Happy 7th Birthday, Sully!

 

Happy Birthday, Graham!

 

Happy Birthday, Lucy Goosy!

 

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah!

Back before everything was shut down....again, we decided to take the older boys ziplining up on the North Shore.  It was such a fun adventure!  

 

Another Update...

 Whelp...looks like another couple months have passed and I need to update.  Not a whole lot has transpired since my last entry, but it seems like a weird time in history and in our lives, so it should be documented, right?

The boys didn't end up going back to school in person.  We are 100% online for now.  The COVID numbers were rising quickly here on Oahu, so they decided to start with distance learning.  A lot of the country is doing the same thing, with the exception of more rural areas.  Although, a lot of Utah is open to at least a hybrid set-up.  Every other day at school.  

I'm struggling quite a bit with feelings of jealousy and discontent.  I'm trying to keep them in check, but it's been tough.  Many of our friends are able to do sports, travel, go to school part-time, etc.  We're in another shutdown here.  Beaches are closed (we're able to surf, which is great, but no hang time on the beach is permitted), hikes are closed, no sports.  We're really only supposed to be in groups of 5 or less with the exception of family members.  Such a weird time.  Politics and the election year seems to play a huge role in what's closed and what's not.  Mask wearing is mandated here.  When you read the articles and news that is put out, you can't get a clear picture as to what's happening in the world.  There is sooo much covid testing going on and the number of positive cases is astronomical, but the huge majority of those people are asymptomatic.  It's hard to see the end game.  

In the meantime, private schools are still open, so I am working Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from around 8:00-12:00.  Jason is teleworking Tuesdays and Wednesdays and every other Thursday, but it's tricky for him to get things done while facilitating and helping the kids move forward with their online schedules.  We're working it out, though.  Hopefully they'll be back in school part time next quarter, but we're trying not to get our hopes up.  

The boys are doing okay.  There is so, so, so much screen time happening and I'm trying to not micromanage and over kill the talking and reminding about balance, but I struggle with that.  I worry all the time that I'm giving them complexes about food and screen time.  I do feel that ultimately, I'm doing the best I can.  I know the Lord will fill in the gaps and we'll come out okay.  

The last couple of weeks, we've been discussing where we will move next summer.  It's time to rotate to the next job.  There's lots of talk about California (Oceanside, San Diego,  Port Hueneme, Monterrey), Washington state or possibly even staying here for another tour.  It's hard to know what will be best for the family.  We want to go where we are needed and where the Lord directs us.  We're working through that now.  I've been researching all of the places.  Looking at schools in the area, recreational activities and trying to get an idea what the housing will be like.  It feels daunting because Jason wants to stay and I feel very, very ready to leave Hawaii.  I don't know if that's just because of the stagnant state we're in because of Covid.  I have a hard time picturing Graham at any of the high schools here.  We're seeking the Lord's direction.  I know it will all work out and clarity on the path we should take will come.  

One of my classes at Navy Hale Keiki.  We did a unit in August that included games using Hula Hoops.  

Sully lost both of his front teeth!  I need to snag a picture of both missing teeth.  

Grateful that there are lots of little boys for Sully to play with.  We see Townsend, John and Miles a lot around here in the afternoons.  As I type this, Sully and Miles are playing with balloons we had blown up for Graham's birthday.  

Life Update July 2020

I've felt like we are due for an update, so here it goes:

We are back from Utah and it is a STRUGGLE!  We spent four weeks with family and friends.  We had a fun-packed time.  Lots of people surrounded us the whole time.  We're lonely and in quarantine for the next two weeks.  

It took us a while to decide when and if we would go on the trip.  With COVID numbers still strange and scary, we weren't sure it was the right decision.  Jason had taken leave to spend 3 weeks with us there, but found out his command wouldn't allow him to go and then quarantine for 2 weeks upon his return.  We held out hope that he would be able to join us once July hit, but no such luck.  

I'll get around to journaling about the adventures we had in Utah.  We were go, go, go and there were kids everywhere all the time, but we miss them all terribly.  I've cried on and off since we got back and I'm struggling today.  

We came home to many of our friends having moved away.  The Baggett family is gone.  Graham and Ben's best buddies are in their fam.  Eli and Turner.  The Forch's are gone...Drew.  And one of my closest friends, Caitlin Whittle, has left with her family to Virginia.  We're all sad and depressed.  

School is going to be strange.  Hawaii has decided to do a blended experience for schools this year.  The boys will be going Tuesdays and Thursdays and Graham will also go every other Friday.  They'll be doing online assignments on the other days.  They'll have to wear masks.  I took a job at Navy Hale Keiki Private school as their Physical Education specialist.  It's only 3 days a week and about 6 hours a day, but I've been so anxious about whether it's the right choice.  We've decided that Jason will telework one of the days I'm working so the boys aren't ever here alone trying to do school work.  We'll see how it goes.  I've started planning activities and units.  Minimal equipment and lots of social distance games required.  

One of the hardest parts about leaving Utah was leaving Lucy.  It makes me cry thinking about it.  I don't think I was ready!  I thought I'd be able to go back in August to help her settle in to her apartment, but the quarantine has been prolonged and I don't think I'll be able to.  She got a job at Wingers as a waitress in Kaysville until school starts at USU.  She's living with Beth and I'm so jealous!  

I let myself fantasize to much about living there.  I was looking at the prices of homes and thought a lot about what it would be like to live close to my parents and help them.  I get panicked when I think about them getting older while we live away.  I wish my kids lived near their cousins and were making more memories with them.  

So...we'll keep truckin' along.  Taking it one day at a time.  Just me and the boys here...missing Lucy Goose and wishing the years could rewind, but wanting them to speed up so we can live closer.  Such a weird time to be a mom.  I hope she's ready and she knows how loved she is.  My heart breaks thinking about missed opportunities to help her feel the Spirit and helping her know how extraordinary she is.  

Easter 2020/Jason's B-day

We did our best to celebrate our favorite guy on his birthday this year.  Quarantine life made it harder than expected.  We bought slices of different cakes from the bowling alley (he loves the chocolate).  We played a trivia game to see how much the kids know about him.  Lucy made him a sweet video, too.  Hopefully, he felt the love.  

Easter was a little different this year.  I had to plan ahead and order some things online, but all were happy!  We were together, so we had a lot of time to discuss the Savior and His Resurrection.  

Jason wanted to try something different this year.  He made these chocolate eggs for the kids to decorate.  It got pretty funny.  He learned what things to do differently next year (maybe smaller one?) and we'll try again.  

Front Porch Project

Quarantine life has been crazy...that's for sure.  So many unknowns and "not sure" moments.  Emotions are high, but I'm grateful for this time with the family.  With Lucy leaving in the fall, I see this time as a gift.  The kids are spending way more time than they ever would have on their own.  Games, movies, meals, scripture study.  

Grateful for this time with these people.  

COVID-19 Quarantine Update 2

Well, we finished week two of the quarantine.  It kinda feels like we're living in an alternate universe or something.  Almost like we're part of a movie or like we're being punk'd.

I'd like to say we're settling in, and we are somewhat, but there's also a lot of fighting and frustration. Along with that, there are moments when I know we are all grateful for this pause and time together.

The kids get restless and tire of my nagging a little earlier in the morning than I wish.  We are trying to do some schoolwork and have some kind of a routine.  We got official word that the kids will be out of school at least until April 30th.  Most of the teachers have contacted us and we're hoping to start doing some distance learning starting Monday.

Jason is on a rotating schedule at work.  Starting this week, he'll go into work one week and telework from home the next week.  We'll see how that goes.  It's a little stressful having him come and go.  We're trying to only go to the grocery store once every two weeks.

It's devastating hearing about all the death and sickness in the world.  Different countries and states are doing different measures of "shelter in place".  So much judgement about who is doing the social distancing correctly and going out more than they should.  My siblings have had squabbles about it multiple times.

Jason has taken over the dinner prep and making.  It's awesome!  He's been making homemade bread and rolls for our meals.  Definitely a bright spot in our day.

I've been trying to do some Primary stuff from a distance.  Posting videos and lesson helps on the Halawa Ward Facebook page.  Trying to connect in some way.  My fitness group is obviously on hiatus.  We all miss getting together and having the energy during workouts, but it's okay.  I'm still posting MWF workouts on the Facebook page and people are posting times.  My friend, Ali, and I have done some workouts via FaceTime.

All in all, we're healthy and sometimes happy.  Haha!  We are joining the rest of the church in a worldwide fast for healing tonight and tomorrow.  Looking forward to conference.

Oh yeah...last night we finished a music video that the kids made of Panic at the Disco's version of "Into the Unknown" from Frozen 2.  The Perry's challenged us to a lip sync battle.  It was stressful and anxiety ridden, but it turned out pretty dang funny.

Lucy the AGGIE

The legacy continues!  Lucy Jane got in to USU and will be going in the fall!