QW8

Wow, it's been almost 2 months since school was in session - at school. Crazy. Now the kids are almost done! They (well everyone but Miles) have to turn in their iPads and work this coming week. So they are pretty much done . . . which is weird. I mean, you (meaning the school district, not you) don't do anything for the first 4 weeks of quarantine and then you quit by May 8th. Lame and shame on you. Not that "remote learning" had much "learning" involved . . . but it at least kept the kids busy if nothing else. I've already gotten a thousand "I am bored!" "Why can't we" ________ (fill in the blank), etc's. Yep, it will be a long summer.

I mean, I've enjoyed this "break," too, and it has had some redeeming qualities. Still, I (and my kids) pretty much feel like we've had 2 months of summer . . . and now we have 3 more ahead of us.

Okay, enough of that.

This week contained its usual of work for Ben and myself, bike rides, runs, playing at Taviwach with Csilla's kids and the such. The boys have about 6-7 regular lawn jobs - bimonthly at this point, but will be weekly at some point. They have gotten aeration jobs as well. So they are making money and making Emmy jealous. She wishes she could work and earn money! But I am not sure babysitting is quite "legal"? Hopefully soon.

Pics:

Emmy participating in a Zoom class meeting - on the slack-line. Because, why not?

 Lucy crashed her bike in our alley way and got a gnarly scrape on her arm. Welcome to childhood Lucy!

 Dumb picture, but these are my tomato plants - pretty much my contribution to Farmer Ben's garden. We just planted them in the ground tonight . . . fingers crossed they survive!

It was Teacher Appreciation week and so Lucy and I went and hung-up balloons at the school. The teachers were all going to be there this past week and so that worked out well. On Friday Lucy, Emmy, and I drove a card and gift-card out to two of Lucy's teachers. We talked to Mrs. Reich for quite a long time - it was lovely. Lucy loves her so much and so it was so good to have some time chatting with her!

 I took the kids mountain biking at the RAT (Ridgway Area Trails) on Friday afternoon (after spending over an hour helping Miles patch the 4 holes in his 2 tires . . . so lame). The girls did pretty great. We rode the loop twice on "Plaugeground" and I thought it was an aptly-titled trail for this time in our lives. :) It's a fun ride and I was validated on taking my girls on it with their "Weeeee's." Then I was unvalidated when Lucy had a fall (not a big one and, luckily, in the soft sandy part) and cried and cried. But she did the loop again with no falls and no crying - success.

 The boys hung out on their own and rode down a favorite trail, Ratical. Rad.

 The girls' note to try and convince Ben and myself to get them a pool. Really, we just don't have the space for it. But cute note. Oh, and it makes me sound like an awful mother who doesn't want her kids around. I do, just not home full-time for 5-months of the year. Mainly because it's hard on them the kids. They get bored and I have to say "No" to so many things during this quarantine. :(

 Friday night at the Drive-In! It finally opened in our town and so we sent our kids to it on Friday night. Ben and I wanted to finish up the last 2-hours of Poldark and so that was our "date" as the kids enjoyed their night out on the town. Although, of course, it was a little different at the Drive-In - everyone had to stay in their cars/trucks (usually you can sit in the back of a truck, on camping chairs, in the trunk of your car, etc.), windows up, had to call if you need to use the bathroom, etc. But, still, it was fun to get out and do something!

The girls enjoyed their lunch (using some of their gift-card money from Christmas) at Crash Burger on Saturday afternoon. Fun!

Yay for something and some fun week 8.

QW7

Well. . . not much "new news" to report on. I worked my Monday and Tuesday shifts. Ben started back full-time at the surgery center; it was a pretty typical case-load for the week, so that was interesting and good. Ben was also on-call at the hospital this weekend and has already been called in twice - the first time he's been called in during this pandemic. There is talk about our hospital not being able to recover their losses (basically shut-down their only money-making side of things - surgery - for a "surge" that never came) and going under. I can't imagine the hospital being abandoned, but possibly bought-out? Luckily Ben works full-time at the surgery center! We are blessed, indeed. In fact at the hospital cases today, Ben saw such a lack of measures being taken and precautions in place it was actually a joke. I mean, I get blasted from the hospital to wear a mask (which I only do at work), yet they don't have their staff wear the appropriate mask for one of the greatest risk procedures related to coronavirus (intubation, which is an aerosolizing procedure, which means it's a high-risk when dealing with covid-patients . . . ). This whole pandemic is so weird and just so full of so many inconsistencies and ironies. 

So, anyways, the kids are up to the normal stuff - although we have done some increased "outdoor gatherings" with friends. Maintaining a number of 10 (or close enough) and under. The girls and I met up with a friend and her kids (two of which are some of my girls' closest friends) at the bike path and rode to a park - where we had a picnic, played on hammocks, the girls went on a little "hiking adventure," etc. The friends came over and played outside at our house for a while afterwards. It was much needed for us all! Jonas went running and biking with Aiden a few times. Both boys and Aiden went on a great bike ride this afternoon (Saturday).

Pictures from Quarantine Week Seven:

My sister organized a church meeting for my parents, her family, and my family. It was awesome. The kids all gave talks. Miles probably needs the most help in writing/giving talks . . . (We didn't help any of our kids, but after listening to them all, I realized Miles needs to practice a whole lot more . . . :) )

Lucy's "first" talk in "sacrament meeting." She spoke on families and did a good job.

Bella fell asleep during our "Come Follow Me" study-time. Silly girl.

Monday was our 18th wedding anniversary! Yay! We celebrated by . . . working. :) We did meet up on our way home from work and rode home together. We also ordered some yummy Indian food from Guru's for our dinner and our whole family loved it. Emmy made us her delicious chocolate lava cakes. Yum. I had made a Kahoot (on online game) for the kids all about Ben and myself - it was fun! Miles took 1st, Jonas 2nd, Emmy 3rd, and Lucy 4th. We told Lucy she was last because she's lived the shortest with us! I had some fun questions that the kids had no idea. Such as, "Ben's first job after he and mom got married was . . . " Answer choices: Working at St. Mary's hospital, Working at Big-O Tires, Selling shaved-ice, Working at BYU's Auto Shop. The correct answer? Big-O tires. I don't think any kid got that one, ha.

We "helped" a lady in our ward pack her U-haul as she's moving to St. George. But, truthfully, it was 99% done when I finally got off work and so all we did was take her practically new, but not fitting in the U-haul, patio furniture. My kids, girls especially, love it. Emmy and Lucy did their school work the next morning out on it. :)

Lucy's doing her screen time tonight out there . . .

They ate dinner that very night on it. (I was participating in a ZOOM meeting - in which our stake girls camp got canceled, boohoo.)

Ben built the pergola recently and we added the lights. So fun.

Miles' doodling that he made in to a card for one of his HS classes.

I dyed Emmy's hair on Friday night! I think it turned out okay! Emmy loves it and so that's good. It really looks better in real-life.

Not too much going on. . .

QW6

Six weeks . . . wow. That's a long time. But another long time - 5 months. That's how long "school break" will be - as long as they start back in the fall at their scheduled start date. Sure, they have "remote learning." But it's not the same - frankly, not even close to the same. It's just sad. But we've been doing well and are enjoying life as much as you can during this time.

My pictures are all randomized - which is frustrating and I am unsure why my computer does that? But I am too lazy right now to fix it. So here we go:

 Lucy's school had a "Spirit Week." Monday - Thursday was a different day and you were to take a picture and send it to one of the staff. She, then, compiled the photos and made a video from each day. It was cute (and actually I had sent the school the idea . . . yep, pat my back). This day with "Northside Pride day."

 How Jonas does church.

 The chickens are doing well and are venturing out of their coop more and more. As you can see, it's great entertainment for Brigham and Bella. Bella goes nuts and tries to eat them through the chicken wire. Brigham just intensely stares.

 My sister rocks! She sent me this adorable hat! It makes me so happy! What a fun surprise from an awesome sis.

 The girls still do their gymnastics . . .

 Pet Day for Spirit Week.

 Nice form Emmy!

 Whatcha Reading Spirit Day.

 (Dark picture, sorry) One evening Ben and I were dropping off dinner at a ward family's home and the boys were out mowing, so I had asked the girls to get dinner ready. It was a simple one, luckily, and one they love: Frank & Beans with cornbread. Lucy was in charge of the cornbread and Emmy the F & Bs. It turned out great and was a delicious dinner!

 How the dogs spend their time when the chicks come out.

 The sister missionaries (from the branch) asked to host our YW virtual activity for the week. What cute sisters we have!

 Jump-roping time!

The girls had fun with "photography" -

As Ben begins a more regular/full-time schedule this Monday, I thought we should do one more adventurous activity. I had heard about this mountain biking area and friends had told me it was cool. So, even though it's a 2 1/2 drive from our home (what else are we doing anyway?!), I decided we would do it. Everyone but Jonas had a great time! The boys rode together and I went with the girls. Apparently Jonas complained the whole time and made some statement along the lines of "Only people who want to die do this." He's ridiculous, to put it nicely (which I usually don't).

 We started off doing the 8-mile Boggy Draw loop. The boys kept having to wait for the girls, so I just told Ben to go off with them. No need to make them drive for 5+ hours and then have to putt around on their bikes. So off they went and off we went. Boggy Draw was great - a fun rolling ride.

 It was a perfect day for the outdoors!

 We met up with the boys as they were finishing up from their break after Boggy Draw and were heading out on another loop. They did part of the Maverick and Italian Canyon loop. Awesome. (Jonas' smile is fake I tell you!)

 Our plans changed a bit as it was a little tough for the girls (mainly Lucy). We made it out to a view point and then headed back (instead of doing a longer loop). As we went back, I realized how it had been a good and steady incline pretty much the whole time - so my girls had been troopers for sure! The going back was much easier . . .

Then we splurged and drove to Cortez for a Sonic dinner! I have never eaten there! Ben maybe? Miles had a milkshake once. Everyone else, nope. So it was quite exciting. We weren't the only ones with the idea of eating at Sonic. . .  but we chilled in the car, ate our food, then ordered fun drinks/shakes and headed back home. We had left at 11:15 that day (we would have gone earlier, but Miles didn't want to miss his seminary's Zoom at 10) and got home at about 9:15. So it was a good escape from our house for a day!

QW5

Well nothing will probably top QW4 . . . Sigh.  So this week was another week. I worked my two days; Ben worked his two days. Although it does look like the hospital, and thus surgical center, will start electives sooner than most were anticipating. Looks like after losing 12 million dollars, the hospital can't do without the electives. Especially as our hospital has been practically empty! Crazy stuff.

I have thought about writing all my thoughts on COVID 19, but I am not sure if I ever will or not. I thought of a lot of essays on my 10-mile run today (yay for long runs!), but we'll see. Many of us have different views - which is all fine and dandy. Until you start mocking those who differ from you and claim your intellect is far superior, etc. Then it's not all fine and dandy. And, due to Facebook, I see too much of that. Anyhow, nothing too exciting this week. The kids did start their more-official online/remote schooling. I have a lump right under my ear - not sure what that's all about? I did have one of the radiation oncologists check it out one day at work a couple of weeks ago and he wasn't too concerned. But it's still here and worries me. I did make an appointment with an ENT - but they aren't seeing patients until May and so the earliest I can be seen is May 11th. Which isn't too bad.

The kids had pretty decent weeks. I did let the boys go mountain biking with a friend this morning. I randomly ran in to friends (on bike rides or coming back from a run) and that was delightful to visit with them! Oh, a neighbor and fellow ward-member came over on Thursday for me to teach him how to make "Whole wheat sandwich bread" as he called it. Luckily it turned out great and his 5 year-old, who is a tough pleaser, gave the thumbs-up to it. :)

Here are the pictures from this week (including last Saturday's Easter Bunny day, etc.):

Some of my favorite of the dyed eggs we did on Good Friday.

The Easter Bunny came on Saturday and brought lots of candy - plus socks for Miles, a Stranger Things sweatshirt for Jonas, watches and origami kits for the girls.

Emmy and Miles needed some help in finding their baskets, but finally did . . . :)

Lucy's primary sent her a Flat Nephi (similar to Flat Stanley if you're familiar with him). Lucy was to take a picture with him and then post it to the Primary's Facebook page. Finally, she was to mail off Flat Nephi to someone on her list. Cute idea!

Lucy peace-ing out after her FaceTime piano lesson.

The girls dolled-up Bella - a bow and a pedicure. Ha.

Our YW activity (plus a few extra boys) for the week was doing a "real" telephone game. I had a  phrase and would call the next person on my list, tell them the phrase,  and then hang-up. It got passed down through all 13 of us. We did three rounds of it with different phrases each time. The phrases were never what they started out to be . . . of course. We then Zoomed afterwards. I think everyone had a fun time.

Another mountain biking trip to the top! Yay! 

Some slack-line fun, too. The girls were pirates and made scars on their faces, had swords, etc. Cool.

 A quick Saturday morning mountain bike ride.

Jonas, Miles, and Aiden.

Okay, now for the ugly photos of the week. The girls found the "face switch" thingy on Instagram and it was pretty funny.

Ben and Emmy.

Lucy and Miles.

Emmy and Jonas - we decided they are practically twins. They don't look too different with switched faces . . . :)

Lucy and Jonas.

My girls all switched up.

Crazy stuff here.