December 2020

 

At the Blackham home, we wait until after Thanksgiving to put up the Christmas decorations. Actually, we waited quite a while, and weren't sure we were even going to get the tree up at all. But we did get it up and decorated. Stockings hung and many a Hallmark movie watched (well, just by Jen, all while down in the home gym while working out). 

December also brought BASKETBALL. Tryouts happened quickly right after Thanksgiving. Colton is a freshman, but will be playing Sophomore and JV for the most part. He has played in a few of the freshman games, and has played a bit in a couple varsity games (he even started once already!) Each team has different uniforms, and each team has two (home and away) so Colton has NINE jersey/short sets (varsity has three sets). He got #5 for freshman/sophomore/JV and is #4 for varsity, as a senior already claimed that number. Only parents can come cheer, but often the schools will stream the games live - and Jen is trying to make her highlight reels too. It's been good to get back to games.

As a student-athlete, Colton has to take a rapid-covid test every two weeks. There have been some cases popping up. The team had to sit out the Christmas tournament when a few Varsity players got sick. Gray spiked a fever on Christmas Eve, his test came back negative (the fever is related to some stomach issues) but it did scare away our married kids for Christmas Day celebrations (we just had a quick drive-bye gift exchange). Sol was able to get the first dose of the vaccine. 

Colton had a birthday ... 15 years old! He can get his learner's permit and start practicing behind the wheel. We had some ice cream cake, and a yummy trip to Tepanyaki. The boys love the fried rice there, and Gray has been practicing and perfecting fried rice at home on his new grill. He also tried philly cheesesteaks. Jen got him the chef's hat for Christmas ;)

Earlier in the month, Grayson had a little getaway to St. George. Cal and Kate went there at the end of the month. Gray and the boys (Landon, Keaton and Uncle Adrian) spent a Saturday morning at the shooting range, and we got together with the extended Blackham Bunch for a Christmas celebration with soup/breadsticks and Bingo. 

The Oculus (a virtual reality gaming system) was the big gift for the boys this year. Keaton and Cooper really enjoy it, and Landon has played it more than Colton (just a little funny because Landon doesn't actually live here). Ping pong has still been a bit hit at the house ... lots of ball bopping going on. Coop even got Gray and Cal to play him (and Coop won three begedas from Cal in a bet.  A "begeda" is a type of Blackham currency ... but an exchange of three of them is a pretty big deal!) Cooper also won big in his Fantasy Football league. His Uncle Kolby got him involved last year. It's a men's league with decent stakes. Last year it was a $50 entry fee, but Coop walked away with the $300 first prize. They doubled up this year. $100 to participate ... and $600 for first place. Kolby has been doing this league for a while and said no one has ever won twice in a row before. 

Here's our monthly 1-second-every-day Video

... so that wraps up December, AND 2020. With the alignment of Jupiter and Saturn creating the "Christmas Star" will 2021 be a promising new year?