April was ROUGH.
I could write for hours on everything that went on with COVID and how it affected our family, but there is not time for that. Brief rundown. We learned that school would be permanently canceled and I cried. The whole, entire world shut down. Parks, gyms, church, businesses, restaurants, everything. Grocery store shelves were sparse or bare. There was not toilet paper to be found anywhere. Not online, not anywhere. People wearing masks and gloves everywhere. Radio commercials, news and store music all telling us to stay 6ft. away and wash our hands and stay home to be safe. People boarded up their windows and government soared out of control. I really, really struggled with our new lack of schedule, activities and purpose. At least twice during the first 6 weeks of shutdowns I had legitimate breakdowns. I felt very lost, overwhelmed and frankly, scared of what the world was turning into. Lots of crying and feelings of hopelessness. Neighbors were turning against neighbors. Lots of shaming online and on the streets. Doctors who spoke out against the restrictions were pulled off YouTube and Facebook. If you didn't support the narrative, you were censored. When Travis was forced to shut down his practice because of an executive order from the governor I was irate. Taking away someone's ability to make a living is not OK. We never, for one second believed the outrageous death predictions the government was making. I felt in my gut that there was a hidden, political agenda to all of this. Schools started "remote learning" meaning we got assignments online from their teachers and the kids had to do zoom calls to meet with their classes. But none of it was required. Olive did her dance classes in our living room through zoom. The boys did their piano lessons through Facetime. Soccer was given up entirely. Olive did her Let's Play Music lessons through Marco Polo. I sat with Olive for all of her schoolwork and music lessons. It was exhausting being everything for everyone. I missed being alone. I missed my routine with Tanner. He obviously had no idea what was going on. He'd beg for "nastics" meaning gymnastics, meaning when I would take him to open gym to play for an hour every week. I lamely tried to explain to him that we couldn't do that anymore because it was closed. We would go on bike or scooter rides around the neighborhood and he'd beg to go to the park, but again I'd have to try and explain that it was closed. A park was closed. Dumbest thing I've ever heard. Our only saving grace was the weather. It was nice outside and so we could at least go in the backyard or on bike rides or the occasional hike. That is about the only silver lining I can think of.
Collin started doing a program for home church each week. I thought it was really cute. Note the "Missionaries" tab on the left that has Craig under it, haha.
We joined up with Shelley to do the Hieroglyphic Trail hike. The first time she's ever taken her kids on a hike! I was floored! And sadly, she wasn't a fan. But we had a good time and the kids LOVED it. There was actually water this time and they felt like they were at a water park, sliding down the rocks. Tanner held his own! He walked about half the time, then we took turns carrying him.
When we got back to the car, we found ROCKS in Olive's backpack. They were huge and heavy and she lugged them the whole way down. Good grief.
Grandpa turned 59! We did an outside car dance for him and brought him homemade bread!
Remember what I said about being alone? I sat down to stretch after exercising and immediately had Weston draped over me and Tanner in my lap.
Anything to keep these kids busy!
Collin was cracking me up, squeezing a sponge over his head then flipping his hair back.
Conference was a big deal! It was the 200th anniversary of the First Vision.
Pres. Nelson had challenged us last conference to prepare for this, so I committed to reading the first volume of The Saints book, which talks about the First Vision and restoration of the gospel. I also got caught up on studying past conference talks. I was one session behind so I had to finish that one, then get through all of last conference's talks too. Finally, I felt impressed to buy "I Saw the Lord... Joseph Smith's First Vision Combined From 9 Accounts" at Deseret Book and read it. We also read the Joseph Smith History in the D&C with our kids and I did several lessons with them on the priesthood, Joseph Smith and the restoration of the gospel. I was so proud of myself for doing everything I set out to do!
I heard the idea to make a birthday cake and put 200 candles in it and thought that sounded fun!
I also tried out an authentic, Danish pastry and it was yummy!
After the Sunday morning session, Pres. Nelson led everyone in a solemn assembly and Hosannah Shout with white handkerchiefs.
It was Palm Sunday, so we also started our Easter lessons!
I finally braved Costco. Half the parking lot was roped off so we could be in a long, spaced out line. I waited about 45 min.
Sigh. I had JUST washed our quilt. I do that about once a year. Literally the very next day he takes scarlet crayon to it and the wall, door, and curtains.
Leah, Shelley and I were having some severe cabin fever and determined to go to the river even though the parking lots are all shut down. Travis showed me where we could park on the road and it was just a bit of a process to drop all the stuff off, then go back and park. The kids caught crawdads for hours. We were nervous we'd get caught or told to leave by the sheriff, but luckily, no one bothered us! We even sat 6ft. away from each other on our chairs to maybe appease anyone that saw us.
Keeping our distance *eye roll*
I gave the supplies for Resurrection Rolls to everyone Trav and I minister to. I think I'll do this every year!
Passover Dinner! We had Marcus and Megan's family over and Travis's parents and sister, Aubrey. It was a really wonderful night. I try to keep the lesson part about Moses, light-hearted and fun, but I completely surprised myself by getting choked up at the end. I just can't teach about Christ without the Spirit touching my heart. I love these traditions so much.
Travis mentioned how he wanted to try hiking Flatiron with Collin. Well, I didn't want to be left out! I like a challenge. And we reasoned that Weston could do it too, so Ruthie came over to babysit and we set out around 7:30am. I think it took us 2 hours to climb, we hung out about an hour at the top and then 1hr. 45 min. down. It was a very difficult hike for sure, but the boys did amazing. I appreciated my long legs for the tall climbs and couldn't imagine doing it at their size. We lost the trail for a minute and ended up scaling some very large boulders before we found where we were supposed to be. I think the boys liked that part best though. Weston slid once, cutting his knee, but other than that no one got hurt. The view from the top was incredible. I'm so glad we did it and I loved accomplishing something hard together, but I don't wish to do it again anytime soon, haha!
Look how steep it would get!
This was the only part the boys got truly scared.
We used the rest of the day for some fun, Easter activities! Coloring eggs, doing an egg bash, making resurrection rolls, and having an egg hunt!
I love my Easter decorations!
I feel like this was the first time I've seen this picture of Christ and it spoke to me. Such a peaceful, kind looking picture.
The hair basket strikes again! It sort of worked out that church is canceled, because I was supposed to speak in sacrament meeting and ours is at 8am, so it was going to be a rushed morning getting this hair done in time!
We invited my parents, Jefferson and Craig to join us for our devotional at the cemetery. It was probably my favorite yet. We sang a hymn and had a prayer, then I went over Holy Week, asking for the kids to help describe each day and what they learned. Then, I had each of the kids share what Easter means to them and gave time for anyone else who wanted to share. It was really touching to hear the testimonies that were born and feel the Spirit so strongly. Jefferson's girlfriend came, who is not a member, and she seemed really attentive to everything. It was just a very, sweet, tender experience.
We did our brunch at Grandpa Jess's grave, then drove over to Grandmother and Granddad's. Then to Travis's grandparents, and finally to Joshua's grave where his parents and Carrie's family were.
The memes really help keep things light when you want to poke your eyeballs out. This one had me rolling!
This one really hit home! There could not be a more true meme! It was so frustrating to feel like you're drowning but no one could do anything. The ward kept encouraging us to check in our ministering sisters but it felt so pointless. You couldn't bring dinner, help with their kids, take them a treat or see them at all. So basically you ask how they are, they say terrible and you say, welp good luck with that.
I sold the crib! Tanner climbs out of it, even with a sleep sack on, so he's ready for a big boy bed! It didn't even phase me to get rid of it. Travis asked if this means we're done having babies. Good question! I guess! I don't know!
All new bedroom furniture! I also bought a dresser to match the nightstand. I need to decorate his room, but who has the energy? Little turkey still has his pacifier!
We dropped off some swim diapers for Cohen and got to see him for a minute! Because of COVID, they haven't been at family dinners. We've missed the blob! (That's what we used to call David.)
After a few weeks of strict lockdown, some of our neighbors started letting their kids play outside and that was life changing! Hallelujah for the Laws and Monahans!
Travis filmed his part for Camilla's remake of Rick Astley's music video and it was a riot! Travis went all in and I love him so much for it.
Leah is good to get me out paddleboarding! It was a fun time, but we left at 3pm and we still can't park in the parking lots, so we had to find our way out on the side of the river Leah wasn't familiar with. It was super windy and when the sun went down, the bugs came out in droves! We were paddling with all our might and it was starting to get very dark. Finally we made it to the end and found a break in the weeds, to squeeze through and climb up to the road. Adventures!
Olive had won a Swig gift card from a Let's Play Music contest, so we decided to take a family bike ride to the location by Fat Cats on Greenfield and Baseline. It is 4 miles away and ended up feeling much farther than I thought! It took us a solid hour to bike there.
It felt so weird riding through this normally packed parking lot, completely empty.
They earned those drinks and cookies! Of course, Tanner dropped his immediately and cried and Olive had to pee in the bushes... basically naked since she was wearing a one piece. Let the good times roll!
When Sunday brunch is puffed up pancakes, I'm a happy mama.
Sitting on lawn chairs, visiting with Alison and Tasha while the kids played was wonderful therapy.
She fancy.
I'm going to miss cute, naked, toddler buns!
We hadn't been on a date in over a month so it was time. There is literally nothing to do, but some restaurants still do take out, so we got Cheesecake Factory and ate it in the parking lot while watching a movie on the ipad. Finished up with ice cream from Rockwell!
The boys have always begged me to do designs in their hair, but I've always said no. Until now. I think this meme sums it up.
Megan suggested we go on an evening bike ride to the silos and have a much needed girls night. It was exactly what I needed! The weather was gorgeous. I mean, just look at that sunset. And we talked for hours, commiserating on the current state of affairs. Megan moves to Arkansas in July. I'm so sad!
This was a fun day. Posey was over to play and I told the girls they could help me make banana bars. I had gotten all the ingredients out and organized and just given Olive the bananas to start mashing. Then I heard glass hit the floor and shatter everywhere. You know the feeling when this happens. Ughhhhhh. I tried so hard not to get mad and I did really good to not yell, but Olive still cried and I acted more frustrated than I should have. After shooing all the kids out and cleaning up the mess, I had set the glass in a garbage bag on the counter for a minute while I went to get the vacuum. That's when the boys noticed it was 12:30pm. The time I had told them they could get out the new slip 'n slide. Well, the slide was still in the box, on the kitchen counter, right where I was cleaning. Collin lunged over to grab it and put his weight on one hand, right on top of the garbage bag with glass. He yelled out, clutching his hand and blood dripped down. I tried to look at it and it seemed deep. All the fatty tissue was swimming in the blood and I thought it needed stitches. So I called Travis, loaded all the kids in the car and we headed to the office. First we stopped by the Milius's house and their pediatrician was kind enough to take a look at it and reassure me no tendons were cut. Then Travis said he didn't even think it needed stitches, so he cleaned it and put some skin glue on it instead and back home we went! What an afternoon! And I still made banana bars!
Every Thursday, we meet Leah at my mom's pool to swim. There's no bathroom since the house is still under remodel, but it has saved our sanity. It's the only outing we have all week.
How can this not make you laugh!
Rach and I are Marco Poloing fiends. Every day, we chat. I'm so grateful for her!!! My person. Another life saver during this horrendous time.
Oh, another positive, I should say, has been getting to know our neighbors better! Even during the weeks when the quarantine was super strict and everyone else we knew was staying home alone, the Connors were open to letting their kids play. So we had Shelley and Leah's families and the Connors to do quarantine with. Janice and I would sit on our driveways and visit while the kids did sidewalk chalk or ride their scooters around. Normally, we're both so busy, we don't have time to shoot the breeze, but this provided plenty of time to get to know each other. And I loved it. Janice is absolutely wonderful and her kids are too! Their oldest daughter, Alli, has babysat for us and Tanner loves her. He says her name "A-wee" and it's adorable. And Olive and Jacque are good little friends.
