So Long, Farewell!

The Sound of Music soundtrack has been on repeat over here. My kids love it, so apparently I've taught them well. After over a year of employment at the Piano Place, I decided to say, "So Long, Farewell." Employment is kind of a loose term in my case. I only taught at The Piano Place once a week-- on Wednesday afternoons.

Initially, I started teaching at The Piano Place to have a built in break from my kids. I thought it would be a good outlet for me. I enjoyed interacting with coworkers and students and not only being described as a mom or known only for my adorable children. The money was an added perk too! Oh, and I almost forgot to mention one of the best parts-- Jessica. She teaches at The Piano Place too, and a scheduled excuse to see her each week was something I looked forward to.

Lots has changed since I started working at The Piano Place in October of 2019. In March of this year, I got to tackle teaching zoom lessons. I applaud teachers who are still doing this. I have been back teaching at the studio for the last several months (masks included). My feelings about motherhood have changed this year too. I'm no longer dying to have something else to fill my time. And just to clarify... I definitely still want, need, and plan on having breaks from my kids. I'll just do something more relaxing. 

Teaching at The Piano Place has become exhausting and that needed break and rejuvenation that I was seeking, was instead replaced by a feeling of dread. This is partially my own fault. My schedule used to have some breaks and I complained, so my breaks disappeared. Teaching from 3:00-6:30 strait takes its toll! Even when I taught as a full time teacher, I would get breaks throughout the day for recess, lunch, when the kids had specialties, etc. Having 7 students back-to-back tested my patience, hunger, and bladder for that matter. Each week, I'd come home grumpy, starving, and ready to collapse. I discovered I would rather have my patience tested by my own children than by a random 10-year-old boy with an attitude. This experience gave me a whole new appreciation for working moms. Hats off to you!

I said my final goodbyes to my students at the Winterfest Recitals this weekend. I even performed a duet with a student. (She happens to be my favorite, but don't tell the others.) Jessica started the recital off strong with her beautiful rendition of Away in a Manger. She set the bar high and I was glad to be there to watch her. 

Jess and I

Leaving makes me sad in some ways. I'll miss my most advanced student. He's getting so good and it's exciting to hear him play challenging pieces. I'll miss my student Annie who cried when I told her I was leaving. She was my friend. I'll miss Motivosity (earning points to buy giftcards) more than I should admit. I'll miss my built in Jess time. I'll miss seeing how excited my kids are when I get home after being away from them for a few hours. I'll miss working in my grandma's neighborhood, so I'll have to be sure to take the time to drive to see her.

I said, "So Long, Farewell" to The Piano Place for now, but my music career isn't over. I still teach a couple of students in my house and will continue doing that. I don't find it coincidental that right after I quit at The Piano Place, someone reached out to me about lessons for their 2 kids and I'll start teaching them in January. I'm happy to have my Wednesdays back!

Risks Worth Taking (Knock on Wood)

Navigating life in the midst of a pandemic has been challenging. We take things a day at a time and don't plan much. After many discussions, prayers, and headaches, we recently decided to take 2 risks. These decisions weren't easy. 

Risk #1: James started preschool this month. 

James was signed up for preschool initially. We pulled him out before he ever went due to Covid-19. Since Andrew works from home, we don't go many places and decided to add preschool to our list. Twice a week for 2 hours each day isn't long either (and masks + daily temperature checks are reassuring). So far, we haven't regretted our decision. In fact, a little break has done wonders for my relationship with James. 

After picking him up one day, I asked:  "James, do you miss me while you're at preschool?" He replied: "No, but I miss my teacher when I'm at home." Clearly, he loves Miss Ruth. It must be mutual. The other day, Miss Ruth told me how glad she is that James is in preschool and that he is thriving! 

James got to bring the snack and report about the weather earlier this month which was a highlight. His friend, Maeve, is in his class which is an added bonus. James has homework that we work on together. He is smart. Yes, I'm his mother, but I'm also a teacher, so does that give me more credibility? One morning, he cried because he didn't want to go to preschool. I was surprised. I later learned that James was working on writing instead of scribbling. He missed the first couple months of preschool when they talked about tracing and how to hold a pencil. James is a quick learner though and figured it out. He proudly reported, "I no longer scribble! No, not at all!" Isabelle gets so upset when we drop James off at preschool. She misses her best friend tremendously. 

First day: Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Risk #2: We spent Thanksgiving in Caldwell, ID with Andrew's sister, Tavia and her family. 

Deciding whether or not to go to Caldwell caused me an immense amount of stress. Since returning, we are being even more cautious to ensure we stay healthy and don't spread Covid-19.

We left Pleasant Grove on Wednesday, November 25 and returned home on Saturday, November 28. It's a 5.5 hour drive. Our kids are trained travelers. I can't complain about the journey. Both kids slept for 2 hours each way. A forced 1+ mile walk, pre-drive, definitely did us favors. James kept us entertained with his random quotes throughout the drive.

"We might see some fireworks on our way!"

"There are big sprinklers everywhere, but not in the desert."

"Let's try something new... I want to make a shark in the snow."

"My blankets are smelling different." 

"My blankies make it funner. Without them, it's boring."

James and Isabelle were in heaven surrounded by their cousins. They ate up all of the attention and played hard. We barely saw them during our stay. I was able to finish my book. James bawled when we left. He later said, "It's okay. We'll see Eliza again someday in heaven, after we're resurrected." 

Eliza

Isabelle was OBSESSED with the chickens 

The Thanksgiving meal was incredible. I wish my stomach had room for more. I made 4 pies-- 2 oreo cream pies and 2 peanut butter cream pies. Tavia went all out. Even the brussel sprouts--a Ditto tradition-- tasted better than expected.

Andrew spent the majority of his time playing board games with Vaughn and Calvin and reading Brandon Sanderon's newest book. He was definitely in his happy place. One round of Risk apparently didn't cut it because another round commenced. Both lasted over 3 hours a piece. I joined in to play "The Farming Game." After several long hours, I demanded that we stop. Olivia happily agreed. One evening after pizza, we saw Christmas lights in Caldwell. It was freezing and crowded. Luckily it was outside and we didn't stay long. We finally watched the new "Mulan" now that it's in Redbox. I was a fan, although I didn't see the second half. Many of us dozed off. I plan on watching "Mulan" again before 11PM next time. I'm old.

The never-ending farming game.

Tavia became Isabelle's favorite person. I was impressed by Tavia's multi-tasking skills. She cooked much of Thanksgiving dinner while holding her sidekick. Izzy constantly walked up to Tavia saying, "Hold you!" The way Isabelle says Tavia is adorable. Isabelle had many fans, but what can I say, she's pretty adorable. Seeing Tavia and everyone else love and dote on my kids meant a lot to me.

This Thanksgiving was memorable. We're grateful the Kimball's invited us to join them. We finally got to see their "new" house. It's been 5+ years since we've made a trip to see them. Here's to hoping we all stay safe and healthy.

Thank You Covid

Covid-19 has brought about some positive things, yet it's easy to focus on the negative ones. As I've looked for the happy things that have resulted because of Covid-19, I'm amazed!

Who knew staying in your car during an oil change was even a possibility? Not me! Having my kids strapped into their carseats during the 10-15 minutes was a dream come true. Why isn't this "staying in your car during an oil change" a permanent thing instead of just a Covid-19 precaution? 

There have been many times that I've had a massive zit (or 2 or 3) and I sigh a breath of relief when I realize that I don't even have to attempt to cover it up with makeup because my mask will do the job! Not wearing makeup has been a highlight.

I worry more than I should about having a clean house. I don't like chaos and clutter, but kids make that nearly impossible. We haven't been having anyone come over (especially since the governor's mandate) and it has been wonderful not to care about what our house looks like. That being said, don't worry, we aren't living like pigs. I've just been able to relax about messes a little bit more and limit my vacuuming to once a day. ;) 

My dad is the Gospel Doctrine teacher in his ward. At the beginning of the pandemic, he recorded Sunday School lessons and I watched those. Now, he teaches lessons over zoom. I look forward to attending these meetings. I can thank Covid-19 for the chance to be taught by my dad again regularly. I've felt the spirit strongly, even over zoom.

I've figured out how to workout from home and keep my kids entertained. I mean, not every time is perfect, but what can you expect? My piyo instructor recorded several workout videos at the beginning of the pandemic. Doing these workouts at home has been so convenient and helps me feel safe. I also attend some weekly workout classes over zoom. My parent's graciously gave us a stationary bike they no longer need. We put the bike in our basement and the kids play while I workout. The bike has been a life-saver. Many days a week, both Andrew and I use it. We're considering purchasing a treadmill to add to our "at home" gym.

Monday nights have changed dramatically for me. I used to attend "bachelor nights" after the kids were in bed. (Even though I had little interest in the show.) Instead, bachelor nights have been replaced with a "Come Follow Me" study group. The study group is with family over zoom and we rotate who leads the discussion. I have been in awe at how differently we look at the scriptures. I'm glad to be filling my time on Monday evenings doing something better.

Babysitter Jenna has come back. She took a long break (I think being a teacher and having kids burned her out a little bit), but she's here now! She plays Don't Eat Pete! Tic Tac Know! Memory! You name it! We have lots of family time in the evenings and instead of sitting around twiddling our thumbs, we've started playing games and doing activities together. The kids would play "Don't Eat Pete" every night if we let them. Isabelle talks about Pete and asks for "mellows" (marshmallows) regularly. Andrew and I have been teaching the children Christmas songs and actions which has been cute. Family home evening this week lasted over 2 hours... We don't have much else to do, so why not pack in the fun? James wants every night to be family home evening and right now it kind of is.

When you look for the good, you find it. I've been grateful for this shift in mindset for me. President Nelson's inspired message about gratitude definitely helped. 

This week, President Erying's most recent conference talk has stuck with me. He described his mom and some of the health challenges and trials she faced. At her funeral, Spencer W. Kimball said, “Some of you may wonder why Mildred had to suffer so much and so long. I will tell you why. It was because the Lord wanted to polish her a little more.” Yes, Covid-19 has been going on for a long time and all can agree that we wish it was over. I do think I'm being polished though and it looks like I might need some more polishing, so let's get through this together! 

Hawaii--With His Brothers, Not His Lover

Andrew went with his brothers on their annual hike recently. This year marked their 20th "All Brothers Hike" (ABH), so they did something epic and went to Kauai. These brother's hikes started the year Andrew's dad passed away, and it's special they commemorate him. I'm not going to pretend I was thrilled by the fact that Andrew went to Hawaii without me. I wasn't. I am glad he was able to bond with his brothers though. Also, I think he missed me because he came home saying that the next time he goes to Hawaii will be with me. Thank goodness! 

Vaughn (BIL), is the only brother who didn't go.

From left to right: Logan, Brent, Kelly, Andrew, Ryan (BIL), Birch

What about the coronavirus pandemic?

Covid-19 is not over and was a concern of mine (and Andrew's). Andrew booked the trip with his brothers thinking that things would be settled down by October. For a long time, Hawaii required a 2 week quarantine for incoming travelers. Andrew and his brothers actually changed their flights, so they would arrive in Hawaii the day that the 2 week quarantine was lifted. Instead of a 2 week quarantine, Hawaii now requires that you show a negative COVID-19 test proving you're healthy. (They are very specific about which Covid tests they accept.)

Andrew had a Covid-19 test delivered to our house and took it in front of someone over Zoom, then sent it off to New York. Andrew had not received his results by the time he was supposed to fly to Hawaii which was stressful. He decided to get on his flight anyway. It was a miracle that Andrew received the confirmation email while on his flight saying that his Covid-19 test results were negative. It was pretty scary and a huge miracle!

How long was Andrew gone? How did I survive?

Andrew was gone for a week! Surprisingly, it went by pretty fast. I like to keep busy. After dropping off Andrew at the airport, I headed to my parent's house with the kids. We stayed with them Thursday-Sunday. While there, we did a lot. 

I'm not going to bore you with all the details, but eating fabulous food consumed a lot of our time. I met a friend at Leatherby's and of course ordered my favorite peanut butter sundae. Another day, we had "The Pie Pizzeria" which is the best pizza in UT (in my humble opinion). We also made peanut butter delights and I lost count of how many I ate. I could go on. I enjoyed using my parent's workout equipment in the mornings and attempted to build up an appetite after all the good food.

While at my parent's, we spent time with lots of family! We saw my cousin Jake and his wife Hailee who are currently living in my parent's basement. Jeff, Lindsey, Simon, and Esther came over for dinner one night. James was ecstatic to see his cousins and ultra hyper (let's not talk about the marker situation). Side note: James has big ears... He has heard Andrew and I talk a lot about the election lately. James told Esther, "I voted for you!" Esther cheerfully responded, "I'll vote for you too." It was adorable. I'm glad James understands the importance of voting. 

We were happy to see my grandparents, Giggi and Go-Daddy (outside). It had been a long time and Grandma made superb cinnamon rolls! Izzy loved their dog Scout, and James was terrified of him. Joel joined us for Sunday dinner. I spent a fair amount of time at Jessica and Chris' house. My mom graciously watched the kids while I helped Jess paint her house which was a nice break! Staying with my parent's was so helpful and we were all sad that our time with them went so quickly. On our drive home, James wept, "Look mom, even the mountains are sad we're leaving Nana and Papa's house."

The remainder of the week was spent at our house. I have some good friends who watched out for me and set up play-dates, dropped off cookies, etc. I also indulged and got myself a pint of Cold Stone ice cream to power through. That was worth it for sure! I promise food wasn't the only thing that helped me survive my time without Andrew. I read and liked, "Maybe You Should Talk to Someone" By: Lori Gottlieb. The book referenced an essay, called "Welcome to Holland" which I LOVED. You can read it HERE. My parent's and I also watched the newest episodes of "The Great British Baking Show." I'm so sad to be caught up. I now have to wait until Fridays to watch new episodes. 

Who knew mowing the lawn could be so fun? Reason #2890410 why I want a backyard.

What's it like to have Andrew home?

It's amazing! We sure did miss him. Isabelle seems to be holding Andrew's absence against him though and has been quite clingy to me since his return. She's definitely making him earn her love back. Andrew brought us all home souvenirs which was really sweet. I was impressed by how well he knows the kids and me! (He even got all of us the right clothing sizes!)

Look at their sea turtles and Hawaii shirts! 

I'm drooling over these pictures and can only dream about warm Hawaii as I sit here freezing--covered in 3 blankets, wearing fuzzy socks, and my warmest sweater. You're lucky Andrew! (You deserved it though.)

General Conference

Earlier this month, we watched General Conference. This fall especially, I've been yearning for peace. The messages during conference helped bring me hope during this pandemic. Since conference, I have been off of social media. As a result, I feel like I've been able to feel the spirit more and I've been happier. 

The birth of my newest niece, Daisy helped put things in perspective for me too. Things were very scary in the beginning. It's a miracle she's alive. The election and coronavirus are short-term things that don't really matter eternally. Daisy, and my other family members mean the world to me and I was devastated at the thought of losing Daisy.

I had some questions and thoughts going into conference. There were various themes, but the one that stood out to me was: racism. This was validating and has been a topic I've been thinking a lot about. Here are quotes from 3 speakers about racism:

1) Elder Oaks' talk really resonated with me. Titled, "Love Your Enemies," he said: "This country should be better in eliminating racism not only against Black Americans, who were most visible in the recent protests, but also against Latinos, Asians, and other groups. This nation’s history of racism is not a happy one, and we must do better."

2) Elder Cook said this: "With our all-inclusive doctrine, we can be an oasis of unity and celebrate diversity. Unity and diversity are not opposites. We can achieve greater unity as we foster an atmosphere of inclusion and respect for diversity. During the period I served in the San Francisco California Stake presidency, we had Spanish-, Tongan-, Samoan-, Tagalog-, and Mandarin-language-speaking congregations. Our English-speaking wards were composed of people from many racial and cultural backgrounds. There was love, righteousness, and unity. Wards and branches in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are determined by geography or language, not by race or culture. Race is not identified on membership records."

3) President Nelson said: "Each of us has a divine potential because each is a child of God. Each is equal in His eyes. The implications of this truth are profound. Brothers and sisters, please listen carefully to what I am about to say. God does not love one race more than another. His doctrine on this matter is clear. He invites all to come unto Him, “black and white, bond and free, male and female.” I assure you that your standing before God is not determined by the color of your skin. Favor or disfavor with God is dependent upon your devotion to God and His commandments and not the color of your skin."

I was grateful to hear these messages and hope that members of the church and people everywhere can be more united. Throughout this year, I've done some reading to gain more understanding about racism. Here are some of the books I've read:

"Just Mercy" By: Bryan Stevenson

"American Dirt" By: Jeanine Cummins

"The Vanishing Half" By: Brit Bennett

"How to be Antiracist" By: Ibram X. Kendi

"Let's Talk About Race" (Picture book I read with my kids) By: Julius Lester, Illustrated by: Karen Barbour

I want to focus more on the good, eternal things that surround me. (Which might help explain why we want to move even closer to my family and just attempted our 3rd offer on a house.) I want to be bold enough to change the subject and avoid getting into constant political conversations. I miss talking and laughing about naughty kids, latest TV binges, and best food joints. I'm done letting politics and loud opinions run my life. Thanks to baby Daisy and the prophets and apostles for opening my eyes. Here's to keeping the peace!