Merry Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas!

While I didn't get our pictures printed in time to go out in my cards, I hope Scott's cool idea of a QR code works for us this year and will reach all our family and friends.

This year has been crazy for us as it has been for the rest of the world as well.  We started off 2020 with some beautiful snow-while it was nice to look at, it didn't last long.  Scott ended the month having surgery on his torn meniscus in his knee.  His recovery went really well and was out coaching his last lacrosse season about 2 days later.

The kids were all in school when it all came to a halt come mid-March and then went virtual for the remainder of the year as Scott and I also went work from home.  This was not easy on all of us being home, juggling laptops, phone calls, school work, and being housebound, but we made the most of it.  

In the summer the kids and I took a few days to spend down with my Mom & Dad in FL and got to enjoy some sunny days, pool time, & fun games.  Our dreams of taking Finley to Cooperstown were canceled and we were all disappointed to hear this, but know it was the best decision they made being it was in NY and we are hoping that in 2021 we'll be able to attend some other fun tournaments.  

Surprisingly, the kids all returned to school at the beginning of August face to face.  Scott & I have remained work from home and will probably be until mid-2021.

We moved Tristan into his new house at school and shortly after he contracted Covid and went into quarantine.  Thankfully he didn't have many symptoms and was only ill for a few days.  If you can believe it, he turned 21 in September!!!  He's a junior this year at Georgia College & University-he's changed his major back to Computer Information Systems so he'll be extending his classes a semester-hoping for a Summer 2022 graduation now.

Sydney still keeps busy with lacrosse year-round and is excited to begin playing this year for the high school team.  She got the opportunity for some travel tournaments in North Carolina, Maryland as well as a recent showcase event in Florida.

Finley, while disappointed not to get to go to Cooperstown this summer is still enjoying playing baseball with Barrett Warriors.  He was quarantined shortly before Thanksgiving after being exposed, but didn't have any symptoms and went back to school after 2 weeks.  Unfortunately, this happening meant we were going to miss out on a much-anticipated visit from Terri & Vic.  We hope that when Covid quiets down a bit that we'll get a visit from them.

Scott continues to be busy working with Change Healthcare.  I don't think he knows what to do with some of his time as he's no longer coaching any of the kids...so he's been golfing a little more.  He headed back to the hospital in October for yet another last-minute surgery to remove some kidney stones from one of his kidneys (he still has some in the other).  This recovery wasn't as smooth as the knee as he had to have a stent placed for a week and he was in so much pain.  Once the stent was removed he was like a new person.

I'm still with McKesson-shortly after Covid we were notified our contract wasn't being renewed.  I was very thankful to be offered another contract to move to and am enjoying working with the new program.  Shortly after Scott's kidney stone surgery, it was my turn to have my very first surgery having my gallbladder removed.  My recovery went fairly well although my system is still adapting to not having it.

We are wishing you all a healthy and prosperous 2021.

Love, 

The Howard Family

Scott, Kim, Tristan, Sydney, Finley & Mooch