Covid & Quarantine

Corey has COVID. My family told me that in the news they reported that there's been a late summer covid wave going around. Corey's been feeling ill since Saturday and he thought it might be covid (an in-law tested positive last week at Park City). So after attending to him all Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, I remembered that I had two at home tests that I got for Wes when he went to India. So let's find out! On Monday night I got the test out, didn't read the instructions, followed the QR code to the video, followed the steps shown there, and after a 15 min wait, there were two lines. There were two lines in the first minute, but it said to NOT READ THE RESULTS until 15 minutes, so we watched it and waited to see if the results would magically change to something else. It's very similar looking to another test people take. I teased "You are definitely pregnant..." 

I told him hey - this is exciting, cause it's the first time someone in our house has had covid! Joseph got it in Dec 2020, but he was at BYU, so that counts for our family but not for our house. So he's been quarantined in our room all day yesterday and today. I joked to him that he's living my dream - to be isolated in a room all day with people staying away - I wishfully imagine that I'd get so much done! He did have a few interruptions from kids. Katharine came in a few times. Corey started feeling sick last Saturday morning and Katharine had two days of a fever before that last Thurs and Friday. Whether she had covid or something else, she's definitely been exposed since she was sleeping in the bed with us at Park City. I'm not worried about myself, cause I believe that "I don't get sick." Cold showers, baby! The rest of us have all been feeling totally fine and normal. 

Katharine turning on the smiley charm this morning. 

So, with us all being exposed to COVID, Owen's baptism which was scheduled for Saturday, has been postponed until September 9. Lily was also scheduled to get her patriarchal blessing on Sunday, but we texted the patriarch to let him know of our situation and that has been postponed too until Sept 3. Lily was really excited for her blessing and was obviously bummed about that delay, but what ya gonna do.  No one wants to get sick, so best to stay away. I've enjoyed having the kids all home and not having them leave to friends' houses. Haha, no playing minecraft at friends houses! I enjoy quarantine! The kids have been playing and are being creative. 

They made some forts in the front room and have been reading the blog books.

And I've been taking care of Corey and caterpillars. I collected 31 eggs on Saturday night after we got home from Park City, and tonight I found 31 eggs again! Woo! Things are about to get caterpillar crazy!

A few things about baby Katharine (for memory's sake): Corey often calls her "the beast" - "Where's the beast?" Cause she bosses us around like a cruel master. She will climb on our laps and then grab the back of our triceps and pull telling us "Get up! Move this way!" like we are human joy-sticks. She is the spoiled princess of this kingdom. Corey think he might be past the worst of covid and decided to leave the room this evening. He took Katharine on a walk outside, keeping socially distant from everyone else. We did pick up Owen and Daniel's soccer uniforms today. 

Owen is glad that it's not pink this time! Lavendar is a step in the right direction. They are on a Under 9 team, and it's for years 2016 and 2015, so they are on the same team! Sweet! 

That will help with the busy-ness of the soccer season to have them on the same team. Last thing - since we've been gone and having so much fun the past few weeks, it's time to get ready for routines and school to come back into our lives, so we started a daily task thing, and each of the kids (WLSNODP) have a checklist for the next 10 days to: make their bed, clean bedroom, fold clothes, chore, and music. And if they do all those things, they will earn a meal out at Chuck a Rama next Tuesday evening before school starts. I told them I'm not going to nag them on it - they gotta buy in and want it. So we'll see who gets it! School will be here pretty quick. It starts for Abi, Lily and Sophi next Wednesday, and the elementary kids start on the 21st. Another school year, here we go!

Ferguson Canyon

This morning I got up early and went on a hike again with some friends! We're the Friday morning Dawn Squad! 

Last week we were at Red Butte Peak and today went and explored Ferguson Canyon. I have driven past this canyon several hundred times over the past 10 years, but didn't even know it was there. I think I learned that there was a trailhead last year, but this was my first time  seeing it. It was gorgeous and I loved it so much! 

There is lots of tree cover and shade, so this would even be a good hike during the day. Back at home, Corey invited us all to his belated birthday breakfast.

Pancakes, orange slices, and then he headed into work. I got brave and brought the kids to Ferguson Canyon in the afternoon. They were planning on going to the park for a picnic, but I hijacked their plans (since they needed me to drive them) and said we were going on a hike instead. On our way in, with full sun... 

I was crossing my fingers that I was right thinking that we'd have shade even during the middle of the day, and thankfully we did. Lily carried Katharine on the way up - 

There was a bit of kids saying they were tired (mostly Peter) and kids asking if we were at the spot yet, and since this was just my second time in the canyon (the first time being this morning) I wasn't totally sure of distances or locations. But we kept going. I told them we were looking for a bended branch. We passed a few cool spots, and the kids would ask "Is this the spot?" It did look like a good place for a picnic, but I saw an even better spot this morning. Let's keep going. Look for the big bendy branch! Soon we saw it - Yes! That's the branch!

That was the sign that we were at the right spot that I thought the kids would love. And they did love it. The kids saw the surrounding waterfall and small sandy banks surrounding it. It was perfect! It took us 35 minutes to get to this spot (I think this morning it was like 20 minutes for just us moms without any toddlers).

The kids started climbing the fun twisted trees and branches. It was a fun little magical place! 

There were not very many other people either. Some hikers came by, but it was pretty low key. We had a nice private picnic in the mountains - We found quite a few caterpillars on a rock. 

The caterpillars were lucky we didn't sit on them. And maybe we did accidentally squish some of them, but we tried to be careful with the caterpillars, worms, and Rollie pollies that were all around. Abi making sandwiches. 

We also stopped by the grocery store on our way in and got grapes and cheeze-it crackers. Cute Katharine - she held one cheese-it cracker and nibbled on it for quite a while - we could see her little two teeth wide bite marks. Super cute. 

I hiked up in socks and shoes, but I probably need to get Tevas or some kind of active wear sandal. I wanted to lay down in the cool stream but I resisted and was content to sit for a few minutes. Got wet, but it was fun. 

Hiking back down. Lily wanted to go rock climbing and got up a little way on the rock wall. We'll have to come back for that Lil! (after I learn about how to climb outside)

Abi carried K on the way back, and she fell asleep, aww.

All done with our hike - one more pic. Beautiful day and beautiful valley behind us - 

They admitted it was worth the hike and they are excited to come again. 

Wes took his turn being sick today. He didn't feel well last night and threw up around 4. And then a few more times today. 

I've been lucky that so far, there hasn't been a huge carpet mess yet. Two on the wood floor and one in the sink ,which I prefer to carpet scrubbing. Hopefully we're almost finish with this bug? Although there's a chance that we're only over half way done? CWALND done, TSOK to go?

Corey went to visit his mom today and then worked at his parent's house. I picked him up for our date and we went to Beaumont Cafe. I like the citrus beet salad. Corey got the fruit french toast. I also got a big mound peanut butter chocolate chip cookie too that was so good - I ordered another one to have tomorrow. It was tasty. Corey has been working late tonight, but I'm going to go get kids ready for bed - hoping to go to Corner Canyon tomorrow morning for a ride with Corey! I'm loving biking on these summer mornings!

Quote Wall 2

We all know that our house is full of cute kids, as demonstrated by this pic below of cute cute Katharine.

We also have very funny children, the little ones and the big ones. I'd say they mostly get it from their father, although I'm kinda witty too sometimes. I always feel very proud of myself if I can surprise Corey with a clever comment and make him laugh. He's always making me laugh. 

On Saturday morning, as we were in St. George packing up to go home, Corey had me laughing as he mulled over in his head some thoughts about bowling. So Ethan's bowling ball is missing and he's made some "Have you seen me" posters with a photo of it that he's thinking of putting up around campus to try and find his ball. I told him not to do it, cause I seriously doubt it will bear any fruit. I don't think any fellow student took his ball. I think he just misplaced it or lost it somewhere. Corey told him not to and then confided "I do feel like a failure of a parent because he likes bowling... at a key moment in his development he needed a sport, a challenge, and we missed it, so that's what's left for him. ...and then he BRAGS about it so unabashedly, he's not even aware of the shame..."

I sent that to Mel in a text, but told her that dad did not want to be quoted on it. And I'm catching up here on the blog (today is actually April 24) so I'm hoping that I can put that here and not be found out. Cause it was a funny quote. Melodie captures funny quotes from the family. I put the first installment of family quotes here on the blog in November. Mel sends out her collection of quotes on Wride Nation every month or so. Here are all the ones I've gotten since November (I think)... 

• Mom to Eth at cabin “how you doing?” Eth as he strikes a superman pose “feeling completely normal and healthy!”
• “In Wesley’s defense, I’m super good.” - Joe, paraphrased by eth (playing foosball)
•  Eth (i think): “As Jim always says, put enough sauce on it and it’ll go in.” Joe: “I’ve never heard him say that.”
• Mom: "I don't think we're going to buy eggs, they're expensive right now." Sophie: "Well we can just get some milk and let it molt"
• Wes: "Abi, have I ever told you that you have an amazing voice?" Abi, flattered: "No!" Wes: "Yeah... So stop singing."
• “Each time he screams his teeth get one shade whiter” - Joseph as Ethan wails because his whitening strips sting
• “Look at all these humans that Mom and Dad made!” - Ethan
• Mel: “tomorrow is Christmas Adam because Adam came before Eve” Ethan: ”If tomorrow is Christmas Adam that means today is Christmas GOD. Does that make the day after Christmas Christmas Cain?”
• Mom: “Everyone say thanks to Mel for making dinner” Everyone: “thanksss mellll” Owen: “thanks for the ONE piece of chicken!” Ethan: “That was the most passive-aggressive comment I’ve ever heard.”
• Mel, trying to encourage Ethan before his date “Don’t stress it, just be yourself!” Ethan: “That’s what I’m afraid of!”
• “This is a priesthood obligation! I need to go on this date so I can find a wife to financially support… And love.” - Ethan
• Mel singing Peter: “that hurts my ears! It’s making me have nightmares.”
• "How was your first day of classes? I can see that you haven't left your bed yet, that's a good sign... Doing homework in your bed? That's the most self-deceptive thing I've ever heard." - Dad
• On a video call with Hyrum "The worst part of these calls is that I have to see my own face." - Dad
• Mels queue: "Would you like to restate that?"
• Our ancestors in heaven: "So what was your great trial in life?" Mom and Dad "Well, we had 13 kids!" Ancestors: "Yeah, everyone did..." Mom and Dad: "Well, we didn't have to wash our clothes by hand, and we had refrigerators... But we did have to make the hard decision of choosing entertainment that wouldn't degrade us."
• At Pie pizza for joes bday Ethan: “Next time we should go to Chuck E. Cheese!!” 

•  Listening to Fiddler on the roof If I were a rich man Ethan: “Tevya thinking about that double chin on his wife like (flutter tongue) rrrrrrr”
• Ethan singing fiddler on the roof: “Do you love me?“ Daniel: “No.”
“It’s a critical defect of the Y chromosome. If there isn’t a battle to be fought, a male becomes dormant.” - Dad
• Mom: “If you’re righteous, you won’t die before you’ve fulfilled your calling.” Dad: Even if you eat eggs and sausage? Mom: Well, we’re all here to change…
“What’s wrong with Youth in Asia?” - Joseph “Everyone’s talking about how Euthanasia is bad, but whats up with them? What about the youth in America? They’re pretty bad too.” Mom: “I had to euthanize a few caterpillars..” *flashback to mom freezing caterpillars and squishing with a rock • “Mom, am I an orphan?” -Natalie
• “I will spank you on the eyeballs until you die.” - Peter

• “I just want someone to be obsessed with me!” - Abi
• Peter, touching his nipples: “Dad, look at these tiny things!”
• “I did not fart! I always own up to it! Wes, don’t let them accuse me” - Ethan
• Joseph and Ethan thinking that the woman with an issue of blood had a cut in her arm
• Dad: “What guy here has ever felt tempted by impure thoughts about women?” *Daniel raises his hand Dad: “If Sophie was with me all the time, I would never make a mistake again. The other day at church after after talking with Sister Eakins, Sophie came up and asked “Who was that woman you were talking to??” 

• “Dad would pay us to keep an eye on Ethan and Ella” Sophie: “I remember that! We would watch you all day.”
• Ethan: “When I was running for SBO in 8th grade, I just finished my presentation and I got up in front of the entire school, and the best thing I could come up with to say was: “I really have to pee right now.” Dad: “You know, the guy you were running against told you yo say that.” Ethan: “He did??” •Mom: “I think it’s a little harsh to say that all men are naturally pigs” Joseph and Ethan and Wes: “I disagree.”
• “Die for your own honor!” - Owne
• Dad: “Who left their food here on the table?” Daniel, with his plate right next to it: “I saw Owen do it…”
• Abi: “Why did we buy so much oatmeal? Mel: “Because we eat oatmeal every day!” Abi: “No, we COOK oatmeal every day.”
• Mel: “Everything is funny at 1am” Ethan “Then 2am hits and everything is super depressing” Joe: “I had a midlife crisis at 3am waiting for Zeb at the airport.”
• Eth: “It was so weird, she held my hand and said ‘we could pretend that we’re dating!’” Mel: “You do that do me all the time” Eth: “Yeah, but we’re related!” Wes: “that doesn’t make it better”

First Day Skiing and Other Fun

Katharine had her first day skiing today at Alta. She didn't ski, she was just in the backpack. We were all laughing, she is so cute with her little eyes peeking out!! And her binky strap hanging out of her neck warmer. Taking a break for lunch - 

Everyone wanted a picture with her!

Joseph with his baby sister.

I'm the luckiest though, cause I'm her mom and I get to feed her and take care of her and be with her all day and night everyday!!

Here she is when we were unloading at the beginning of the day. She wasn't excited about the backpack. 

Actually feeling a little worried perhaps. But we just laughed at how cute she is.

I headed straight into the lodge and nursed her and warmed her up. We chilled in there while everyone else skied.

When everyone came in for lunch, I went out for a bit. Then Corey took her on the baby lift with Peter. 

He said she did great. She didn't like it at first, and didn't "warm up" to it, but she was awake and quiet, so maybe the cold did sober her up as to the vastness of the world and how vulnerable her existence is. Then I took another break inside with her. 

Taking a few pics from the balcony - Mel with Owen and Daniel.

Corey in line with Peter, Mel and a little boy in front of them.

I was able to do like 4 runs on Sunnyside with the kids. Me with Abi and Sophi - 

So I personally didn't get in a ton of time tearing it up, but the kids did great and had a lot of fun. It was good to get out, and not bad for our first attempt with Katharine. 

Skiing with 12 kids is no easy feat.

There's JMEWALSNOD. P&K were down at the base with Corey. We did a run with everyone, and then some of us did just one more run.

Cause I hadn't gotten in a lot, so I wanted to go one more time.

So that was fun. And then after we got home from skiing, I had one more activity for us to do, even though everyone was tired. I had tickets to Christmas in Color yesterday, but I totally forgot, and I didn't know how big of sticklers they'd be for following the date and time so I didn't know if they'd work for today, but I was prepared with my argument if they told us no. But we were able to get in no problem. 

We got K out of her carseat cause he hates it. 

She was mesmerized by the lights. 

The girls stood out the sunroof in my car. 

Corey's car has the cargo thing on top, so the boys were stuck inside. 

We sang Christmas songs and it was fun. Poor Peter fell asleep and they tried to wake him up, but he slept through the whole thing. And after going, I think it was fine, but a bit of a rip off, and I don't know that we'll do it again, but we tried it and it was fine. Maybe I'd do it again if we just do one car and will all pile in just one car together. :)

So, yeah, the past few days have been a whirlwind of activity, especially yesterday. Wednesday I mostly worked on getting gifts ready. Melodie helped me. I took it over the job of Santa from Corey, which has been fine, except that he uses a system that I don't like or find helpful, so we've had to unwrap presents in order to see what in inside them since I don't get his codes or spreadsheet. I was slightly annoyed with children who sent lists of their requests. It feels stupid and selfish, like they are demanding things, when it's not our job to give them anything at Christmas at all. Gift giving at Christmas has gotten out of hand, cause we don't need anything. What we really need is to get rid of stuff, not bring in more! Of the stuff that Corey and I both both, I made a bin of things to take back to the stores. I returned a few things and went by Barnes and Noble Wed evening to get a last minute book for Lily, since she needed a little more in price to even things up. I got a few Keepers of the lost Cities book, and then I went climbing for a few moments. It will be a more simple Christmas with me in charge, but with the older kids being more mature now, I trust that they will be able to lead out and it will be ok. Each kid will have like $100 total, which already makes Christmas expensive for us with the numbers that we're dealing with. For JME, their main gift is their mission blog books, Abi and Lily have a few random clothing items and books, Lego sets for SNO, random toys for DP, nothing for K.

Thursday - I went climbing and did my first V2! I was surprised that I did it and very excited. I returned some things to Walmart and Red Balloon. I am hopeful that Corey got work done. He is often frustrated with all the interruptions he gets, so I'm trying to help - he answers the phone every time they call with whatever silly thought or question they have at the moment. So I forbade him from answering the phone, I'm taking care of Christmas, and hopefully he got some stuff done. Corey also had an important demo yesterday. He was nervous and worried about it going well and about the project continuing. I have pretty much tried to keep my "worrying about Corey's work" button turned to off for the past few years. Yesterday I did my best to keep the worry part out of the equation as I prayed in earnest for his happiness and success in his career and I fasted for him and asked my parents and siblings to keep him in their prayers. The demo was at 4:00. I thought it would help if I went to the temple. I haven't done a endowment session since May the week before Katharine was born. I've been to do initiatories but not a session. But right now with Mel home, I felt I could go, so Ethan and I went to the Jordan River Temple to the 4:00 session. We were asked to be the witness couple which was really cool! (And it never hurts that being the witness couple allows you to stand up and kinda wake up during the session!) so this ended up being one of the best experiences I've ever had at the temple because I stayed awake during almost all of it (had a few fading out moments) and I was thinking about the word "endowment" - I just looked up some of the synonyms and the one I thought of is there - GIFT. More searching - here's an even better description of it: LARGE gift! Legacy! Inheritance! Or some of the nouns there - Power, strength, capacity... It is our gift from God - Our life here on earth helps us learn to be like him. So it was a great session, and afterwards in the celestial room I was looking for a triple combination but only saw the Bible, so I picked it up, opened it randomly and read the book of Joel. It brought me to tears - going back to thinking of Corey, his work, his efforts to provide for our large family (which always feels a bit more heavy at Christmas time with 13 kids to try to get gifts for) and I know Corey worries about not just the day to day expenses but of retirement and the future - and I loved loved Joel, especially chapter 2 - 

21 ¶ Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things.

22 Be not afraid, ye ^abeasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.

23 Be glad then, ye children of ^aZion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the ^brain, the former rain, and the ^clatter rain in the first month.

24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the ^afats shall overflow with wine and oil.

25 And I will ^arestore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ^aashamed.

27 And ye shall know that I am in the ^amidst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

I trust that the Lord will provide for us, and that he will send forth much rain, that he will restore to us the years that the caterpillars ate (MM years). And even considering our past lean years of famine, God has dealt WONDROUSLY with us. Fear not! Be glad and rejoice! I know that the Lord will do great things.

I💗Fall 🍂 & Butterfly Shipment

I rode up the canyon today by myself, but with Corey's encouragement over text. I kept letting him know that I hadn't gotten off my bike to walk at all, and I made it all the way up to Lisa Falls without getting off! Although I did stop a few times to readjust my wheel or turn back my pedal, or pick up some of the fall leaves. IT IS SO GORGEOUS right now. 

I kept having to stop in awe of my surroundings. 

My favorite moment was when I was on my way back down, listening to "The Way It's Always Been" - I was going to skip the techy section, and I did, but then changed my mind, turned around and at "big wheel and the grind" I was jogging my bike back up, moving my feet to the beat at 2:25, and I was back on my bike riding at 2:40 after the build up, and then it got to my favorite part, which also happened to be right when the sun peeked up over the mountain and through the trees at me, and with the green and yellow colors, the river, the sky... it made my heart so full, I stopped and looked up and teared up with emotion.

Not sure why I teared up, but I think it was a combination of awe of God's creations and thankfulness for His kindness to me. I trust that he has the power to save me, I am grateful to be waiting for The Son to come again. I've had my moments at the waters edge waiting for the fog to clear, and I'm grateful for clear skies in my life right now. You can't have a problem free life, but you can have problem free days, as was well said in the talk I listened to on the way up (BYU speeches Finding Strength in the Lord) and fall colors and time in the mountains makes me feel problem free. So it was a great and beautiful morning. A great way to start the day! Right after I got home, I was feeding K or taking care of butterflies. I had 5 black chrysalides this morning and two of them eclosed while I was on my ride, one right after I got back. 

One of them came out an hour or so after I was home, and when I came down it was kinda stuck, so I very carefully tried to help it, and it got out, but then it was crawling all over trying to get itself upright. Exactly what happened with Maria, and her wings got messed up (pic 5) So this guy was freaking out but I had to keep it in upside down time-out, and mostly succeeded - his wings did dry straight and he looks perfect, but he seems anxious I hope he doesn't die early from having a traumatic experience! 

Like I've said before, it's going to be freezing temperatures on Sunday, and I don't want these butterflies to freeze, so I arranged for them to hitch a ride south with a neighbor Jess. I finished making their cage today, and them spent time this afternoon feeding them and placing them one by one into the tulle container. 

I couldn't tell which ones had emerged yesterday from the ones that emerged today, but I just moved them one by one, and tried to feed each one some honey water - the ones that eagerly ate are the ones that were a day older. It was fun, they all are so pretty. I still had the one male from this morning in time out...

He fell a few times. He was so busy moving around trying to escape that I'm worried for him - that he's used up too much of his energy, but since his wings are good, he's going with the rest of him and we'll hope for the best. Jess said they were leaving at 4:30, so I took them over around 4. First I went by Terry's to get her last butterfly, a lovely male she named Omega. 

And then on the right there I had one that still hadn't emerged, so I glued his stick with his chrysalis onto a small metal L wrench and tied him to the inside of a grape container, so that he'd be ok if he emerged. And then took them over! Good bye butterflies! and good luck!

We're hoping they make the trip well and that it isn't/wasn't too much of a hassle. I  know her family is busy with a biking thing, so I texted her that there was no pressure, but I'd love an update on how it went and any pictures she took while after they get back! Her kids came over to see our butterflies emerge and her son was especially interested in the monarchs and caterpillars (4th pic) so I know that they are in good and caring hands. 

And with that officially handed over, we are now done! Phew! Now I'm just be waiting for word on these 11+1, and then I'll do my official count! It's been a very successful monarch year!