Twelve four-five-six Twenty Twenty

Let's recap the weekend.

Starting on Friday:

Esperanza landed on Mac's school desk, in a jar so she could be easily moved. Smart move on her part. Mac as excited that she could show Esperanza to her school friends on zoom. However, she was very concerned that Esperanza couldn't spell. I told her I don't think there is a strong emphasis on spelling at the North Pole. 

I picked up with "Who-ville" Tree at Sprouts on Friday. I got one last year, and we let it die, because that's what happens to most plants in this house. Friday's advent activity was to watch Christmas movies with lost of snacks and blankets. We chose Home Alone 2 and hot chocolate. I even followed the recipe on the back of the cocoa box because I was out of instant. It wasn't all that hard, and I impressed my thirteen year old and myself. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised at how good Home Alone 2 was, sequels usually don't hold up. 

Saturday Recap:

Esperanza got a hold of The Who-ville Tree. Doesn't she know how precious toilet paper is during this pandemic. The kids thought this was hilarious, and that it was very possible that Esperanza brought us a roll from the North Pole. The cute countdown is a Target Dollar Spot find that my friend Heidi picked up for me. It was only five bucks!

Our advent activity was to make paper snowflakes, the girls did while I ran errands. They were just as messy as I remember and no one was really happy with how they turned out. I think my girls are perfectionists like their mother, so if they weren't perfect they went in the trash.

Sunday recap:

Esperanza challenged the girls to a drawing contest. They took it very serious, and they did a fantastic job. I wish I could draw as well as they do. Also, with Esperanza sitting in a bowl, we were able to move her around as we wished. That came in handy as the girls helped me wrap Christmas gifts. My wrapping has never been this ahead of schedule. Now, before I continue let me say, I had to let go. I had to let go of the "perfectly" wrapped gift, and let them help. Honestly, the paper gets torn to hell anyway. This is the first year I just said yes, sure, wrap that gift with more paper than is needed. It's 2020, if I've learned anything this crazy year, it's to let people help me when I need it. 

Sunday's advent activity was to have breakfast for dinner so we had eggs and hash browns. It was simple and easy and everyone was happy. 

I also did six loads of laundry on Sunday, and folded and put them away. Well I had help putting them away, but still. I'm tired.

Happy Monday, 

Megan

Twelve Three Twenty Twenty

Esperanza made her way to my bookcase, and brought a friend. This friend, a plush mini elf was hanging on a tree on the opposite side of the house. Well played Esperanza. This picture also shows off some of my favorite books and my Funko Pop figure of Elf on the Shelf. There was a time when I bought everything Elf on the Shelf related. I used to blog four to five times a week then too. 

Today's "service" advent was, "Do one of your sister's chores". Groans all around, but they made it work. Their rooms are clean, and their school stations organized. I can't complain. 

Yesterday, our advent activity was to read books to each other. Mac read Jolly Postman, Caitlin read Crayons, and I read Santa Mouse. Did we use funny voices and create our own endings? Of course we did.  Was it time well spent with zero screens? Yes! I love so many things about Christmas, but I think Christmas books brings real magic. As a kid I always loved reading about other traditions and foods. I can remember reading Santa Mouse for the first time and insisting that we leave out cheese with the cookies on Christmas Eve. I have a shelf full of Christmas books, for kids and grown ups, and love returning to old favorites every year.

Today was my last zoom for the screenwriting class I took this semester, and I am a little heartbroken. I've been wanting to take a screenwriting class for years, but I could never find one I could really afford or attend. Many of them happen in other parts of the world. Lucky for me, I discovered one at my local my community college, and I knew I would regret it if I didn't sign up. My professor was fantastic, the guest speakers were amazing (Hello, Bruce Gilbert who produced 9 to 5!), and I wrote act one of a full length feature. To be honest, Act 1 is only about 25 pages, but even after years of creative writing it was still challenging to write. I can say that the payoff was amazing. When my class workshopped and did a cold reading of the script, they laughed at all the right places. It was bliss.

Twenty Twenty has been weird and isolating and sad at times, but taking this class really helped me focus on other things. I actually had a place to be and deadlines to meet. I'm sad that I won't see those people on a regular basis, but I did sign up for the playwriting class for the spring. Flexing my writing muscles in ways I haven't before is one of my favorite things. For now, I'm sitting with the success of writing an Act 1, getting it workshopped, revising it, and turning it in. It may never go farther than the "submit assignment" box to my professor, but I did it. 

XO, 

Megs

Twelve Two Twenty Twenty

Esperanza landed by our"sanitizing" station. Our stockings also happen to hang here as well. Just a friendly reminder to wash your hands and sanitize. I have yet to figure out how to make her a mask, so maybe that's something I can look into. Today's advent is to pick a Christmas book and read it out loud. Mac picked Jolly Postman Christmas, Caitlin picked The Day the Crayons Quit Christmas, and I picked Santa Mouse, because I've loved that book since I was a kid. 

Yesterday, our advent activity was to send 3 cards to friends we missed. I ended up sending six cards. Is there anything better than getting a card or a letter in the mail? I've always loved getting mail, especially when it's not your birthday or a holiday. Getting a card or letter is a reminder that someone thought of you, in such a way that take pen to paper and sign their name. I love that.   

It's also my Grandma GG's 87th birthday. We won't get to celebrate because of Covid, but we are dropping her gift off after dinner. Covid makes everything weird, but after nine months it kinda feels the same. 

I hope you all are in good spirits and good health. I'm off to do some online shopping. Which roughly translates to me buying stuff for myself and hiding it. 

Merry everything, 

Megs

Twelve - One - Twenty Twenty

 

What a strange and wild ride twenty twenty has been. Didn't we have such high hopes for a new year and decade. I did. Then I didn't. Twenty twenty has been so much about survival. Mentally, physically, and emotionally. I've done so much writing and reflecting, most of which I have kept to myself. With the end of the year just one month away, I thought I'd try something different. For many of us, we have been home. Work from home, school from home, life at home. It hasn't been a terrible experience for my family. I'll admit, leading up to March 2020 we were already looking forward to lazy days of summer because of our already over extended schedules. When the world (or maybe it was just California) shut down, I for one welcomed it. Of course I didn't realize that two weeks would turn into, what is it now, nine months?

Here we are, with thirty days left. This story that I'm going to share with you is going to happen in real time. Maybe not every day, but I'm hoping to stop here in this space and let you know how we are trying to recapture some much needed magic. 

A few weeks ago, Mackenzie, age 10, started asking about our Elf, Esperanza. We have two elves, if you remember Buddy, and for the last few years, both elves have been living a life of luxury since we broke the cardinal rule and touched them. When my girls were little, they viewed the elves as part of our family and Christmas decor. When they started school they soon realized that our elves were the minority. Imagine their surprise when their friends told them that Elves were NOT TO BE TOUCHED!

Back to Mackenzie and Esperanza. 

Esperanza was gifted to us from Grandma Linda. Grandma bought the last available girl Elf and her book happened to be in Spanish. Hence the name, Esperanza, which mean Hope. Esperanza was never magical and didn't bring gifts or do fun things. I would tell the girls that the elves were here to take a vacation from Santa's workshop and it was up to us to show them love and let them relax. And it worked, until this year.

Last week Mackenzie wrote a very impassioned letter to Santa, pleading for Esperanza's magic to return. In the letter she let Santa know that she understood that Buddy was too old for such fun, but Esperanza needed her magic back. My heart broke for a number of reasons but two really stood out. 

One, this kid, despite the TikToks and James Charles videos, still believes in the magic of Christmas. Two, if there was ever a time for Christmas Magic, this is the year. We could all use some magic as we close this tumultuous and distanced year. I got to work. I made a calendar, and even followed the fun up with an activity advent of things that weren't too strenuous, but involved the entire family. We have been cooped up in this house for months, but honestly most of the time we are on devices, we all in the same room and all on phones or iPads.

Yesterday, Mac sprinkled cinnamon on Esperanza and put her on a high shelf so the cats wouldn't interfere with her return. We did a little research and cinnamon is the vitamin C of the Magic Elf world. We went to bed early and guess what?

We woke up to Esperanza, delivered special to this curtain rod, ready to fill this house with magic. Also today's activity is to choose three friends we miss and send them Christmas cards. After they sign out of virtual school we will get to work. Would you believe I have stamps and everything? 

Lol,

Megs