The Ducote Family: First month of 2021!

It's hard to believe that 2021 is here! We're looking forward to a new year and so far it is off to a great start. The kids were virtual for the entire month of January which was kind of a bummer but we made the most of it. We did some new exploring this month and just had fun at home and enjoying the day to day routines, too. Here is the recap of the first month of 2021!

We were finally able to celebrate Christmas with Nani and Poppa and the Zicklers at the beginning of January after we were all done with our two week quarantine and the Zicklers were feeling better. It was a fun day and we are so thankful that everyone is healthy and thankful for Nani and Poppa for keeping up their Christmas decorations for so long! Ha!

Polar Bear Plunge with Poppa!

Uncle Bruce and Nancy sent out a cookie decorating kit for the kids which they loved doing!

At the beginning of January we went to find a hidden swing. The GPS coordinates brought us to a cool trail in San Marcos and it was a really pretty hike but once we found the swing we opted not to swing since it was high and over green water! Rich wasn't with us and I just didn't feel comfortable by myself putting the kids on this one, especially with Joseph's broken wrist!!

We celebrated Joseph's birthday finally at the end of January with some of his buddies. Shane, Zack, Jake and Jer all helped him celebrate at the scooter park in Escondido and they he had a great time! The scootered for 2 hours and it worked out perfect. Jen and I caught up while the boys had a blast together.

I had these super cute cookies made for Joseph and his buddies. He thought they were great and they tasted great, too!

I am loving Julia's writing this year! She always complains a bit to do her lesson at home but once she gets into it she does a great job and I think secretly enjoys it. Her writing has improved so much this year and it has been great to see her progress. Here is her response to what she is thankful for:

"I am thankful for family, sleep and home."

Ella has to do an activity after each of her loom sessions and she normally enjoys them. Of course, I wish they were back in school but I have been pretty impressed with the exploration lessons and the activities that coincide with them. Here are a few of hers from this month:

We had our first campfire night with our new firepit in January with the Zicklers. The fire was cackling and sparks were flying (due to the wood being dry) but everyone stayed safe and loved it! Looking forward to many fun nights out here!

Hanging with Nani one afternoon.

The kids had "Dress to Impress" spirit day one day (while they were virtual) but the girls all wanted to dress up and went all out wearing their flower girl dresses. Charlotte's is very snug on her and couldn't quite get it buttoned all the way but the dresses fit the other girls and they were excited to wear them again!

This picture was taken on election day when President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris were elected. Although this was a very controversial election, I am so glad that our girls will grow up knowing that it is possible for women to be in powerful positions and that they can achieve anything.

We finally had to say goodbye to Jingle. We were so lucky to have here here for an extra 14 days! She didn't move during those 14 days, except for her last night there, but we loved seeing her every day still and she always makes the holiday season extra special.

Joseph started the new year off right by getting his cast off on January 6th! The doctor said that it healed well and he is ready to get back to doing all the things he loves and hopefully no more broken bones for a long, long time!!

Joseph requested to go to Pacific Highlands park a few times this month for the skatepark (although the first few times he didn't use it since it was super crowded) but we love the park and the trail around it and the playground (although we don't love that you have to wear masks on the playgrounds but follow the rules so do so.).

Sweet sisters on the swings.

We had really nice weather in January...so nice that we ended up at the beach 2 days in a row one weekend. It was gorgeous! The kids all got wetsuits for Christmas so they were able to test them out which are awesome. They were in the water for so much longer with them on!

Definitely not complaining about beach days in January!

The kids have been spending so much time on the trampoline and just have the best time out there.

I decided that as a "New Year's Resolution" this year each month our family is going to do something to give back to the community and to do something new around San Diego. I heard about an organization that does weekly drop offs of food to families in need so contacted them and the girls and I were able to help them out on Martin Luther King Jr. Day when they didn't ahve school (Joseph was fishing with Poppa). The organization is well run and it was great that the girls were able to be so hands on by collecting the food and then delivering it themselves to the different homes of families. We hope to volunteer with them again when our schedule allows.

Hanging out at Nani and Poppa's one afternoon...Murphy cracks us up just being like a person hanging in the chairs!

I still catch myself being so thankful that this is our backyard and that we have a pool and this view. So many great memories are being made here!

Joseph, Poppa (and even Finn) were able to go fishing a few times this month. Still no luck in catching anything but having lots of fun still.

We ran/biked Miramar one day and then had fun playing on the bars and beams after.

Charlotte's preschool had the kids wear masks for the entire school day for the two weeks after Christmas break, but at least she was allowed to go. She didn't love having to keep the mask on but she made it through and we are so thankful that she really loves school now. I brought the girls to school one cold morning and they all looked like little eskimos bundled up with the masks on.

The oldest and the youngest cousins. Everyone loves baby Nora!!

Rich built a fence around the pool equipment and had the kids put their handprints in the cement which we will treasure forever.

Lots of random pictures just from around the house-just trying to capture our everyday life.

Sleeping "baby" photos never get old.

I caught Charlotte writing notes behind her puppet theatre!

Lots of dress up always!

And selfies...always lots of selfies!

Just another morning...lots of vitamins/supplements to load up on!

Waiting to go to school and tearing apart pussywillows and making a mess!!!!

We had Joseph and Ella's well checks and all went great. SO thankful for healthy kids!!

Katie brought Zack over for Joseph's birthday party and her and Ella were twins!

Nani and Poppa took the kids for a night in January which was great! Rich and I ordered food and enjoyed a quiet night and then the next morning were up early and headed to outside of Ramona to Eagle Rock Trail. It was a 6 mile out and back trail that we ran. I was hesitant to go at first because the temps said it was only going to be 35 but I bundled up and we headed out early and it was great. We warmed up quickly and it made for a great run although for a sweaty and cold drive home. The kids had the best time at Nani and Poppa's, too!