Gracie Reviews: Pandemic Holidays

As is the theme of the year, the holidays look a little different from what I'm used to. While I have to admit that it was strange not having my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins around, I think I was okay with it for a year.

Keeping our celebration to our little pod, Mom, Dad, and I headed to the family cabin near Newport for a couple of days. It's a perfect holiday spot, overlooking a private lake and far enough north that everything was covered in snow. I even had a custom sledding hill that my great Grandpa Steve built for me so I wouldn't slide into the road! Dad built me a little jump that I thought was the coolest thing ever.

As you should, on Thanksgiving, we ate like kings and queens. I got to make suggestions for the menu, and while mom ignored my input about serving only bacon and pickles, she did find a way to work them into the meal. Once she set the grazing board out, I had all of the cured meats and baby dill pickles my little heart could desire. I enjoy offering advice on the food and finally got a chance to be the taste tester (arguably the most important job).

I finally got to weigh in on dinnertime conversations, which can be hard to do when there is a table of adults catching up on work and life. With only a few of us at the table, my happy squeals while eating turkey were clearly heard, and I only had to ask once for extra potatoes. I got to help cut the cheesecake when it was time for dessert and lick the spoon used to spread the lemon curd.

After dinner, I got to take Mom out for a walk around the lake. We saw all sorts of cool birds, and I won a resounding victory over Mom in a snowball fight. Mom told me a story about when my Apa and Ama brought the horses up to the cabin and were visited by a couple of young moose. Tucker, one of the horses, got so spooked that he stared at the lake for nearly three hours, waiting for the strange critters to come back. I intend on coming back and waiting to see some moose. I'm also going to demand going to the cabin for Thanksgiving next year.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't upset I didn't get to see my whole family like I'm used to. And I'd be lying even further if I said I am not a little upset that Christmas will also be a small holiday. But, like many things, this is temporary, and as it turns out, it's not so bad!

I got to be involved, something that most kids my age want more than anything. I got to help measure and mix ingredients and learn about fractions while I was at it. I had Mom and Dad's attention the entire holiday. I had space to breathe and get away when I needed a break.

This Christmas, we are going to focus on celebrating us as a family. Mom and Dad have introduced some of their childhood traditions, like celebrating Saint Nicholas Day- my dad's side of the family is German, and it's a big deal. I've been busy planning the Christmas cookie spread and how I'm going to incorporate pickles into Christmas dinner.

With this year's pandemic Christmas quickly approaching, I'm offering a little reassurance to parents. We 'littles' are going to have a wonderful Christmas, with or without a big gathering. We may not understand why we aren't going to Grandma and Grandpa's, but we are resilient and will adjust. We are going to love spending extra time with you decorating cookies or making ornaments. A virus will not squash the magic of Christmas, and we are going to be ecstatic when you share new traditions. All we want for Christmas is your love: The presents are just a bonus.

Happy holidays, everyone!