Spring Break week picture dump

We did a couple hikes this week in a hiking area by our house. The kids sort of complain when I tell them we're hiking, but then they love it when we're out. So I keep making them go because I love it. 

 Chloe wanted me to take a picture of her balancing this book on her head.

 Genevieve helped me make osme sugar cookies.

 And then we had fun decorating them.

 Our nephew's birthday was this week and so we brought him cookies and made a sign to put up in his yard since we couldn't have a party. On the way back we opened all the windows in the van and the kids had their first experience in a while being blown to smithereens by wind on the freeway. It was really fun. You can see from their expressions that the three older ones absolutely loved it and Chloe was nonplussed.

 Some social distance playing with our neighbor.

 I made a mask. I'm going to make a bunch more for a friend's practice and group. I used it to go shopping and it worked quite well, other than a piece of wire in the nose would help it not block vision as much.

 Another hike. The weather has turned absolutely beautiful. 60s and sunny. It is not normal for this time of year here and I feel like it's such a blessing to not be sheltering at home while it's gray and rainy outside. The sunshine is so good for my soul.

 We dyed eggs.

 We did a worldwide fast on Friday to find a cure for Coronavirus, to protect our healthcare professionals, and for the economy to recover. The kids fasted from complaining. And they really did it and it was the nicest thing. To celebrate their success we bought them each individual pints of ice cream and it may be the coolest thing we've ever done for them, haha! They loved it. It was such a fun treat.

 We had a lovely Easter. We had a little church via Google Meetings with my two sisters and families and my mom and grandma. It was good to see thier faces. We all dressed up, which feels good. 

 Genevieve's hair is starting to get curly. I love it.

 Aaron is mkaing several grandpas very happy with his wearing of bolo ties.

 Spencer looks so old to me lately. He's transitioning out of looking like a kid and looking more like a tween and it takes my breath away. Time is moving so fast.

 Look at all those perfect smiles! I never get this sort of response when I ask them to smile. Must be the Easter Egg hunt they were so excited for.

 It was a great one. We have a really nice yard.

Happy Easter! Happy Spring!

Week three of quarantine

Today marks the beginning of week four of home school and it's spring break so we're taking a deserved break from school life. Today also marked the day Governor Inslee and the state superintendent of schools canceled in-person school for the rest of the school year. I knew it would come soon enough, but I'm still in mourning over the loss of these three months of school. I dearly love my kids' teachers and it feels like such a loss to not get to see them again for the foreseeable future. We will still have distance learning, but I don't know what sort of real contact that will invovle. So far it's all writing messages back and forth and leaving notes on the portal. Which is good, but no substitute for real teacher time.

This last week has been full of school and art and over the weekend we truly enjoyed General Conference. I felt a lot of comfort and peace after listening to all the talks. We're goign to beat Coronavirus and we are going to get back to a new normal and life will resume at some point. It feels really slow and long and drawn out, but it will come to an end at some point and we will get to do some of those things we miss so much. Until then I can't help but remember all the blessings we have right now. Bill and I both have jobs. We have a home. We have food. We have internet and access to so much that isn't available to a large portion of people out there. We're bored and feel like there's maybe a little too much altogether time, and I wonder if my kids are going to do okay with what they get out of homeschool, but we are so blessed. It will be okay.

 Spencer and Genevieve have done some really cool art projects on online sites.

 Chloe thought under the table was just as good a place to eat as at the table.

 Lots of time on educational sites doing Dreambox, Lexi, Xtramath, Edutyping, etc.

 I made a toy wood camera for my SIL after she sent me a picture of what she wanted but coudln't get to her in time. It was so great to get outside and make something.

 More art.

 Chloe doesn't have school so soemtimes she's fending for herself. But we're having a good time still.

 General conference.

 Finished camera.

More general conference fun.