Vegas Baby!

Chad and I decided the perfect way to kick off summer was a family trip to Las Vegas.  Flights were such a good deal that for the first time we were able to fly home instead of drive 18 hours.  It was amazing!  The flight only had 17 people on it (including us) due to coronavirus.  You had to wear masks at the airport and during boarding but we were able to take them off once we got in the air.

The boys took advantage of an empty plane and all chose a window seat.  I don't blame them...

We stayed with Chad's parents and had so much fun.  They had lots of ideas of things to do and the kids never had a chance to be bored.  We took lots of trips to the park, plenty of games, watched some movies, and of course some chatting too.

At the park we played bocce ball, kickball, croquet, flew kites, rode bikes, and walked around. We were able to enjoy lots of outside time.

Mariah introduced us to a new game called Heist.  Well the four of us were able to unlock the secret level and finish it perfectly which apparently they hadn't been able to do before.  We were all pretty proud of ourselves.

The boys played games on the iPad with Grandma too.

They also introduced us to a new outdoor game called Ramp Shot.  I think we are going to buy it now.  You can never have too many backyard games in our opinion.

Swim Lessons

This was Sutton's final year of swim lessons.  We love Miss Randa!!!  This is our fourth year of lessons with her and she has turned him into a fantastic swimmer.

 He has gotten really good at back floats!

 He also really improved at diving down to the bottom of the pool.

 I love that I happened to catch this picture of him flexing his muscles to the rest of his class.

 The big celebration at the end of the two weeks is getting to jump off the ledge into the pool.

 Thanks for everything Miss Randa!!!

Way to go Sutton! I'm so proud of how strong of a swimmer you have become.  You are fearless and love the water.

Preschool Graduate

After four years at First United Methodist Preschool, Sutton has officially graduated from preschool!!!  The time has flown by and it definitely feels like a chapter of our lives is coming to an end.  Each year he has moved one room closer to the end of the hallway.  We love passing by our old teachers and it seems kind of crazy that we won't be back next fall!

 He is so, SO ready for kindergarten.  He (and Keller) can't wait to take the bus and go to school.  Sutton assures me that he will miss me but not so much that he doesn't want to go.  

 He is so different at school than at home.  His teachers tell me all about how shy and quiet he is.  Every once in awhile he will open up but he usually quietly obeys their instructions, never wanting the spotlight on him.  At home he is so full of personality and always silly that I can barely believe their description of him.  

 At the end of each school day Miss Amy, the school's director, hands out suckers to the kids.  We had to snap a picture of his very last sucker from Miss Amy!

 After taking graduation pictures and receiving his end of the year book, we got lunch and sat in the car while he told me about each paper.  He was so proud of his hard work and he seemed so big.  Too big...

 When we came home, he immediately showed his brothers and Daddy all of his papers.  They were sweet to oh and ah over each page.

 I love the fun crafts they do because doing crafts at home isn't really my thing.

 My favorite part were the letters from his teachers at the end of the book.  We loved them and are so grateful for how they have helped prepare him for kindergarten next year.

Sutton - Each milestone with you is a mixed bag of emotions.  I'm always excited for your next adventure but a little part of me grieves the loss of never having another child enter whatever stage you just completed.  I can't really imagine what it will be like next year having you gone for so much of the day.  I know you're ready and will do great but I'll miss our special time before and after preschool, especially Mom/Sutton Fridays.  

Of course I'm also excited to see what this next chapter holds for me.  A nearly 13 year phase of having a child at home is coming to a close.  Although it's a welcome change, the unknown can be uncomfortable.  I want to be really intentional with how I choose to spend my time and want to make sure I'm still pushing myself to grow, give, learn, etc.  It will be a year of firsts for both Sutton and me!

Goodbye forever preschool!

New Vans

Vance designed everyone in our family a pair of custom Vans for something to do one day.  Well we all really liked them and decided it would be fun to own these Vance-originals.  They finally arrived and I think they're freaking awesome!

Mill Creek Ranch

With nothing on our calendar and a beautiful weather forecast, we decided a quick camping trip was in order.  We headed to our favorite nearby spot - Mill Creek Ranch.  

 One of my most favorite views is watching the boys explorer together.  I love watching them ride away on their bikes.  It always warms my heart and reminds me to enjoy the now because before I know it the boys will be grown.

 Seriously the view does not get much better than this!

 Keller wanted to stop to take a few pictures with the dogs.  It cracks me up that their tongues are hanging out.  I think we wore them out!

 Chad and I headed home after one night to keep working on some unfinished house projects.  My parents were amazing enough to let the boys stay another day with them.  It was nice to be productive without worrying about them being bored!

Until next time Mill Creek!

Coronavirus

The global pandemic of coronavirus has turned our lives upside down.  Things are happening I never thought possible.  Someone posted this on Facebook and I thought it was a good summary of what is happening right now.  

Just so I NEVER forget...

* Gas price a mile from home was $1.21
* School cancelled for the rest of the school year  (no graduation, no prom, no senior skip day distance learning in place)
*Parents are having to figure out how to homeschool multiple children through virtual learning.
* Many parents are learning to juggle working from home with homeschooling 
*Self-distancing measures everywhere you go (6 feet away from others at all times
* Tape on the floors at grocery stores and others to help distance shoppers (6ft) from each other
* Limited number of people inside stores, therefore, lineups outside the store doors
* Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed
* Gyms, Parks, trails, entire cities locked up
*Airports are essentially empty with no one flying 
*Unemployment numbers have skyrocketed to unprecedented levels
*Some still question the legitimacy of the seriousness of the virus even though the global medical community all agrees how devastating the damage could be if we do not all do our parts
* Entire sports seasons cancelled at various school and professional levels (NCAA, NBA, UFC, NHRA, MLB, Hockey all of it)
*We are interacting with friends via Zoom and Facetime.  Some are meeting friends in parking lots, parking 6 feet apart and talking while sitting in their trunks just to get a little face-to-face interaction
* Concerts, tours, festivals, rodeos, entertainment events - cancelled
*Movie Theaters are closed 
*Many employees are having their temperatures taken before being able to start their shifts
* Weddings, funerals, family celebrations, holiday gatherings - cancelled, postponed or limited to 10 people
*Churches are closed and preachers jailed for allowing large gatherings. online service available
* Shouldn't socialize with anyone outside of your home
* Children's outdoor play parks are closed
* Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line medical workers
* Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill
* No visitors allowed in hospitals or nursing homes to visit sick or dying loved ones
* Panic buying sets in and we have NO TOILET PAPER, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towel no laundry soap, no hand sanitizer. 
* Shelves are bare, but getting better. It took weeks to find bread, milk, eggs & flour.
* Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks, hand sanitizer and PPE
* Government closes the border to all non-essential travel
* Fines are established for breaking the rules
* Stadiums, convention centers, and recreation facilities open up for the overflow of Covid-19 patients
* Press conferences daily from the President and governor. Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths
* Government incentives to stay home
*Massive government stimulus plans (in the trillions) to help the tragic downfall of our economy
* Barely anyone on the roads
* People wearing masks and gloves outside
* Essential service workers are terrified to go to work, while medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families.

A few positives are coming out of this as well.  Society has slowed down.  We are no longer racing from one commitment to the next.  We are finding joy in simple pleasures like doing a puzzle and going on walks.  The kids have really stretched their imaginations and are more creative during the day.

Why, you ask, do I write this status?
As a reminder that life is precious and not to take the things we dearly love for granted.
Be thankful.
Be grateful.
Be kind.
Love one another.

Stay safe!

Puppy love

I think the puppies are most definitely loving quarantine life.  They are smothered with love and attention just about all day long.  They were going to be mighty sad when school goes back in the fall.  

I love how much the boys love Autumn and Babe.  They had to talk me into dogs but I'm so glad I caved.  It has been so good for them and possibly for me too ;)