Two more weeks of hybrid learning

 After the first week back to school the COVID numbers in Pima County jumped back up to "red" level, so I worried that they would make us go back to remote learning, but it was all cases at the U of A, so they said we were safe continuing hybrid school. Thank goodness. It has been so nice for everyone to have a step towards a return to normalcy. Even though it's still far from normal.

In July Annie had an allergic reaction to something that caused hives and itchiness for a few days. She's sensitive to a lot of things, but this one was bad enough I decided I'd like to find out definitively what she's allergic to. And the answer is: Tucson.

She had an scratch test with all the top allergens, plus a lot of the fruits that usually cause her face to get red and blotchy after she eats them. She is super allergic to mesquite and palo verde trees, all 3 types of grasses they tested her on, and several other seasonal things. Luckily over the counter meds seem to work fine for her, so we'll just make sure she's on them for the months when those are especially bad. She didn't react to any of the fruits they tested, but the doctor said she probably has Oral Allergy Syndrome, which is basically that her body reacts to raw fruit like it reacts to other allergens. If the fruit is processed at all (cooked, frozen, mashed) it usually changes the proteins enough that the body doesn't react, so getting a scratch test to show is impossible, since you have to process the fruit to make it into a liquid to scratch with. But it's not serious and all she needs to do is be aware of it, and she can either avoid fruits that cause her problems, or keep doing what she has been and rinse off after she eats them, since it mostly just causes itchiness on her face (though apples cause itchiness in her mouth). It's nice to know what exactly is bothering her, even if it doesn't change her behavior much. 

It's a good thing we keep getting more of these blocks. We have 900 of them and the kids get them all out and build with them multiple times each week. 

This is a common sight these days. With the kids using at least one, sometimes more masks each day at school, and of course having some disappear on a regular basis, we have to stay on top of laundry, usually washing masks at least twice a week. I use a lingerie bag to hold all the masks so they don't get lost and so it's easy to get them all after the washing machine to lay them flat to dry, because drying them in the dryer makes them unwearable, coming out crumpled or bent in weird ways.

Usually on General Conference Saturday we take a bike ride on the Julian Wash trail in between the morning and afternoon sessions. But two days before conference Annie's bike snapped it's brakes. Add that to the fact that it is the hottest summer ever and the highs are still hitting 100 consistently even though it's October, and the mid-day bike ride wasn't going to happen. 

Ryan, however, came up with the idea of a fun run. So he organized it and got his cousins and grandma to sign up for it, and put it on in the morning before conference. The route was around 1 or 2 blocks (participants could choose their distance). 

The kids did a great job. Megan came in first (running the 1 block distance) and Sammy came in second (biking the 2 block distance) and both were very happy to get the medals Ryan had prepared out of string and a big button. After the fun run they did the "none run" which involved no running, just biking the same route. Fun was had by all and we had burned some energy to help us sit for hours listening to prophets' voices. 

After a while the kids got a little squirrely (notice Ryan below): 

The did great listening and taking notes and I think we all got something good out of conference. I know it seemed especially applicable as there were many talks about all our trials and how to endure with faith. I'm sure that applies to a lot of people going through COVID-related trials right now, but it felt especially applicable to us right now with the trials and heartaches our family has been confronted with lately.

After conference the kids got around to a craft I thought they would do during conference: making dragon flies. The library had these kits for the kids when we went to check out books earlier in the week, and they all enjoyed making them.

The kids love to gather around Jake when he has the ipad ready to show something funny. They love listening to Hank the Cowdog audiobooks, watching funny videos, or Smarter Every Day videos, or in this case, watching a silly songs with Larry video.

Peyton and McKenzie had fall break last week. Since the rest of the kids have fall break this coming week and the following week, they did a couple hours of work every morning so they can have less work to do this week and have some time off to play with everyone else. They did, however, get to do fun things to make fall break more exciting. Their favorite was playing Beat Saber on Todd's VR set. 

They also learned how to use a knitting loom and got part way through sewing their own skirts. We'll finish this week. 

Thursday we got out some Mad Libs, which everyone thought was hilarious. Afterwards Ryan led everyone in a writing game where everyone writes a sentence or two, then passes their story along to the next person to continue the story with another sentence or two, passing the paper all around the table. By the end everyone has a silly story to read. They all got quite a kick out of it.

Friday afternoon we took the kids out for ice cream to celebrate their hard work for quarter 1. They all deserve it for persevering through such a strange and difficult way of doing school. 

Saturday morning everyone loves the chance to sit around and watch cartoons:

After they watched for a while Savannah invited us to join them to ride bikes to the park. Peyton has been working on her biking skills and seemed ready to join us even though we'd be riding along Rita Road for most of the ride. She did great and proved that she has mastered braking and steering. Yay! 

The kids played at the park for a long time, enjoying the playground a little, but mostly running around playing some boys vs. girls game.

The ride home was hot since it was 90 degrees by then, but we made it. After lunch the girls built the tallest tower ever before heading over to play VR at Todd's house for a while. 

Today we were back at church with the whole ward invited to come. Up until now we had been alternating weeks, half the ward going one week, the other half going the next week based on our last name alphabetically. So today was the first time we've gone with the Grandma and Grandpa and Todd's family since March. Except of course for all the times we did at home church together. It wasn't very full today, but that may be because of Fall break. It sure is nice to be making our way back towards life pre-pandemic, even if it's just in baby steps. 

Back to school

 School is back in session in Vail! The week before we went back to school it was business as usual, school work all day, then after school burning off some energy. With slightly cooler temps (not always in the 100s) the pool next door wasn't as warm as the kids are used to. But they still had fun swimming.

Their obsession with Ninjago continues. Rachel is becoming very proficient at drawing some of the characters.

Grandma borrowed 9-square from a friend for us to use for PE for the last week of remote learning. The kids had a fun time with it, though the shorter kids struggled a bit. 

Puzzles have been a hit lately as a good way to pass the time. All the kids like to pitch in to put them together.

The Saturday before school started we went on a practice bike ride to the school. Because the school is just open for hybrid learning, not regular school, there is a lot of restrictions on what they can or cannot do at school, including not being able to play out on the playground before school. We figured it would be good for them to have a chance to burn off some of their energy so they can focus better at school, so we're riding to school. 

The practice ride went well and everyone made it without problem or incident. 

It was just starting to warm up, and they didn't get much of a rest, so Megan wasn't too excited about biking home, but she did it and the kids are all getting tougher and stronger at riding bikes.

Rachel: teen diva:

We have a bit of a different first day of school picture this year. Everyone loaded up their backpacks and we were off. Todd went with me in the morning to help corral everyone, and Savannah and Grandma picked them up from school afterwards. I think I got the better end of the deal, since the weather is much more mild at 8am.

After school we went swimming next door. Ryan blew up his shirt into a giant bubble. 

One day after school Eloise invited the girls over to be girly. They painted nails and giggled together. Rachel and Annie missed out because they had drama club with Karolee.

But Friday they all got to be in on the girl party Eloise hosted at her house. They made personal pizzas and watched Ella Enchanted. The boys went to Grandma's house and watched Smurfs 2 and jumped on the trampoline and ate candy. Jacob and I went on a date to Candy World, and back to our house to eat dinner and watch The Andy Griffith Show. With COVID, there's not many places open for us to go out on a date to. 

Earlier in the week Annie and McKenzie decided to make playdoh out of cream cheese and powdered sugar. In the process they made a huge mess and burned out our hand mixer. Oops. 

Rachel caught the cooking bug at the same time and made us all some cookies. 

Turns out that same night someone else made cookies and dropped them by along with a heart attack from the Young Women. We were loaded with cookies.

Ryan's teacher sent a picture of his class the first day of being back at in-person school. 

The plan at his school was to create more classes to keep the numbers under 20 kids per class until we're back into the green when COVID numbers are down low enough to go back to regular school. Enough kids chose to continue with remote learning that they didn't have to create new classes, but Ryan's class was real close: 21 kids. Each class has the desks separated and facing forward and they have to wear their masks any time they're not eating or drinking. 

Our nice neighbors Joanne and Eileen bought some art projects from the Dollar Store for Halloween for the kids to work on. The kids always love a good painting project.

Peyton and McKenzie's school still is doing remote learning, so they were a bit jealous when everyone went back to school. But they're troopers and it has been a lot easier doing their school work with fewer kids around, and we're starting to know what they need and how to do it.

Another week

 Last Sunday we were coordinated without even trying. Aren't we cute? 

Ryan got hold of my phone and I ended up with lots of pictures of his nostrils. This was the least blurry one:

For Labor Day Karolee invited us to meet them before it got too hot at a park. It was super fun and the weather was great until about 9am when it started getting hot. Todd brought his kids, too. We all contributed for breakfast: breakfast burritos, donuts, fruit, and juice.

We played Kubb, a lawn game. The Allens killed us every game.

There was a lot of roller blading, scooter riding, playing on the playground and with frisbees and balls and tennis rackets. We went to a park a little farther away than our normal park, but it was worth it because it wasn't busy at all and had a great area for all our activities.

We came home and chilled, the kids watched Ninjago and a movie and played. We went over to grandma's for a labor day BBQ for dinner. The kids had fun with huge water balloons (regular balloons filled with water). And jumping on the trampoline and swimming in the pool. A generally relaxing day.

Tuesday it was back to school. Peyton has a "passion project" where she's supposed to learn about something she's passionate about and she chose art, so Grandma taught her some watercolor techniques. The other kids that were done with their work joined in, too, and really enjoyed it.

The weather finally started cooling off after the hottest summer on record, so we played basketball for PE a couple of days. And we got out the bikes and the kids had fun riding for the first time in months for most of them. We took the pedals off of Annie's old bike and Peyton used it to get her balance down, then we added the pedals and she picked it up pretty quick. She still is working on starting and stopping, but once she gets going, she can balance and make progress, all in the course of 2 days of practice.

Friday was 9-11. Annie made a cool art project as part of her social studies for the day.

Next year will be 20 years. Wow. 

Saturday was another low-key day. The kids spent a lot of the morning out front riding bikes and playing basketball. We're grateful for an uneventful week.

Random Photos

 One morning I pulled out of the garage and saw this:

This is how we define "goal tending" in Southern Arizona.

Many years ago I posted some pictures of Annie peeking out behind different objects. Here's one of them:

Turns out this behavior might be inherited:

Getting in the groove

 We're getting in the groove of at home learning a day at a time. With Kenzie and Peyton at our house, my mom comes over to help with their school because it is a lot less structured than my kids' and it's taken two adults to figure out what to be working on and keeping them (and Ryan and Megan) on task and productive. I'm very thankful for Grandma's help.

Monday it was finally lovely weather after finishing the hottest July and August on record ever. The nice weather for the first time in months made for a perfect night for an outdoor FHE activity. We went on a walk and chalk bombed our back yard neighbors. Ryan wore his ninja suit so he would be incognito.

Annie made a couple Bob Ross masterpieces. Her other one (not pictured) had happy little trees.

Taking advantage of the cooler weather that came for a short 3 days, we went to the park for PE and lunch one day. The playgrounds opened last week, so it was nice to finally be allowed to play on the playground equipment. 

Several kids brought scooters or roller blades, however, to stay occupied while the others enjoyed the playground.

Wednesday night a Dominos delivery driver did a drop and run with a huge stack of pizza, salads, soda, and brownies. It was more than we could eat and Savannah was still here from the kids swimming next door, so we invited them to stay and eat. 

Turns out Savannah's sister, Anni, had heard about some of the stuff going on making our life a little hectic the last few weeks and wanted to help, so she sent us dinner. It was such a lovely surprise. 

Fridays Rachel now has no synchronous learning, it's all at her own pace, which means that those are the only days she can join the rest of the kids for PE. Usually she has time for lunch, then straight back to school work as her next class starts just 10 minutes after we start PE. Since the heat was back by Friday we had a dance party at Grandma's house for PE. Rachel had to be banned to the couch because she is too expressive in her dancing and kept hitting Peyton in the face when she was dancing around the room. 

Of course Friday brought their most anticipated activity of the week: watching Ninjago. Us mean parents restrict their TV/movie watching to Fridays and Saturdays. It just makes it all the sweeter when the day comes. 

For our Come Follow Me lesson this morning Ryan taught about Samuel the Lamanite. We each took turns sharing a quote from a prophet from General Conference, then the "wicked Nephites" would launch stones and arrows (socks and straws) at the speaker, but the speaker was protected by the power of God (a sheet of plastic) so nothing could hit them. They all thought it was great fun.

Last night we had a hair trimming party. All who hadn't gotten their hair cut in the last few months got the ends trimmed off at the Salon de Colette.

Kenzie wanted more than just a trim, so I checked with Marie and she said to go for it, so now McKenzie has hair that's about 5 inches shorter. She loves it. 

She asked for it to be curled today for church. It turned out very pretty. Peyton didn't want more than just the edges trimmed, but she let me do her hair, too. The lovely ladies enjoyed going to church with us. 

We love them so much and we're glad they can be with us for now.