Christmas 2020

Christmas was magical this year.  We never got to see Santa, or do many of our normal traditions, but we realized that's not what really matters.  We still made sure our focus was on the Savior and that's what makes all the difference.  The boys were bursting with anticipation for the big day, and on Christmas morning they were awake by 6:30am, but they managed to keep pretty quiet in their rooms until the appointed 8am present time.  Tanner did his hair and Bridger's so they'd be ready for pictures.  And they were extra cooperative with picture taking because they knew we wouldn't move on to presents until they were done.  They're learning!  This year they all got the top items on their lists and everyone was thrilled.  Tanner got a metal detector....Dean broke him in by throwing $3 worth of change out in the snow to go find.  He quickly decided it might be better to learn when there's not 6 inches of snow on the ground.  Haha!  Landon and Braddock got their coveted hoverboards and a go-kart attachment to share.  And Bridger got a mechanical claw and Marble Works set.  We took a break from gifting for our Christmas breakfast, which was extra amazing this year.  We had our regular sticky buns, but added yogurt parfaits and lots of fresh fruit to the mix.  2020's helped us learn to celebrate the little things in little ways.  After breakfast we opened the gifts under the tree.  The boys had exchanged names and it's always my favorite thing to watch them give gifts to each other.  We couldn't do our normal shopping, but thanks to Amazon they all managed to get something their brother really wanted this year.  We called Grandma and Grandpa Hilton on video chat to open their gifts "with" them.  It's been years since we've gotten physical gifts from them.  We usually get a membership somewhere, but we thought this probably isn't the year for that after only getting to use last year's membership to the Science Center once!  We took the day slow and just enjoyed trying out all our new gifts and toys.  Then we got to spend the evening with everyone at Mom and Dad's with another delicious dinner.  We sure feel blessed by the gift of our Savior's miraculous birth that made possible His perfect life and ultimate sacrifice for each of us.  Merry Christmas!

AND my favorite gifts this year came from the boys.  I opened a box of legos from Braddock, and after originally thinking he had built me something, I thought it was strange that it was just a bunch of our legos boxed up and wrapped up.  But then he pulled out the video camera and played an instructional video he had filmed for me to build my own lego candy dispenser and then provided with me with peanut m&m's to fill it with.  It was the coolest, cutest thing I've ever seen.  And then after a LONG day we were tired and ready for bed but the boys remembered they had one more surprise for us.  They brought out a bag filled with a bunch of notes listing reasons they are grateful for Dean and I.  I completely teared up and couldn't believe how thoughtful it was.  Landon was the brains of the whole thing but he invited his brothers to join him and I couldn't have loved anything more.  It was definitely a Christmas I will never forget.

 

Christmas Eve 2020

Christmas Eve we were actually all ready for the big day.  The boys just hung out doing whatever they wanted all day.  Dean and I snuck away to do some last minute shopping, but more for fun than necessity.  And then we made our way to Mom and Dad's for Christmas Eve dinner.  Geoff and Dianne arrived just in time and we enjoyed a not-so-traditional dinner made by Grandma Furin and Mom, but without Grandma and Pap in person.  After dinner the kids helped put on a program with pictures they drew telling the story of Christ's birth.  We wrapped things up there and ran home to join the Hilton side of the family on the first ever Hilton Zoom Christmas Eve Party.  It was fun seeing everyone's faces and being a part of something we've missed for the past 10 years.  We did our best to sing together and go through the same scriptures again, but definitely worth reading through twice.  We opened pj's and snapped a picture before loading the kiddos up with melatonin and sending them off to bed.  Despite some weird differences it was still a great night. 

            

             

Christmas Card 2020

2020 has been a doozy for everyone, but we’re hoping it finds you all well this holiday season. Despite the craziness this year has brought, we also find ourselves grateful for the growth and learning it’s provided as we’ve slowed down and focused on what really matters…our families and our Savior. We sure love this time of year, and the joy that comes in celebrating Him. Despite a pandemic, life is moving on at what seems like increasing rates, and the boys continue to grow like weeds. Here’s a peek at our lives this past year… 

DEAN has had his craziest year yet as the Cyber Coordinator at school. As you can imagine the Cyber program erupted when the pandemic hit, and he is endlessly scrambling to keep up with the added workload. He serves as our technology specialist at Church, which has been a busy job amidst pandemic closures, but he is definitely the man for the job. He also started a business digitizing photos, slides, and videos, so hit him up! 

ANDREA just hit her year mark as the Young Women’s President at Church, and it’s definitely been unique navigating activities and lessons via technology. She’s gained some teaching skills trying to help the boys on their homeschool days, as we continue to function in hybrid schooling for the foreseeable future. She never thought she’d be repeating the 3rd grade, but 2020 has brought about all sorts of unexpected things! ;) 

TANNER will be 13 in February, but he’s felt like a teenager for quite some time now! ;) He rules the Jr. High as a big 8th grader and is trying his best to keep up with virtual schooling. He was inducted into NJHS last fall and just found out he was voted Vice President of his chapter this year. He’s still taking piano lessons and plays the keyboard in the Jazz Band at school. He’s also loved being in the Young Men’s program at Church. 

LANDON is 10 and in 5th grade at the Jr. High. Thanks to the pandemic, he and Tanner have improved their friendship, and it’s been fun having them at the same school again. He just started playing basketball, and despite every-other-game being postponed due to Covid, he has enjoyed the season so far. He also started learning the trumpet, but thanks to pandemic restrictions he has yet to play in person with his class. He continues to play the piano, and his love of reading is still going strong. 

BRADDOCK is 8 and is the lone Nelson at the elementary as he tackles the 3rd grade. The most exciting thing for him this year was his baptism this past August. He got to share it with his cousin Hylie, and it was such a special day we will never forget. He continues to play the piano and has proven himself a Master LEGO Builder lately. 

BRIDGER just turned 5 and reminds us every, single, day. He is counting down the days until Kindergarten and Mom’s trying not to think about it. He has loved having his brothers home more with hybrid schooling, but still loves to boss Mom around on what he has dubbed, “Mommy and Bridgey Days.” We’re working on basic reading skills and he’s really starting to catch on. 

This year we’re so grateful for each one of you! We hope your holidays are full of laughter and love! Merry Christmas!

Love, DEAN, ANDREA, TANNER, LANDON, BRADDOCK, and BRIDGER

A Day in the Snow

2020 has been full of ups and downs.....mostly downs, but what it has given us is the best snow we've had in YEARS!  So we convinced Dean to take a half day at work and the boys plowed through their virtual school work as fast as they could.  We loaded everyone up and drove out to Raccoon Creek State Park to our favorite sledding hill down the back of the damn.  Not a soul was there so we got to enjoy the place to ourselves. We built a huge snowman, Tanner worked diligently on a snow dragon, and Landon and Braddock made a great snow fort to challenge Dad in a snowball fight.  We had a blast sledding down the hill and the boys all enjoyed the snowboard style sleds.  Dean rocked them too, but managed to plow Braddock down at the bottom of the hill.  No one was hurt but the video I managed to get will be a family classic for sure.  The magic of snow definitely fail us.

I made Landon recreate the photos I'd always get of them when they were tiny.

These two were more than willing to clean off Dad's car for him if it meant climbing on top!

Chloe is obsessed with the snow!