Week 2 Figuring out Routines

Since we really only had a 2-3 days of online school last week this week was the first week to really figure things out and learn some better routine's -- like our morning devotional and practicing instruments before online work for Andrew. Next week is spring break so I wasn't too rigid, but still just figuring things out. Overall everyone did good. Steve helped Lila a few times with fraction multiplication -- thank goodness for a math Dad. Lila also started doing dance via Zoom (a group video chatting service). She liked it and had almost 5 hours of dance this week.

For family adventures this week we couldn't get outside as much due to the weather, but on Monday we went out to the Shoreline Bird Refuge and did the audio tour. It was a little windy as you can tell from the pictures, but it was good to get out stretch our legs and the audio tour was fun and informational.

Tuesday Andrew's books came that I ordered off ebay. He's been reading The Notebook of Doom series and he finished book 10 just as things started closing (including our library) and he said it ended on a cliff hanger so I found the last three (books 11-13) for a few dollars and ordered them and I think he's on the last one already. Good thing I ordered some things off of scholastic books that arrived just before school closed.

Then I got out the dollar store yo-yos we bought for a rainy day and Andrew was getting frustrated so we decided to video call Anson who likes to do yo-yo tricks and they did yo-yo together and then colored together and just chatted for an hour (probably would have been longer, but my phone was dieing).

see my phone on the chair so they could see each other doing tricks ;)

While chatting with Anson, Aunt Marcee told us about Cosmic Kids yoga on YouTube and so I thought we'd try it and the boys love it. We've done one every day since then. 

Wednesday the kids elementary school teachers did a honk and wave parade. They drove around the neighborhoods waving to all the kids. They loved it! It was so sweet of them to decorate their cars and drive around and even give some shout outs to my kids! 💗

Lila was video chatting with Siena when the parade started - hence the tablet

Friday Andrew got to video chat with his teacher and classmates. He was so excited and afterwords said, "I miss seeing my friends." I love having the kids home so much that I forget they have a whole world outside of me that they miss. I'm glad they can connect through technology and that they don't mind spending extra time as a family.

Ellie has also found ways to connect with her friends some of which has been playing Minecraft with the two Tylers she attends WSU Prep with.

That morning the kids all ate a huge breakfast so for lunch I let them make bunny rice krispie treats with fruit -- come on cereal and fruit is a common meal just forget it has marshmallows and we're good. ;)

Steve and I have been trying to work out together each day. It's been nice to get out and go for runs when the weather allows. I enjoy running outside, we've done a YouTube Barre class that was good, and we have a HITT workout that combines 5 minute sprints on the treadmill with strength training moves so one of us will run while the other does the strength portion then switch. We're really trying to keep our moods up with physical activity -- now if I can only cut back on the sugar in take maybe I could lose a few pounds during this crisis.

I've also been trying to find ways to connect with the young women I serve through emails and this week I left a Gatorade on their porch with a little note and tomorrow I've lined up a zoom lesson/discussion with the awesome sister missionaries serving in our stake. I'm really excited about this and hope it goes well. Tonight we've been invited by President Nelson to join millions around the world in fast and prayer for relief from COVID-19. Join us as we unite in faith and prayer!

Social Distancing = More Family Time

Steve and I have been monitoring the coronavirus or COVID-19 quite closely the last couple of months for a lot of reasons: 1. One of the companies Steve consults for has work in China and so he was made aware of the situation quite soon after it happened; 2. We are planning to take an Alaskan Cruise in August with the kids but know it all depends on how things resolve so we have only put down our deposit and have not bought airfare or anything (we had reservations about the cruise situation way before things got really crazy for the cruise industry -- yikes!); 3. We both have parents with underlying conditions and Grandpa O. here in the assisted living facility we watch out for so we want to make sure we do not expose them.

I had also started to have some reservations about a youth combined activity we had planned around food and visiting peoples home and had just recently asked to postpone it for a month then the following day The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made an announcement saying that no one would be allowed to attend General Conference in the conference center and then the world began to spin out of control. Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13th things in the news were changing by the hour. I know I couldn't stop looking at my phone for updates those two days and Ellie was getting texts from friends about school closing. It was all unsettling and I know unnerving for the kids. It ended with no regular church meetings and no school. The district was going to have the teachers come to school Mon & Tues to come up with an online home school plan and then school would begin at home on Wed. 

Hence our plans to seize the moment and make the best of a crazy situation so we left for Idaho. Then on Tuesday we went out to Antelople Island. We have been trying to go out there the last couple of weekends but the weather just hasn't quite been nice enough and today was, well not the greatest weather either, but Steve and Ellie enjoyed a bike ride and the boys loved the beach. Marcus didn't want to leave and asked for "a hundred more minutes" ;)

buffalo Ellie & Steve saw on their ride

 

Then Wednesday morning Steve and I were awakened by 5.7 earthquake. At first I thought whoa that was a big gust of wind then it just kept going. I got out of bed and stood in the doorway and Steve said "it's an earthquake". Most of the kids slept through it but Andrew was already awake and came out and said, "Whoa was that an earthquake? Cool I survived an earthquake." Well the earthquake shutdown the schools again so I could not pickup Andrew's packet of work but the girls got started with their online work and I had Andrew do Duo Lingo (he loves learning Chinese!).

To be honest, I love having my kids at home. We get up, have breakfast without rushing to get someone off to school, have prayer and a devotional and make a plan for the day (kind of talk with the kids about the chore I'd like them to do and then the fun activity we can do once everyone gets their school work and chores done). Then the kids practice their instruments, do their chore and then start their schoolwork. They're usually done with school around 12:30/1pm and then we have lunch and do fun activities together. We play games, color, play outside, go for bike rides, and yes we've watched some movies in our home theater (latest Jumanji, Frozen 2, Disney+ is coming in handy again). We even broke out the powdered eggs and butter and a few things to try and to figure out how to use them in case we need to at some point. Here are some cookies with powdered eggs and powdered butter (FYI-they seem to be staying soft longer than cookies with regular eggs & butter which is an interesting find) and Marcus giving the powdered scrambled eggs a thumbs up.

Friday we made Grandpa O. a care package since we can't visit him (for his safety to stay healthy they've asked for no visitors) and he was out of Pepsi and chocolate milk.

Saturday was a beautiful day and I told the kids no computer/school work we were going to spend the day outside. Steve and I started cleaning the garage, Ellie and I mowed the lawn and mulched a few places, Steve put down fertilizer, and I trimmed back some plants and raspberry bushes. I saw two snakes while working in the yard and Andrew caught one. He insisted on releasing it into the wild and I told him it was ok as long as he knows it's going to get bigger and I'm going to scream when I see it and he'll have to snuggle me when it happens.

The kids enjoyed the outdoors and did sidewalk chalk art although most of it ended up on them as "war paint" -- seriously Marcus's face was green. It was a super productive day where we were beat at the end (a workout without really doing a workout). For dinner we let the kids roast hot dogs and make smores they all loved it and it was a simple meal. Steve even put a marshmallow that had already caught fire in the pit so the kids saw it grow and then turn to ash -- so cool said the boys!

Today we had another great sacrament service in our home. The spirit is so strong during these simple sweet meetings, such a wonderful blessing from our Heavenly Father, and I feel like the boys are more reverent (maybe because the time frame is better for their attention span 😂). Lila gave a great lesson about the allegory of the olive trees and we talked about what pruning we could do in our lives and what spiritual nutrients we could add. 


We worked on a puzzle and this afternoon we pulled out the soft serve ice cream maker and now the girls are off to read in the hammock. Life is good here and we're praying that those suffering will be comforted and those in charge, health and political officials, will know what to do.

I D A H O

While Steve and I were riding the lift with Marcus at Snowbasin on Saturday I had a thought about going to Idaho. One of the girls I grew up with in my home ward was getting married for the first time and had asked my Mom to invite me to the wedding and reception which was that night. With our calendars now free (ahem - COVID-19 closing all large gatherings) we decided why not. So I began texting my parents and asking if they were up for visitors. My Dad said, "yes and why don't you bring your ski gear and ski Pomerelle on Monday." Steve said, "sounds fun!" So when we got back home Saturday with Marcus we began to pack -- it would be a surprise to the kids since it all transpired while they were in lessons. We managed to get packed, run a couple of errands, and make in time to pick up the kids and then tell them the surprise that we were heading to Idaho.

We ate pizza on the way since it was pie day. And then when we got there my parents and I ran into the reception while Steve played a game of SPLAT with the kids and then put the boys to bed. The reception was lovely and she looked amazing. She even had the photographer take a picture of the "original Acequia 1st ward" peeps that were there.

Sunday we had a great relaxing day. A member of the Elders Quorum had called Steve on Saturday and authorized him to do the sacrament in our home so we were able to do that with my parents and have a nice Come Follow Me lesson where we watched the video Spiritual Whirlwinds. Then we played a new game they had Skull Kings and watched the movie Spies in Disguise that had us all laughing out loud. And Grandpa pulled out his guitars and the girls and him picked out a few notes.

Then Monday morning we got up ate breakfast, packed up and headed towards Pomerelle to ski. We had an amazing day and knew that it may be our last as resorts in UT were closing like dominoes due to COVID-19. The resort was practically empty all morning, it got a little busier in the afternoon but there was still never a wait for the lift or anyone else on the runs. Marcus really gained some good practice and was mastering his turns and stopping. The sun was out and Mimi met us for lunch and Marcus exclaimed, "Mimi, you should ski with us. it's so fun!" Marcus is so fun to ski with and a little nerve wracking because he's still learning how to control things, but eventually he learned how to turn to control his speed and was following Grandpa turning down the mountain. Every time he'd fall I'd ski up to him looking for tears or an upset face and he was always smiles and would say how much fun he was having. After lunch we all skied a few more runs. Then I took the boys to the van while Steve took the girls to do one more powder tree run. Definitely a high note to end the season. I'm so glad we went and that we got to spend some time with Mimi & Grandpa before social distancing.

Ski School

We signed the older 3 kids up for a 5 week multi lesson plan at Snowbasin this year. It was a good deal and we felt it would benefit the kids and encourage us to get up and ski more on Saturdays. ;) The first Saturday Steve had to get the kids there and checked in by himself because I was attending Time Out for Women (TOFW) with my senior Young Women. He decided to take Marcus up after lunch. It turns out he might have been a little tired...

As soon as they got there he popped up awake and was ready to go though. 

The second week of lessons, Feb 29, my sister and Mom volunteered to watch Marcus so Steve and I could ski. We dropped him off in Mt Green then checked the other three into lessons then we hit the slopes. We were having a great time and managed to get in 12 runs before hooking up with Andrew's class at the end of lunch and skiing with them for a bit. Then just as we left his class we ran into Ellie & Lila and did a run with them. After that we decided to do one more run from the top, we had rode all the lifts but not either gondola so we decided to get on Needles. . .they were loading equipment for a wedding that evening so it was stop and go and took us quite a while to get to the top. When we got off we realized we only had 10 minutes to make it back down to get the kids. We did it. We totaled 14 runs and even decided to squeeze in one more with all of the kids after their lesson (although Andrew was tired and it took forever and he managed to get hit by a snowboarder as well -- just glad everyone was ok). 

All in all a great day. And thank goodness the Snowbasin photographer caught us or we wouldn't have had any pictures.

 

Afterwords we went and spent some time with Mimi and Grandpa and Lila inherited a new helmet and goggles she is stoked about. We went through everyone's helmet, goggles, gloves and shuffled things around a bit.

The next Saturday, March 7th, we decided to take Marcus up and ski the morning with him while the kids were in ski school. We had a good time and even took him up on Becker to do a bigger run. He kept saying, "this is so long" on the lift and on the way down, but he did great.

March 14th the weather called for some rain later in the afternoon so we decided to head up with everyone again and do a couple of runs with Marcus. Marcus and I did one run off Little Cat while Steve went back to the van to get his pass (he grabbed a different coat). Then we decided to head up Becker again. He continues to improve very quickly! This Saturday was not very busy (ahem - I think the weather and the COVID-19 news was keeping more people in doors). So we had a great run down and then it started to rain a little so we took Marcus home and began to prepare for a last minute trip to Idaho (post to come next).

Zoo

With the weather turning nice I decided to take the boys and some friends to the zoo. We packed a lunch and picked up the kindergartners then headed for the zoo. It always feels like we could spend another hour or two there, but between other kids activities and school we'll take what we can get and it was a lovely day! 

We saw a baby monkey -- so cute! Andrew walked around to get better view and noticed the little guy.

There was one otter that was super fun to watch. He swam circles in front of the kids there popping up out of the water. They thought it was great.

Andrew insisted on following the map to find the red foxes and sure enough there they were in an area I had never noticed before.

Then we rode the carousel once and hit the road to make it back for older kid school kid pickup and Ellie's orchestra concert.