Miss Marian

Marian is a LOT of fun...

She learned how to do face painting for the school musical...which got canceled after just one night (thanks Corona)  Here I am being her lucky guinea pig.

 Marian is incredibly artistic.  I need to take more pictures of her artwork because it is always beautiful and so full of joy!

This picture is B.C. (Before Corona) when Marian and I had a girls night.  We made Monte Cristo Crepes and stayed up late watching Tall Girl (loved it) on Netflix.

This is how Marian "home schools" right now.  I never have to remind her to get her school work done and I almost never have to remind her to get off youtube and get back to actual school work.

Marian is a natural nurturer.  I don't think I have pictures of all the kids sleeping on the tramp (which they have done multiple times already this year) but in the morning, the twins always tell me how Marian kept checking on them to see if they were warm enough and if they have everything they need.  How sweet is that?

Whenever Rosie eats someone's stuffed animal's nose off, they take it straight to Marian because they know she'll fix it right away.  If they bring it to me...they know it might never get fixed!

Last week she taught Gracie how to tie her shoelaces, made Grant a money jar out of a 7-up bottle and yesterday she went exploring for potato bugs (Rolly Pollys) with Gracie and then helped Grace put holes in a jar lid and filled it with grass etc... so Grace could keep them.  They caught four of them.  With a little encouragement from Marian, they were named John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

 She's also been helping Lucy learn hymns on the ukulele and consequently we have had the most amazing musical numbers at our "home church" sacrament meetings.

Marian is also the best...I mean it, the BEST babysitter we have ever had.  I used to wish for a babysitter like her.  The kind that actually played with the kids (not just watches tv with them), left the house cleaner than they found it, and had the kids in bed when you got home.  And frequently there are freshly baked cookies waiting for you too.

Everyone needs a Marian in their life!

I love it when...

My kids, like all kids come to me with an endless stream of questions.  Sometimes the questions are sincere and valid.  But only sometimes.  I just LOVE it when my kids ask questions like these:


Is this dinner going to be any good?

Is the movie that you picked for family movie night going to be boring?

Why aren't you doing it like the person on tv? (asked when I'm working out at home)

My screen time is up can you give me more time? (This is especially endearing when the request is sent via text 99 times)

{insert heart emojis here}

I usually just smile a slightly annoyed smile in response to these inquiries but I'd really like to say...

"No, this dinner that I spent an hour making is going to be totally disgusting but I thought it would be fun to make it and serve it anyway and of course I picked a movie that I think none of you will like because I want movie night to be a bomb.

Yay for kids!

Corona Break Week 1

So Covid-19 is happening.  It's pretty much insane.  We are in week four of quarantine and it's hard to know what day of the week it is lately!  Here are some random details from the 1st week.

When I had  a hunch school was going to get canceled I went straight to the library and loaded up on as many books as I could checkout with my card.  Turned out to be a genius move since the libraries closed the next day.

Job Charts- I updated them for "Corona-break" and none of my kids were very impressed with the add-ons...journal, 60 minutes reading, outside time,  and 1 hour of exercise. 

Disney made the book Stargirl into a movie.  Jack Marian and Lucy have all read it so we watched the movie and it was pretty cute.  Love that Grace Vanderwhatever.

Lucy's birthday was complete with Leprechaun kisses and chocolate-gold filled shoes hidden throughout the house.  Usually I'm a total procrastinator with gifts but luckily I had already gotten Lucy's presents.  She got some new clothes, a journal and markers, and some books she'd been wanting.  She really likes graphic novels and there are actually a lot of really great ones out there!

To celebrate we had chocolate chip pancakes with the family  then Lucy and I got drive-thru lunch from a little bakery cafe we like and ate in the fresh air and sunshine at the park.

Per Lucy's request we played Sardines (reverse hide and go seek) in the complete dark!  We all had a good laugh about the fact that Chad could never win because Rosie followed him EVERYWHERE he went so he had zero chance at being sneaky.

Wednesday started off with an EARTHQUAKE.  That's right on top of all the Corona craziness there was a 5.7 earthquake that woke us awake around 7am.  It was crazy!  The chandelier was swinging, windows were rattling...crazy.

I did A LOT of puzzles.  It was VERY therapeutic

Lucy got to come to her first 10+ club and we had a blast playing Rook

The trampoline continues to be the best purchase we have ever made.  The kids spend HOURS on it every day.

Going to the grocery store is like going into battle.  It just feels weird.  I try to only go every two weeks.

Jack has taken the twins on a bunch of  bike rides and they LOVE that time with their big brother.

We went "Corona caroling" on Sunday to our friend Jack Wignall, Grandma Marian and both sets of grandparents. It was AWESOME!  Marian and Lucy played "come thou font" on their ukuleles while our whole family sang the first verse.  It was so sweet.  Jack played his cello and the whole thing was just magical.

Jack made churros a couple of times this week and they are DELICIOUS.

Marian, Lucy and I did the 30 day shred work out video every day together.  Go us.

Grace has read about 15 books so far including all of the Ramona Quimby books!

As crazy as that first week was, I LOVED it!  I loved that life slowed down (basically came to a halt) we had tons of family walks, games nights, 4-square games at the school park, and I have LOVED not having to go anywhere (pretty sure getting everyone in the car without them destroying each other before we get to our destination is the hardest thing I do as a mother.  Not having to go anywhere is pretty much a dream!  I love that we just get to be together without distractions, activities, parties, friends, even relatives...all good things but it is nice to just be able to do our own thing!

I'm sure there are people who are using this time to accomplish huge projects or other impressive tasks, but not me.  I have felt so much joy in slowing down and trying my best to enjoy being with my kids (and enjoy finding time alone...morning runs/walks have literally been essential for my sanity).   I know this pandemic is a big deal and the economy is going down the drain...both major problems....but most the time that all feels a little distant to me.  Knock on wood it stays that way.

Some pictures in no particular order

 There has been an excessive amount of fuse bead crafting going on.

 One of the many puzzles completed during "Corona-break"


Corona-Caroling

A quote that I have thought of  a lot lately.

"Social Distancing" birthday love from Grandparents

What Grace's dresser looks like most days.