Quick note: for all the years that I’ve been writing these letters, they have been titled for the month following the month that I’m actually showing/describing, since I wrote and posted them on that following month. BUT that has always really annoyed me; so I’m finally changing it. So there are technically two “January 2021” posts on the blog now, but this is the one that actually shows January (the other is December). So from now on, I’m going to be labeling them by the months they’re actually showing! The end.
Mason, Rylan, and Elli
2021 has been... unexpected. It’s the middle of October as I’m writing this, and it’s the first letter I’ve written to you this year. I didn’t think I’d get this far behind, but here we are. I’m going to put the letters into smaller parts, because there would be way too much in one letter if I put all of the pictures in one post.
JANUARY went by in a sort of typical wintery way. Boys, we redid your bedroom, and it looks great! We had some snow. Poppy and Daddy each bought a gun and, Mason and Rylan, you got to go too, which you loved. It became cowboy season in our house (which has lasted the whole year at this point) where all 3 of you dress up as cowboys a lot. We went to the new tunnel in Waynesboro/Afton, and we walked through the whole thing. It was freezing!
IN FEBRUARY, we had some more snow. We had a snowman in our yard for quite a while, even when all of the snow around it melted, which made me laugh. You also got permission to sled down Mr. Larry’s hill this year, so that was fun. Rylan, you deemed February 1st “Dress Up Day,” so we all joined you in that. And at the end of the month you declared “Milkshake Day” which we also did with you. Mason, you helped Ry shoot out a tooth with a nerf gun. During the month, we played games; did puzzles; watched the Super Bowl; had some fun Shabbats; did a Skype call with Grandma Sollenberger, Aunt RuthE and Aunt Rhoda; and Mommy and Daddy went on a Valentines date. Then at the end of the month, I went on a Mommies-only trip with Leanne to Florida! It was so fun. We also got to see and stay with Andra on the way to and from Florida. AND we FaceTimed Auntie Jo Baby who was about to have her baby. Daddy stayed home and took care of you while I was gone, and I think you four had a good week too!
IN MARCH, we were preparing for Aunt Heidi’s family to come to America. We spent a lot of time at their house moving things in and redecorating a little to surprise them. Maria, Chicha, and Yolanda needed to have a room set up, so things needed to be rearranged for that especially. (As a side note, I’m adding in pictures from Elli’s first camera that were really taken in December but I didn’t have them on the computer yet. She did break it within the first couple days of having it, so there’s not a lot of variety in them.) Rylan, you were the cutest for Dr. Seuss day; Mason helped draw the “Thing 1” sign on your shirt. We also did more gun related things in March; me, Daddy, Nonni, and Poppy took a concealed carry gun class together, and then a few weeks later we went shooting with our instructor in Churchville. Near the end of the month, we went to Highland County with Grandma and Pap for maple festival time (I think it was technically canceled, but I can’t even remember now; there were still vendors set up). On the way over, we stopped for lunch at a yummy place in Churchville. When we got to Highland County, went through the old museum place and were able to walk around a little more than last year. And on the way home, we stopped to see the Wild + Free campsite place. Mason, as you’ll see, you did a fantastic Annie Oakley project for school; you weren’t happy with how it looked at first, but then you realized it was good! All 3 of you went searching for frogs at Mr. Larry’s one day, and you came back with a grocery bag full of frogs….it still grosses me out to think about it. The end of March also has pretzel day at Miller’s, so we got to go to that, and it was yummy as usual!
Ok! Part of the year is done! To be continued….