'20 Year in Review

2020 - what a S*it show....or was it?  Yeah the year had some massive humanitarian crisis' including the pandemic, human rights, and brutal election season.  All this led to large scale disruption, cancelations, work/school from home, and flexibility from all.  Through all that we managed consistent family dinners, movie/tv binging, Bundesliga, record amounts of soccer training, and a push to spend time outside!  We were doing too many blog worthy things to have time to blog...

January started off innocently enough - we enjoyed a rare winter snowfall in Frisco!

The Arcade at the National Video Game Museum became a weekend staple - Our visits were in the double-digits before coming to a grinding halt in March...We have not been back but hope to return in 2021 

#Winning - J&T landed on a Griffin Middle School Indoor team that brought home a championship / Jordan was recognized for her artwork as it was put on display at the FISD office 

Valentine's Day celebration went off without a hitch

Mom & Dad attend what would end up being the last Dallas Mavericks game prior to the Mid-March ending of "everything" 

New Furniture 

2020 we scrapped travel and put $ elsewhere - Snickers and time did a number on our already beat up couch...

This was our 1st couch purchase - Costco special, this piece now resides in our game room

In November our new Lazy-Boy Sectional arrived - we love it!

We also invested in a Copper Kitchen table and new chairs

On Lockdown

Early in the lockdown, Frisco teachers drove the neighborhoods to greet their isolated students

In April, the Blue Angles did a Dallas flyover to celebrate 1st Responders

COVID 19 is for the dogs - literally - neighborhood dogs have never had it so good as we saw many walking their previously neglected pets - even Snickers gained the benefit of extra walks and the ladies of the house got out for more bike rides

Easter

No live church for this year but we did stream Hope Fellowship - we kept the other traditions alive including Egg Decorating, 

Baskets,

Cookies,

and our annual Egg Hunt

More arts & crafts - J&T enjoy some painting 

Trampoline - although Dad pushed back, this addition to our back yard got the girls exercise, helped Jordan train for Cheer tryouts, and have fun - we even occasionally had a friend or 2 over for water balloon fights

May The 4th Be With You - Taylor celebrates by making our mailbox into R2D2, spends time with "The Child" and we all sat down for The Rise of Skywalker

We filled time with Boardgames (Dad won this marathon game of Monopoly)

Yes - Star Wars Trivia Jenga is a thing!

The girls discover what we used to do as kids - explore nature with friends!

They later flop on the sidewalk and enjoy some yogurt

Learning about current events as we observe BLM protests just a short bike ride from our house 

Soccer time - the sudden ending of sports, school, and other activities pushed Jordan, Taylor and Dad to local parks to train - we clocked ~150 hours of training and gameplay during the Summer/Fall - Taylor holds up a peace sign while she blasts a long shot - the long shooting practice would manifest for her during our championship Fall Season as all 4 of her scores were launched outside the Goalie Box 

Hot Summer Saturday mornings on the Pink Elementary Field Turf

Taking a much needed water break / Anyone who has trained with Jordan knows she obsesses over her feet (i.e. big pain in the ass)

4th of July - dressing for the occasion & checking out fireworks

Watersports - Taylor looks sophisticated in her shades on a float

The neighborhood pool is more fun with ice cream

Lake Lewisville - this is as close to beach life as we would get in 2020

We did manage to tag along with friends to go boating a few times

Enjoying a beautiful sunset as we celebrate Dad's 47th birthday...  

...and a patio Brunch at The Star for Mom's 45th

Taking Snickers to the Dog Park is adventurous

After being on his best behavior, he could not resist taking down this 100lb Doberman Pincher as the stunned owner checks out the ruckus

After several weeks of Virtual Learning, Fall school opened in September

October - The Haunted Trail was open for business!

Halloween - despite the Saturday/Full Moon/Daylight Savings trifecta, kid volume was a record low - we still hit all the traditions including Carving Pumpkins, 

Costumes with friends,

and a record candy haul!

Thanksgiving was also downsized as we shared a family meal at home

Snickers scored a full plate & Taylor baked an outstanding Spice Cake

More baking - our new Kitchen Aid mixer gets frequent use!

Winter Sports Scene - North Texas has done a great job keeping youth sports as consistent as possible

Jordan cheers at the Griffin boys basketball games

Flexing some muscle & an areal view of what Cheerleaders do during breaks

We are thrilled the girls made the Griffin Basketball team - the season started just before the holidays with a 32-2 thumping of Staley Middle.  J&T both scored!  

Jordan during warm-ups and celebrating her 1st of 2 baskets!

Taylor "plays on her toes" she would also score on a beautiful 15ft swish

All smiles after the win

The following game would prove to be far more difficult against rival Cobb Middle - Jordan & Taylor would stay hot and both score in the loss - the team headed into the Holiday break 1-1

The Dolphins celebrated a Gold Medal season with an outdoor ceremony - all 16 players are returning to defend their FSA championship this Spring!

Holiday Season

Our trips out of the bubble were certainly impacted by COVID.  We did make it out to Downtown Frisco on a beautiful night

As we continued to isolate we checked out the local light displays

12 Days of Christmas

We also checked out amateur neighborhood attractions

The holiday gift exchange with J&T's Grandparents moved outside to the garage stimulating varying reactions 

Holiday baking!  A staple around here - Mom had some great helpers as Jordan grabs some "Kisses"

Taylor gets the Baking Soda and Snickers grabs anything that's not locked down

The Christmas Heisman

Christmas

Private family holiday celebrations were en vogue this year and we embraced that -

Mom & Snickers check out our latest Bronner's ornament

Lots of Star Wars for Taylor as she scored a Child shirt & Chia Head

Things got serious when Jordan opened her Apple Watch...

...and Taylor exploded with excitement when she tore open the Nintendo Switch

Snickers got into the act as he gently opened his much needed "slow-eating" bowl

We spent most of X-Mas afternoon playing Mario Kart 8 including 4 person racing

So despite a year filled with challenge we look back with appreciation of our health and being part of a great team of Social Isolators!  We head into 2021 with optimism and finished the year with a flurry of work getting all our holiday decorations stored while completely reorganizing our attic and garage!