May 2020

May is usually a busy, fun-filled month and this year was no exception, despite COVID restrictions--still working from home, limited number social gatherings, and having to wear a mask everywhere.

• The lilacs came out the first week of May, I tried to get a picture but the sun was behind a cloud so they weren't very vibrant. Love lilacs, means warm weather and beautiful colors are coming. We got a Ring doorbell so we know every time something passes our house or comes to our door, and have it on video. 
• My parents came with me and Jared down to the Sand Hollow house this year. We had a great time in the sun four wheeling to Toquerville falls, kayaking in Sand Hollow, and hiking around Snow Canyon. Love getting sun and having a day off from work.
• Mother's Day was very special this year. Savanna got up early and planted flowers in my planter boxes, made a place mat, made breakfast for me (with Jared). She put balloons and streamers on the door, went on a walk with me, and then made me a cake later. I thought that was plenty then she surprised me by singing me a song she arranged on the ukulele!! She really made me feel loved on mother's day. :)
• Jared has been taking advantage of the nice weather by getting the horse on a trail ride at least once a week, sometimes twice. He gets some pretty amazing shots where he goes. His horse riding buddies take a long time to get going and get him home, but its worth it for the ride and it's taking care of the horse.
• We remodeled our basement apartment, it was looking old and haggard, and is already so tiny it really needed a face lift. It was a lot of work getting it put together by the 15th but we did it. Weston helped by making a shelf for the bathroom. 
• We love to sit on the grass and sometimes get around the fire pit to have a hot dog roast dinner. Kids are getting with friends a little more lately but for the first couple weeks of May it was still social isolation. I like to see my kids hanging out together and caught them laying on the grass once. I wish we could be outside like that all year.
• I installed some hand towel holders in my bathroom by myself, I read the instructions and everything. Fix and finish things that Jared can't quite get too. He installed the bedroom blinds though.
• I got my parents some skyrocket junipers for their yard so in a couple years they will have an actual privacy hedge on their back yard fence. That was fun work and I wiped my old man out! 
• Savanna's birthday was a highlight! We secured a table at southfork in the canyon and several family members were able to come and help us celebrate with her. Jared cooked hamburgers and hot dogs and we played kick ball and she got gifts. Her Seigmiller friends came too! Savanna worked hard making beautiful cupcakes for it too. That was the Saturday before her birthday, on her actual birthday we had a breakfast and presents, she got an air fryer, and for Sunday dinner we went to Aunt Wendy's for more barbecue. I hope she felt as loved and special as I did on Mother's day. 
• Tired though I was, we stopped by the arena with the Carpenters to show the kids the horse after Savanna's party. The kids loved it though so I'm glad we did! 
•  We had a fun Memorial Day weekend at the cabin (stopped by Lillian's grave on the way up and put the flowers on her headstone that Heidi and Gabe brought us, thanks again!) and actually were able to get some people up there to host and entertain two of the evenings! The Pugmires came Saturday and the Allreds came Sunday. We had dinner and games with both parties and really enjoyed that.
• We missed Fiora for Memorial day weekend but she had fun with Cade and his family fourwheeling and camping.
• My birthday came around after that. I was able to go to my parents the night before and receive a beautiful gift from Kynsie, a hand crocheted lamb. I loved it! Then Heidi and Gabe outdid themselves this year and came to my home at 6:45 am to help make me breakfast and give me a poster they had made with kind compliments from everyone on our family. That started the day off nice! Holly and Rachel and Mom met me in the park by the temple for sushi. I worked a regular work day other than that, Jared was very sweet and wished me a happy birthday throughout the day, and we went out to dinner at La Jolla Grove with Sav, Fiora, and Weston, and my parents. Twas a very nice day.
• Last but not least, we wished my grandma Rappleye a very happy 99th birthday (a day early) and were amazed by the bouquet of 99 roses she had received from the Terry's. We got to play some games with everyone that night, and look forward to more family fun this summer.

 

April 2020

I saw a meme that had Back to the Future characters on it and it said "Whatever you do Marty, do not go to the year 2020!" April was a blur of one same day running into the next sameness as we dealt with COVID restrictions. In some ways it was nice to not have so many places to go and things to do, less stress, and we had a lot more time together as a family, and thank Heavens Jared and my jobs were secure and we still had work to do. On the other hand we had an almost 19 year old trying to recover from a breakup, isolated in an apartment with no social activities, and furloughed from one of her jobs, a 17 year old going stir crazy and absolute sick of being in the same house all the time, but also trying like crazy not to expose herself to anything bc she works in an elderly care facility in an essential job as a CNA, and we have an almost 16 year old getting nowhere with driver's ed, not socializing or doing the sports he is so accustomed to, and whiling away the time on video games. We are opting to trust God and be still while the world recovers from this pandemic.

There were some highlights of April.

• We have actually really enjoyed having church at home with just our family. The flexibility on when and how long to do it has worked well for our teens. It is very joyful and spiritual to see Jared and Weston blessing and passing the sacrament, and we have had some of the best family gospel discussions we've ever had during our lesson time. 
• We also broke a couple quarantine rules and had some family over for Easter. It was so fun to get together with cute nieces and nephews and my parents and siblings to celebrate the resurrection and hunt for eggs. 
• Starting the marco polo app has been an amazingly fun way to connect with family and friends while we have been limited in our socializing time. I've seen more of my sisters than I usually do because of marco polo!
• Its been nice to not have to drive to work and I've been able to have more relaxing mornings taking time to exercise and spend time with Jared. (It was still too cold for me in April, but may is looking nice! When its cold all the time I very appreciate the warm.)
• We got away to the cabin for a couple days, to get out of the house, and took Trevan with us
• Sav, Fiora, and I took a hike one day up to the G and it was the first warm day of the year so it was glorious.
• Savanna improved our spare room and made a Jesus wall, it's so beautiful!
• Fiora passed her CNA certification tests! She is so smart and awesome and doing good in her CNA job.
• My parents and sisters spent a night at our Scera house while Fiora and I grandma sat. Jared and Weston took a nice bike ride while we were away. Sav came over that Saturday while I was at mom's and we took a fun walk to the park in Cedar Hills.
• Trying to spend more time outside--on the deck, setting up the tramp, walking the trail, chalk art, or sitting on the porch. God has blessed us even in the midst of a trial.