole so that Santa knows that he needs a new football.  It is not about the value ($4) but he was heartbroken when he lost it and will be overjoyed to find it in his stocking. Because Santa knows and he still believes! 

While out and about, I picked up some treats for the neighbors..Shipley donuts are the best!

Since we were not able to attend the Christmas Eve service in the barn this year due to the pandemic, we bundled up and took a stroll around the neighborhood in freezing temperatures on Christmas Eve. 

We all watched a movie, fed the reindeers and put out the cookies before reading T'was the before Christmas. And then Santa came. He brought a special photograph for each child too:

Merry Christmas!

We all got plenty of gifts and enjoyed unwrapping every single one:

My most precious gift was a hand-written letter from each child: 

And a charm bracelet from my dear friend, Bettina. The hubby and my parents got me a couple of charms as well and now it tells a story:

Being with each other:

My love:

Our traditional German Christmas meal (duck, red cabbage, and dumplings) was delicious and we all savored it:

While we sat and celebrated, we heard the news that in the morning, a bomb had exploded in downtown Nashville. Luckily, people were warned and "only" 3 people were injured but nonetheless it was an attack and countless people had to leave their loved ones behind to investigate and assist in this matter. Phone and internet services were down for many people and the airport was closed too. It is saddening and hits awfully close to home. Can't wait for 2020 to be over and start off fresh in to 2021. 

We hope you all enjoyed a Merry Christmas. According to our kids, it was "the best one yet."

Merry Christmas 2020

 

Dear Family and Friends, 

We hope this annual Christmas letter finds you doing well, physically and mentally,…one of the most important things in 2020. This year has been a unique year and not what we expected at all. It has been hard ─ and downright scary at times ─ and it challenged all of us in the way we think and operate. And while it temporarily disturbed my views on humanity, it also taught us to be more patient, to love one another for who we are and to stand united against all the unfairness, hate and disasters the world has seen this year. May every one of you know that you are loved and missed dearly! 

There were many days in 2020 that felt too hard to comprehend and to see the good that this year brought. From too many fires on the West Coast, to the continuation of unnecessary police violence and the resulting protests, the racism and divide our country experienced, the Tornado that came flying thru Nashville right before Covid hit, the multiple hurricanes that hit the Gulf Coast States, a faltering economy, a heated election year and on top of that the consequences the Coronavirus brought with it. 

While Covid-19 affected three of us directly in March/ April and had me in its grip for 4+ weeks, I’m grateful to have escaped it with only minor long-term effects. Moreover, I am even more grateful that my family and friends, near and dear to my heart, have so far escaped this deadly virus. 

But 2020 also had its good sides: While the year started off hectic with lots of work, school assignments and Elliot’s first basketball season with Derrick as the team’s coach, these two had a great time practicing and playing together. Even though Elliot was the youngest on his team, he also was one of the three superstars and the one that played with the most heart. It was a great season for them and Derrick led his team to a 10-0 win. In February, Elliot and I went to our first Mother-Son Dance and the next evening, Derrick took Amelia to their first Father-Daughter Dance. Two nights of dancing and spending some quality time together are priceless memories. We also welcomed a new member to the family in May: a kitten named Ella. She rounds out our pet circus and is a joy to have around. 

During the pandemic, as a family, we went on countless walks thru our neighborhood and the local park and visited the zoo every few weeks. The hot summer days, we spent mostly at our local YMCA pool, which adhered to all the safety measurements and was astoundingly empty on most days. Both children attended safely one week of summer camp: Elliot and three other boys from his K class went each day to his teacher’s big property and had a blast together while Amelia attended her annual art camp and loved using her creativity to make things. Derrick worked tirelessly on fixing up the backyard by lugging in tons and tons of dirt to flatten out the terrain while I focused on my vegetable garden and indoor decorating. The boys played lots of tennis while the girls worked on their endurance. Amelia now runs easily a mile and I go running 4-6 times a week to get some me-time and keep my sanity. I completed my first ever half marathon (virtually) in October and I am very satisfied with the result of accomplishing it on my own, no racing atmosphere, in 1:44:44. Next to his regular job, Derrick also works on his contracting license with the government (lots of studying and test taking at night) to provide him with future job opportunities. Derrick and I also celebrated our 10-year wedding anniversary with a backyard DIY photoshoot in the wedding attire and a lovely home cooked family meal. It was delightful and perfect!

As part of a cost saving initiative, my company furloughed me to part-time back in April and while it was not what I wanted, it did work out well for our family as I had enough time to work with the children on some homework assignments, play together, go to the pool and be there for them. It allowed me to be focus on my mom role during a time where we are all stuck at home. Since September, I am back to my full-time status and while working from home provides us more flexibility (next to staying safe), it makes it harder to distinguish between working hours and home life as work is only a step away. 

While we wished for more time together, we never expected in March, when the first lockdowns began, that we would be all home together, 24/7, for the remainder of the year. For over 9 months now, all four of us have been working/ schooling from home and while some days are harder than others, we make it work. The children adapted well to their virtual schooling even though it was quite an adjustment and a huge learning curve for all of us in the beginning. I am so proud of how well our children adjusted to not going to school, not playing with their friends, spending all summer at home instead of going from camp to camp or being on vacations and wearing a mask without complaining. While this year has been hard on us, it must have been even harder on our children and we often forget that. Amelia and Elliot truly embraced this new situation and they are lucky to have each other as playmates and best friends. 

Due to the pandemic, we were not able to travel to Germany this year as we had planned, which was quite upsetting as I missed being by my father’s side as he got married to his wonderful bride. We did go for one day to Atlanta to get our German passport renewed and also spent a couple of nights in a cabin during fall break to get away from the routines we have fallen in to and to see something new. The getaway felt refreshing as we spent hours outdoor hiking, fishing, and kayaking all while staying away from other people. 

This year has brought the four of us closer together and we enjoy spending so much time together as a family. We are looking forward to the holidays, some holiday cheer and joy, and praying that 2021 will bring back some normalcy to all of our lives.  

May the magic of the Christmas season fill your home with joy and peace. Sending lots of love to your family, and looking forward to the day we can see you again. Take care of yourselves and stay safe!

Love, 

Derrick, Fran, Amelia and Elliot

Birthday Celebration

We started off the birthday celebration for our favorite 7 year old on Friday at lunch. Both, Derrick and I, took the afternoon off so that we can all go on a family walk/ bike ride on a beautiful day. Elliot wanted to bring his "early" birthday gift along and ride it while we were out. He received a new bicycle in the end of summer as he outgrew his old one. It was part of his birthday gift as we knew that in winter time he wouldn't be able to ride it so he got it a few months earlier. 

It was a great 4 mile walk where we saw quite a few deer and a couple of bucks.

On the way home, we stopped by and picked a delicious pizza and finished the day off with a family movie. The next day, I baked a 3-layer chocolate ganache cake, decorated with smarties, as per the birthday boy's request. It might not looked that fancy but it tasted oh so good. 

He wanted a Dinosaur theme birthday, so the night before I decorated appropriately. Ready to celebrate our boy!

Happy 7th birthday!!!

His favorite team are the LA Rams, so he was overjoyed to get a Rams helmet and matching uniform. 

Working on his Lego gifts:

Battling his sister with his new Lego NINJAGO Spinjitzu Burst:

My boy:

Due to Covid and a cold and wet afternoon, we were not able to go out and do something fun for his birthday. Therefore, I got creative and set up a Dino-Cave in the living room so that he can have a fun movie date: 

First time ever watching Jurassic park:

According to Elliot, it was one of the best birthdays ever. It is not about the gifts or the big party but who we celebrate with to make this day special. And he loved every single minute of his special day. Thanks to all of you who congratulated him, sent gifts and thought about him. 

HAPPY 7th BIRTHDAY, ELLIOT!

 Dear Elliot, 

It’s your seventh birthday today – not that you needed reminding since you have counted the days, hours, and minutes these past few weeks till your big day! –  and I can't believe how fast these past 7 years have flown by. I look at you and I still see the tiny baby you were. But I also see the growing boy you are now. And I can glimpse the fine young man I know you will become.

Here are just a few of the many things I love about you:

1. I love that I can see the best of both your father and I in you. Our shared love of sports. His brains, problem-solving ability and determination. My love for books and learning. You definitely get your arm and eye coordination from your daddy, but your heart?  Your heart and sensitivity come directly from me (you wanting to go to bed with me every night at 7pm to watch Hallmark Christmas movies – best part of my day!)
2. I love your thoughtfulness and sensitivity. You have an amazing capacity for detail and thinking through the logical implications of things. But you also have this wonderful empathetic quality – yes, you’re polite and kind, but you’re also not afraid to show your feelings and always quick to provide a comforting arm around the shoulder or a few supportive words just when someone needs it, even if that someone is one of your parents.
3. I love your intuitive grasp of modern technology. Adapting to virtual learning has definitely been a learning curve but you took it on like a champ and every week, you figure out some new program or assignment on the computer without needing our help. 
4. I love all the little things that have given you your individuality over these past seven years. Your great ability to take on any sport and become really good at it. You train hard but you also put lots of effort and heart in to it. The fact that you are super smart (currently teaching yourself multiplication and division) but that you are not above anyone else and participate in your 1st grade class just like the rest of your classmates. Just don't ever forget that smart is cool!
5. I love your creativity –Legos is your jam. While the room may look like a tornado blasted right thru, the structures you build by yourself are amazing and so detailed. You also apply this creativity to your writing and while it is not your favorite subject, you love telling stories and are getting more elaborate with each story. 
6. I love that your sister is your best friend. You two were there for each other during this crazy year of 2020 and the only playmate you had to interact with for several month. I hated that you missed out on the ending of your Kindergarten year and that you and all the other kids were not able to attend summer camps, play together and had to switch to virtual schooling but thru all this, you had your sister by your side. You argue, you complaint and once in a while there are some mean words exchanged but in the grand scheme, you get along super well and love playing together and having each other. You are best friend for life!

I love all these things about you – and so much more (tantrums, anyone?). Yes, there are a few things about you that could be a little better. But let’s not dwell on those. Let’s celebrate the good stuff.

My goal has always been to be the best Mommy, the best teacher, you could have.  I realized quickly that being BEST is impossible and not what you need. You need me to try my hardest in loving you, caring for you and teaching you the ins and out. Forgive me, when I fail often but I'm learning just like you as we go along on this journey together. I learn more from you and your sister every day than I could possibly have imagined.  You allow me to see the world from a different height, through open, honest eyes.  You love purely, you give unconditionally and play hard with all of your heart. Never lose those traits!

And the outtakes:

I want the world for you, Elliot, and every passing year brings you a little bit closer to having it.

Happy Birthday, Dude!

We love you to the moon and back, 

Mom and Dad

America Has Decided

The votes are in and the numbers speak for themselves...Americans have elected Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United States of America! It truly was a great day to know that we will work together on a better future and unite the country instead of further dividing it. As Biden said in his acceptance speech last night "this is the time to heal". Not just from the past but also from this pandemic.

While Trump has not congratulated his opponent yet but rather threatened to fight with more lawsuits the election results, most of the country was celebrating. Not only show these results that every vote, every race, every human counts but also that we are ready for change and for the economic and social turmoil from these past 4 years to end. Joe is ready to bring people together and be the president that works for every American and not just some and be a role model for our future generations. 

“I sought this office to restore the soul of America, and to make America respected around the world again and to unite us here at home,” Biden said. “It’s time to put away the harsh rhetoric, to lower the temperature, to see each other again, to listen to each other again, to make progress, we must stop treating our opponents as our enemy.”

It is expected that there will be more uproar from the losing party until the inauguration on January 20th, but Joe Biden promised us last night in his victory speech that he is ready to begin his work, hard work, right away, and as Mr. Obama said, "he'll face a series of extraordinary challenges no incoming president ever has - has a raging pandemic, an unequal economy and justice system, a democracy at risk, and a climate in peril". 

Next to Biden stands Kamal Harris, the first female vice president and the first woman of color as vice president. I was proud to tell my daughter yesterday that this shows us that she can do anything she aspires to as Mrs. Harris is leading the way for all of us women. And as Kamala said last night: "While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last. Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities, and to the children of our country, regardless of your gender, our country has sent you a clear message: Dream with ambition, lead with conviction and see yourselves in a way that others may not, simply because they've never seen it before. But know that we will applaud you every step of the way." 

I also noticed that it makes a whole lot of a difference when a president gives a coherent and eloquent speech, something we did not experience over these past 4 years. Both speeches weren't long but they still entailed powerful messages and were very well presented. 

It is a great moment to be an American and to have elected a president and vice president who care about all the people and who will work hard to bring this country back together, who denounce racism and to fight this pandemic with the support of doctors and science and to bring us truth. 

A Country in Waiting

On Tuesday, it was Election Day and most of us had high hopes to receive an answer by Wednesday or Thursday of who will lead our country for the next 4 years. But the presidential race appeared to have slowed to a crawl. We are still counting votes and waiting...This year's voting has been drastically impacting by the Coronavirus pandemic and led to a tremendous amount of early voting participants as well as more than anticipated mail-in votes. 

The waiting part is not the problem as it was anticipated but the proclaiming of having won the election on the first night, even though it was not at all decided yet and bad mouthing the opponent and the States of how they count their mail-in ballots and thereby causing friction and possible riots, is neither acceptable nor understandable. And while the country waits for ballot tallies in a handful of crucial battleground States, the Trump campaign has pursued lawsuits in MI and PA and a recount has began in GA. Even before Election Day, Trump has pushed allegations of voter fraud without any tangible evidence and raised questions about the validity of the mail-in voting process. The issue with that is consistency and that people may loose their trust in our governmental system. As soon as Trump leads in one State, supposedly no fraud occurred but when he is losing then the vote counting is being considered fraudulent. Because of the lawsuits and recounting, this election could drag on for weeks until a clear winner is named. As Edward B. Foley, an Ohio State University law professor said: " This election won't be resolved until a losing candidate concedes defeat and congratulates his opponent. And if the candidates don't give us finality that way, then the legal process has to give it to us." And Trump has already stated prior to Election Day that he is not conceding defeat easily and will fight all the way. A truly sad outlook for our democracy.  

Despite a year in chaos and no discernable leadership during a worldwide pandemic, the constant lying, the ignoring of facts (i.e: climate change) and most of all, the creation of hate and unrest among Americans by supporting Antifa groups and radicals, I'm disheartened and saddened to see that the presidential race is that close and that still so many people voted for Trump. Have we not learned anything in the past 4 years??? What are we teaching our future generations if we let an egomaniac and narcissistic person run our country? What happened to the duty of a president to support and protect all Americans and not just the ones who voted for him? 

Joe Biden gave a brief speech on Tuesday on if he wins, he will not be a democratic president but a president for all Americans. This is exactly what we need to hear and what our country needs.  

Unfortunately, the way this voting system is set up here in the US, it does not reflect all the popular votes but depends on certain States and their electoral votes. In my opinion, it is a very outdated system and should be changed so that literally every vote counts (peaceful dancing protests and marches across the country are rallying for "Every Vote Counts"). The demographics of our country are changing and with that the party alignments are shifting and the voting system should reflect this change. If every vote would count, we would have had elected Gore in 2000, Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020.

The race is close but I think hope and humanity is prevailing and Biden will be declared as winner soon.  At this point, the entire world is on pins and needles and awaiting the outcome. My hope is that after the election, the country will calm down and we all can live peacefully among each other, despite who we voted for. What America needs right now is unity, love  and respect for each other and a clear path of how we can bring this country back out of this pandemic and make it better than it was. 

Spooky Festivities

With only minimal events going on this year, we chose to purchase some early tickets for Boo at the Zoo. We knew that it would be a safe event to participate in but also some much needed fun for the kids. And it did not disappoint. On a Friday evening in the middle of October, we grabbed our costumes, loaded up the car and went to the zoo. The children were so excited to be wearing their costumes: 2 witches and 2 wizards!

The decorations and lights were awesome and throughout the zoo were also candy stations to fill up their buckets. 

For sure it was a fun, although quote chilly, evening:

We carved our pumpkins and this year, the children had to do the dirty work. As you can see, they did not enjoy it that much: 

Even though the children attend virtual school, the 1st graders still had some fun with pumpkins. Elliot had to count pumpkin seeds...his helper was right there by his side:

And a Halloween movie and snacks with his class and sister:

For Halloween, we decided to stay in and have our very own Halloween party. I decorated a bit and the kids and I put on our costumes: 

We put out some scary but delicious foods and watched "Hocus Pocus" for the first time with the kids.

We finished the night off by playing Halloween Bingo and doing Mad Libs. The children proclaimed it was the "Best Halloween Party Ever!" and they want to have one next year too. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!