Trip to Martha LaFite

Last weekend we went to our local nature sanctuary (and then the Dairy Queen drive through for blizzards!) for the afternoon. The trails are still open, and they have a creek and lots of rocks for throwing and skipping. The boys started out dry but the water was too tempting. It was too cold to get very wet, but they ended up with wet feet and legs. It was a great day to be outdoors and not at our house!

Life Lately - It's Week 7 of Quarantine

Well, it's Monday of week 7 of staying at home. Week 6 of school at home. Here's a look at life lately... in no particular order!

Jack's hair is officially long enough to put in a tiny ponytail, or palm tree as he likes to call it.

I led my weekly zoom parties with the elementary kids from church wearing Jack's hot dog Halloween costume. It was super hero week and I didn't have a super hero costume to wear.

Poppy sometimes wears clothes now. She doesn't seem to mind.

Nathan built two more Adirondack chairs. 

Everyday during lunch we watch a "What's in the Bible?" episode. This is a huge highlight of the pandemic. We love this show and the boys (and Nathan and I) are learning so much. It's also good for us to have routine and watching this everyday helps with that.

Jack and I took Poppy to her annual vet exam and left $300 poorer. The vet also informed us (via phone) that she is too fat and needs to eat less. To her credit, she's only one pound overweight.

Jack helped me make a frozen peanut butter pie. His face wasn't very clean after he licked the beaters.

Jack plays ukulele and guitar all the time.

Henry cooks quite a bit too. Here he is making the spice rub for the pork chops Nathan grilled that night.

One day when it was pretty hot Henry had a water gun battle with Beau. They used umbrellas as shields. 

Henry and I went through his legos and found all the pieces for his 8 million mini figures. He had a great time putting them back together. You'll also see a Calvin and Hobbes book on Henry's floor in the second picture. He's read the whole thing multiple times since we've been home. 

The boys get to play video games for an hour and a half every day (except Sundays). If you ask them, they will tell you this is grossly unfair and they should play lots more. Wrong.

Henry and I got out his magformers blocks and used them on the garage door since it's metal. It was super fun. 

Thoughts on Easter This Year

Our church has different people write blog posts throughout the year for our congregation. This year, my assignment was writing the Easter Day blog. I thought I'd put it here too so I can remember what Easter and Holy Week were like during this very unusual year.

Easter Day Blog for Church 2020

When Janet asked me if I would write a blog for Holy Week, I said yes without much thought and added it to my to-do list. Today as I sit at my computer, “Easter Day blog” stares up at me with a bit of a smirk from the previously mentioned to-do list. Writing my Easter Day blog today is a much more daunting task than before – back when I originally said yes. You see, I said yes weeks ago, back when coronavirus was still in China and before the stay at home order, before home school started and before I started wearing a mask and gloves to Hy-Vee.

Now, on Monday of Holy Week, I’m sitting here staring at my computer screen thinking things like why on earth did I say yes that I would write this and what on earth am I going to write about and what do I have to offer?

And so, I get up and find things to do instead of writing: I get out the hamburger to thaw for dinner tonight, I help Jack start his piano lesson on Facetime, I take the dog out, I ask God what I’m going to write, I make myself a glass of iced tea, I get a snack for Henry, I scroll Instagram and then I see it. An account I follow mentions some lyrics to a new song John Mayer has written: “Though the present situation can be scary, you are still the same him or her you were in January.”

And then God takes my breath away and brings tears to my eyes as these words form in my mind: Remember, I am still the same God I was in January. He stops me in my tracks as it dawns on me. I forgot to remember. Our world has definitely changed, but our God has not.

The practice of remembering is a holy one indeed. Let’s do it together:

Remember, it’s not Good Friday anymore.

Remember, the stone has been rolled away.

Remember, Jesus is not in the grave.

Remember, He conquered death.

Remember, He is not here, He is risen.

Remember, God is with us.

Remember, you are wholly and deeply loved by our Holy God.

Remember, Jesus is alive.

Remember, in this world you will have trouble, but take heart, He has overcome the world.

Remember, it is Easter.

Remember, Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.

Remember, He is risen, He is risen indeed. Amen.

Jack Plays the Ukulele

Jack is taking advantage of his many hours with nothing to do and has taught himself how to play ukulele. It is so fun to listen to him learn. Check out Somewhere Over the Rainbow here.

Remember when we won the Super Bowl?!

It seems like a long time ago, but the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl was awesome! We watched it at our house and made all sorts of fun snacks. We decided not to go to the parade because is was so cold, but we watched from home. The boys are so lucky -- a World Series and a Super Bowl both during their childhoods!

 And Valentine's was pretty soon after the Super Bowl. They boys did their annual scavenger hunt, compliments of Nathan.

Henry is 9

Well I just realized I didn't do Henry's birthday post! Oh no -- we will do it right now. He had a party at a gymnastics place so they got run around and be crazy, and play games the whole time. Lucky the Elf also messed up our Christmas tree again this year and turned it in a birthday tree for Henry.

Henry's favorites right now are:

Food: Mel's greek food, Mommy's spaghetti, fruit, peanut butter pie

Things to do: play xBox with his friends, read, play with Poppy

TV show: Ninjago

We also celebrated his birthday with a trip to the symphony for the family Christmas concert. We met Grandma Pam, Grandpa Glen and Uncle Will beforehand to go to Union Station and eat at Jack Stack.

Henry has been a delight since the day he was born and still is. He is sweet, caring and so smart. I love talking to him about his day and just hanging out with him. He is kind to his friends and loves school (despite what he will tell you). He loves to bake with me and has made several things on his own, including oatmeal muffins and brownies. He is just the best -- we love you Henry!

Staying at Home

Well, it's week 3 of staying at home. The first week was spring break so it didn't feel too weird. It did rain quite a bit so that was a bummer. The second week was the first week of school and the stay at home order started. And now we're in the third week and maybe this is becoming our new normal. We have left the house to go on a few bikes rides and walk on some trails around town. And we take Poppy on walks in the neighborhood every day. But other than that they boys haven't gone anywhere.

Yesterday was April Fool's and the boys woke up with mysterious mustaches. I had also baked them a pan of brown "E's. I though it was hilarious and they eventually started laughing.

We've been keeping busy with school and playing outside. Jack is learning ukulele and keeping us entertained with new songs. School takes Henry about an hour and a half everyday, and it takes Jack about three hours. In the afternoon they get to play some video games and just hang out. They are also getting ready for their virtual piano recital. Henry and I went on a bike ride on Tuesday and his bike chain came off! Luckily he realized he had no brakes and went into the grass before he crashed. We're also trying new recipes and baking more than usual. And buying ice cream more than usual! Here's some pictures from the first 2 and a half weeks of being at home.

Jack is 12

Our baby turned 12 a couple of weeks ago and it was a birthday we will all remember because it was the start of the lock down due to coronavirus. We had his friend birthday party on Thursday, March 12 and really by the next day things were beginning to shut down. Going to Above All and Buffalo Wild Wings is the last "normal" thing we did.

The birthday boy was very excited about his new and awesome ramen noodle sweatshirt and wireless earbuds.

Nathan also found him a cool Pi Day shirt, since his birthday is on Pi Day.

On his birthday, he announced he now a teenager! I guess he's skipping the last year of being a tween. We are so proud of him and the way he has transitioned to middle school. He has done amazing all year! Not that we are surprised. We've had two rounds of parent teacher conferences and his teachers tell me he is kind to everyone. Yes, he's getting all A's but I am so proud that he is kind. He is a good friend and his group of guys have a great time together. They play xBox almost every day of the week and wear their headsets so they can talk to each other and scream a lot -- either in the agony of defeat or the glory of a victory royale in Fortnite.

For his party they jumped to heart's content at the trampoline park and played dodgeball. Then we went and ate at Buffalo Wild Wings. Then I drove them all home and they screamed the whole way.
It was a great birthday and we love you so much Jack!

Favorites right now are:
Food: takis, chocolate cake
Drink: root beer
Things to do: play ukulele, play xBox