quarantine life

So, its been a month since Covid-19 has taken over our life, our town, our State, our country and the world.  We live in weird times right now.  School is cancelled.  All sports are cancelled.  All events of any kind are cancelled.  The Olympics was cancelled.  We have to stand 6 feet apart from any person we see.  We cannot leave the state of Utah without filling out a paper and getting our vital signs taken.  NBA was shut down, concerts aren't happening, all local businesses that aren't deemed  absolutely necessary are closed. Tons of people are losing jobs, being laid off, and their businesses are sinking. The economy is a mess.  Restaurants can only do curb side delivery or drive through.  Church is cancelled.  Temples are closed.  Missionaries have been sent home.  No new missionaries are going out.  The world as we know it is in lock-down, and this virus is raging.  Its weird, its scary, its depressing, its hard, its a lot of responsibility on parents, it creates anxiety, it creates fear, and so on.  

Through all of this though, we have done our best, as a family, to stay strong.  The kids have been homeschooling, with assignments from their teachers online.

We do church and the sacrament here at home.  It is actually really nice and sometimes feels more spiritual.

We have a ton of time to just play, hang out, and be together.  

Life has slowed down in necessary and good ways, if we make it that way.  It seems to be a constant choice, every day, for each of us, on how we will handle the day.  Some days are frustrating, depressing, lonely, and hard.

Other days are fun, productive, happy, and well spent.  

There is a fine line, and we are constantly trying to walk it.

That being said, here are some things we have been up to the past month.  In absolutely no particular order, because frankly, day, time and month don't matter at all right now.  

 A few weeks ago, I was having a horrible day.  I was just mad.  I was mad that my kids couldn't go to school.  I was mad that Mary was sad and missing her friends and her cheer.  Molly was missing gymnastics.  My boys were missing soccer and lacrosse.  Ben was stressed about not being able to work.  The weather was crappy, the family was fighting, it was a bad day.  I decided to go for a run.  I ran about three miles, and instead of feeling better, I just got more and more and more angry.  I found a secluded spot, and for the first time in my life.  I just screamed.  I was just flat out mad.  I screamed and screamed and screamed.  Then, I ran some more.  About 1/2 mile from home, I tripped on Charlies leash, and I fell hard.  REALLY hard.  My elbow hit first, and it hurt so badly.  I shattered my phone screen.  I scraped up my hands and my knees.  I was furious and in pain.  Somehow I made it home.  The next day, I went to the doctor and learned that I broke my elbow.  Rock on.  It was not a good day.



The crappy weather was driving us all crazy.  We just wanted to get out in the sun, and feel better.  However, it completely dumped snow one day, and luckily, it was awesome snow.  It turned out to be a really fun snow day for the kids. 

 



Mary has about 7 hours of school work each day.  It is crazy!  This girl is such a trooper.  Her world is completely paused, and that is very hard for a social and active butterfly like her. She misses her friends, she misses her sports, she misses her school.

 I ordered this picture about 2 months ago.  It finally came a couple weeks ago.  The timing was PERFECT!  I love this picture for so many reasons, but right now, having this in my home is a huge beacon of light and strength for all of us right now.  I absolutely love it, and stare at it a lot each day.

The gym that we go to is closed, so I have found solace and sanity running most days with Charlie.  I have re-kindled my love of running outside.  Charlie is in heaven.

I LOVE the memes that are constantly coming through on my phone.  They make me smile and laugh, and I love it.

Each day, the boys have "team meetings" with their school classes.  They get to see their teachers and their classmates each morning.  I am so grateful for this, and the boys look forward to this each morning.  Thank goodness for technology and the ability to do things like this.

Boredom can make people do weird things.  Sam was standing here like this...just because.

I have tried really hard to find things for the kids to do.  We have games, pokemon, lego sets, art supplies, and outside games as well.

The kids school teachers did a parade through the neighborhood.  Our kids all lined the streets, 6 feet apart, and were able to wave to their teachers.  It was surprised with how emotional this ended up being.  Teachers and parents had tears in their eyes.  We have an amazing school district and wonderful teachers who truly care about and miss their students.

 We decided to do some projects in the yard, because we now have all the time in the world.  First project, pull out the trampoline, and fill the hole up with dirt.  The kids LOVED watching our cool car rip the trampoline out.  We have since been putting together a new trampoline to replace this one.

Normally, our school district makes kindergarten registration a big deal.  The kids go to the district office, where they go to different booths with treats, prizes and games, while the parents fill out the paperwork.  Unfortunately, that was not able to happen this year.  I just did it online.  It is pretty crazy though to think that my baby is headed to kindergarten in the fall! 

 The memes just keep coming.

The boys had fun shoveling and raking our new dirt pile in the trampoline hole.  Probably the most fun they've had in weeks.  Boys and dirt....perfect!

Since we had dirt brought in to fill the trampoline hole, we decided to also get dirt to begin working on the side of our house as well.  The boys found this to be the perfect opportunity for an insane bike jump!!!

Another meme.

While I was out for a run last Saturday, I got a text from Ben.  Sam was tumbling on Mary's mat, and had for sure broken his collarbone.  Ben picked me up from my run, and I took Sam to the hospital.  The kid pulverized his collarbone!  Nasty break!  I felt so bad for him.  He was in loads of pain.  Two broken arms for our family, in one week.  geesh

That bone pointing straight up, is supposed to be pointing to his shoulder.  It is a complete 90 degree wrong angle.

As crappy as this situation is for us, I feel so badly for the kids who are in their senior year.  The can't have prom.  They can't have graduation.  They can't finish out their sports.  They can't do any of the senior activities.  Their High School just ended.  It breaks my heart for them.

Mary and Molly play a lot together.  Molly LOVES it, and I am very grateful for the time they have had to be together more.  

Charlie was very worried about Sam, and he knew that he was in pain.  He was his guardian for a few days.

Molly did my hair

President Nielson, declared a world wide fast to ask for relief from this virus.  It was so amazing to see people from all over the world, all different religions, and different beliefs, join together in a fast for relief.  I love our prophet so much.  He announced this during General Conference, which was wonderful.  Conference was not in the conference center.  Only the speakers and the prophet were there, sitting 6 feet apart.  The choir was not there, they play pre-recorded songs.  It was such a powerful and hope filled conference.  I felt like was just soaking in every second of every talk.  My faith was made stronger, my hope for an end to this madness was made sure, and my desire to strengthen my family in any way that I can was made even stronger.

Another meme.  I loved this one.  Lets all be real please.

This Sunday was Easter.  Our neighborhood had the kids make easter eggs and hang them in windows.  We drew about 15 eggs on our sidewalk with chalk.  The kids in the neighborhood drove around or walked around Saturday and did an "easter egg hunt" Covid-19 style.  We also had the Easter Bunny drive by and wave.  We had a nice Easter lesson, took the sacrament at home, ate a killer good dinner, talked to family online, and tried to remember the amazing gift our Savior have given us.

And that's a wrap for now.  I am having some SERIOUS gallbladder issues, and I have been to the ER this past week, but I will post about all of that later.  Also, Mary has online High School cheer tryouts this week.  Her interview it today through Zoom.  It is nice for her to have something to focus on, be nervous for, and have fun with.  It is weird to do it online, but right now, we are just happy for anything even somewhat normal!  Updates coming soon.