SRIS Concert Band Winter Concert

Life is returning to normal... well as much as possible.  Ryder practiced all through the break/quarantine and was ready to preform.  Due to kids being in & out of class due to illness and quarantine special visitors from the older students filling in the empty seats.  No programs instead a QBR Code to download one.  We found our socially distanced seats and waited for the kids.  They all had to have temperature & mask checks  before we could start.

Program

Short & Sweet!!

Doing warm ups.

The boy sitting next to Ryder looks just like Ralphie.

Between songs.

They did a good job and sounded even better than the previous concert. Each time they perform they get better.  They also loved playing with the older kids.  Ryder was also asked to play with the beginning band to help them out for their concert.   I love watching older kids helping out the younger ones by sharing their enthusiasm and love for what they are doing.

 

Visitors

We have always love having visitors.  This year they are even more important and even more rare.  Randy & Janelle + kids had been in Las Vegas for Thanksgiving and were heading home so they stopped for a quick visit.    Let's eat and visit @ Red Robin.  We all had our masks on and ready to eat.

Its hard to tell whether she is happy, sad. or angry

for being required to come.

Waiting outside for the text 

that says time to eat.

Thank goodness it was nice outside.

Love this crazy lady!!

Love the masks!!!

I think they are both smiling.  It's all in the eyes.

Family photo

The food was yummy I love the fries with campfire sauce.

Crazy boys!!

It has been way to long since we have been

able to visit.  

Everyone had a potty break before loading up.

It was a great afternoon and a perfect way to end the long weekend.  This crazy year has been hard on everyone.  It was nice sharing stories of what we have done to survive the past 9 months.  The consensus from all the kids is that they all dislike online school and wearing masks.  

3 more days of Thanksgiving weekend and we are all still alive and kicking, yelling, and annoying each other.

Happy Thanksgiving

We are having a quiet Thanksgiving this year.  Every where we turn the messages are clear to stay home and stay safe.  However, the other message is that most people are getting the virus at home so why would we do that as well.

Dave & Ryder made a big breakfast which was a great way to start the morning off.  Time to start the rolls, turkey, and stuffing.   Dinner was at 3:00 we still had time to start a new family tradition. 

A family drive

Rylee & her friend Daniel in the Corvette.

Reganne, Dave, Ryder, and I

In the Nova

First time driving the Nova.

She did a great job following Dave's instructions.

Stopping for drinks

@ Maverick.

Reverse the order of the cars.

Dinner Time!!

Ryder is starving.  I can't seem to fill the boy up.

No hot dogs this year for Reganne.

She made one of her awesome sandwiches.

All that is left to do is

clean up.

Oh how quickly everyone disappears.

Everyone enjoyed the food and even went back for seconds.  Rylee's friend Daniel really enjoyed the home cooked food.  We were glad to have him spend the afternoon with us when he is away from family.  We will be keeping the family drive tradition it was a nice break getting away from the kitchen. 

Let the holiday season continue with Black Friday and decorating for Christmas.  Let's hope we all survive this long weekend of family togetherness.

Quarantine Togetherness

Dave headed back to work on Monday after receiving his negative results.  Rylee was attending class online like usual.  However, one major problem Ryder, Reganne, and I were also home not much peace and quiet to study.  Ryder had been begging for online school and was eager to start.  That was until he discovered that all his friends were in school and couldn't hang out virtually.  This also meant no swim and no friends hanging out.  It was going to be a long week.

My office buddy

I am still working from home but now I have company.

Ryder brings his computer in to do his school work.  Then next comes

the trombone to run through his songs for the concert.

The dogs also come in to hang out.

We made it!!!

I am officially free!!!

Just in time to get ready for Thanksgiving.

It was good to get out but I still felt guilty that it hadn't been worse.

Now comes the test

My taste & smell are slowly coming back.

What better way to test them than for something sweet & sour.

YES!! I can taste them.

This week of Thanksgiving I have so much to be thankful for.  Grateful that nobody else caught this from me.  That I didn't get a whole lot worse.  Once again remembering the prophets message to us to be grateful for the blessings in our lives.  

Guess What?

It was bound to happen but I didn't expect the first victim.  Lucky me I slowly lost my smell Sunday afternoon while cooking dinner.  We are all starving.  I made my favorite dinner roast beef, mashed potatoes with gravy, and corn.  It looked great we are all starving.  The first bite was great however, the second one wasn't so good.  In fact very bitter.  I didn't think anything of it until Ryder said how good the house smelled with the pumpkin spice melt.  I then realized I couldn't smell a thing.  Next came the Thieves Hand Sanitizer that Uncle Ryan gave us and nothing.  Let's give it over night and see what happens.

It didn't change....

Tell A Health visit was in order.

This is were I ended up.

Spitting into the tube and gagging to get it full.

Now the waiting & quarantining begins for me.

Mask up!!!

3 days later it was confirmed I have COVID-19.

I feel fine except for no smell or taste.

What other symptoms are waiting for me?

Well the fun was only beginning.  Dave & Rylee had to get tested for their jobs.  Reganne & Ryder are home for 14 days unless they have symptoms then it could be longer.  All this family togetherness may drive us all crazy.

Hanging with Dexter.

Lucky for me I am still able to work from home.  I can't go back to work until 10 days from my first symptom.  The dogs both wander in and hang out by my feet.  If I move so do they.

Online school

Not their favorite thing.  Mrs Wood dropped off his trombone to practice.  They will

have a band concert 2 days after coming back to school.

He gives me a daily concert and torments everyone else.

Grocery delivery

Thanks to good friends the Wheelers they brought some eggs & water to help

us out while we couldn't get out to the store.

Cleaned the downstairs patio

It is a great place to hang out and watch the fireplace.

Let's hope it stays warm enough to enjoy.

Making a home gym.

Ryder was really bored and cleaned out the garage.

Then gathered all the exercise equipment together.

He now can work out every morning.

I even found time to bake.

It was a crazy week.  Dave & Rylee both tested negative.  I am still banished to the basement unless I am wearing my mask.  Let's hope my smell & taste comes back before Thanksgiving.  I loved the message the prophet gave about giving gratitude for the next 7 days.  I really need to focus on what is good and being grateful that I haven't been sicker.  

Here is to another week of staying home and away from everyone.

 

More

This has been another crazy week with more changes, more restrictions, and more family.  Governor Herbert has now mandated that everyone wear masks as much as possible, to avoid large gatherings, and stay home with your families.  They are really wanting to reduce the spread that is running rampant.  

We are trying our best to follow the requests and be safe.  We still found ways of having a good time while being safe as possible.

Dave & Jeff

Cousins & hopefully friends.

We met Jeff & Morgan for dinner while they were in the area to hike in Zions.

It was a great getting to know them even for a short visit.

Crazy boys

The problem with restrictions is they are made to keep everyone safe.

However, they forget one thing....the kids.

I know they say the kids bring it back to families and show no symptoms.

They need to be allowed to be kids.

and play Monopoly!!

The parents all agreed that they could hang out 

as long as they are outside.

Basketball, scooters, bikes, and even board games.

Let's hope that this only lasts another week so we can enjoy Thanksgiving.

Tis A Busy November Week

This week has been a little busy.  Everyone is trying to stay busy while waiting for the election results.  How did this get so messed up? How did people get so untrusting of the systems that have been in place for years. Every thing is suspected of being wrong or done wrong.  No riots, burnings, protests yet.

Here are a few snapshots of what we have been doing. 

Ryder's fruit plate

He is trying to eat healthy for swim.

I love how he arranged this all by himself.

Fun painting class.

Happy 33rd Wedding Anniversary!!

We went out to dinner & a movie

It was great to get out of the house for awhile.

High School Swim Meet

The first one of the season.

They were short a few officials so I was invited to help out.

Red Cliffs Temple Ground Breaking

The official ground breaking was closed to the public.

Afterwards they allowed people to drive up and take pictures.

So exciting to see the process start on the new temple during this crazy time.

The numbers are spiking and so are the deaths.  If you watch the news media or social media everyone is freaking out.  We are choosing to focus closer to home and following the recommendations.  Let's stay healthy together.

 

Final Count Down

2 days to the general elections!!  Will it be the end of the world with riots and destructions.  Or will it be peaceful and calm?  We will only know when the last ballot is counted and depending on who you are listening to that could be days, weeks, or even months.  Dave had the Hummer gassed up and decorated for the Southern Utah Trump Train.  It was a beautiful afternoon to be outside people watching along with a little social distancing.

The crowds were gathering.

From semi trucks, large trucks, old cars, and off road vehicles.

Dave & Friends

He invited his work crew to join in.

Halloween isn't quite over with.

George Washington & Friends

entertaining the group.

They called everyone together as close as 6 feet will allow.  Someone offered a word of prayer

before starting out.  I stood in amazement as everyone quieted down and folded their arms.

Beautiful scenery

as we drove down River Road towards Hurricane.

Amazing turn out!!

The drive was peaceful and everyone was very friendly.  Other cars pulled in and out of the train some were friendly waving back others just shook their heads.  Each individual has a chose to make and has the privilege to express themselves.  My wish is that everyone is allowed to have express the opinion freely without fear of reprisal.

Our ballets are on their way to get counted.  My only hope is that the process proceeds honestly & legally.  Time will only tell the story of what this election's outcome.

Everyone stay safe & healthy.