Reflections on 2020 Well, 2020 was nothing like 2019. In addition to the Pandemic and the protests across the country, we experienced a magnitude 5.7 earthquake and Salt Lake's worst wind storm in over 10 years. Despite these four horsemen of the apocalypse, our little family managed to have a relatively good year. Our Apocalypse One of several COVID tests this year, all thankfully negative. Earthquake footage our security cameras caught before the power cut out and things really got rocking. The last slice of bread. This was early in the pandemic when people were still learning how to panic. This spring David's cousin from New York City lived with us for a couple of months as a pandemic refugee. We enjoyed having another adult trapped in the house with us to talk to. Shaunda's home office has a nice view of the giant London planetree in our backyard. The new way to "eat out": Get takeout and set up a table in the backyard. It was unsettling and thought-provoking to pass the National Guard and protesters while driving our kids to and from daycare. At daycare, the Cat in the Hat became the Cat in the Mask. Clara inspecting the windstorm damage in a nearby park. David's family had a big reunion over Zoom on Christmas Day. We are thankful that Zoom could bring us together when the Pandemic has pulled us apart. Quarantine Fun at Home Yes, David has a Duplo buying habit, but at least the kids enjoy it as much as he does. Shaunda found a pasty white shark circling Caleb in our pool. We were lucky to find a pool and pay only double its pre-pandemic price. David rigged up a natural gas water heater to make the water warm enough for Shaunda (minimum of 92°F). Our skinny dipper discovered that falling out of a pool can be almost as scary as falling in! Don't worry, he was fine. We were blessed to be visited by a few friends and family this year and to spend a lot of time socializing in our backyard. David's cousin Amber... ...and the kids. Grandma Peggy visited for Clara's first birthday. Uncle Ryan visited after moving back from Japan. Renée, Andrew, and family stopped by on a cross-country trip. Grandpa Lyle and Grandma Karla visited for Caleb's fourth birthday. His parents and all his grandparents got him a cool pedal car. Shaunda and her mom were lucky to visit her grandfather in February before he passed away in August at the age of 92. And now for a bunch of pictures of the kids! Intrepid explorers in the Amazon (box) Super cool One happy skier Double fisting Clara's personality emerging Snuggles Caleb has been great at wearing his mask at school. Enjoying a hike in our mountains so close to home Our little naturalist leads the way. Sour! We are grateful that our careers have continued despite the Pandemic. Shaunda continues to practice employment law as a partner at Clyde Snow & Sessions. She represents employers and employees in Utah and California. She has mostly enjoyed working from home and appearing remotely for court hearings. David continues to freelance as a legal data researcher and run his small business Docket Reminder. David also helped manage a CARES Act grant to the Utah Courts and local legal nonprofits. Our thoughts are with those who have contracted COVID-19, felt isolated, lost loved ones, or lost jobs this past year. David lost his uncle David to COVID-19 in December, which was a profound loss to our family. We are grateful for the healthcare professionals who have worked tirelessly at great personal risk to help us get through the Pandemic, and for the researchers who have developed a vaccine far faster than any of us could have imagined. Once we are all vaccinated, please come visit so we can make up for lost time. Our house has a basement bedroom and bathroom reserved for you. Surely better times are ahead! Created January 3, 2021