Some of the restrictions were lifted on the first of May so I will stop keeping track of our quarantine days. But we survived (and I would even say we thrived) for 46 days with no friends, no school, no extended family, no trips to the grocery store, no church, and everything else that we went without for half of March and all of April. We still had a while before getting back to some things (still no school or church) but we started loosening up a bit. I think, overall, I will look back on those days as being really good, despite an underlying concern about the pandemic. Our kids adjusted well and they were such good friends with each other. I really loved the extra family time. Obviously, as evidence from this post, May marked the beginning of our "getting back to normal".
On the first day of May, I let both Molly and Stockton meet up with a friend and hike Memorial Hill. Molly and Regan Heywood ran up and down a few times for their soccer workout and Stockton and Kelton Webb found a big hill that they could slide down. They called me a couple of hours later when they were done. I told Molly to take pictures and this is what she got. Those boys together make me laugh.
Brynn, Ivy, and me had totally planned on going on the hike as well but that was when the painter was at our house and their rooms had been blocked off. They had both packed a duffel for the couple of days they wouldn't be able to go in their rooms but had only packed slippers or high heels for shoes. So we stayed home. We had a picnic in the trailer and then watched Enchanted.
Ivy made strawberry lemonade for her kitchen project that day. We had lots of leftover strawberries but the girls made quick work of them.
Molly also did some work that afternoon for her calling as class president. Her counselors and secretary and her and worked on making hearts for all of the girls in their class so that afternoon they rode around on their bikes to heart attack all of the girls. The leaders snuck away while they were occupied at one house to come and do our front door for Molly.
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| Molly, Sam Steiner, Sloane Ellingford |
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| Sam, Sloane, Molly |
A break with some blocks for Ivy and Stockton. And a photo shoot with Brynn.
Since we were cleared to meet in bigger groups, we went to Gene and April's that very first Sunday in May. We went earlier in the day to have sacrament with them and then stayed for dinner. Eric and Heidi and their kids came later for dinner as well. April grows the most amazing flowers and these orange tulips were at their height of glory. We had to get some pictures of them. The kids had also worked on making some hearts for Gene, April, and Brett and when they weren't paying attention, they snuck out to hang them on the front door. Molly helped with the coconut bundt cake and did a pretty good job with the frosting. It felt so good to be together!
My mom and dad came up to help get the greenhouse planted. Justin was pretty swamped at that point doing PPP loans (the loans for businesses that lost income during the pandemic-he spent countless of hours and late nights doing those) or he would have helped. My dad has a heavy duty tiller and can get the greenhouse all tilled up in under an hour. He brought up some of his tomato plants that he had been growing in a hot house and the rest we did seed. It was a little chaotic with all the helpers and wasn't quite as organized as I would have liked it to be...but that is another project for another year. It's been another learning year-the tomatoes did great but it took a few tries to get them to take off and I learned how they need watered. Our pumpkins did well but I need to wait a month or six weeks to plant those as they were ready way too early. Zucchini was awesome. Everything else was just okay but I think I know what I want to do differently next year. We are really anxious to build some boxes out there and get a drip system set up-hopefully we can make that happen next year. But it's a fun project to have and seeing those plants grow is so exciting!
Ivy and I also planted some flower seeds in the bed back by the shed. We've never had anything back there and I figured it could use some color.
Stockton is such a good brother to Ivy. I actually think this might have been part of a movie the kids were making. They did a lot of that during those at-home months.
Sunshine Circle Preschool had a drive-by goodbye so Ivy got to say goodbye to Miss Amy. She was doing so well at preschool and we were both sad that she didn't get to finish up. Miss Amy was a great teacher.
Sunshine Circle Preschool had a drive-by goodbye so Ivy got to say goodbye to Miss Amy. She was doing so well at preschool and we were both sad that she didn't get to finish up. Miss Amy was a great teacher.
Brynn learned to drive the new mower too. She is not allowed to drive with the blade down but felt so grown up just jetting around the yard on it. None of the kids have actually mowed the lawn but they do know how to drive it. A lot of times I'll have them drive around and pick up golf balls around the yard before I actually mow. Later that afternoon, Molly gave Justin a ride.
We made the kids help out with some spring yard clean-up. I loved all the extra time that I was able to spend in the yard this spring. Almost every night after dinner I was able to go outside and do something-water, weed, plant, and just check on things. It has been very therapeutic and rewarding.
Ivy and Brynn made a store in the loft.
All my kids have been on a movie-making kick for a while. There have been lots of movies started and a few finished. They are funny and cute and Justin and I enjoy them thoroughly. This was from a movie Molly and Stockton started about bedtime excuses-Molly as the parent and Stockton as the kid who comes up with excuses for not going to bed. Stockton is surprisingly animated when he's in front of a camera.
They also made their own Star Wars costumes that day-I don't think they were making a movie, they just did it for fun. I'm not sure where Brynn was or why she wasn't included.
Justin helped me get some trenches dug around the tomatoes. My dad was worried about planting tomatoes too early so he had me cover them with these "ghost covers" to protect them from potentially cold/freezing weather. Turns outs, the combo of the covers + the greenhouse was too hot and they fried. I had to replace them twice before they started doing well-third times the charm! They are thriving now and I have more tomatoes than I know what to do with. Another greenhouse lesson learned!
Two cute girls with crazy hair. I try to comb hair every day but it's a chore and usually doesn't happen until lunchtime. Unless it's school or church and in those cases, getting their hair combed is not even a choice.
Mother's Day-
To be honest, Mother's Day this year was a bit of a bust. We were planning on going to see my mom in Plain City since it had been two months since we had been together. I was really looking forward to getting out and seeing my family. However, the day before Mother's Day, Ivy woke up with pink eye. Don't ask where or from who she got it since she had literally been no where in 2+ months, but she for sure had it. I was so frustrated. And confused. And disappointed. (Coincidentally, this was the second time we've had pink eye ever, in 13.5 years of parenting. Want to guess the last time? That's right. Three years ago also when we were planning a trip to Plain City for Mother's Day. I mean, seriously?)
On top of pink eye, Justin had a horrible head cold. We don't think it was covid because it just felt like a sinus infection and only lasted one day. He was never tested or anything and no one else got sick. So I guess we wouldn't have been going to Plain City anyway. He managed a big breakfast and then spent the rest of the day in bed. We got dressed up for home sacrament but never even got to do that. Molly made the cutest video for me. She asked the kids a whole bunch of questions and asked me the same questions then made a video comparing the answers. It was adorable. After a while, we changed and watched Newsies. Justin was going to do ribs but that didn't happen either so dinner was whatever I could throw together last minute. It was all fine but not the pampered day that I would normally get. However, being a mom is my favorite job in the world. I used to have a quote hanging in my house from Sister Hinckley that said, "Life is so much more than I ever imagined it would be"-or something like that-and that is just how I feel. I definitely feel like I am living a dream life and Justin and the kids have everything to do with that.
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| We had pineapple for dinner and this was Ivy's idea. |
Puzzle day for Ivy. She spent a lot of time putting together various smaller puzzles.
She also thought it was so funny to see the cat licking up some milk. She was fascinated watching his tongue.
We pulled out the daybed from my childhood and graduated Ivy to it-Brynn has the other one in her room. My sister and I got these beds the Christmas I was 13 and she was 11. Up until then, we had shared a full-sized bed that had been my grandma's so that was an exciting Christmas morning for the two of us. The little bed from Grandma Lue that had been used by all my girls was relegated to the dump.
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| Also-matching T-shirts with gymnastics outfits underneath. Twinner beds and twinner clothes 😍 |
Ivy has a habit of chewing on/sticking out her tongue when she is concentrating really hard. My mom does this, my sister does this, and I would be curious to see how many of my nieces and nephews do this as well. Scroll up a bit and notice her doing the same things while putting together a puzzle.
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| This might look like Justin is reeling in a big fish, but he is just trying to get the line un-snagged, which he probably did for the majority of the time. |
We got home at 8:00 that night and I couldn't resist snapping this picture of our yard. It brings me a lot of happiness. Evening is the best time of night because of those trees providing all that shade.
Annual garage clean-out. We had been keeping all the supplies for the house project stored in the garage and gradually it just got messier and messier. This was a full day project: taking everything out, sweeping it out, putting everything back in its proper place. Fixing the garage door which hadn't been working. It took Justin all day, with some help from the rest of us, but it was a nice project that had been needing to be done-and we were able to actually park our cars in there again!
We finally were able to make it to Plain City the week after Mother's Day...and it felt so good! Ivy's eye wasn't completely cleared up but we justified it-I really needed the trip, she had been on the antibiotic for a week, plus it had never spread to her other eye and no one else had gotten it. We gave my mom a few things to add to her fairy garden, was introduced to Spikeball, played dress-up, hung out, painted nails, celebrated my dad and Erin's birthdays (they are two days apart), and had an awesome game of soccer after dinner-to name a few. My sisters and I had been doing our best to keep in touch through lots and lots of Marco Polo videos but I had missed my family so, so much. This day was good for everybody. We kept telling the kids we were going to leave but kept playing. I don't think we left until almost 10 that night!
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| Molly and Ivy with Grandma Kay |
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| Jeff, Ali, Gavin, Molly |
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| Lucy and Ivy-the sun still bothered Ivy's eye a lot. She could barely keep it open! |
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| Chloe, Molly, Tessa, Abby |
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| nail party-Erin, Grandma, Lucy, Ivy, Tessa, Chloe, Abby, Ali |
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| I think that everyone joined the soccer game at some point. Christopher, Justin, Molly, Abby, Bryce, Ivy (scoring a goal!), and Ali |
Molly had a tooth that was needing to be pulled so she stayed over so Jeff could do that Monday afternoon. Some of the girls tried dyeing the tips of their hair with Kool-Aid-it didn't really work with Molly's hair but the girls with lighter colored hair had success. Jeff took a group of kids mountain biking that night-5 kids and him. He is always game for adventures.
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| Chloe and Molly |
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| Jeff, Grant, Chloe, Molly, Gavin, Tessa |
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| Gavin, Molly, Tessa, Grant, Chloe |
Brynn and Ivy enjoyed the swings one morning while I sat outside and got them signed up for swimming lessons.
April had been busy sewing us some masks and so they came up to deliver them. Something needed mending so the sewing machine came out and Brynn got an impromptu lesson on how to sew. They sewed a bag that night. I left the sewing machine out and the following day found Brynn sewing her little heart out. I think she made 8 bags that day all on her own. She got quite good.
When Molly got home, she wanted to help the other kids try dyeing their hair. It didn't work with any of my kids.
Stockton and Brynn thinking big with their chess game and foregoing the board for the rug.
We got out of our cooking rotation once May came and we were outside more. Molly did manage to make some bagel bread. It's so yummy toasted with cream cheese and a fried egg for breakfast or with sliced turkey breast and avocado for lunch. We've made it a few times since, mostly when I know I'm going to need to pack lunches for an outing.
This is how my girls dress up as cowgirls: church boots on their feet and Easter baskets on their heads. Galloping all over the house with a pink workout band as their reins and riding the wooden rocking horse.
Stockton was able to go to a late night at Dylan Starks' house. This is a fun group of boys, most in our ward, one in our stake but the next street over.
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| Kelton Webb, Dylan, Easton Anderson, Stockton, Sam Steinbaugh, Ethan Pearson |
Molly's soccer team starting doing some social distance style practicing but then had to take a two week break when one of her coaches tested positive for COVID. Good thing they followed the guidelines because none of the girls came within 6 feet of her-and none of the girls were infected. Despite the break, Molly spent as much time at the soccer field as she could, meeting one or a handful of other girls there. They would play around, walk to Subway or Quench It, then walk back to the field for more soccer. It was a huge bummer that they didn't get to have a spring season because neither of her coaches were coming back and they were so, so good.
Molly was introduced to spikeball when we went to Plain City and six days later was playing in a spikeball tournament with her friend, Sloane Ellingford. They entered in the beginner category but there was no age restriction so they ended up playing some older teams. They beat this team in pool play-two college boys. I don't think they won many after that but Molly had a blast despite their record. Sloane on the left, Molly on the right.
We hadn't planned on doing anything for Memorial Day weekend but on Saturday morning Justin said to me, "Why are we not going to the cabin?" I didn't have an answer to that so when Molly got home from her tournament, we loaded up the kids and went. How lucky we are to have a last minute vacation spot! More spikeball was played, 4-wheelers, Rhino, and golf carts rides happened, the kids made a movie. All fun at the cabin and I came home feeling grateful for the close relationships we have with family.
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| Tessa, Molly, Abby, Justin |
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| Josie, Ivy, Lucy |
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| could these girls be any cuter? Lucy, Josie, Ivy |
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| the Moyes' primary did a zoom singing time so we had all the kids join in-Ivy, Lucy, Spencer, Brynn, Harper, Grace, Stockton, Grant, Erin |
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| while the older kids did a lesson upstairs-Gavin, Ben, Tessa, Molly, Chloe, Abby |
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| Tessa, Brynn, Ali |
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| Ali, Harper, Jeff, Molly |
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| Justin, Grant, Chloe, Brynn, Stockton, Ivy, Lucy |
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| Brynn and Chloe |
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| Grant and Stockton |
Brynn and Ivy love spinning on this swing! They rarely swing on it normal. They make other people sick when they give them turns on it but it never bothers them.
Molly finished 7th grade-the middle grade of middle school. Quite the accomplishment because I think the middle grade of middle school/junior high is hard. She did great!
Stockton had a different year. His teacher, Mrs. Vanhouten, went on maternity leave in November, they had a sub for 3 months, Mrs. Vanhouten came back for one week, and then schools were closed. Of all my kids, he probably missed out on the most because of the closings: field trips to the Bees game and Timpanogas Cave along with all the end of school/last year of elementary celebrations. He will never go back to Daniels Canyon as a student.
Brynn loved her young, cute, fun teacher, Ms. Linnell. I loved that they finally split her grade into two smaller classes. Two years too late, if you ask me. She does everything as fast as she can and her work often reflects that but she is a good girl and any of her teachers are lucky to have her!
I guess I forgot to get one of Ivy. Who am I kidding? I kind of gave up on her once school closed. She was learning so much in preschool and I'm sure won't be where she would have been had she been able to finish. I was a poor substitute for Miss Amy at Sunshine Circle. She continued to do her computer preschool and I supplemented where I could but mostly was busy helping the older kids.
The elementary had a drive-thru so the kids could pick up everything that had been left in their desks in March. The teachers were there and they cheered, decorated our car, and blew bubbles. This was the first time that I really teared up over the whole thing. It was really sweet.
For about a week Stockton and Ivy would go outside and have "baseball practice". They even had an alarm set every morning for 11:30. They had certain clothes they would wear. They set up a dugout. They wore the same color shirts. And then, I guess, they practiced baseball.
The Anderson's came over and the kids put the sprinkler under the tramp. Then Molly added soap. All spring they have been jumping from the monkey bars to the tramp. A little scarier with a slippery tramp but no injuries occurred.
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| Ivy on the monkey bars, Stockton, Brynn, Molly, Raylie, Corbin |
A friend of Molly's from our ward was trying to get rid of some kittens and we figured we needed another. We went one day and picked a calico kitten and then went back two days later to get a sister. We like to keep a couple around for mice and Socks had started to wander. We named them Mango (the calico one) and Slippers (grey stripes). Having kittens is so fun.
Brynn wanted to go on a run so I said I'd ride my bike alongside her. She didn't last too long and ended up riding my bike home while I ran!
Molly learned to grill chicken. I turned on the grill for her but she did most of it by herself. I always tell her that she is going to be miles ahead of me in the cooking department when she gets married because I never had any desire to cook until I actually got married. She's got a huge head start.
We got our state-issued masks. April had made us some cute ones in fabric the kids had picked out but these are good back-ups. Little did we know how much we would actually need them.
I don't usually let the cats in the house but I found Ivy snuggling Mango one night when I went to tuck her in. I let her snuggle for a minute before kicking Mango back outside to her own cat house.
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