Huh, November is almost Over . . .

Wow, it's been about a month since I've posted! That's probably the longest since the pandemic began. That makes sense - not much is happening! That's probably why I've been so cranky. I am getting way too bored with life. Plus, it's hard with the kids - I mean, we are so lucky compared to so many others (like my family in Maryland that will only have online school for the whole school year), but it's still hard on us. Honestly, I am not meant to be a homeschool mom and my kids are not meant for homeschool either - basically meaning we need our space from each other for optimal enjoyment of one another. :) There really has been some positives and I have enjoyed our time together - but if I am being honest, I don't think it's been awesome for us. But, again, we are lucky to be able to do all the activities we are doing. Like working, at least part-time schooling, gymnastics, climbing, etc. 

Cute, but terrible, Bella. Such's so tough, yet so wimpy. She'll hike 20+ miles with us. But if it's a bit wet or frosty out, she won't pee or poop outside. Waaaaaa.

I took the girls to Pizza Hut because Lucy earned a coupon from school for reading every day in October. So we had a good, little outing. Not a single other soul was dining-in, so we were good and happy!

The sister missionaries (who are The Best) challenged us to do some service one week. So we raked some neighbors yards . . . plus the girls had seen this craft on Pinterest and wanted to turn it in to a service project. We made mugs with neighbors' first-name initialed on it and put some cider and hot-cocoa packets in it. We've only delivered a couple so far, but it was great!

The girls' "prize" for our Black Canyon Ascent race (way back when) was gift cards to Amazing Glaze - a pottery place where you pick out your pot, paint it, then pick it back up after it's been fired. So I finally took the girls on a Saturday and they had a lot of fun. Lucy painted a cute bowl and Emmy did a mug. Emmy always gets bummed at how her craft projects turn out, so I helped her find a great idea (a cute snowman) and it turned out really well! Yay.

Luckily with a bribe to pick up Colorado Boy pizza on our way home for those who hiked, everyone agreed to go on a hike last Saturday. :) Ben hadn't done the Ouray Perimeter trail and so we did that one. It's awesome and it was a good, albeit a bit cool, day to get out.

Thanksgiving was . . . eh. It was okay. :) I worked the whole week - well, the work-week of Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. As well as Ben. It was just busy with work, making dinners, getting groceries, etc. On Wednesday I was done in the kitchen . . . after working, I had to come home and make our family dinner, plus dinner for the elders and dinner for the sisters. I was glad to do it, it was just a lot! Then we helped the kids all get started on their Thanksgiving assignments:

Jonas made the pumpkin pie.

Lucy made the cranberry salad.

Miles made a pecan pie.

And Emmy made the sweet-potato casserole.

It was good to good some things started the night before!

Thursday morning I had organized a small unofficial Turkey Trot. I knew our running group wouldn't be doing one, so I just put it out there that my family would be running and we'd provide treats. There were maybe 2-dozen of us, plus about another dozen kids/grandkids of a lady in our stake. So it was a decent-enough turn-out! Emmy ended up chasing after Aiden and Jonas and ran the whole time with them - well, Jonas took off when Aiden stopped to walk for a few seconds (mainly because he wanted to beat Emmy, I am pretty sure). Aiden was awesome with Emmy - he kept encouraging her to keep running, etc. Their time was like 38:49 or something. Almost 3 minutes faster than last year for her. She was crying when I came in because she probably over-exerted herself and wasn't feeling too grand . . . :) But after a few minutes (maybe 10), she felt much better and was super happy to have run it in a good time!

I ran with my neighbor Heather (oh, and Brigham - who was a major pain because he can't stand not being in the lead!) and we had a good finish . . . somewhere in the 40-minute range. Lucy rode her bike with a few other friends and finished "first" - bikes sure are faster. :) She and her friends had a lot of fun riding together. Miles, Ben, and Bella walked it and enjoyed it. Unfortunately I really didn't get any pictures. Boohoo. Well these are what I have:

The post-run treats I made that morning: Pumpkin Pie Rice Krispie treats. Yum! The middle "filling" was flavored with pumpkin pie spice and was quite delicious. We also served apple cider. Yummy.

My good friend Sarah Bugarin (Aiden's mom) brought her family along. They all, with the exception of Aiden, rode their bikes. Sarah grabbed this picture of Heather and I.

This is Emmy and Aiden running . . . how cute. :) He's a pretty fast runner and so it was really nice of him to hang back a bit and run with Emmy.

Girls and selfies. :)

The rest of the day was spent getting ready for dinner. We did Zoom with my parents and my sister and her family and played some online games together. It was a lot of fun actually! We ended the night not watching Doc Hollywood (we started it, but stopped it after a while . . . it wasn't too great for the kids. . . there was plenty of nudity and cussing . . . etc.) and watching some Spiderman movie. The kids loved it; I really liked it; Ben hated it. I guess you could say he is not grateful for Spiderman movies. :)

Anyways, here's my last November picture:

Emmy is finally learning how to french braid - yay! So fun!

I can't believe it's almost December!

And that's a wrap for October . . .

 How is October already over!? How are we at the 2 last months of 2020. So crazy.

The last week of October started off with a BANG! A snow-day! Yay! I mean, Ben and I still had to go to work and the boys still had to do their BYU Online school, but the girls had a break! It was amazing to wake up to 9 inches of snow - so beautiful and fun.

Emmy made donuts on her snow day. I received many panic texts from her . . . I finally asked Miles to go and help, which he did and they worked out just fine. :)

Lucy on the way to school one morning. I took this just because she's adorable. And she can rock doing and wearing an awesome bun.

The remodel on the boys' room is coming along and we're all loving it! So fun!

Halloween 2020 - we weren't sure what to expect. But it turned out pretty great. Miles went to a friend's house and played games and watched a movie. Jonas went to a party where they played volleyball and watched a scary movie (Dark Skies?). I took the girls and we met up with some friends and trick-or-treated with them in their 'hood. There were plenty of homes participating, with probably about 75% of the homes having their treats set out. It was a fun night and the girls got to stay a while at their friends' house and got to go in their hot-tub. Fun.

Lucy as Hermione from Harry Potter. So cute! We bought the cloak and the rest were either already-owned or found at a thrift-store. Perfect!

Emmy went as a version of Ben Maxwell in his glory days of football-playing. She made for an adorable, albeit tiny, running back. :)

I'm so old now that only 50% of my children dress up! I love these cute picture of my awesome girls. 

Lucy and her friend Lila - both Hermiones! :)

Some of the friends we went with.

Emmy and her friend Holly - the antique porcelain doll.

And that's a wrap! We're ready to finish off 2020 . . . 

School Pictures 2020-21

 

Lucy, 4th grade. Northside Elementary. Mr. Stammler. Lucy had a freak-out on the morning of her pictures and so I did not help her with her hair . . . Thus her hair. :) She's still cute, that's for sure.

Emmy, 7th grade. Centennial. Multiple teaches. One-week in-person at school. One-week at-home school. One week red hair. One week purple hair. :)

Jonas, 9th grade. Freshman at BYU/MHS. Jonas takes one class each quarter at MHS (Montrose High School) and the rest via BYU HS online. The plan is for him to be a full-time student at MHS come January.

Miles, 11th grade. A Junior at BYU HS. Miles continues to take a class at MHS each quarter. He just finished Ceramics II and is now doing Rec. Sports. 

An Update

 Well life continues pretty much as it has been - with work, school, extracurriculars, etc. Ben is getting closer to participating in his monthly "drills" with his Army unit. At least we think . . . He did go up to Fort Carson in Colorado Springs a couple weeks ago and got his Army get-up. It just made me laugh seeing him in it, but it is pretty neat. Lucy had to take a picture of him in his camo and share it with her friends and teacher. :)

Work and life is good for me. I don't love having all the three kids home all day (Emmy is at school every other week, so then it's two kids home all day). It's just hard to work on things, etc. with them all home and around the house. I feel if I work on something, I am distracting to them and their schoolwork. I help Emmy a lot with her assignments and homework.

Miles and Jonas have finished their mountain biking season. Well, the riding part. There is some "gathering" happening next week - although I am not sure that's allowed from Gov. Polis at this point, so we'll have to see . . . Miles has started two college classes: College Algebra and College Biology. He's doing Spanish as well and all seems good with him. He works once a week (10a-4p) at Crash Burger and that's good for him. 

The boys have been going climbing at the Rec. about once a week. It's pretty limited and so it's good they can do it once a week. A neighbor/friend/ward member was kind and took our 2 boys, plus their friend Aiden, to a cool outdoor climbing area in Ridgway yesterday. Alex, the gentleman who took our boys, taught them how to lead-climb. My boys were super-excited about it. Jonas is doing okay with his schooling - although online learning is not for him, really. He's set to begin the public high school come next semester in January. He's doing pretty good, though. He drives his car in the church's parking lot and does great with the stick-shift.

We are remodeling their basement room and they are super excited about - especially Jonas. The man we hired, a gentleman named Phil, is really nice and is working fast. I spend the past few days staining and sanding 50 12-feet boards for their room. I hope the idea/plan I have will turn in to a cool room!

The girls are fine. Emmy likes being in-person, but also doesn't totally hate her at-home weeks. Although it is way more boring for her. I do allow one of her best-friends to come over on Wednesdays and they do their school and such together. Emmy babysat for our friends yesterday for almost 6 hours! The mom is out of town with their middle child, Aidrey, so Emmy babysat Milo (5) and Trent (1). I may have had to come over and help Trent go take his nap . . . he was quite screaming. :) It was their dad who took our boys climbing, and so I had offered Emmy to babysit. She loves that family - as we all do, really. The parents are awesome and the kids are adorable.

Lucy continues to be happy (except when she's crying) and loves school. She's doing great at gymnastics and both girls love it a lot. I had our parent-teacher conference this past week and it was all glowing reports for Lucy. :) I choose not to do Emmy's conferences as it was all Zoom and I am way over Zoom. Plus, they are for 5-minute time-slots. As Emmy's home every other week, I feel I actually know what's going on with her and schooling anyways.

Brigham had audible farts yesterday. Ha. The dogs go wild foraging in our garden and it's all fun and games until they have diarrhea, toots, and the such. :) Bella continues to be her spunky self.

Pictures: (Totally out of order)

We went to the pumpkin patch in Junction and had a lot of friends there as well. It was a lovely day and the kids all had a blast. Here are some cute kids, Aidrey and Trent.

I didn't take any pictures of our day in the pumpkin patch in Junction. Luckily, others took a few. These are of Miles and Aiden on the pedal carts. Ha.

Oh! Miles' Onewheel! Long story . . . he had been looking for one. We found one . . . sent the specs to Uncle Derek who approved of the Onewheel. Only problem? It was in Utah and my people (i.e., parents) who always pick-up items for us, were away in St. George. The seller wouldn't hold it and had someone coming to look at it on Friday. So, I was able to get my Uncle Randy to check it out and buy it on Thursday. Yay. Then my dad picked it up on the Monday they got back. On Tuesday, my dad and I met in Green River and I got the Onewheel and surprised Miles with it. It was fun. Miles paid for it all and loves it. He rides it all around, to seminary sometimes, etc. So cool.

Jonas and I spray-painted some lockers yellow at first and Jonas sprayed one of our garden flowers. Lovely.

Jonas climbing the Ridgway Dike Wall.

The boys' demolished room.

How one looks going to school during Covid, cool weather, and the month of Halloween.

Emmy likes to do make-up art, specifically wounds. Some are really amazing and totally look real!

A fat Jonas made by Instagram.

The girls love taking pictures of themselves . . . 

Emmy's newest hair-color: purple.

Peace selfie.

Coach Kirk had to sell all of his gym stuff because his building was sold (have I mentioned this before?). So we ended up buying these lockers. We painted them yellow at first and I hated it. So we went with white and I like them! They are pretty bulky, but I'm getting used to them. They are handy to hide all the kids' coats, backpacks, etc. So that's nice.

We are doing drywall on the top half (plus a few inches more) and then will be doing wood planking for the bottom section of the boys' room. In multi-colors! I stained the wood brown, white, gray, blue, and green. The stacked pile on the right were all the ones I had sanded at that point. I finished them all Saturday night. Jonas helped with staining about 1/4 of them - he would have done more, but had to go mowing. He was quite helpful when he was around and it went so much faster with the two of us. I was bummed he had to go mow . . . as was he. Ha.

Miles way up high (scary!) - lead-climbing. I guess Jonas and Aiden were pretty nervous, but Miles just went and did it. Alex didn't trust the boys to belay him, so he didn't climb. Ha. 

Emmy and Trent at the pumpkin patch.

And our favorite video. I don't know why we all love it. I mean, it's so weird, yet funny for some reason.