Happy Easter

I definitely haven't caught the hang of having teenagers when celebrating the holidays.  Once again Ryder thinks its Christmas again and is full of ideas on what he wants.  No Easter Egg Hunts, Car Shows,  or church services this year.  There will be plenty of chocolate, sugar, and delicious ham for dinner.

Shared basket full of candy.
Movie for later.

Waking up early courtesy of Ryder.

These 2 smell the chocolate.

What is this?
Easter Grass Gum...Taste likes watermelon.

Celebrating COVID-19
On top of the world or city.

Dab!!!

Supporting the hospital cafeteria.
A little pricey for not much food.
It did taste good.

Teaching mom to play Hot Cross Buns
on the baritone.
It wasn't successful but we had a good laugh.

It was another tough week with all of us going stir crazy.  Thank goodness I bought enough chocolate to get us through.  There will be no going back to school in May.  Ryder did know what he was talking about. However, this also includes canceling graduation ceremonies.  We are all devastated and would like them to reconsider closer to the time and not a month and half early.  The good news is the state parks are reopening.  Get outside and play!!!

Everyone Stay Safe and Stay Strong!!!

We Are Still Here...

I will say thriving for the most part.  Ryder is still getting up early and finished with all of his assignments.  Rylee & Reganne want to sleep in and move at a slower pace.  There is one problem with this schedule.  Ryder is bored by the time they wake up and are ready to start their assignments.  He can't be quiet or leave them alone.  Lunchtime arrives and the house is in chaos.  The newest glitch is the internet having issues dealing with the loads of kids trying to complete their daily assignments.  

Weekly calendar assignments
6th grade teachers amaze me daily.

We are still walking daily
They love it and so do I.

Work is still going forward.
More boxes of stuff than we ever wanted.

Poor Ginger!!
She is exhausted from playing with Ryder.
The looks I get seem to say "will he ever go back to school"

Rylee & Ben
Starting the Easter Weekend early by coloring eggs.

Saturday @ Sand Hollow
The water was way to cold for me but not for
these 2.

The water is cold
and Dave is stuck.

They are off on another adventure.
I was relaxing and listening to my book.

Hi, Mom!!
I remembered my mask for work.

Beautiful scenery.

Senior pictures @ DixieTech

I was amazing at how empty the
streets were down below.
Everyone is doing their part and staying home.

A great shot of Pine Valley Mountain
with the quiet city below.

This is week four and I sure hope there is an end in sight.  I would even settle for a plan of how we recover and move forward.   We keep everyone in our prayers and joined in for the day of fasting not only for those sick but those who are in authority to make good decisions and help us recover.

Stay Strong and Stay Safe!!

Happy Happy Birthday!!!!

Where has the time gone and why didn't my pause button work?  I refuse to acknowledge that she is 18 but that all a side it isn't up to to me.  This amazing girl is 18 and full of promise.  Celebrating a major milestone in your life during a pandemic and stay at home order is a recipe for unhappiness.  

How do you party when you can't eat out or go out???  There will be major celebrating when this of over I assured her.  My first job was to embarrass her on social media.

First Birthday

18th Birthday

Lets wake her up with
a candle, song, and breakfast.
She went back to sleep.

Yummy cake with only one candle.
Not because I didn't have enough.

She wanted her wish to come true.
I think it may have already come true.
Boyfriend Ben in the background.

Love the knowing smile on her face.
He spoils her and also let's her steal his clothes.

She had multiple celebrations with double the cake and even extra presents.  She is an adult know full of promise and adventure.  The craziness we call life right now will not define her or her future.  Instead we all need to hang on for the ride and watch her fly.

We Have Lost Count

We think this is week 3 but it's hard to tell when it all blends together.  Online schooling is progressing with the announcement that will continue to May 1st.  Ryder keeps telling me that they won't be going back until August.  I don't know if he can tell the future or just wishful thinking on his part.  Reganne is devastated she misses her friends and social parts of school.  This week is also Rylee's 18th Birthday and I really want to press the pause button for another year at least. 

Yummy Breakfast
Cinnamon Swirl Cake

Lunch...
Ryder made this yummy ham & cheese panini
This also won't last much longer.

Daily scooter rides.
He looks trustworthy enough
but he scares me to death.

Band Bingo
The creative minds of 6th grade teacher is amazing to me.
9th grade teachers not so much.  They
like to pile on the work.  Is this learning or busy work??"

Not sure what Ryder intended with this picture.
Boy!!! the grass is green and needs to be cut.
or
Dang!! Ginger is killing our lawn!!

Another week in the can.  The weather is warming up and everyone is longing to be free again.  General Conference was a great relief this weekend full of peace & comfort messages.  I really didn't want it to end so the world can start creeping in again.  

Everyone hang in there!!!

What Day Is It?

Another week of social distancing, stay at home,  no public gatherings, and now online school.  

Week 3 begins full speed ahead....Dave & I are both still working thank goodness.  Dave is on the front lines at the hospital trying to keep everyone safe and working with ever changing protocols.  I am working behind the scenes supporting our various departments working from home or on the front lines at airports transporting people around the country.  

This leaves the kids trying to manage their new normal of schooling.  Once again I stand amazed of the teachers and how quickly they jump into action for their kids.  However, there are a few that want to make sure they have more than enough to do each day which becomes overwhelming to the kids as well as us as parents.  We will get this figured out.

Day 1
7:00 am up and excited to get started.
Down side he is done by 8:30 and bored once again.

Costco getting gas.
Not sure if this is hoarding or for business.
He definitely wasn't going to make eye contact.

People are getting lonely and eager to talk to whomever makes eye contact.  It was nice to talk to somebody new even for a few minutes.

No Sunday bike ride
instead a drive out to the Arizona Strip.

The scenery was beautiful and relaxing.
We found a few good spots for camping
when it warms up a little more.

The days are starting to run together.  The whining is still manageable.  We are all healthy and without symptoms.  I am exhausted just thinking about this continuing for the whole month of April.  Can't wait for General Conference and the peace it brings listening to our prophet and leaders.

Everyone stay safe & strong!!! Until next week...

Another Week....

The world is going crazy on what we should be doing with our time.  We are trying our best to comply however we do need to get outside and breath some fresh air.  This week starts online schooling lets hope everyone survives this and the internet doesn't crash at our house.

Here are a few pictures that tell can tell stories of what we have been up to.

Taking the dogs for
long walks.

Getting creative!!
The dogs are learning to take Ryder for a walk.

New fish tank + fish.
Ryder wanted a new project while being home.

Bike rides
This time the trail was closed and fenced off
due to all the crazies that didn't follow the rules last week
when the rocks blocked the trail.
The half we rode twice really wore me out.

This bowl vanished in January.
We looked everywhere with no luck.
So I bought another one so Rylee could make more
mac & cheese.
Well last week I found it behind the chair that I swear
we looked behind multiple times.
The dogs now like to play with my mind.

We survived week 2 of Staying Home and Staying Safe!!!  We hope everyone is doing the same thing.   See ya next week!!!