Halloween 2020

 Halloween is always a pretty great holiday at this house and this year it was probably more looked forward to than ever before. One because of Covid and two the kids are getting older and remember what we do and look forward to it. We put up all the Halloween decorations on Oct. 1st. This is our first holiday season in this house so it was fun to see it all come together in this new place. We also started talking about Halloween costumes really early and because I was feeling crafty I feel the costumes are a little more than I usually do. That said they are still homemade and you can tell, but my kids loved them and we had fun dreaming them up, and putting them all together. We were characters from our new favorite graphic novels Mighty Jack and Zita the Space Girl. All that said this is how Halloween shook out for us this year.

We started with our traditional meal of Autumn Sausage Casserole on Saturday night. Then Sunday we had moldy mac and worms. I was feeling like baking that day, so I also tried a fall fruit pizza. It was really good. I will probably pick a stronger flavored apple next time, but it was still really good. That night we also got 'Boo'ed. The girls were so excited. It was a really good boo. We got lanterns, glow stuff, witch hats that light up, candy, and other toys. My girls loved it and it was the perfect start to Halloween week. 

Fall Fruit Pizza

Moldy Mac n Worms

Kylee eating worms

Gaupo helping Kade learn to eat worms

Abby and her worm

Tia with a mouthful of mold

Monday school was cancelled for snow. It was so great and sadly wont happen again because the school district said that every day they have in school matters, so now we have to do virtual learning on snow days. LAME! Oh well, I enjoyed the one I got and so did the girls. They got to play outside with our neighbor for about 2 hours because none of them had school. It was so great because then I could work inside in piece. The gloves I was making still failed and I was out of fabric to try again, but I got to do it alone. Anyway, we tried a new dinner--spaghetti brain. Luckily soccer practice was cancelled due to snow, so Gaupo had plenty of time to figure out what to do. I take Tia to swim lessons, so he made dinner while we were doing that. I think it was a win for our family because it was pretty simple and they ate it. There are things we will do different next year, but it probably made it on to the tradition list. That night as FHE, we passed the BOO on to a neighbor and then to a family in our ward. It was so fun and the girls loved it. It is totally their first ding-dong ditch activity.

Spaghetti Brain

Abby learned she likes to eat and play in snow.

Tuesday was meatloaf ham and spider spuds for dinner. It was good planning on our part because Tuesday the girls are at school and so I had the afternoon to work on meatloaf and potatoes and then when they got home I could pay attention to them.

spider spuds

Monster hand

Wednesday was the kick-off for school festivities. Tia got to dress-up in her costume and she LOVED it. They were going to do a virtual Halloween parade, but have had technical difficulties, so I don't know that will work out but Tia still loved wearing her costume. While she was at school and the twins were napping, Kylee and I worked on her costume. It was mostly done, but she needed  belt or sheath to hold her sword, so we did a four-strand braid to make a belt for her. It was fun to work together on it. That day also a friend dropped off a bag of hand-me-downs and in it were a pair of black boots. She really wanted boots for her costume, but that was too much money for Halloween, so I had said no, but then there they were and free, so she had them and she was so excited. It was a very fun tender mercy. That night Tia had swim, there was still snow so soccer was canceled and so Gaupo was on dinner duty and made great spider chicken burgers.

Spider Burgers

Thursday both girls got to dress-up and go to school. They were so excited to go together and be all dressed up. They had a great day at school. We had jack-o-lantern cassadias for dinner.

Lilly King Kylee and Tia as Zita the space girl

More of the girls.

Just one more because they are so cute!

Zita the Space Girl (Tia)

Lilly King (Kylee)

Jack-o-lantern Cassadias.

Friday, was a big day. Not so much for Halloween though we miraculously got some of that in there to but because we made applesauce a ton of it. Kitt and Matthew came up for the weekend and we did applesauce. We eat a ton of it and I had some apple from Idaho, plus apple were on sale, so I bought more and so did Kitt and we did them all. I started the process solo around 11-ish and we didn't finish until about 10-ish. It was a long day of applesauce. We canned about 80 pints and 14 quarts of applesauce. My new kitchen is amazing for canning and it took 4 adults and two kids to do it all and boy by the end we were tired. However, we not only canned applesauce, we managed to do monster tacos for dinner with homemade root beer. Home made root beer I think is our kids favorite Halloween tradition. They love the fog that comes off of it. I also think it is the first time I have canned a whole day and not been like 'lets just pick up a pizza.' Anyway, it was fun and accomplishing. That night we also showed the girls Girl vs. Monster which they liked and it did not give them scary dreams so another win for sure.

Homemade rootbeer. Tia, Kylee, and Kade.

More rootbeer funn. Abby, Kade, Gaupo

Applesauce galore!

My monster taco

Gaupo's monster taco

Saturday was another big day for us. The morning started off with Gaupo going to work and the rest of us enjoying pumpkin pancakes with the kids getting pumpkin and ghost shaped ones. Then Kitt took Kylee and Tia to Kylee's soccer game while I worked on the the twins costumes, made a picnic lunch, and visited on the phone. When they got back from the game, we all quickly changed into costumes and headed to the ward party. It was at a park in Mead. My kids are still kind of getting to know the kids in the ward, so it was a little hard for them, but they still had fun playing. There were also some spookily dressed kids that made them a little leery, so that wasn't great especially when Tia was to scared to go to bed that night. Anyway, we had lunch played at the park, talked to some people and then they did a trunk-or-treat which pretty much was people stand around the park and hand out candy as the kids walk around. It was fun and the kids got a ton of candy, so they were all very happy. When we got home we put the twins down fr a nap and just relaxed for a minute. Then we carved pumpkins. It was fun to let them do it again. I forgot I didn't have candles or sparklers this year, so we stuck playdough in the bottom with a birthday candle and it worked great. That night we had pumpkin and snake shaped pizza and leftover root beer for dinner. Then we met up with our neighbor for some trick-or-treating. It was the first time Gaupo and I have ever been able to go together (Thanks Kitt and Matthew for handing out candy for us) and you can tell who wants to go to every door with a light (me) and who wants a candy but with minimal effort (Gaupo). Its all good though and then kids had a blast with friends and seeing neighbors and it was really fun with way to much candy. Once home, we looked through the candy ate a bunch, lit the candles in the pumpkins, and sent the kids to bed. Once they were in bed, we watched Mostly Ghostly,  and then the adults went to bed. 

Kade as Mighty Jack

Abby as Jack's little sister Maddy

Tia as Zita

Kylee as Lilly King

Tia, Abby, Kylee, and Kade

Kylee, Abby, Tia, Me (as Madrigral) and Kade

Joseph, Zita, Jack, Lilly Kind, and Maddy

Team USA--Matthew, Kitt, and Jay

Carving pumpkings, Tia, Matthew, Kitt, and Kylee

Tia and her pumpkin

Kylee and her pumpkin

Playing around while trying to light pumpkins.

The kids pumpking shaped pizza.

Snake pizza.

Tia with her candy.

Kylee with her stash.

Abby 

Kade

Tia and Kylee with lit pumpkins.

Sunday, was a day of rest a much needed day of rest. We went to church, although, I probably shouldn't have because I had a runny nose. I felt bad once I had thought about it more, but I was honeslty like its just a cold, but I shouldn't take chances like that right now. I am still learning with all this Covid stuff when to say no and when it is still okay. Anyway, what is done is done and I went and I will try really hard not to make that mistake again. Then when we got home we had lunch and I took a  nap. Then we had mac and cheese for dinner and I visited a bit with Gaupo and then we went to bed. It was a super fun, busy, week for us but it was Halloween and I thoroughly enjoy it. We celebrated well I think. It wasn't too crazy hard (at least by our standards) we still had fun and it was a combo of big and little things. Plus, it was so fun to watch the twins figure this whole Halloween thing out. I don't know that they super get it, but they do get that they have a treat bucket full of candy on the counter and they can eat and they LOVE it.

Happy Halloween!!

Trip To Idaho

Oct. 16-19 was our school's fall break. Normally, we just enjoy the four-day weekend at home, but this year we decided to go to Idaho. Shortly after coming back from Idaho this summer, I really wanted to go back and visit and be there. Sometimes, the summer visits are really crazy with farm work and harvests, and family reunions and the this year top that with Covid it was just kind of busy. So, we decided to trek out there again and I am so glad we did.

We took the kids out of school on Thursday and drove to Logan, UT where we visited Guapo's Grandma. It was so good to be in her home. The kids love that place. She has a jungle gym and many very cool toys and so they play and play and we visit. We didn't get to see Grandma Hammond this summer due to Covid and on this visit we tried to be cautious with wearing masks. She totally spoiled us with pizza from Domino's and the Christmas gifts for the kids. Normally, we would hold those gifts until Christmas, but this year we decided to let them open them because she loves watching them do that and then playing with them. We really didn't do anything to exciting just play, visit, and eat dinner. It has been a long time since, we had the time to go to her house and just be there as long as we wanted, so I am so glad we got to go.

We left her house a little after 7:00 and headed to Swanlake. When we got there we put the kids down and visited briefly and then went to bed. It was a rough, rough, night. Honestly, it might be the roughest night of the twins lives. Abby was up almost every hour. It was terrible. However, we made it to morning and began a very fun day.

This trip was a little different in the fact that Grandma couldn't do much. It about drove her nuts to not scoop up the kids, chase them around, cook, and be outside whenever she wanted. However, her knee and foot were too swollen she couldn't, and so everyone had to pitch in and help. I thought it was great to see everyone working together to get meals fixed and take care of the kids and just make life happen. Grandma is a goer and so most times she does it, but this time I got to see people do stuff they don't usually do and they could do it. They might not do it my way, but they could. The meals were simple and that left plenty of time for visiting, playing, and being together. I hope Grandma's leg gets better and she can do the things she loves, but I also hope to remember how nice it was to be simple and let everyone help and do. 

Anyway, Friday morning I made breakfast of pancakes and eggs. Then the Kylee and Tia ran off to play with Blaine and James. The twins were looked after by either Gaupo or I and they were inside, outside, asking for four-wheeler rides, or swinging. One big project of the day was recovering the greenhouse. Swanlake got some wicked winds and ripped and blew off the plastic on Grandma's greenhouse. Everyone was outside, so Grandma and I got in the side-by-side and I drove her to the middle of the garden so she could watch kids play and her greenhouse get a new cover. Once that project was well underway, the Anderson's arrived! The kids of course loved this because it means more cousins. They played and played while we got lunch ready. Then everyone came into lunch. Tia had a runny nose and was super low on energy so she went and took nap. So, did the twins and Gaupo. Once Tia was up, we carved pumpkins. Aunt Heidi, brought pumpkins for all the kids to carve. They had a blast drawing and cutting the pumpkins. When we were all done we put them on Melanie's steps. It was quite the collections--9 different pumpkins by 9 different kids. After pumpkin carving there was more playing, visiting, and four-wheeler rides. Heidi and Jeff stayed until dark because Jeff went out hunting. We had dinner and then put on a movie for the kids. Once Heidi and Jeff left we put our kids to bed and then played games in the kitchen. Melanie's favorite game is Castle Panic, and I remembered to bring it so that is what we played every night.

Blaine, Hyrum, Arlin, Naomi, James, Katelyn, and Kylee carving pumpkins.

Kylee, Katelyn, Naomi, Gaupo, Tia, Hyrum, Arlin, and James.

Saturday was a new day. With more playing and visiting and fun. Gary made breakfast and it was scrumptious. Pastrami, Ham, and egg sandwiches. The kids played a ton outside. Guapo and I went out and helped turn over some of the sandbox, so the kids could play in there. The big kids had been playing in the sand mound, but when we dug it up the little kids and big kids could play and Grandma could watch from the kitchen. Melanie and I also made caramel apples. Well we dipped them in caramel and then we let the kids that wanted to (Kylee and James) cover them in chocolate and toppings. We had a terrible time melting chocolate, but we finally got some that would work. I don't know what was happening. The first bunch I think burned. Then the next one was really thick, like too thick we couldn't use it, then finally we got some that worked, but it was pretty thick still. Anyway, we got them covered, and they were super good. The kids especially loved them. That night Blaine stayed over and had a sleepover with the girls. They all slept in the recliners in the living room. Us adults played Castle panic and visited.

Sunday was church. I got up to get ready for church. I thought it was plenty early but Grandma was getting up and getting potatoes peeled for dinner. I just let her do it because she is the fastest potato peeler I know. Seriously she probably peels like 10 to my 1 and I am not slow, just normal and she is super fast. Then Gaupo helped with breakfast. It takes awhile to get myself and 4 kiddos ready for church so luckily Gaupo could step in to help with breakfast. We went to church and we all wore masks because that is what we normally do, but almost no one there was. It was crazy and for us awesome. It was great to see peoples smiles again. Everyone has beautiful eyes, but I miss seeing the smiles. Anyway, after church we had lunch at the house. The we headed to Virginia.

Our first stop was Uncle John and Aunt Karen's house. Everyone was gathered there for dinner, so we started there. Randy and Erica and their kids were visiting John and Karen and then Kitt, Matthew, and Grandpa-Great were there for dinner. Since we had already had dinner we just visited and I joined in for some yummy chocolate cake. After visiting there, we took the kids to Grandpa-Greats where we put Gaupo and the twins down for a nap. While they were sleeping we visited, played games, and looked at family pictures. Grandpa-Great loves music and requested the girls sing. So, they did with some help and then we just kept singing for a little while. I love music it can be so powerful and relaxing. After they sang, Tia was ready to move, so I took her and the twins outside to explore the farm. Tia would have looked EVERYWHERE if I would have let her. She was so full of questions and curious about everything. I so wish it would have been a nice day, because it would have been fun to have Grandpa-Great out with us to tell the actual stories that went along with the places. However, she loved looking in the calf sheds, and the two white shed on the west side of the house. While we were doing that Kylee was busy chatting with Grandpa-Great. I have no idea what she told him, but she just chatted and chatted until we called them to dinner. We fixed a fancy meal of mac and cheese and hotdogs. Then we packed everyone up around 7:00PM and headed home. It was a fun afternoon in Virginia. It was so great to have not very many of us and to just be there no purpose except to enjoy Grandpa-Great and each other.

Monday we had to head back. I tried to leave the house in good condition. It wasn't perfect but the bathroom was clean, and once we took all of our apples, pumpkins, and other stuff out to the car it was pretty well cleaned up. Grandma made breakfast that morning since I was cleaning and then we were on our way. We didn't make as a great of time on the way home, but that is how it goes with trips home.

Once back our runny noses and cough were still here, so no one could go to school or work. We were pretty worried though about having visited some high risk people and that we might have given them Covid or something. Gaupo went and got a Covid test mainly so he could go back to work and we have prayed so hard that that test was accurate and that people wouldn't get sick from us visiting and so far it appears our prayers were answered.

I am so glad we could just go and visit. It was so good to see everyone, to visit, and just have time to be with some of our favorite people. I am so glad we went because it was really needed. I feel so grateful to be part of such awesome families. 

Kade loved the cows and the four-wheeler rides.

Abby and Jackson.

School Choices

After summer comes school. All summer the district was pretty up and down as far as what they were going to do. Towards the end of July they announced they would do a hybrid and also offer a fully online program. Gaupo and I both felt fully online and pulling the kids out for home school were not the right options for us. I was excited for hybrid because I thought my kids would really enjoy the small classes and still be able to be home plenty. However, like a week before school started the school district announced the school year would begin with everyone online. I was super disappointed (that is actually kind of mild) and threw around ideas of sending the kids to a charter school, so they could actually go to school, but ultimately decided to just roll with it. 

August 18th was the first day of school. It was rough. Kade cried till his nose bled, Tia went to timeout a TON, and I got frustrated with Kylee and yelled and she cried. Then next day was a little better Kade still cried a lot, but his nose didn't bleed. Tia went to timeout less. I cried. I wasn't sure I could do it. It was tough balancing the help the big girls needed and what the twins needed. It just felt so overwhelming to have so much needed of me. However, Wednesday night I told Gaupo that Thursday morning before he left for work we ALL needed blessings even Abby and Kade. He gave wonderful blessings to all of us and it totally changed our home. We still have rough days. Some days I feel so emotionally exhausted that I can't do much after I get the kids to be because it just seems too hard. Some days are so great I think to myself, "Why don't we do this all year?" We have a rhythm and we get it most times, but that doesn't mean its easy, but I promise Heavenly Father is watching out for this family, these kids, this mama. I have loved the extended playtime, and flexibility. I have also enjoyed seeing what my children work on and see where they struggle and where their strengths are. It has been a fun adventure.

However, this is our last week. The school district announce on Monday that we will begin Hybrid on October 5. It will be 2 days a week unless you child has an IEP then they have the option to go 4 days and no kids go to school on Fridays. When we first heard this we were like perfect! We will just send our kids the two-days and then do what we always do. However, Tia has an IEP. However, her and Kylee love playing, so I was just going to send her 2 days, so when the school asked that's what I told them. However, as the day wore on I felt like hum maybe I should have thought more about that. Then I talked to Gaupo and was like nah, 2 days is great. However, that night I was like maybe I should pray about this. So, I said something like "Heavenly Father, we have the option to send Tia 2 days or 4 days, and we decided two days would be best. I already told the school, but if that's not what we are suppose to do then stop me if I am wrong." Well, the next day I got an email back from Tia's special ED teacher telling me, that she would probably just have her services on the days she came to school. I was kind of like "Oh, well that will be okay, she will have more time to play." However, I just could let it rest. That afternoon when Tia was on with her teacher I asked her what she thought. Then I was just still not sure, so I asked my mom. Honestly hoping she would be like "Yeah, Katey I totally think its a great idea to let her be a kid and stay home. Her and Kylee will love that time together." However, that is not how it went. Tia's teacher said her class would be small and so she would have time to help Tia, also Tia could get her services a lot more frequently and focused. My mom and I had a great discussion. We talked about Tia and the help she would get. We talked about her and Kylee and their relationship. We talked about what she might really need. Most importantly my mom said she "Katey, you know how to listen to the Spirit. The fact that you are unsettled about this might mean something. Sometimes answers that aren't what we want to hear are harder to understand. I don't know because I am not you, but you know and I know you will do what is right for Tia. It has always been hard for you to send Tia to school, but you have always done the right thing and you will do it again, whatever it is." So, with talking to those two. I really wanted to talk to Gaupo right away, but he was at work, so I decided to pray in the loft, so I could hear the twins when they got up. My big girls were downstairs playing. Well as I was praying, Gaupo comes out of our room and asks whats up. First off it totally freaked me out because I didn't think he was home. However, I talked to him some and he felt the 2 days was still plenty but we should ask Tia. He worked for a bit more and then we went on a family bike ride. While we were riding I asked Kylee, how she would feel if Tia went to school four days. At first she was like, well then I can't play with her as much, but then I explained timing like how Tia doesn't really get done with school until about 3ish anyway, so it would only be about 30 to 40 minutes she is missing her. Then Kylee also realized 2 days a week in the afternoon it would just be her and me. So, she was like yeah, I can support her in that. Then Gaupo asked Tia when we got home. At first she was like no just two, but then we said well you still have to do school and Mrs. Higgin's probably wont be available as much because she will have a class, plus you will get to go to Mrs. Fosters (her special ED teacher)  everyday. She was like "oh yeah, 4 days is good. Can I watch a show now?" I mentioned she would still have to do reading after school and she was said "Well, I might be to tired." We said, "Well, tired or not you still need to do it." "Okay, I still want 4-days. Can I have a show now?" 

Bottom line is I ended up emailing the school back changing our plan from just 2-days to 4 days for Tia. I actually feel fine about it. I am not looking forward to sending her 4 days, but it just feels like what we should do for her. So, we have one more week of online learning, then begins a new chapter of this school year. I am sure with will have a few bumps, ups, and downs, but more and more I find that is what makes life a big adventure. Its riding the ride. Feeling the lows, so the high is better. Working hard uphill and enjoying the downhill. Then to do it over and over again. I love it. I love my family. I get the best friends in the whole world right in my house. This time is so weird and beautiful all at the same time. I know Heavenly Father is watching out for me. He knows my children and is watching out for them. I am so glad he doesn't give up on me. I can be hard of hearing, but I really want to listen and when we want to do what is right He will bless us. Like one brother in our ward said, "Having the gospel doesn't mean that things wont be bad, rough, or hard. However, it does mean that it will be better. Everything is better with the gospel." I believe that is true. I know my family and life is so much better with the gospel. We aren't perfect, but we are way better off because of it.

Because I need to add photos, but don't have any for this story.

Tia on bottom, Kylee on Top trying to get the horse to go to the ground.

Kylee did her own haird.

The back

Its hard to get action shots, but Kylee is in soccer.

Abby, Tia, Kade, and Kylee.

I Am Way Behind On A Bunch Of Stuff

With the kids home all the time and Gaupo not working one night a week, I am failing at keeping this blog up. I miss it. I miss being about to write about our life and the experiences we are having. I miss being able to share them with my Grandpa to whom I usually print off and mail this to. I feel little guilty that I don't have any great record of what has happened around here, but it is what it is. 

We had a great summer. We went to both Idaho and Arizona. Idaho was fun and I spent my first night away from my big girls in probably like 3 years and I couldn't help but wonder if they were okay and what they were doing. It really surprised me to be that kind of parent. However, more and more I am realizing that things like that don't make me a bad parent, they are just who I am. I can be a good parent and still worry when my kids do big kid things. Still it was kind of silly because they were just spending the night with their cousins in their new camper trailer. They had a great time and told me all about it. Another fun thing we did in Idaho was spend the night at the pond. It was such a fun time. I will definitely be bringing more padding to sleep on next time, but other than that it was so fun to be in the peace and quiet. It was fun to be just us, but know family was just down the dirt road. We put the twins down and played a couple rounds of UNO with the big girls before we sent them to bed and watched part of a downloaded movie just the two of us. Then we woke up the following morning and did some fishing. It was a fun little getaway that I hope we get to do again. 

Kade meeting the cows.

Grandma and Grandpa added a new sandbox and we played in it a lot. (Grandma and Jackson, Abby, Blaine, Kylee, and Tia.)

This boy and his dogs. He loves them! Kade and Rip.

Kylee and Tia just playing and playing.

Abby, Kade, Gaupo, Kylee, and Tia our for a four-wheeler ride.

James, Tia, and Blaine in the pond overflow.

Gaupo trying to fish with both Abby and Kade.

Kylee and Tia.

Gaupo and Kylee with their fish.

There was an afternoon Brady Reunion and we stayed after for a wiener roast. Kitt, Gaupo and Kade, Abby, Oma and Papa.

Arizona was also very fun. My dad drove us down to Arizona. He had driven Kitt and Matthew's moving truck out here and then from here he drove us down to Arizona. I actually drove maybe about 2 of the 14 hours, so I am getting a little better at the drive (wink). We made really good time and the kids did excellent. It was so fun to be with all the family in Arizona. It was too short of a vacation again, but it was still really fun. I love when we all get together and can let the kids play and we can visit. Its always a little crazy to be together, but totally worth it. I love visiting. I love watching the kids play. I loved playing games on Saturday night. Even Gaupo played with us for a game. This year was different too in the fact Gaupo flew down to get us. I know it was a little hard on him, but he is getting better at flying. However, it was really nice to be all together again before getting home. I definately need to take better care of him and focus on him better when we first get together again, but I still loved that he came to get us. Our Arizona vacation consisted of a lot of swimming, playing with cousins, and swimming. It was really fun and totally worth the drive. 

We got to go to Jay's blessing before we left for Arizona. Kylee, Tia, Me, Jay, and Kitt.

Rocket Launching with Papa. Kylee, Tia, Kade, Ross, Levi.

Playdough fun. Levi, Tia, Kylee and Ross.

Abby on the swings at Joe's Park.

Kade at Joe's Park.

Levi and Tia on tractors.

Once we got home, we got ready for school and just enjoyed the last of summer. We went to Kitt's house and went swimming and then she came for a visit to see our new house for the first time. It is so great having them close. To finish off summer, I wanted to do one last fun water thing with the kids, but the pool needs reservations, and the river is to scary for me to do by myself, so I went to the reservoir. We had a great time. The kids got to play in the sand and water. They had a blast and it was the perfect warm sunny day to do.

Playing at the reservoir. Kylee, Kade, Abby, Tia.

Tia

Kade

Abby

To celebrate our week of school we went to Matthew's cabin. It is kind of a lot of work with the kids and to only go for one-day, but it was so nice to go paddle around the lake, take walks along the trails, throw endless amounts of rocks into the water, roast some marshmellows, and play games. It was fun. Gaupo and I are still learning a lot about how to support each other in these away from home adventures, but we are getting better each time. 

Out for a walk. Kade, Matthew and Jay, Kylee, and Gaupo.

Abby insisting on picking up rocks.

Kade in the dirt.

Me, Abby, Kade, and Gaupo going on the lake.

Kylee on the lake.

Matthew, Tia, and Kitt.

Mallow roasting. Kitt, Tia, Gaupo and Kylee.

Now we are in the throws of school. We were supposed to do a hybrid schedule, but that got cancelled until at least October and it is all online. It is a little crazy with all the schedules and school work but we are getting there. The first week was really bad. The first day Kade cried so hard his nose bled, I yelled at Kylee and she cried, and Tia went to time-out like 5 or more times. The next day Kade still cried, but not hard enough to make his nose bleed, Tia only went to time-out a couple of times, and I cried. The next day we made great effort to have priesthood blessings before school and work and it has made all the difference in the world. Life is still not perfect. I am exhaust physically and emotionally by the end of the day. I am so grateful for my children's teachers and that they don't judge when my kids tells them "I need help, but I don't want my mom." Yep, that is a direct quote. We have ups and downs, but I do love having my kids home. I love being part of the their learning. I love that there is NO HOMEWORK!! I love that we still have time to have fun.

Kylee first day.

Tia first day.

Sisters

Picking corn. Kylee, Tia, Abby, Kade, and Gaupo.

We went corn picking and this is us and our haul.

We are getting involved in a few more things. Kylee is doing soccer although she has to play with a mask on and has social distancing during water/breather breaks and is only allowed one spectator at her games. Tia is going to start swimming lessons which I have to be in the water with her because the instructor must stay 6ft away. Times are crazy, but these crazy times are changing me into a better mom, wife, and person. They do bring out some of my really bad points to, but that is part of change. I am so grateful for the gospel and the foresight and revelation of the prophet. I know Heavenly Father is watching over me.

I know this was like a super fast run-down but hopefully I can stop feeling like I am behind and move on with the present. We will see. Life is crazy and sometimes I don't get to write about it all, but I love it. I love the good, get frustrated with the bad, and hope for and try to find all the good that is around me.