A LEGO Christmas

This Christmas, my husband, Dan, and I reverted to our childhood. Maybe we were pining for a simpler era, considering we're in the midst of the #2020pandemic, or maybe we have more time to play with toys right now.  As GenX-ers, we know how to entertain ourselves while stuck at home for hours on end. 

 

Our nephew loves LEGOs, and before 2020, when we could travel and gather with out-of-town family, Dan enjoyed helping him put them together. Of course, our nephew doesn't need help anymore, so when we got him a LEGO set this year, he constructed it within a few hours of receiving it. 

 

"Our LEGO boy!" my sister-in-law commented. "I forgot to tell you, last night before bed he said, 'Whenever I go to Aunt Becky’s she gives me more LEGOs because she loves me sooo much!'”

 

(He is right about me loving him soooo much!)

 

He worked really hard on this one, I was told.

That brings us to Dan, a difficult guy to shop for. He likes practical things, not gag gifts. 

 

As he says, "I don't like gifts that are funny for one day and then never get used again. It's a waste of money and resources." 

For example, upon seeing a picture of some family members in matching Christmas pajamas, I told Dan I needed to buy him some of those. This did not go over well.

 

I suppose I agree with him from an economic and an environmental standpoint though.

Of course, he doesn't mind getting video games, puzzles, or other fanboy toys (mostly Star Wars).

 

Dan had been having so much fun building LEGOs with our nephew. He looked kind of sad when he couldn't help put together LEGOs this year. 

So . . . I bought Dan a set of LEGOs for Christmas, Star Wars LEGOs to be exact. 

 

About a week later, I don't remember the context, but Dan made some comment about not wanting LEGOs. (He probably thought it was impractical.)

But he must have forgotten about that Christmas morning. When he opened his gift, he exclaimed, "It's an X-Wing Fighter!" 

 

He looked at the box a little closer and gasped, "It's Poe Dameron's X-Wing Fighter!"

 

I texted my sister-in-law, "Uncle Dan got LEGOs for Christmas too."

 

As I was texting her, he called out from the living room, "Wow! It shoots things too!"

 

Of course, I like to get toys on Christmas too. This year, I asked for the Holiday Barbie because I thought she looked like Belle.

 

Faithful readers might remember I was Belle once upon a time . . . in my pre-middle age days.

 

 

Oh, and we started watching the second season of The Mandalorian this Christmas. Do you see a (very Star Wars) theme here?

#nospoilers

 

 

For the latest blog updates, visit and "like" Rebecca Turner-Duggan.

Duggan Family (Socially Distanced) Christmas Letter 2020

Greetings from Dan and Becky Duggan! We hope you are staying safe and healthy.

Well . . . 2020 . . . What can I say? This year has certainly had its challenges. I almost decided against writing a Duggan Christmas Letter this year. I didn’t write one last year due to my busy holiday music schedule, but—boy—I did NOT know what the following year had in store for us.

Then I looked through my pictures from the year, and I realized we (and by we, I mean “I”) need to be reminded of the positives. That is not to negate the struggles and, in some cases, tragedy we have faced within our families and our communities over the past year. You are all in my thoughts. ♥️

Because I didn’t write a 2019 Christmas letter, I didn’t get a chance to tell you about the wonderful opportunity I had to tour Europe with our Cathedral Choir under the direction of Dr. Paul Aitken in June 2019.

And early in 2020, Dan and I had some fun playing in the snow.

Our school district shut down in March, the week before my 5th and 6th grade students were set to perform their annual spring musical. 

Dan, still a software engineer at HP, has been working from home ever since. I started hosting singalongs for my students and anyone else who wanted to join on Facebook Live. 

The year of working remote and virtual music was born. (By the way, recording yourself singing is WAY more stressful than performing in front of a live audience!)

However, I did perform in one live production. In June, I reprised the role of Florence Vassy in Chess, a role I also portrayed in 2015. It was a different experience this time around with temp checks, socially distanced, masked audiences, and a self-quarantine of two weeks afterward. I was grateful for the opportunity to perform live musical theater one more time before taking a year (or longer) off.  

One of my favorite things to do this summer was explore Idaho’s great outdoors with my brother, Steve, and his family, Kali, Desmond, and Benny. We went hiking with them around the Twin Falls area and celebrated Desmond’s fifth birthday at the Boise Zoo. Dan and I also did some biking and hiking day trips throughout the summer.

Dan and I wish you all the best this holiday season. We hope you have a chance at a nice, cozy Christmas and a Happy (here’s hoping) New Year!

Love,
Becky and Dan

For the latest blog updates, visit and "like" Rebecca Turner-Duggan.

Gratitude From the Mouths of Babes

Before Thanksgiving break, I asked my students to list what they were thankful for (which we then played on sticks as a rhythmic ostinato—music nerd stuff).

 

 

As we completed this exercise, I realized that my students' gratitude had not been hampered by a pandemic. 

 

"These kids show so much appreciation for the things in their lives," I thought. "Adults could learn a lot about true thanksgiving from these children."

 

So, adults, here is today's lesson in gratitude, straight from the mouths of babes.

 

 

Mrs Duggan: List two to four things you are thankful for this year.

 

Students:  

• I’m thankful for a roof over my head.
• For the best school.
• For the teachers and specials.
• I’m also thankful for friends and family.
• My pets, for being there.
• Clothing.
• I am thankful for the food on the table each night.
• FRIENDS for getting me through all this and being there for me.
• Music.
• Hospitals.
• That I'm safe.
• That I can enjoy the small and free pleasures of life.
• For my grandma's Corvette. Do you know what a Corvette is, Mrs. Duggan?   
  

Then one stormy, rainy day before the break, it was announced the kids would be having indoor recess for the day. Some of my first graders groaned.  

 

"I don't mind the rain," one little boy said "because after the rain, you get to see the rainbow."  

 

Life Lesson #454: Don't forget to look for the rainbow . . . 

 

 For the latest blog updates, visit and "like" Rebecca Turner-Duggan.