Day 10: 3-23-20 (Monday)
Today is cloudy and dreary. We had to start a family theme song today. Mainly for Ailey...because you know...15 is precious especially in quarantine. It is Accentuate the Positive by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters. I love that song! My Grandpa Ellersick used to play it on the piano. Anyway it is now blared at full volume in the mornings. I think we all can use the reminder to have a better mindset each day. I have apparently turned into my mother who used to make me sing Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah every morning as a teenager because...apparently...I was also *precious*. :)
Tyler had an elective cardiovascular stress test scheduled for today at the Heart Institute. He wants to do one every five years just to make sure that his stent is doing its thing and that nothing new has cropped up. The Heart Institute called to reschedule it for next month. He couldn't have gone in anyway with his cold. No changes with that. Still just a head cold. Thank goodness.
The tree service called and they had a cancellation so they wanted to know if they could go out to the lake and get started today. We said yes. Might as well. Who knows what will happen with lockdowns and things like that.
Today was the first day of doing "Morning Meetings" with the girls and going over their schedules and what school work they will be doing each day. It went well. It helps to time-block out the day with them. We haven't had any days of just laying around doing nothing which I think is helpful for all of us. I may need to add an evening meeting to see what they actually accomplished. Both girls are turning in work to their teachers and we are getting lots of communication from all of them. Ailey started virtual Seminary today. The Seminary kids do independent study Mon-Thurs and send in their assignments to their teacher each day and then on Fridays they will have a group chat with their whole class on Zoom.
The girls, Bev, and I walked at the park today a little earlier than normal to beat the rain. It was pretty deserted. The past few days we have seen an older lady who sits on a bench, on a hill top, clutching a Bible, and blows a trump...like an Angel's Trump...over and over again. Interesting. Is she calling the world to repentance? It sounds like it. It has an eerie sound. All along our walk we found rocks with encouraging messages, chalked sidewalks, and window messages saying things like "We Got This!" It was uplifting.
Late that afternoon we video chatted with Kirk, Meki, and kids on Zoom. That was fun and it was good to see their faces. Our nephew Tarren is working in SLC for Amazon. They have given raises to all of their employees. What would we do without Amazon?! My brother is still having to go into work but Meki is able to work from home. It was good to talk and laugh with all of them. They gave us some good new game suggestions and we immediately ordered them from Amazon. I wish we could all play them together. Someday. I also had a nice long phone call with my friend Mary. That was much needed. Usually my friends and I text all the time but we don't often have leisurely phone conversations. It felt very 1995! LOL.
My dad has started texting daily to check in. It's good I guess. But it's weird that he is the parent checking in on us. I can't help thinking what things would be like if my mom was still here. She would be a voice of comfort in an uncertain and scary time. Her medical knowledge would have been really beneficial too. Of course she would be super busy with her medical clinics and getting all of her staff lined up to deal with COVID-19 and she wouldn't have complied with anything for herself and we would have had a heck of a time dealing with her and worrying about her!!
Tonight Tyler and I drove out to the lake to see how things were progressing out there. It was super rainy and windy. Idaho finally closed things like bars, theaters, and restaurants. You can still do take out. It was the first time we didn't stop to buy anything in Idaho. I feel like they are so far behind WA in compliance with COVID-19 recommendations and protecting the public. It felt risky.
Things were looking good out at the lake. They took down one small tree and limbed all of the other ones and cleaned everything up. The only thing left to do is take down the five giant trees and then grind the stumps. They said that it got too windy to keep working late that afternoon. It is good progress though. At least all of the deadly dangling branches and debris have been removed and any limbs in danger of coming down in another wind storm have been trimmed too.
One side.
The other side.
While we were out there our governor declared a lockdown/shelter in place for WA or as he is calling it "Stay Home. Stay Safe." All nonessential businesses are to close for 2 weeks. Reilly texted us when it happened to say that her boss won't be complying on a technicality. Ugh. We gave Kam permission to do driveway visits with Abbey. That perked him up a bit. He visited Abbey from his car in her driveway and Abbey stayed on her porch. Both kids are responsible and trustworthy so Tyler and I feel okay about this happening. It definitely improved Kam's disposition!
Bryn and I read together. We do most nights. It is comforting to both of us. We are reading:
Bryn's class read this book and she LOVED it! She really wanted me to read it and had brought it home for me to read before quarantine but now wants to read it together. I am ALL FOR cuddling and reading together again!
Day 11: 3-24-20 (Tuesday)
Today is partly cloudy. We are supposed to get rain this afternoon. Tyler is feeling better. I am so glad! He had multiple early morning video conferences. When he was done he decided that he wanted to go on our walk with us today. We walked earlier again to beat the rain. It was nice to have him with us!
Ailey and Bryn made soft pretzels for all of us. Ailey has to keep cooking for her ProStart class and we are here for it! They were DELICIOUS! I am going to gain 100 lbs before quarantine is over.
We found out that the Summer Olympics are cancelled or I guess rescheduled for next year. We scheduled Beverly's spaying appointment for several weeks out.
This afternoon our family Facetimed and Snapchatted with Reilly and Hunter. Sending funny videos and memes and sending crazy snapchats are the things that are keeping us all going. Reilly and Hunter did a "Johnson Tries" via snapchat of birthday cake flavored KitKats. Save your money people. They were not good. We all did the snapchat filter that makes us all old people again. Bryn's had us all in absolute HYSTERICS!!
If that doesn't make you laugh then you have a heart of stone! LOL
She will be an adorable little granny!
Tyler! Still a jovial Santa Claus.
I continue to look frightening!
Reilly looks INTENSE!! Don't mess with her as an old granny!!
Hunter
Ailey's face was the trippiest! I have forever said that she has the exact smile of my Grandma McKinnon and that her face reminds me so much of my Grandma. My Grandma McKinnon died when I was pregnant with Reilly. When Ailey did the old person filter and this came through... my jaw dropped...SHE LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE MY GRANDMA! Add some glasses on her and some bright lipstick and voila! Grandma! Even Tyler was like "I know that person!!!" and totally agrees with me that she looks just like her! How crazy! Kameron was invited to participate but he was being a grouch and took one rude picture that we deleted and then went back downstairs to his lair. Yikes! 19 and in quarantine is precious.
Later that night I had virtual book and it was AWESOME! We had SO MUCH FUN!! We videochatted for a couple of hours! OH MY GOSH! It was just what I needed. Texting is great but seeing the faces of some of my dear friends as we laughed, gossiped, commiserated, and yes occasionally discussed the book filled my well! I am so grateful for technology!!!! And for my friends!! And for my book club!!!
Day 12: 3-25-20 (Wednesday)
Bev's Birthday!
Today we woke up to unexpected snow but it's okay because it's Beverly's 1st Birthday!! I can't believe our little pup is already one! Getting her was one of the very best decisions we have ever made. She brings such joy into our lives! She has been a support animal in so many ways! We just adore her.
Tyler made some delicious oatmeal in the instant pot for breakfast that we ate with cream, butter, and brown sugar. It was decadent. Today was the first day that I didn't feel like I was super busy. The kids are on top of their school stuff and are working independently. Tyler was working and doing his thing. I had time to read for awhile this afternoon. Stress and reading don't go well for me. Just as I was able to get back into reading after Mom died... the Coronavirus hit. Yep... I have lost the reading mojo once again which really bums me out. Although I am reading in the middle of the night since insomnia has also returned. I'm half way through Tale of Two Cities! LOL.
Talking through the window.
Bryn had a virtual piano lesson via FaceTime late this afternoon. It was actually pretty awesome! My friend Jodi is her teacher and did such a great job teaching her via the phone. Again...so grateful for technology!!
We did a late walk tonight and ate dinner super late. Tyler made quiche! Asparagus and gruyere. It was so good! I love all of the cooking that Tyler is doing! Ailey had a virtual YM/YW combined activity on WEBEX. They played Cahoot. I love all of the creativity that this quarantine is generating.
Another highlight today was having a little birthday party for Beverly after Kameron got home from work. We made her a special dinner (chicken, rice, and a boiled egg) and a party hat! You should have seen all FIVE of us clustered around watching her enjoy her meal like it was the most fascinating thing in the world! In quarantine it definitely was! It's nice having little things to celebrate.
The church closed all of the temples around the world. That is very weird. My heart goes out to people who were planning weddings/sealings and that are ready to take out their endowments. The closing of all temples world-wide is a VERY BIG DEAL. The governor of Idaho FINALLY issued a stay-at-home order. It's about time. Since our town is on the border of WA and ID this is also a big deal. Stay home people! The governor also closed all State Parks, Recreation Areas, and Water Access areas.
Day 13: 3-26-20 (Thursday)
Today is cold, rainy, and gloomy. I slept in a little. I had morning meetings with the girls. They seem to be staying on task and on schedule which is nice. Tyler and I are back on the protein shake train! Carbs and comfort foods have been in full force for a little too long! And...we did a 3 1/2 mile walk.
Bryn's 5th grade class all made forts as their daily bonding/socializing activity. They took pictures of themselves in their forts and shared them on their class DOJO. Bryn plans to sleep in hers tonight. LOL. Their class does fun little bonding activities like this every day. She also did a fun robot art project that she had to email pictures of to her art teacher who put them up on their art class webpage. She got to message with her art teacher too. Ailey even did the art project for fun!
I also cut off about four inches of Bryn's hair today. It looks good if I do say so myself. I offered to trim Ailey's hair for her. Denied. I especially wanted to cut Kameron's hair... also DENIED. His hair is out of control. It's his crazy hair from Hawaii times 10 and he's also growing a patchy 19-year-old beard. Heaven help us. LOL.
A girl from our stake got married today. She actually dated Kameron for a few months. She is a year older but...STILL! So young. Getting married is pretty challenging with all of the temples closed. They ended up being married by her bishop with just their parents. Family and friends all met up in their cars at the church and the streets around it to cheer them on as the couple drove around. Everyone honked their horns and waved to celebrate! It is craziness trying to get married these days. The courthouses are all closed too. Luckily Maddie and her fiance had their marriage license already.
We checked in with all of the remaining grandparents today. My dad texts pretty much daily but we were able to catch up with Tyler's mom and step-dad. Grandpa Joel has repainted the living room and rearranged the house and was working on more projects. I love that guy! My dad and his girlfriend (who is in very poor health) have been staying home and in strict quarantine. Gayle's daughter who also lives in Las Vegas has been helping them with groceries.
Today was the day for hilarious memes and videos. I got so many super funny ones today! It really helps to get a text and laugh your head off at something funny sent by friends and family. I got the most hysterical one from my friend Robyn and some super funny ones from my friend Mary. Tyler and Meki were sending funny working-from-home videos back and forth today too. These little gems make my day!
Today is my friend Shannon's birthday and our friend group had big plans to celebrate her. All that is on hold for now obviously. It's still super disappointing. I MISS MY FRIENDS! Trying to figure out birthday gifts is difficult these days. I got her an online gift card for Treehouse Deliveries which is a food delivery service. It's pretty cool and a lot of her favorite local restaurants are on it. She was excited about it. I think all of us are getting sick of cooking three meals a day! LOL.
President Nelson announced a World Wide Fast for Sunday. I am really looking forward to participating.
Day 14: 3-27-20 (Friday)
Today is cold and partly cloudy. BRING ON THE SUN!! Ailey had virtual seminary on Zoom this morning and really liked it. I think we all need to buy stock in online meeting sites. What a blessing they are!
The Church made further adjustments to terms of service for missionaries. Foreign missionaries are coming home if they have served 15 months (sisters) or 18 months (elders) and they are being released. If they have served less than that they will be reassigned in the US (after a 2 week quarantine) and will serve until they have served for that long. Elders who have been serving in the US and Canada will complete their missions at 21 months. I am really wondering what things will look like for Kam in July.
I texted with my Aunt Bonnie to check in and see how she is doing and to get an update on her family. Glad to hear that everyone is doing okay. I checked in with a couple of friends today too. It is so helpful to me to try to stay connected to people that I love and care about. It makes such a big difference in my day.
I am feeling so profoundly grateful that Tyler continues to be employed and can do his job from home. His company is so supportive and doing everything they can to help their employees work from home. Today the static came out that 3.3 million people in the US are unemployed. It is absolutely heartbreaking.
The kids were busy working all day and so was Tyler. Kam was at work too. I decorated the house for Easter. Everyone was excited about it. Our family needs these little pick me ups. I'm not sure what Easter will look like this year. It will be weird without being able to worship at church and have that special Easter service that I love. Maybe it will be our best one yet without all of the distractions...no crazy Easter Bunny and baskets, Easter dresses, coloring eggs (I'm still having a hard time finding eggs), candy-palooza, and family gatherings. It will be simple and maybe it will be perfect. Who knows. It will be a time to truly focus on what Easter really represents without all of the commercial frippery.
Tyler and I decided that we were still going to have some kind of *date night* tonight. We had some quarantine plans that included driving away from our kids for a few hours. MUCH NEEDED. We were on our walk (also part of our date night plans) when we got an unexpected phone call from the tree service that we are using at at the lake. They had finished the work. 5 giant trees are down! We decided to drive out to the lake after our walk to check things out.
The view has totally opened up and there are still trees for shade. This should have happened years ago!
The stump grinder guy still needs to come and the fence needs to be put back up but I think it looks really good. I was worried.
After Tyler and I left the lake; we continued on our date night. Date nights MUST GO ON! We drove to one of our favorite local restaurants and got take out and snarfed it down in a parking lot! It was still fun and still date-night-adventure-y. We drove around our abandoned downtown before we went home. That is very bizarre. No one out and about on a Friday night. I really long for life to return to normal.
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