Mermaids!

Aunt Laura is the best! Back in March while we were in Arizona she kept asking Kiersten what she wanted for her birthday. Kiersten told her a mermaid tail. So when Aunt Laura found these at Walmart she grabbed one for each of the girls.

The day was made even better when Brad and Pam brought the girls orange creamsicle slushees from Eegees! Perfect treat on a hot day.

Mt.Lemmon

With the temperature rising in Tucson it seemed like the perfect opportunity to head up to cooler temps. The girls had never been to Mt. Lemmon in all our trips to Tucson, and I hadn't been there in at least 15 years so Laura and I ventured up the mountain with a car full of girls.

The drive up seems to take forever. But it was such a great lesson to talk to the girls about all the different ecosystems you pass through on the way up. You pass through at least 3 different ecosystems. The bottom has Saguaro Cactus, road runners and geckos. By the time you get to the top there are Evergreens, chipmunks, red tail hawks and even bears. We didn't see any bears...thank goodness for that.

There is the best little German restaurant up on the top, and they serve the most amazing pies. Due to Covid-19 they were closed but a few other places were open. But first we stopped for a picnic lunch. After we ate in the picnic area we took a quick walk along the creek. Then Kiersten, Leah and I decided to go for a hike a little bit higher. I made Hattie stay behind but quickly realized it would have been simple for her. So I was heading back down to get her, but she was already on her way up. It was cool to be able to be on the trails with all my girls...I just wish Mitch would've been with us.

After we wrapped up our quick hike, we stopped at the General Store. They offered all sorts of treats but we heard the Fudge was amazing so we went with the fudge. The temperature at the top was about 70 degrees and once we got to the bottom we were back at 100. We'll definitely do it again sometime, but next time daddy has to come, too!

Head West

We couldn't take it. Illinois was bringing us down. All five of us in one house, no where to go...it didn't take us long to decide to jump in the car and drive back to Arizona. With Leah's birthday and mother's day coming up we figured it would be nice for us to be able to celebrate together. And of course we love being able to be outdoors...hiking, biking and swimming every day! We’ve done some impressive chalk work at Gigi and Papa’s and we’ve had amazing views for working from home and distance learning. We’ll enjoy it while it lasts.

Hattie Potter

We’re just so darn excited over here!!! Back in early September Hattie brought the 1st Harry Potter book home from the library (we own it, but that’s beside the point). Despite getting reading intervention the year before she insisted reading it in 2nd grade because her sisters did. Fast forward 6 months and we’re sheltered in place due to #covid19 She’s got plenty of time!!! So tonight she finished the Sorcerers Stone AND she passed the accelerated reading test!!! Officially all 3 of my girls read Harry Potter with the wonderful Mrs. Hatayama!!! Needless to say, Miss Hattie is out on a Dairy Queen run with her dad right now.

Same old

There really isn’t much to report. It’s hard to find things to write about when you’re sheltered in place and can’t leave your house. The girls are still plugging away at their distance learning plan which is a good thing because the governor has now cancelled school for the rest of the school year, and extended Illinois Shelter in Place until May 30th.  We’re getting used to our new “normal”.

In the mean time we’re getting creative. I made a walking desk with the treadmill in the basement. The girls have gotten creative practicing swim on the kitchen countertop, and we even used Zoom to have piano lessons with Miss Abbey. Hattie has created a wonderful picture for Earth Day. The biggest news is that we’re going back to Arizona for a few weeks. We need a change of scenery and the girls will love having cousins to play with again!

Memes of Covid-19

Remember that time that the entire country shut down...You could only leave your house to go to the store, or work. If you were deemed essential, that is. If you were working from home, it was rough. Because not only were you working, you were helping your kids get through school while your husband was on call, after call, after call...because he too is working from home.

There was no toilet paper to be found anywhere. And the country was obsessed with Tiger King. Did Carole Baskin kill her husband? We may never know. We sat on our couches in our pajamas and streamed our church services, even on Easter Sunday. And for 4 straight weeks we had dinner together every single night. While we miss all our activities, swim, dance, tumbling, piano...the slower pace has given us the opportunity for plenty of family time.

Sometimes though, we (mostly me) spent way too much time exchanging memes with my awesome co-workers and friends. These are a few of my favorites.

Veggie tales was a huge hit when I was in High School and college. Leah and Kiersten have seen several episodes. Not sure about Hattie. So this one definitely made me chuckle. Now excuse me, I need to go listen to "Oh where is my hairbrush!" I was a Sunday School teacher and a preschool teacher during this time and I knew LOTS of Veggietale tunes!

Now this one...oh my! The Burger King logo has been replaced with Tiger King. The Costco logo is playing on the band name "Panic at the Disco" with Panic at the Costco...because seriously American's have lost their minds and are hoarding things like toilet paper and bottled water and more. And the milk carton with the toilet paper roll...Once upon a time, missing kids were shared on milk cartons. Believe it or not I remember those days. So toilet paper...because no one can find any, anywhere! I sent this to our Junior High History teachers, Mr. Kendall and Mr. Bradley!

My girls have seen Willy Wonka or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory numerous times, so this one actually made them giggle. 

How can we not share Mr. Kendall's famous commute to work meme! He's riding on Knox and 

Ollie's Powerwheels, Big Gulp in hand. Too Funny! Thanks for the laugh, neighbor Angie. 

And this one is just beyond fitting, because if you read my last post, you know this is how we celebrated Easter with our family. Thank goodness for Zoom keeping us connected!

Happy Easter, 2020

There just aren't any words. I saw something on Facebook this morning. It said "The Churches are empty, but the good news is, so is the tomb." I don't know the last time I wasn't in church on Easter. So thankful that St. John's was hosting services with Facebook Live. Mitch was able to hook the computer up to the TV so we could stream it at home. As I predicted we were all in our pajamas. But we were there, on our couches, together singing hymns of praise. Hattie was belting out her hymns of praise. It was sweet and made me smile.

Lunch was a group effort. Mitch baked a ham and helped Leah with corn casserole. He and Kiersten made deviled eggs, because is it really even Easter if you don't have those?!?! Hattie made the green bean casserole with my help, and of course Kiersten and I did the birds nest for dessert. It made it all feel a little more normal to have the comfort foods. Tonight we have two different zoom calls to chat and celebrate with family. Here's to hoping we can all be together next year!