Hikes and Morning Runs

One of the best parts of the Quarantine is the morning runs and exercising we have been doing together. We’ve done so many lake runs, and we’ve found this great track RIGHT behind our house that I knew was there but didn’t really realize how great it is. We’ve been doing that in the mornings as a family and it’s been so good for us. Also lots of running stairs just to get us outside breathing fresh air a bit. It helps me not be so awnry and just feel better overall. It’s still a little cool so I’m anxious for the weather to warm up a bit but these have been some really neat times for us.

Another Sunday Quarantine

Another beautiful Sunday home with our family. I am LOVING this. So grateful for my husband who is planning beautiful lessons for us. They don’t always go perfectly. Sometimes I get frustrated with the kids not sitting still or it not going as long as I think it should...but I’m learning to be grateful and appreciative for the efforts and that I’m not always right. There’s not just one way to do things. He’s doing a great job and my kids are participating happily and I’m thankful. Today is was Tate’s turn to give a talk. I could not have been prouder. Toby helped him write it and he was so dang excited to give it. He practiced it when no one was around and tried so hard to make sure he looked up as he read it. It was adorable and perfect and I hope I never forget it. After we decided to drive down to Eureka to see the cabin of Ephraim Hanks. I have been soaking up learning about the Restoration and  The early pioneers Ephraim Hanks being one of them. We enjoyed a beautiful drive down south and Toby has always loved ghost towns so it was great. 

Came home and ate a delicious pot roast, veggies, fruit salad and fun dessert. Pretty awesome Sunday. 

Conference Breakfast a Week Early

Oh my heavens. I am SO OUT OF WHACK. I’m literally loosing my mind. I’m completely unaware of what day it is and what I’m supposed to be doing. Somehow in my mind I thought it was the week of Conference. We were asked by our prophet to prepare by studying the Restoration of the Gospel and the life of Joseph Smith. I wasn’t perfect but I sure felt like I had done a good job. We had been watching movies about the restoration all week. 17 miracles, Legacy, the Story of Joseph Smith and others on You Tube. I’d been reading conference talks to the kids, memorizing scripture, and I stayed up late the last three nights making sure I finished the book “Saints” before conference. I sent Toby to the store for our weekly trip to get things for a big conference breakfast. I wanted to do it Saturday morning since our Prophet had asked us to fast on Sunday. Well there I am cooking a HUGE breakfast with all the trimmings and orange juice and chocolate milk and we turn on the tv to prepare by listening to the tabernacle choir. Nothing. I had Elle check a couple of other channels. Nothing. So weird. Elle finally looked it u and conference was the following week!!!! Hahah are you kidding me?! I was dying! HOW WAS BOTH TOBY AND I A WHOLE WEEK OFF?!. So weird. But my kids enjoyed a wonderful Saturday breakfast for no reason at all!:)

More Quarantining...

Just more quarantine going on over here. Lot’s of school work, art projects, stories from Grandpa on Marco Polo, mini golfing, running stairs, walks around the lake and running on the track, chores, organizing, projects. More time spent together than we’ve been able to in a long time. I LOVE my FAMILY. 

Our First Sunday with Church at Home

I actually think this is technically our second Sunday home but the first one was a little off...we weren’t quit sure what we were doing yet but this one felt different and we had it more together. Toby has been amazing with our Sundays. He has created a program for each one with song, conductors, opening prayers, talks, and of course the blessing and the passing of the Sacrament. I can’t even put into words what a special experience it has been for us as a family to have our husband bless and our son and brother pass the Sacrament to each of us. There’s been a neat spirit in our home to have such a sacred ordinance performed in our home. I’ve loved not being able to go anywhere. We’re just “stuck” home. Together. No school, no church, no sports, no work, no shopping, no distractions. Just us. Together. We’re getting creative with ways to keep us entertained: Puzzles, movie marathons, playing outside, card games, and I’ve never cooked so much in my entire life! Hahah. I know people are hurting and I hate that but the silver lining is I’m really treasuring this time together with my family. 

St. Patricks Day

Luckily I thought ahead a little and the first time we went to the store to get things for Quarantine I had Toby pick up some fun green things for St. Patrick’s Day! We were still able to wake up to a GREEN breakfast and while we were  all worried our Leprechaun Steve wouldn’t be able to get to us he surprised us all and still came to visit the Christensen’s! We gave the kids a fun treasure hunt and still placed his treasure in a different fun place for the kids to find. Toby got the kids all green donuts and we all played mini golf out on our GREEN in our GREEN. I’d still say it was a great St. Patrick’s Day overall. :)

The start of the Corona Virus Quarantine

Well. Such interesting times. There had been rumors of the Corona Virus over seas, then lot of confirmed cases, then news of people that were out on Cruise Ships bringing it home to the US and then from there it has just spread. Started mostly up in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest and California but really just started to hit everywhere. Before we knew it our own Governor followed suit with other and things started shutting down. Stores closed, restaurants closes, movie theaters, etc. Then they announced that all schools would be shut down and we will be homeschooling till at least May 1st. Toby’s job announced to him that they will be having him work from home. And then the church followed suit and announced we won’t be having Church meeting either and we’ll be doing that from home. It all just felt surreal. That first week was the craziest. It was kind of difficult getting used to the kids doing school from home and figuring out the computers and whatnot. THEN...on top of all the worry caused by this virus....Utah had a 5.7 EARTHQUAKE.  WHAT IS HAPPENING?! Seriously Wednesday morning Toby and I were waken by our bed and room completely shaking harder than anything I’ve ever felt before. The kids were out sleeping together on the couch like they always do so we ran out there to make sure they were all okay and they were but were pretty shake too. (Haha see what I did there.). Kemp made me laugh so hard...he said “I knew it was either the corona virus or an earthquake.”  Yep buddy you were right. Haha. It was an earthquake and just added to the chaos and stress that so many of us were feeling. I along with the rest of the world worried if we had enough food and supplies so before the earthquake Toby and I had ran to walmart and loaded up on groceries etc but so many people had already done it that all of the shelves were empty. No toilet paper anywhere but luckily I always stock up on that so we were good to go. After the earthquake it just got worse. Going into a store was so hard! Shelves empty, people worried about getting the virus. Then I started thinking if the earthquake had made the power go out we would have just lost all the food in our fridge and freezer that we had just bought. It honestly just felt like the end of the world was coming. Aftershocks kept happening and freaking us all out. The trumpet on Angel Moroni fell off the Salt Lake Temple. A few things fell of our shelves but nothing major. Just gave me anxiety for like he next 4 weeks. Really I would wake up and think I felt an earthquake. Sometime I had felt an aftershock. Sometimes nothing. This little picture I got was Kemp right after when he said he was scared. So dang sad. - BUT there is always silver lining. I have loved having my kids and husband home the last week or two. We’ve gotten so much done around the house. Lot’s of organizing and cleaning since we are quarantined to home. Also we turned our little laundry room into a school room. It’s so fun watching the three boys going in there to each of their desks to attend “school” together. It’s been a big adjustment for mom but I’m soaking it all up!

Tate's Personal Prayer / Crazy Hair Day / Hot Tub Party

Toby is so good at setting goals with our kids. He made them goal charts and one of these things on it was personal prayers. To look over and see little Tate kneeling down and praying in the living room was one of the cutest things I've ever seen. I sure love that little soul.
A couple of days ago it was crazy hair day. I never get too creative. But we did some crazy mohawks and put blue chalk paint in it. Tate of course wanted to look just like his big bro.
Also had a fun little hot tub party on our day off last Friday. We had the Stevens and Phillips over and had pizza and drinks and it was super fun. Can't wait for our pool to be done this summer!

We're Officially a Dog Family

Look what I've turned into! A total dog person! I can't stop taking pictures. They are so stinking cute. They love sleeping by each other and playing together. Elle adores them both. We can't believe how big Luna has gotten! It's crazy. But she has the most beautiful blue eyes.