The 2020 holiday season is anything but normal, and my family is no exception.
Usually, around this time of year my mother would dig deep into the storage closet to unearth a dusty old puzzle box – home to none other than a 500 piece Charlie Brown Christmas puzzle (at least one piece was always missing, so technically only 499 pieces), and clear a section of the kitchen table so our work could begin.
As kids, we would sigh and roll our eyes at the impending month of nights spent hunched over the kitchen table hunting for the one piece we needed that had somehow always fallen under our own chair. Countless fights had been both started and settled at that table (which now sits happily in my sister’s kitchen), and over that puzzle. And still, every Christmas Eve we would laugh and snap the final pieces into place. Our month of work was done, and the puzzle could return to its’ box. Our version of a Christmas Mandela; our work would disappear as soon as it was completed and yet the memories and happiness stuck around all year long.
As adults, we would smile as we walked into the kitchen after traveling home for the holidays, seeing the puzzle half completed by my mother on the kitchen table – its’ final pieces waiting for us kids to complete. Happier now to complete this Christmas rite of passage, we sat and caught up on each other’s lives as we once again hunted for the missing pieces.
This year, we can’t take part in our tradition.
In order to ensure many more holiday seasons together, we must forego this one.
However, traditions can change, and this year I want to welcome anyone and everyone to a new tradition – our 2020 Paint By Number family!
The concept is simple – we complete a Holiday themed Paint by Numbers in the month leading up to Christmas, but we do it together!
To mimic the late night puzzle sessions, I’ll be hosting Zoom calls on Thursdays from 7-9pm CT and Sundays from 5-7pm CT so we can paint together. You are welcome to join if you are comfortable!
Each Zoom will feature a holiday movie / music – there is no pressure to talk or be on video, it is your choice how you would like to participate!
Links to our favorite paint by number options (you don’t have to choose any of these, these are just the ones my mom picked out)!
*None of the below are affiliate links*
If you are unable to purchase one yourself and you would be comfortable with receiving one by mail, please put your address in the message below and we will do our best to send one to everyone who needs one 🙂
Join The Project!
Fill out the below form with your name, email, and your favorite holiday memory to get invites to the Zoom calls 🙂
Emily Schneider 