HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRAMMY!

 Birthdays during the pandemic aren't very fun because you can't gather socially and you have to stay at least 6 feet away.  We have tried really hard to protect Grammy.  The coronavirus has been hitting the older generation very hard and we don't want Grammy to be exposed.  So we have stopped having our normal weekly Sunday dinners together so we can protect her.  So today we took over dinner, a birthday cake and some presents.  We all stood 6 feet back and sang happy birthday and had her blow out her candles.  Then we had her open gifts so we could at least enjoy that moment together. 

 We also decorated her front door and made her wear a birthday tiara!

Happy Birthday Grammy!!!

 

We love you!

Social Distancing!

 This is what social distancing looks like for our family. We have tried to find some fun and creative things to do during this pandemic to keep up busy and feeling productive.  Of course we all have to still work and Brightyn is doing school from home remotely.  But during our down time we have been painting cards.  It has been so much fun.  Brightyn, Berklee and I have enjoyed being creative.  Brightyn has hand written notes on these cute cards and given them to her friends that she is missing so much right now. 

 We also spent a couple of hours creating this masterpiece with sidewalk chalk.  Even Jason got into the fun with us.

 Of course we have taken plenty of naps!  Naps have become a staple around here for all of us.  Ella loves having her family around more.  If anyone loves Covid 19 it is Ella.  She has never had so much love and attention during the day, EVER!

 More naps!

 We took a family walk around the Capitol to see the beautiful blossoms!

 A lot of stores are closed.  Grocery stores are the only ones really open and it is very interesting these days to go grocery shopping. All the stores have these little markers to tell you how far away you need to be from another shopper so that you can practice safe social distancing.  Also, most stores have limited the number of guests they will allow inside at one time. So it isn't unusual to see lines of people outside waiting to just get into the store.

 

We also have enjoyed watching a lot of documentaries on Netflix and watching Stranger Things again.  We are hoping things can slowly start opening up starting May 1. But who knows what our new normal is going to look like. 

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Yes, I know I'm pathetic and super slow at posting this.  I realize that Easter was last Sunday.  I guess better late than never!  It was a wonderful and peaceful day spent with my favorite crew!  There is definitely peace in simplicity!  And I am really loving this slow time in our lives to remember and enjoy the simple things in life.  Like our Savior and his great sacrifice and each other!  Our knowledge that He lives and that we can have eternal life with our families is really all the  matters in this life! I'm grateful for this time to remind me of these simple things and to enjoy these awesome people that I get to call mine!

Flattening the Curve!

This is theme of our lives right now.  Practice social distancing in hopes of flattening the curve.  Wow, it is amazing how one little tricky virus can turn the whole world upside down. So many people are in turmoil, hurting, losing jobs, kids without school and lack of social outlets.  It feels like some sort of a punishment.  But I'm choosing to see this as an answer to many people's prayers.  I kind of feel like it is an answer to mine.  For a long time now I have been praying for many different things that I want to change or have help with or have understanding for.  I have felt like people are very mean, greedy and self centered and we have lost sight of what is really important in our lives.  Including myself.  I think the Lord is forcing us to slow down and re-evaluate and re-prioritize our lives because he knew we wouldn't do it on our own.  So many times I have said, "If I had the courage I would pull my kids out of all of their activities and spend more time just doing fun family things" Life has always been too crazy and our energy and focus has been put in the wrong places.  Do I miss our normal life?  Yes, absolutely!!  Does my heart ache because Brightyn will miss out on doing her Spring dance concert at school and not get to compete studio dance this Spring.  And most likely she probably won't get a Junior Prom and will miss out on the end of year fun activities. Who knows when drill tryouts will be and if they will even be able to have summer drill camp.  Or will she still be able to go to girls camp in the summer.  Because we don't have a clue as to how long this nightmare will continue.  They keep saying in 2 weeks we will know better.  And when that 2 weeks comes around they say we need another 30 days before we will know anything.  The time just continues to be extended because no one really knows.  This virus is the unknown, even for the medical professionals.  So we will continue our fight by staying away from people and washing our hands. 

 

If I'm being honest this whole COVID 19 hasn't been all bad. We have been blessed that all of us still have our jobs.  We have a safe warm home and plenty of food and supplies.  And of course I still have Amazon so I can survive!  haha.   I really don't mind social distancing because many people are not so nice so it has actually been a nice break from some of the not so nice people.  I have enjoyed spending more time with my family and finding creative ways to enjoy each other's company.  We have never had more family dinners together and that truly warms my heart.  Berklee was exposed to the virus and she had to come home to quarantine for 14 days.  It was fun to have her around.  She stayed in her room the whole 14 days.  We all took turns taking food to her and assisting her.  She found creative ways to exercise and pass time.  I loved having us all under the same roof again. And I can't forget all the Netflix documentary binge watching we have done as a family.

 

We are living history right now and fighting an invisible enemy.  We will survive and I hope we can all learn and grow from this experience to be better people!

 

Here are some funny & powerful posts and memes out there right now that just help keep you laughing through this craziness!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy 49th Birthday!

March 29, 2020 

 

Happy Birthday to our favorite guy!  Even though we were confined to our house to celebrate Jason's birthday we still made it fun.  You don't realize how hard it is to celebrate a birthday when stores and restaurants are closed during your birthday.  We got creative and still celebrated my cute hubby.  Grammy couldn't come over because we don't want to risk exposing her just in case any of us are carrying the nasty coronavirus.  We got take out from Santorini's on Friday night and then on Sunday we did his birthday dinner and cake. 

 He is a tired birthday boy!

 Happy Birthday to love of my life and my best friend.  I wouldn't want to do this life with anyone else.  And if I have to social distance and self isolate I'm glad it is with my hubby.