This week's pictures

Seth was more motivated to work as long as we had a zoo live stream running.  He'd complete a page and check up on the panda/elephant/mole cat/etc....

The school kept asking if we were sure we didn't need to check out any electronics.  Yeah, Jer had us covered.  He's been collecting and fixing up old machines for years.  And now we have 5 of the 6 of us that needs a computer for 5-8 hours a day.  "All of his training has been for a moment such as this." (If you couldn't guess.  I'm the one that doesn't need a computer.)

The neighborhood had a chalk the block.  Decorate your sidewalks, then take a walk and enjoy everyone else's.  

On Sunday we got to talk to a lot of family.  It was so fun.  Jer set up a Zoom meeting and invited all his Robertson family to join.  Over the course of 2 hours we got to see and talk with 7 of the 9 siblings and his parents.  We also got to see Lizzie. She and Dusty had a suspected case of COVID, but they seem to be recovering okay.  She's working hard on her nursing courses and is as pleasant as always.  Grandma got another drain put in before they could officially begin the radiation... hopefully she heals soon so that she can finish off treatments and begin full recovery.  Jay had COVID.  He's a doctor in California.  All his elective procedures have been put on hold and he's just been doing what's necessary.  They ran out of masks and scrubs and have been having to improvise.  Amy has been sewing masks ever since and has actually put some good tutorials on youtube on how to make them and how to fit them to your face.  Robert was making bread while we chatted.  It was fun to see him all grown up.  He's supposed to be graduating this May.  I'm assuming that they'll let him even if he misses the last 3 months of school.

After we hung up with the Robertsons, we sat down to have dinner and my brother McKay and his wife called from Washington DC.  That was fun.  We got to chat and see that they're doing okay.  Sophie lost her job at Amazon and McKay can work from home, so they haven't been leaving their house a lot.  Aubrey loves homeschooling.  I loved seeing them smiling so much!  

I finished my "big" project.  I've never done anything with thread and nothing this big before.  I like how it turned out, but I wish it was about 4-5 inches bigger.  I'm not willing to buy more yarn for it though.  

Ada's been drawing all over the place.

The kids have all been running a mile a day, jumping on the tramp and doing Karve with Ada and I.  It's different.  My kids like to goof off on the treadmill and I don't want to end up in the ER with any skin burns so I have been supervising that particular venture.

Second week homeschooling

So we just finished our second week of homeschool and modified stay at home orders from the governor.  We're doing okay.  Some of the things that I have noticed as a mom: it's harder to get everyone to consistently brush their teeth, hard to track all 4 kids' school progress, there are more dishes to wash because we have everyone home 24/7 and also because Jer is more excited to bake because he has extra time on his hands.

Changes for this week:  I'm trying to be more organized because we probably will not be returning to school this year.  I have Seth and Ada mostly organized, but Sam likes to organize himself and Evelyn says she did things that she hasn't even tried looking at.... so there's that.  Ada and my Karve classes are online now, so Ada and I have been showing the family what we've been doing.  Sam thinks it's too hard.  Evelyn's ballet studio will start streaming their classes starting this week, so we'll have to make sure she's ready for them.  I wonder if I should ask for the $50 uniform fee back for the ballet in June.  I'm guessing that it won't be happening.  My daycare partner will be taking another 2 weeks of daycare for me.  I probably won't be open until the end of April.  (Even if I close during this outbreak, the state said they would not take away licenses from people who choose to close.)

We're halfway through pruning trees and bushes... then it has snowed off and on for the last week.  When it gets warmer we will finish prepping the garden and digging around the snow ball bush.  Unfortunately we need to cut down our big mulberry tree this year.  The tree guy says he gives winter discounts, so maybe we will wait until winter.  It's ready to split and I don't want it damaging our house, fence, swing set or kids.

I've had some virus.  Coughing, sore throat, swollen glands, diarrhea, tight chest.  The doctor did a virtual visit with me and doesn't think that it's COVID-19 or if it is, it isn't severe enough to even test for.  Apparently they are having a hard time getting testing available for regular doctors. He said that it takes about a week for them to get the results of their tests. I'm staying in the house just in case.  Seth and Evelyn coughed with me for a couple days but they all seem back to normal.  In Utah county we went from 11 known cases last week to 26 known cases this week.  I'm sure that there are many unproven cases, but we're looking okay so far.  The US has passed the number of cases over ever other country.  Over 120,000, with about 2,000 deaths.  Of course that's expected between our size, population and access to medical diagnosis, whether or not we actually have more cases than the rest of the world?  Who knows.  But we also have a smaller death rate than the other countries with high amounts of cases.

I suspect that our neighbor was a death from COVID-19.  I'm not sure, but it sounds suspiciously like one.  He was fairly healthy but older.  He and his wife got a severe cold, he was in his room getting dressed one day and passed out.  He ended up in the ICU, wouldn't let anyone see him.  His lungs filled up with fluid and he died about 3 weeks ago.  They said complications from pneumonia, but I don't know if they even thought to check for COVID-19.  We've only been looking at it locally for a couple of weeks.  He died right before that.

I kind of wish I had access to some different data too.  I have a hypothesis that I'm curious about.  I noticed that high altitude areas didn't have as many deaths.  I'm wondering if lung strength because of altitude has had an effect on recovery.  I've heard that humidity looks like it has been better for recovery.  But Switzerland, Austria, Luxemburg, etc.... tend to have very few deaths.

Today was supposed to be our neighborhood Easter Egg hunt.  We all put giant eggs up to decorate our houses.… then the kids could take walks and count them or chose their favorites.

So the month has been a different one

This month alone, we've had 2 snowstorms, the COVID-19 outbreak spread to Utah, a toilet paper shortage throughout the world, social isolation started including: all church meetings cancelled, General Conference all digitally, travel bans internationally, a 5.7 earthquake in Salt Lake Valley... a total of 107 in a 2 day period, the airport shut down, the Kennecott mine had a huge chemical spill because of the earthquake, school being done from home, all extracurriculars cancelled, dentist and doctors offices closed, the local nursing home closed tight (we can't even deliver a package), etc.... A lot of people being affected, worse internationally.  As a side note, our cousin Cyrus was baptized recently.  So excited for him.  I wish we could have been there.

Last Saturday, we threw a baby shower for Emma and her new baby Peter.  She wanted a dragon theme.  Ada and cousin Kate provided the artwork, Jer made flatbread to eat with our medieval meats, cheeses and fruits, and I put up construction paper to make our house look like it had brick doorways and fire in sconces on the walls.   It was 10 people instead of the 40 that were invited, but I was glad to tell her that we love her in person before everything gets bad.  She has about 3 weeks left because she's due on Easter, so we hope that there will be some normalcy before her life becomes so extremely different with her baby in tow.

For our home personally, all these changes has given us more time to deal with everything in general.  Jer is still handling the Bishop's schedule and setting up online meetings.  He's working from home (took over my sewing room. I don't mind because I'm more busy homeschooling and don't have time to sew.)  I have had last week and this week off from daycare, but there is a call for daycare providers to be open for medical and emergency response workers.  I'm debating whether I will or not.  Ideally we need to stay COVID free at least for the sake of Judy, who is starting her last step in her cancer treatments, radiation for 28 days, on Tuesday.  The doctors say that she's doing spectacularly.  Of course, she doesn't feel spectacular, but if she hadn't been as active before she wouldn't be doing so well now.  At least she has all of her drains removed finally and is much more comfortable.

I'm also a moderate risk person.  I've had pneumonia 3 times, allergic to mold, and high blood pressure.  I'm going to have to see how the spread is looking over the next week.  Financially, we're okay.  Jer and I would still both have incomes (mine would be about half as big as normal, but we're not living off mine... just using it to catch up on debt).  I'm not sure the money is worth me staying open.  We've so far been able to get everything that we've needed at the store.  Long lines and waits, but we've been okay.  We had toilet paper in our storage because of the daycare, and Macey's is wonderful about not letting people hoard things so that there is always enough on the shelf.  It does make it harder on larger families to get everything that they need though.  Many of my friends have to try several stores to find basic needs, but so far has found what they needed.  My neighbors are very good about trying to make sure that people that need certain things can find it.  

All of Ada, Evelyn and my exercise classes have been suspended.  We haven't stopped paying them, because we still have an income and we want them to still be open by the end of this.  Soccer got cancelled, so Ada and Sam have been left wanting on that one.  Piano lessons have been suspended too.  I don't mind that I don't have to run all over the place, but the kids are getting bored and both Ada and Evelyn have to be very on top of exercise for their adult feet to be able to carry them well and without pain.  Ada's and my exercise class sent out a couple of small videos to do from home so that all three of us can keep up with it.  I'm very grateful for technology.  Sam and Ada have been running on the treadmill and using the backyard to keep active.  Seth is constantly bouncing, so I'm not worried about him getting enough.  Jer is running during his lunch hour, so I think that's great.  I'm a little worried about Evelyn getting enough.  Her favorite thing to do at home is curl up in her bed and read.  Which is great, but now that she's home all day....  If this turns into a long term thing, I'm going to start teaching the kids piano lessons again.  Maybe I can get Seth interested and started as well.  He is reading now, so it would be much easier.

It's been interesting to work with different people on this.  Some people are fine not seeing people and going out.  Other friends are really struggling.  One of them, 3 of her 4 kids have special needs and she just had her 2nd foot surgery.  Her husband was given permission to work from home with one of his two jobs, but he has a second job just to make ends meet.  They live in a little townhome, so there's not a lot of room to run around and play especially for her autistic 10 year old.  I've been checking in on her, and physically she's okay.  Emotionally she's having a hard time homeschooling.

Homeschooling for us has been different.  I've always said that I wouldn't do well homeschooling.  I used to teach all the kids fencing and piano.  After those plus the normal moral and emotional lessons that moms teach, they were tired of hearing from me and would withdraw from me more.  I'm now sending them to a piano teacher and the fencing center closed down so I'm not their coach anymore and it's been great... but now I'm homeschooling.  Evelyn and Sam's teachers sent very clear instructions on what they expect from the students each day.  Ada received a pile of work and an expected due date for the pile.  Seth got a pile of papers and I get weekly emails from his teacher on what they would have learned in class that week.  This week was Ireland and St Patrick.    Ada's doing well, but has a heavy math load.  Sam is doing well, but he doesn't like being self-sufficient... he manages to do it anyways.  Evelyn says that she does it all, but I don't think she really is.  I'm not sure how to make her more accountable without me hovering every step of the way. She is doing some of it for sure, but I'm not sure about all of her work.  Seth is tired of sitting at the table about an hour in and gets frustrated with me for having to sit with him.  He tells me he doesn't want a run around break in between, but he sure acts like he needs one.  Yesterday he sat with his last two papers of the day in front of him.... He wrote SSSSSSS all the way across the Name line.  Then he complained forever that there wasn't room for his name and wouldn't move on from that point because it was awful.  Yeah, he went to bed after Mom tried being diplomatic without success.  He definitely came back a lot happier and was able to finish.

I have a harder time enforcing kid chores after enforcing kid schooling.  Luckily PE is still part of their curriculum and they generally like doing that one on their own.   So far, it's doable, but I honestly feel like they are not receiving everything from me that they could from their very capable teachers at school.  I can keep them from falling behind, but I don't feel like I'm enriching the curriculum at all.  Maybe if this turns into a 3 month thing I will have the hang of it, but I'm not enjoying it at all and I'm definitely a grumpier mom after school hours.  I've seen some things saying that this will be more of an 18 month thing.  If that's true, then Ada will be sad to lose out on her first year of Jr High and her international trip with Aunt Janelle.  We'd just registered for her classes last week and she is very much looking forward to it.  If that's true, we'll be fine, but probably we won't flourish.

Home church has been half and half.  Regular scripture study has been the same, and our "Primary" meeting went well.  But the sacrament meeting was full of grumpy kids.  Two of them were way more wiggly than they are regularly.  Sam was all doomsday and cloud over his head.  Ada shut her brain down and you could see her just trying to stay out of the way.  I talked to Sam after and I really think that it's just his reaction to having so many changes all at once.  It led to a very good conversation about inviting the Spirit into our own lives no matter what's going on around us.  We'll see if tomorrow goes any better.  Our Stake President authorized us to help our ministering families bless and pass the sacrament at least monthly.  Our ministering brother came and helped Jer bless and pass the sacrament.  It was special to me to see Jer taking his duties so seriously.  I've had stay at home church before.  Often growing up we would get special permission to hold sacrament meeting at Bear Lake during our reunions (Often we had 3 or 4 Bishops present with Uncles, Grandpa, my Dad or my great Uncles).  It's not a new concept for me, but for the kids it is.

None of my ministering families felt comfortable letting people into their homes, even briefly, so I just let them know that Jer is willing if they want him to come in and help. (Two of the three families are converts and often their priesthood holders have told me that they aren't comfortable using their priesthood on their own.)  Jer's ministering families said that they would do it on their own.  One thing that I feel like is great about having that extra minister in, it brings a sense of normalcy, a bit of peace and a chance to serve.

Here are my kid's impressions so far:
Ada - says that everything is kind of exciting.  She likes the changes and loves all the new things going on.  She looks at everything like a scientist I think.
Sam - says that it's all annoying and doesn't like it all.  Definitely not a big fan of big changes.
Evelyn - says that she likes the homeschooling, doesn't like staying home from church, thinks the earthquake was funny and the Corona virus.... not a fan.
Seth - likes all of it.  He likes everyone being at home with him all the time.

Emma's blanket that I made for Peter.

Ada on St Patrick's Day with her green pancake and whipped cream.

matching Sunday outfits

I sent everyone to get ready for church and we all came back somewhat matchy.... So I wanted a picture. Ada was too upset to take it before church and Seth was too wiggly to smile after church so it is what it is.

this week

This week Seth made his first homemade sushi. He had a great time. We also made wontons without Uncle Son for the first time...

I finished this for my niece's baby shower on Saturday. She said greens and blues, I hope it's okay. I'm excited to meet baby Peter in less than a month.

Our YW did a scripture scavenger hunt at the mall. Such a fun idea.

Ellie birthday cake

We got to go up to Isabelle's birthday last week. We haven't seen the whole Hansen family since October and it was so fun to catch up. We love the space in their new home and live seeing all the things the kids do as they learn and grow. Seth and Ellie are still best buds and I love it.

Aladdin Jr

Ada has been working for months with some of the other 6th graders on Aladdin Jr.  They've done a marvelous job.  They had to shorten parts out of the play because they had 2 months less to work on it than had been originally planned for but they got it done.  Ada was sad because she got cut from several scenes, but she still ended up with one speaking part and as part of the ensemble.  She originally was going to be the person that does the introduction and more of the dancing in the numbers.  It's been really cute hearing her belt out Aladdin songs in the shower and around the house.

My parents, Janelle and Laurel all came to support her.  We couldn't take any videos though because of Disney copyright laws.

parenting

Right now parenting is itchy. Ada was in charge of the laundry, pulled clothes out of the drier still wet and put them on top of the clean clothes which in turn molded, left a wet load in the drier, and a wet load in the washer. So instead of 4-5 batches of clean laundry I'm now itching all over as I rewash all of them. (My mold allergy is so fun). And I won't get a shower until 9 tonight because I've got daycare and Ada's play to go to...... Itch itch itch.

last two weeks

For Valentine's day I left the kids to decorate their own boxes for school.  Sam ended up with a mailbox, Evelyn a blue horse, Ada a taco and Seth a Minecraft guy.

We got to go to the park with Grandma and Grandpa last Friday.  That was fun.  It's starting to get warm enough.  We played baseball, played on the playground, and ate food.

I've had two babies in daycare lately.  Sam and Ada have been helping me intermittently hold babies if they're sad at the same time.  Sam loves it.  Ada tolerates it.  Both of them get paid for their services and they both like that.  

My friend Robyn stayed with us for about a month while she was between boats. (She works on cruise lines and was between boats.  For her birthday she invited Mesh and I to go to the Grid with her.  Basically it's adult version of Mario Kart.  The cars go about 40mph.  It was fun.  I was a little nervous, but honestly it was pretty fun.  I felt a little claustrophobic in the helmet but I worked through it and had fun.

Jer put together this bunk bed given to us by my Uncle Son.  It's very sturdy and safer than the one they had.  It's shorter so that I can change Seth's sheets without Jer's help.  And Son made it, so that's fun.

These three pictures were taken during the Face2Face last Sunday.  I know I'm in the Youth but I never know when these are going to happen.... Jer always knows, so we don't miss them.

We're getting ready for my niece, Emma's, baby shower.  She wanted a dragon theme.  I thought that we have such great artists in our family and I wanted to include them so I'm paying Ada and Kate to illustrate the invitations and maybe I'll print a couple out big for the wall.  This was Ada's cute little dragon.  I love it.

This one was an Ada capture.  We were loving the warm weather on Saturday and Ada took my camera out to take pictures of the cat.

Robyn's birthday group.

Seth had a school field trip.  We're so lucky to have great places for the kids that are so close to the school.  They went to the play about the jungle by Rudyard Kipling called "Just So".  Their class walked a block to the theater and had a blast.  This is his teacher, Miss Johnston.

Miss Evelyn

Miss Evelyn's dance class had a parent night where the showed us what things they've been learning in class.  My biggest take away was that Evelyn likes it, but needs to try to have more fun with it.  She gets very distracted, but when she's paying attention she looks marvelous.  She's a little more clumsy that her class just because of her skewed foot and not paying attention times.  She has cute little friends in there with her.  She also will have amazingly strong feet I think.  I'm so glad that we caught her skewed feet before we did with Ada.  She has more time to work the muscles.  I think that she'll have more fun now that they'll be working on an actual ballet for the next three months.  They're going to be putting on the Labyrinth in June.  I'm looking forward to it.

This was the cutest thing.  Every time she caught our attention, she flashed us the I love you sign.  This is one skill she does so well.... she keeps her foot curled right around her leg perfectly.