Halloween

 

Happy Halloween!

We had a fantastic Saturday celebrating Halloween!  Nolen and I woke up early so he could go to a cello lesson at 8:15 AM then I dropped him off at home and picked up Edward to take him to his 10:00 AM art class!  Wow, what a busy morning.  As soon as Stephen woke up, I went on a 10 mile trail ride with him so we could get some exercise before we ate more candy than any human should ever consume! 

Once we got home, I got the boys in their costumes and we headed to Legacy Church for a community trunk or treat.  We met some of our friends at the trunk or treat and walked through all the trunks to collect candy.  It was fun to be with some people when all activities have been banned by the governor because of covid-19.  I'll be glad to never say or write that word again.

After spending the afternoon with friends, we went home, ate dinner, then walked our quiet dark neighborhood.  It was odd.  Our neighborhood usually has hundreds of kids walking the streets.  There was only three groups of people out. There were only about 10-15 houses with lights on and handing out candy.  After walking around, we came home and gorged ourselves on all things chocolate.  Still a fun day and we got more candy than we needed. 

Right before we went to bed we watched Hocus Pocus.  I have never seen the movie and the boys laughed and laughed!

Happy Halloween!

As Time marches on

 Has it been a year? A day?  A week?  I just don't know.  Time has been moving but it certainly hasn't felt like it.  With so many occasions missed because of Covid-19, it seems as if time has suddenly stood still.  We are planning trips for 2021 and it just doesn't seem real.  I feel like we have lost a year.  

Money has been uncomfortably tight this year.  I am grateful we found Dave Ramsey in 2019 and changed our spending habits that February.  I was hoping we would have all of our debt paid off by February 2021.  Two full years of buckling down to pay off debt.  We have made huge head way but Covid-19 has been financially challenging to say the least.  I still have serious plans of being debt free by 2021 but it will be a huge feat to get it done. 

We have let time march on as the world seems to have gone mad.  I voted today.  I don't know if our problems will disappear once the Presidential election ends but I really hope things start to move back towards normalcy.  Our governor has started to lock us back down.  We have never fully opened here.  It is eerie feel to walk by businesses that are now permanently closed.  Movie theaters may never open up.  It's sad.  I voted for Biden.  I couldn't vote for Trump again.  I don't know if he has done a good job or a bad job, but I do know that I really do not like him as a human. 

I have been off the facebook for four weeks.  I sometimes still want to click on it and just browse through other peoples lives, but it is better to just focus on my life.  Help my family find balance in these challenging times.  I can do this with the help of my Heavenly Father.  I am standing firm in my faith.  Let these next few months be an answer to our much needed prayers.  

Bike ride along the Bosque with friends. 

Pumpkin carving with Grandma and Grandpa. 

Running in the Bosque with the cross country team. 

Trail run in the mountains!

The boys love the "dinosaur run"!

Painting pumpkins and baking home made doughnuts for the fall season.

Well It's October

 Ok, I know it is October.  I know a lot has happened and yet a lot has not happened.  Of course we are still living in Covid-19 times but for a second there I forgot.  Then we got a swift reminder this weekend that the government is very much in control of our lives right now and there is not much we can do about it.  

Edward was supposed to have another swim meet this weekend but it got cancelled along with EVERY single competition this weekend.  All kids are sad.  They have been able to practice and have a semi normal life up until this weekend.  I have so many thoughts but the most pressing thought is that we have no control right now.  It seems less and less about protection lives and more and more about political agendas.  And, well, that's heartbreaking.  The logic for the decisions being made is lost.

So, here are some of the fun things we have been doing over the last few weeks.

We went on a beautiful hike to some hidden red rocks in San Lorenzo Canyon two weeks ago.  It was stunning and an easy hike except for one big leap we all had to make.  Very adventurous and perfect for boys who love to climb. 

With summer coming to an end we decided to have a friend over and play in the sprinklers with balloons on the trampoline one last time before it starts to get cold.  Autumn comes so quickly here and I wanted the boys to be out side as much as possible before we are trapped indoors until March.

I got to go rock climbing with the young women and it was thrilling!  I have never been rock climbing except for at the rock climbing gym.  This was much easier and more accelerating.  I would definitely do it again someday.

Nolen and Edward got to go to an animal class after ninja gym on Friday.  They love animals and any chance they can hold an animal, they take it. 

Edward wanted to try horse riding lessons, so he and Nolen went back for another lesson.  So much fun! They both seem to really enjoy riding.  If I thought their love for horses would last, I would actually think about getting a horse!

Nolen pulled a muscle running last Friday, so he hasn't been able to run all week.  That meant that we didn't get to drive up to Colorado for the first meet of the season.  So instead of running around trying to get to competitions, we went for a nice mountain bike ride as a family.  It was relaxing and fun.  Just what we needed to remind ourselves that we are a loving family.  

All meets are cancelled.  No swim.  No running.  No Balloon Fiesta.  No pumpkin patches.  This will be a slow season for us but probably what we need right now in our lives.