Good Friday

Our family of 6 are participating in the World Wide Fast today. Praying as a family for our healthcare workers, families effected by COVID-19, for the pandemic to be controlled, the economy and life to be normalized. Our children are 12.11.8.6 and I am so proud that they are working their faith with 1000s of others today! One of the kids closed the kitchen last night to remind us this morning. 😉 “Lunch time” today will be decorating Easter Eggs to keep our minds and hands busy 

We had a very quiet Good Friday here. Justin worked today, and I am still not feeling well- so it was pretty low key. The kids played on iPads for the majority of the day- and I don't feel bad about it. I napped on and off trying to get better and the kids were troopers for fasting all day.

Barker had the hardest time and Remy was pretty hungry to- but they did it and we are so happy for them. Today at lunch time we dyed Easter eggs together. Remy was thrilled as she missed last year, due to being sick. She did dye eggs later but by herself. The kids commented on how it is much funner to do with cousins, and we reminisced about all the fun things we usually do at Easter. 

They wanted to do a bit more crafting after the egg dying so we did some shaving cream art- an egg each and a paper to write a note on! Annaliesse went first and they were all hooked after watching her turn. For Dinner we broke our fast with Buffalo Shredded Chicken bowls. They were super tasty, but we needed more toppings... we need to go grocery shopping :) 

Catapult/Slingshot 4th Anniversary

Barker and Kalia have been begging for Justin to set up the slingshot. Justin was under the impression he burnt the darn thing- for a reason..  But those 2 stinkers found it- I think they hid it on the side of the house, FYI. It was a lovely day. 

The kids, Grandma and I had already gone on a long walk, the kids and I did school in the morning and now its Easter Break, and they had a hour or so of screen time while I stopped at the grocery store. I was hanging in the screen room minding my own business, after a full day already, snuggling Remy. Kalia and Barker were playing on the trampoline and remembered once again about the Slingshot. So Kalia and Barker dragged it out of behind the house and ask me to attach it to the base. 

I did so- badly. Burnt my fingers on the screws, but in the end it was working. We needed a truck to transport the slingshot so we called Grandma and Grandpa to come and get us to play. Over to a green space on the way to the river we went and played for an hour with the slingshot. It was 14 degrees outside and we knew the snow was coming- we really enjoyed being outside. 

It seemed fitting we should play with it today as Justin built it for us 4 years ago almost exactly! This catapult/slingshot has provided us with hours of fun- and right now with social isolating and no playgrounds open, there are only so many walks the kids wanna go on! 

Daddy was working- hoping that he would be able to join us but we met him just as we were leaving. We stopped for Slurppies on the way home- as the kids kept insisting they were SOOO HOT. 

Tonight we ate a big supper as are fasting tomorrow. Our favourite meal to start a fast seems to be Burgers and fry and all the fixings. I started talking about something to Justin and Kalia yells TMI!! Annaliesse says "have this conversation when we are not around. But we are always around so never have it" She laughed and laughed and laughed at herself. For like a solid 4 minutes. She has my sense of humour and its so fun to watch her develop it!

Hide and GO seek round 3

Wednesday no happy stories of Home Schooling cause no one was happy.
It was hands down the nightmare you imagine 4 kids being homeschooled CAN be.
The kids had Piano at Grandmas at 1:00pm (Yes we are Social Distancing with my parents) and I texted Grandma and told her NOT to send my kids home anytime soon.

She responded with ok- I got 4 glorious hours. I cleaned the house. Showered. Blogged and listened to my music loud. It was the perfect break I needed.

Turns out it was a good break for the kids too. They came home happy and so kind. Remy asked Kalia to her a story. She sat down and read it to Remy, while Remy went potty, danced and found her shoes. Kalia just kept on reading. I gotta say I am not sure I would have kept reading out loud when my audience was moving all over the place.

Barker and Remy also played Shopkins for a while before we headed out.

We played another round of Hide and Go Seek Social Distancing style! I invited a few friends on Facebook Messenger to come and play. We had 15 cars play for 2 hours! For future reference we played with Grandma and Grandpa, Smiths (in 2 cars), Conways, Lees, Erins friend Erin, Beazely's (2 cars), Buchanans, Negrych's (2 cars), Cathy Anderson & Cole, Lauren and her kids and Lawlors.

Guys we had so much fun. First time  Erin was it and second time we played it Sardine style with Lauren it. I highly recommend this as having a break from inside your house. We all stayed in our cars (for the most part) explained the rules and chatted through the open car windows. We laughed together and caught up with each other.

Parables

Today Remy wrote a story about Justin finding a nail in his truck tire. Daddy in her story was much more concerned about it then the real Daddy.

Barker had a class meeting on Google classroom and he was thrilled. He smiled and laughed it was sooo sweet to watch him interact with his class.

Annaliesse working on my bed cause the iPad was dead.

Kalia trying to convince Remy to do her homework for her...

Remy went into her happy place this afternoon making a paper chain while watching Full House. Annaliesse really wanted to make Soft Pretzels, this recipe was a more intermediate recipe so it needed a bit more help form Mom- especially after she accidentally added to much flour.

We also made a cheese sauce to go with the pretzels which was supper yummy!

Tonight we discussed how Jesus teaches Parables. Kalia read and told us about Talents. Annaliesse read and told us about the 10 virgins. Barker and Mommy did Widows Might and Remy and Daddy did The Kings Son.

After we read them and explained them the kids built the Parables out of LEGOs. It was such a good evening of discussion and family time :)

Stache, Learning at Home and Dinner

Justin and some work buddies decided this day would be a good day to shave...

Guys I have nothing nice to say about it- but Justin loves it.

He has had it for a week now and I still detest it. 

He is loving it. Monday morning they have a work meeting- the men that weren't in on the joke were shocked at Justins face. Apparently every time he opened his mouth to say something they would respond with "I can't take you seriously looking like that!!"

 Juggling 4 in Home School has its own challenges. 

Remy is doing Knowledge hook on the iPad and Barker is doing the same thing on the laptop.

Kalia was doing Math worksheets and Annaliesse was on the computer downstairs.

There are VERY few seconds they are all busy without needing help- so I drank it in.

Around here we do Home schooling from 9:30 am- noon. Yes it is longer then 1 hour a day- but juggling between all 4 it works out to about that. Daddy got home right before lunch and I was helping Kalia with something as Remy was following me around asking me to paint her nails. Which I was- but school had to finish first! So Daddy painted while Kalia and I did school, Barker played on Justins phone and Annaliesse waited till we could go on our walk. We walked after lunch- enjoying the sun.

I posted this picture with Barker and I on Instagram with this caption. Barker has always hated to read and they were working hard at school to bring his reading level up to snuff. Barker refuses to read to me and will only read to Daddy. So he does his home reading at night while the other kids do theirs durning the afternoon. 

This home schooling stuff takes a ton of energy, love, patience, long suffering and grit. That boy on my shoulder is giving me a run for my money- one of us needs to learn how to read better and the other needs a Dr Pepper ASAP.

Sunday evening after General Conference we made a Roast for dinner. 

This is probably the third time I have done a roast as we always have them at Grandma and Grandpas! We had high hopes Justin and I as we have seen them doing it countless times... and it kinda sucked. It was sooo tough and left a lot to be desired. 

It was a massive roast and I was NOT going to waste all the leftover meat- Grandma suggested I do a stew but we are kinda stewed out over here. I found a ton of stew meat in the bottom of the freezer in January and we ate stew a LOT. So instead I made Easy Pepper Stake

I was sooo good.

Totally redeemed the roast and everyone liked it except Annaliesse.

Annaliesse is usually our best eater but she didNOT like this one bit. Kalia liked it all except the green onion slices. We were discussing at the dinner table what Mommy could add next time- broccoli, and more peppers. Remy goes "What are these green things??" And before I could answer Kalia pipes in "Poison" 

We all laughed and laughed- it is NOT as funny when I type it- but it was hilarious in the moment. 

General Conference April 2020

General Conference Weekend!

There are so many reasons to remember this amazing weekend.

• We watched General Conference at our house- this seems small eh? Previously we have watched Sunday's sessions at Grandma and Grandpas house with the whole famdamily. It was also normal to watch Saturdays sessions every so often. We watched at our own homes doing our regular commentary via what's up app. 
• It was a digital only General Conference for the world. 
• Our Prophet Russel M Nelson announced the Hosanna Shout would be preformed Sunday morning session- our children's first experience with the shout.
• It was the Bicentennial Celebration of The First Vision
• The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World was read to us from the Sacred Grove by our Prophet. 
• A second World Wide Fast was announced for April 10th that the present Pandemic may be controlled, Healthcare Workers be protected, our economy strengthened and life return to normal. 
• A New Symbol of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was introduced. A new symbol that focuses on the Savior, Jesus Christ, and represents His central role in the Church.

On top of all of these things, the talks were amazing. Our hearts were touched by the Holy Ghost as we listened to the 5 sessions with out children. Our testimonies were strengthened as we gathered with Saints around the globe to listen to our apostles. My spirit is ready for the next phase of life and being a disciple of Christ.

Being Real about this Week

 I have struggled to write this one- I want the kids to look back on this weird time with happy memories. This photo was going around Facebook and I WISH for this.

That is what we want for our 4 kids- but this week it was hard. Mommy was no longer working full time so we were adjusting to Mommy taking on the schooling full time. Adjusting to Daddy not working very much, and Daddy has a very hard time sitting around the house. Adjusting to doing MORE school work then when Mr Moxley was in-charge. Mommy exhibits her stress with getting headaches, cold sores and infections. Daddy exhibits his stress by not being the kindest person. 

So this week was really hard. We got through it- by the skin of our teeth but we managed. 

There were lots of good parts to the week to. Daddy and Remy's discussion while Daddy clipped her toenails. The quiet happy times everyone was working on an assignment with out crying, whining or needing help. AND the awesome way I get to see up close and personal what each of my kids needs more help in:

Kalia reading comprehension specifically how to read a question right and answer it with information asked for.

Annaliesse slowing down and reading the entire question or assignment. She HAS to be first done and handed in- ALWAYS.

Barker hates reading. HATES it. There has been more tears over words in this house than we care to admit. But he doesn't mind reading Sports books on Epic and Magic Tree House to Daddy- but he HATES reading to Mommy. Which we actually already knew- hence his home reading this year has been almost nonexistent. 

Remy needs help or direction ALL THE TIME. This has more to do with her age/grade level then needing that much help. Reading needs to be done out loud so Mommy can make sure her words are right- spelling out loud, site words out loud ect... 

Another awesome thing this week, we played Hide and Go Seek with Cars!

TWICE.

We played Monday night with Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Lindsay, Uncle Mark and the girls, and Aunt Laura. 4 cars. The rules are pretty much the same for regular hide and seek but you play in your cars! 1 person was it. Everyone else drove away and hid in the boundaries we set up. Once you "hid" you had to park and not move. The finder went and looked for everyone, once your car got found with a honk and laugh, you helped  drive around and find the others. Really it is as fun as you make it in your car. Your still socially isolating but playing with friends! We had a blast and can't wait to play again this week. 

Wednesday night we played with Smiths, Conways and Mark and Lindsay again! We tried Sardines along with Hide and Go seek and it was just as fun! We highly recommend it, if you need a out of your house but to stay with in the Social Isolating boundaries :)