Chemisty

 This school year, I asked my dad to teach the boys chemistry.  

THEY LOVE IT!

Snow in October

 Ah, yes!  As if 2020 couldn't throw us another curve ball, it snowed in October.  Not a little bit of snow but a LOT of snow!  It was surprising.  We had cross country practice so we had to go and run in the snow.  The snow actually lasted two days.  It was incredible and fun to play in the snow.  

Cross Country in Prescott, AZ!

 This year, we haven't been able to have any races in New Mexico because of Covid-19 lock down sanctions.  So, we have been forced to race out of state.  I had already made plans for the weekend so I asked my parents to take the boys to a race in Arizona.  

The most memorable part?  They said it was swimming in the hotel swimming pool.  Nolen ran his first race in nearly a year and was reminded how hard it is to run fast.  He ran a 16.01 for a 3K and ran his heart out.  He ended the race in tears. I am so glad he had the opportunity to race and at least have some semblance of normalcy during this odd pandemic.  Edward's swim meets have all been canceled so we will have to look for other opportunities to race.  

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.

Pattie's 68th Birthday!!!