Disappointing Week

This week brought 2 huge disappointments.

Disappointment #1: COVID-19 spiked here in Pleasant Grove.

In fact, they shut down the High School to readjust the schedule due to the high number of infected students. Our house is a half mile from the High School. James' preschool shares a parking lot with the High School. He was supposed to start preschool next week. I don't know who was more excited about it, me or him. Truthfully, probably me. 

Now it doesn't matter. I withdrew James from preschool. I had been feeling uncomfortable about sending him and was unsure about what to do. 2 years of preschool isn't necessary and I didn't want to put my family at risk. James will do preschool next year. I feel like the covid outbreak so near to his preschool and our house was a pretty clear answer for us. The preschool was very gracious when I let them know James was dropping. I was pleased to get a refund. I did buy James a preschool workbook a few months ago, and we do several pages in that together every day. He loves to learn and is so smart! (Coming from his unbiased mother.) We're still bummed though.

Disappointment #2: We ALMOST bought a new house!

Last weekend, we toured a home and decided to put in an offer. We tried not to get our hopes up too high, but it had good bones and was a rambler. Here is the cover letter I wrote that we attached to our offer: 

Saturday, August 29, 2020

To the Owners of the Riverton Property,

We walked through your property yesterday evening. Wow, it is everything we dream of in our future home. In fact, I was so excited about the prospect of owning this property that I didn’t sleep much last night. I grew up in the area and I’m eager to get back. Your beautiful home is in the ideal location for my family. It’s a half-mile from my parent’s and 5 minutes from my sister. We have been looking for a long time to find a home near our loved ones.

My husband and I have 2 young kids, James (3) and Isabelle, (1). The instant I saw the spacious backyard, I was sold. My kids have lots of energy and our current yard has no fence. I can picture countless evenings spent in that gorgeous backyard. The mature fruit treats caught my eye as well as the grapes. I’ve always wanted to say I made this pie using the fresh fruit from my backyard! Living here would finally give me that chance. James has been asking for a trampoline for as long as I can remember and, in that beautiful yard, he could finally have his trampoline.

As we toured your house, I was in awe of all the custom designs and finishes, the vaulted ceilings, gourmet kitchen, massive dining area, and glass french doors in the entry room add so much character. My husband is excited about the 3-car garage and special lighting in there. The layout is perfect for our needs. I can see our family living in your property for many years. Your home could be our forever home. It checks all our boxes and then some.

Please consider our offer and know that we would care for this home with the love and attention it deserves. We are so excited to think that our search for the perfect place near family could become a reality with your amazing home. 

Sincerely,

Jenna and Andrew Ditto 

It's noteworthy to mention that the home is in a cul-de-sac and 3 of the surrounding homes have boats. This was a big selling point for Andrew. We joked that in the mornings, Andrew would just wait on our driveway in his swim trunks ready to hop on and join one of the boats going out.

It seemed very likely that we were going to get the house, but we didn't. It didn't help that the sellers really led us on and made us believe they were going to accept our offer. Example #1: The seller's agent requested that we write a new offer changing 1 thing which we did immediately. Example #2: The agent called our loan officer. Why do that just to turn around and tell us no? Dun, dun dun.. The plot thickens. The home currently had renters in it which made getting a loan extremely challenging. (Especially since their lease went through April 2021) At the last minute, the renters decided they wanted to buy the home and we didn't get it. Yes, we too are wondering why this was not decided before listing the house.

Clearly, the home wasn't meant to be. It did have a few flaws too, so maybe the perfect house is going to pop up and we won't have to buy it and let renters live in it through April. Maybe we were being overly optimistic, but we even had a professional come in and take pics of our current house, so we could list it.

Wanna see this said house? I've built it up a lot. I think I'm too sad to show you pictures of the perfect backyard.

Life goes on. These cuties in their matching Daniel Tiger pajamas help me get over the disappointments and smile.

Camp Na-Bor-Lee

My sister recently had several mishaps while traveling. As she recounted her car troubles, airbnb issues, and more, my dad's response was: "that's why we don't do fun things." 

With that lead, I'm sure you're expecting to hear something went astronomically wrong on our camping trip. I'll put your mind at ease. No, we didn't crash. Our tires remained in tact, and we have yet to get the dreaded COVID. (Knock on wood)

Our colossal, bad thing was: a long drive with 2 young children. This might sound silly, but it was challenging. How long of a drive was it? It took 11 hours to get there. Camp Na-bor-lee added extra distance increasing our drive time home to 12 hours and 45 minutes. I will note that Andrew doesn't speed (thank heavens). Thinking about the drive makes me cringe. Isabelle did her fair-share of screaming. 

We left Utah on Friday, August 7 and returned on Wednesday, August 12. We tried to align our drive to Washington with nap/bed time to alleviate some entertaining on our part. Our rough drive to WA definitely inspired our spur of the moment decision to leave Washington after dinner Tuesday and drive through the night (instead of waiting until Wednesday morning). Leaving was a good call, even though it was risky and we had to miss seeing Tyler get set-apart as a missionary. (Many of the awesome pics of the trip are because of him!)  I'm grateful we didn't hit a deer in the darkness. The drive home was much more bearable. The kids only woke up for the final 2 hours. I even got a turn driving (seeing that Andrew hadn't slept in hours) and drove the familiar freeway from Idaho Falls back to Utah.

When choosing how to vacation and use Andrew's precious, now limited vacation days, CAMPING would never make it on my list. Add small kids and it's my dream vacation (just kidding). As predicted, getting Isabelle to sleep was no easy feat. She wailed anytime we put her in the pack and play. We gave her part of a sleeping aid gummy the first night which worked like a charm. The downside was that it caused her to throw-up the next morning 4x. Once we all got to sleep, we slept well. Our kids even slept in until after 7am both mornings! My parents let us use their super cushy camping pads and we finally broke in our brand new tent! It got cool in the evenings which was a nice change and I actually wanted and needed to use covers (aka my sleeping bag) for the first time in months. Side note: James called it a "sleep bag" which was so cute.

We were in charge of dessert one night and stopped and bought cookies. Lots of strangers were impressed Izzy had a mask on. I'm surprised the mask lasted.

Isabelle loved all the extra attention. Aunt Tavia played with her lots.

Candid moment

Staying with Logan and Julia before we went camping was an excellent choice. Our kids, especially Isabelle, LOVED their dog, Maggie. Izzy wouldn't leave poor Maggie alone and chased her around at all moments. Seeing Isabelle play with Maggie was priceless and has made me consider becoming a dog owner someday. Julia knows me well and ordered pizza one night, so I felt right at home.

Saydee and Izzy are about 7 months apart!

Our nephew, Dallin was baptized on Saturday and we were grateful to be there. Granny gave a talk and used a stuffed animal dog as an object lesson. Isabelle was so excited and couldn't contain herself. She said "doggy" loudly, so many times throughout the message. I ended up having to take her to the back/out. It was adorable.

James had the time of his life being around so many playmates. He definitely wore himself out and played hard. I was so proud of James for being brave enough to go tubing. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of that. He even went tubing a second time, so I think it's safe to say he was a fan.

James and Eliza walked around the campsite holding hands. Precious.

James loved playing with Rhett

In other news, Andrew achieved his goal for the year... He went water skiing! My dad is an especially goal-oriented person and we were once talking about our aspirations for the year. The only thing on Andrew's mind that year was water-skiing. I still like to tease him about it.

Approved by Andrew. He likes that it shows how well he cut around the buoy on the slalom course.

I did not grow up doing water sports and haven't had much success getting up when attempting water sports in the past. I was relieved to hear that a "beginners only" boat full of people went out to learn how to wake surf. I happily joined. All I wanted to do was get up and I did this time! I struggled to stay up and am definitely not at the point of being able to let go of the rope, but I'm one step closer.

Yes, Andrew sent this pic to my family. Yes, I knew he was going to and was totally ok with it. My face says it all. He says this will be his new phone screensaver. As you can see, water sports are very relaxing for me.

Despite the inconveniences that come with traveling too many hours in the car and camping in general, we made some wonderful memories. James' prayers have been extra sweet since our return and he randomly will pray for members of our extended family. That being said, I can see why my dad said he doesn't do fun things. Fun things are a hassle and require lots of work, but they are usually worth it.

Swimming Lessons

Like every place, UT has its pros and cons. Lately, I've been reminded of a couple of them. One thing I LOVE about living here is how kid-friendly it is. Swimming lessons are walking distance from our house and cost a whopping $35! Something that is a con for me is the culture. The mindset that everyone here has the same views just because many people are members of the church bothers me. 

I was hesitant to sign James up for swimming lessons with Covid-19 going on. After lots of thought, Andrew and I decided to move forward with it, especially since it's outdoors. I'm so glad we did! We haven't had much to do these days and we avoid most public places. James did lessons with 2 of his friends, Harrison Hendricks and Philip Alling. Sometimes I wonder if that was a good idea. James can get hyper and this was the case in swimming as well. The teachers had to give James lots of reminders, but he wasn't out of control. As his teacher put it: "He has a lot of great energy." I was pleased by how comfortable James was in the water. The first day, he was scared, but after that he had no problems.

Swim lessons can be kind of exhausting and are definitely a commitment. They're every weekday, 30 minutes a day, for 9 days. It was quite hot already when lessons started at 10:55am. Add a mask, and I was a hot mess. James liked swimming and I decided to sign him up for another session because what else is there to do? The second time, I signed James up without friends. I wanted to see what his behavior was like. I don't think it made much of a difference. I did overhear the teacher telling another kid, "hold James' hand, so he doesn't run away." Yes, that's my child. Energetic and full of life. For round 2, I  signed him up for the earliest time to avoid the heat. I liked 9:45am much better! 

James ended up having the same teacher, Rachel, both sessions. He wasn't as into the other teachers. (There were 2 teachers per class.) The last day of each session is dubbed, "slide day" and includes a dum-dum lollipop and certificate of achievement. After session 1, James was brave and went down the slide without fear. More recently on slide day, he continued to say he didn't want to go when one of his teachers asked. I couldn't figure it out. As soon as Rachel offered to take James down the slide, he went, no problem. I was impressed by all the teachers at the PG Pool. I actually want to leave a review or call because we had a fantastic experience. 

The infamous, Rachel

Slide day

Some highlights:

• We enjoyed walking to swimming lessons several of the days. James would tell me which route he wanted to take each day. 
• Running into Diane Wangeman. She was the primary pianist in our old ward while I was the chorister. I adore her! She's in her mid sixties and brought her grandkids to the pool for lessons. Catching up with her made me happy.
• A few times, I was able to distract/bribe Isabelle with treats. In turn, I was able to read my book in peace while she was stuffing her face with fruit snacks. In case you're wondering, she was buckled securely in her stroller.

Some lowlights:

• James had to go potty twice during swimming lessons. I should be proud of him for letting the teacher know that he needed to us the bathroom, and I am. But man, what a hassle to bring Isabelle into a disgusting public bathroom, all while wrangling James' soaking wet swim trunks off.

We are going camping near a lake soon and I think James' water experience will be helpful. I'm already looking forward to more swimming lessons next summer. Oh, and sorry Isabelle, I guess what they say about 2nd children is true... I didn't do the mom and baby class with you. Maybe next year!

Isabelle's Fiesta

I can't believe my baby is 1! It was nice to have an excuse to celebrate and something to plan and do. 

Menu:
-Drinks: Jarritos
-Taco Bar

• Hard taco shells
• Soft mini street taco shells
• Ground beef
• Toppings: cilantro, rice, beans, green onions, olives, salsa, limes, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes , sour cream, avocado

-Fruit Kabobs
-Corn Dip and chips
-Homemade taquitos with cilantro lime dressing
-Dessert: Churro cupcakes and smore's cookies

Games:
-Fiesta BINGO. Papa won, but doesn't drink soda, so the second place winner was Jeff. Simon was thrilled Jeff gave him the Sodalicious giftcard.
-Kahoot: Who knows Isabelle best? Nana won! Her weekly babysitting paid off. She was giddy about the Crumbl giftcard.

Decorations:

• Cactus plates
• Fiesta tablecloth
• Uno cactus sign
• Sombrero hats for the 4 kids
• Uno cake topper

Presents:
Isabelle was spoiled rotten! She got a stuffed animal dog and goes around saying, "doggy" all the time. She also got a baby doll, an adorable outfit, some feminist books, a Rody, a xylophone,  and her practical parents bought her floaties for our upcoming camping lake trip. My kids have been entertained with all the new toys around.

Party Attendees:
We limited who we invited to keep the group smaller and we had the party outdoors. (Thank goodness there was shade.) We only invited my immediate family. We didn't invite either of my grandparents. Jeff, Lindsey, Simon, Esther, Nana, Papa, Jessica, Chris, Joel, and Alexa helped us celebrate. 

Highlight:
Chris started an impromptu baseball game with Simon. The other kids joined as well as some adults and they ended up playing for quite awhile. It made me realize our setup isn't so bad because a baseball game is possible in our "yard."

Reality:
Isabelle wasn't her usual happy self during the party. This week she has been getting a molar. She was kind of grumpy, but the cupcake helped turn her mood around. Also, after she opened her presents, she had plenty of distractions. James ran inside during the party and threw-up. He gets himself so riled up. This happened recently at another event as well. Totally fine, just overexcited/stimulated and running wild. He ate dessert a few minutes later with no problem. Another sad reality is that I didn't get a group pic. Oh well.

Meet Isabelle:
Friendly. Waves to everyone non-stop! Also says, "hi" repeatedly in an adorable voice. One of her other most-frequented words is "uh-oh." Demanding. She wants a bite of anything and everything Mom or Dad are eating. Indecisive when it comes to food. Sometimes she LOVES grapes/cheese/strawberries, etc, and other days she spits them out and refuses to eat them. I gave up hope on her loving hot dogs like James does (they're quick, easy, and cheap), but she tried one again recently and liked it this time. Popcorn lover. I shouldn't admit that we let her eat any. If you try to get her out of her high chair before she's done eating, she shoves you. Drama queen. When she's mad, everyone knows. She turns blue. Big fan of Nana and often cries when Nana leaves. Early riser. Mama's girl. She gets sad when I leave the room. She has started to warm up more to people now, but quarantine made her very used to us. Dancer. She loves music and seems to actually have some natural moves in her blood. (Must have inherited those from Andrew). She especially loves the song: "Who Let the Dogs Out." 

The fiesta was a success! I couldn't have done it without lots of help. We all slept soundly that night and we even had leftovers to eat for dinner the next day.

Our Hiking Hobby Continues

I'm proud to say that we have kept up our hiking! There are so many fantastic places to hike near us! Sometimes we have to drive a bit, but it has always been well worth it. Oftentimes, I lose cell service while we're hiking and I don't mind it one bit!

Bicentennial Park Loop-- Provo, UT
Distance: 1 mile
Saturday, June 27

A Saturday morning well spent. Simon, Esther, and James started by playing on the deserted playground. We had the trail to ourselves and walked it twice. (I don't think it was a mile.) It was green and luscious. Simon liked reading all the signs throughout the trail. The kids also enjoyed seeing bugs and nature in action. They found a big spider in a web. Doughnuts were a part of this hike. The Frisbee Golf course was especially intriguing for the kids.

Cousins

Buffalo Peak-- Near Provo, UT
Distance: 0.9 miles
Friday, July 3

This was quite the drive! The last few miles of road weren't paved, but our van made it up through the rocks just fine. My parents as well as Lindsey, Simon, and Esther joined us which was a treat. Wow, what a breathtaking hike. I can only imagine how stunning it would be in the springtime with all the wildflowers. It was still gorgeous though. The last bit was really steep and a bit scary with little kids, but I would do it again. It was safe and had spectacular views. Nana and Papa brought doughnuts which is always a highlight. The drive back down the mountain was much faster.

Canyon Nature Trail-- American Fork, UT
Distance: 0.6 miles
Wednesday, July 8

Unexpectedly, all but 1 of my piano students cancelled their lessons. We decided to make the most of it. While I taught my 1 lesson, Andrew and the kids picked up dinner, and then we headed up the mountain. Our map told us we arrived far too early, so we unpacked the car, stroller and picnic dinner included, only to find that we had a few more miles to go. When we finally arrived in the correct location, the scenery was exceptional. We started by eating on one of the shaded picnic tables. JCW's put us all in a good mood. James enjoyed the bridges at the beginning and end of the hike. He was also fascinated by the signs that explained different plants, etc. He was convinced that this was where "Word Girl'" (World Girl is a tv show) lives which was adorable. He kept looking for her.

Grotto Falls-- Payson/Santaquin, UT
Distance: 0.6 miles
Saturday, July 11

I had never been in this area before. Wow, it was gorgeous! This hike was shaded. In fact, we were all quite cold, especially in the beginning since it was about 7:45am. Once James was no longer shivering, he had the time of his life. He loved crossing the water balancing on logs and the ending did not disappoint. Our shoes did get wet and in James' case, soaked.

Ensign Peak-- Salt Lake City, UT
Distance: 0.8 miles
Saturday, July 18

My parents joined us for this hike. They had hiked it before and I had as well. Andrew was the newbie. The sun really beats down on you throughout this hike. We even went at 8am. Going mid-day would be brutal. It's pretty bleak until you reach the top and then you have incredible views. James especially enjoyed the side-view of the airport. He even got to see a few planes take off! Einstein's Bagels topped the hike off well.

Lower Bells Canyon Reservoir-- Sandy, UT
Distance: 1.5 miles 
Tuesday, July 21

This hike is rated moderate and I can see why. I did it years ago and didn't remember much. James was miserable for the first while. He fell asleep on our way there and had a hard time waking up. The steep stairs right off the bat didn't help. We also went in the afternoon and is was scorching hot with little shade. The lake at the end was serene and peaceful though. There were tons of ducks that came up close to the kids which they enjoyed. James also had a blast throwing rocks into the water. The hike down was quick with way fewer tears! James collected sticks along the way down and was drawing with them in the dusty dirt. When we reached the steep, rocky stairs again, we made a game out of it and James earned the nickname, "Jumping James." Suddenly, the worst part of the hike became the best because Daddy swung James over the steps.

We are looking into investing in a hiking backpack. The carrier we've been lugging Isabelle in isn't the most supportive or comfortable. Is this hobby turning into routine?