These are the Days!: March 2020

Leslie telling us about her travel adventures on the Craziest Morning Ever. First day of homeschool (there were a lot of pigs flying, if the planes weren't) with all the chaos of trying to get all four computers logged in correctly and assignments figured out while keeping the 2 year old at bay (she found the stash of Pepperidge Farm Dark Chocolate Pecan Cookies), the biggest earthquake in Utah since 1992, Leslie trying to connect on Google Hangouts to give us status updates as she was stranded with the other missionaries because of the earthquake, and fire alarm going off right in the middle of all this because Mark turned on a dusty space heater in his basement office, which was actually a good ice breaker because I laughed pretty hard.

I actually could feel my body needing a stress nap by about 2. Luckily the kids were finished up and blissfully playing outside by then. After my short nap and a couple of broken cookie fragments, things were looking up. "I feel Wonderful", as we like to say in the Haynes family. We also forgot to have family prayer that morning. So, with some minor adjustments, the next few days have gone much better. As Boston reminded me as I drove him to his hopefully not last orthodontist appointment, "Mom, we've just got to let Jesus take the wheel." And obviously, He has and He will. Most days I feel very blessed with peace and hope, and it has been good to talk about some of the ways we are noticing His daily blessings every night with the family.

Mark is working from home.

Remarkable is actually NOT closed, but quite busy--they are used to working remotely already-- Mark's loan partner lives in Iowa, etc,-- and the company has had a completely virtual loan process for some time, anyway. His Provo office is just currently serving as an address holder while everyone works from home. It's Friday everyday! I've been really glad that the basement is quiet enough for him to be on the phone. Feeling very fortunate that his work has not been disrupted.

My work, on the other hand...
I'm not gonna lie, there were many tears shed when it became apparent that school on location would not be resuming for Quite Some Time, and it wasn't the kids who were crying. I'm a little selfish about my routines and projects. So, ironically, I am the opposite of isolated because of Covid-19, with all the chaos of five at home with me, every day, all day. School and kids' friends have been huge parenting tools/coping mechanisms/blessings for me. BUT, better with 'em than without 'em, which is what a lot of health care professionals, like my sister Darcy, could be facing if she has to take up residence at the hospital she works at in Oregon, leaving her three boys at home.
As far as I know, none of the kids cried about our new "in situ" situation, and they are managing OK. Actually, they've been stellar and very mature about having to be each others' besties. It is a huge blessing that they have each other to play with, come what may. I need to put a sign on the front lawn that says, this isn't a party, I just have six kids.) Rosie is ecstatic to not be stuck with only me.
That first day, though, when I realized we'd be homeschooling? Ooofdah. These were my favorite two memes about my whole thought process--very accurate. You can see that my phone is almost dead from trying to keep up with all the updates.

I'm glad that the school year at least has a definite end date. Here is what the first days of school looked like for us.

This game we got for Christmas is called "Pandemic".

I'm still figuring out how to weave in any of these cool, imaginitive activities I keep seeing on social media (which I just need to shut down completely) when they already have regular school work, without a general revolt, aka more of my #1 Mom task--getting people to do things they don't wanna do. We did manage to add a short Kenpo X workout, PE with Principal Mom, during their first break on Friday. At first they were incredulous, then somewhat compliant (except for Luke who just rolled his eyes and took off to watch cartoons with Rosie in the basement), then there was a lot of groaning when the boys realized they could barely stretch past their knees, then there was a lot of mocking of the workout video people and wussy punches being thrown while flopped on the couch, then there was a breakout of some general wrestling moves and battle howls amongst the male population while Macy and I ignored them, then we all did some high kicks (or wiggled our feet a little) and turned the blasted thing off. Next week? Art.

For the Sabbath, we also enjoyed having a very special opportunity to hold the sacrament in our own home. The kids did pretty well--we made them dress up like they normally would--and after that we split into groups for Sunday school. Mark and I will take turns teaching. That first week I took the Littles downstairs for primary while Mark taught the big kids upstairs. That was fun, and I was glad we had a whiteboard for Luke to answer questions with while Rosie colored.

I had to take a picture with Rosie in this little chair because this is one of the chairs that I actually used for Primary as a child in the Augusta, MT branch that used to meet in the Senior Supper Club/General Merchandise building. I have many fond memories of church there.

The Augusta Branch building. I also loved the lilac trees here and peeking into the windows of the Taxidermy shop across the street.

Let's go back in time and take a look at the last couple of months before the...

Cooper hosted a Crepes party for his youth group.

Leslie turned 19.

Macy was a bird in the chorus of the school play, Jungle Book. It was so fun that Luke and Cooper went back the second night, which was actually Luke's 4th viewing.

These two Mamas went skiing one lovely, warm afternoon.

Mark, Leslie and I went to one of our favorite venues, DryBar Comedy. All their stuff is free to view right now on VidAngel. Highly recommended, clean comedy for families.

Mark took Rosie to work one day while I was at the Rootstech Conference in Downtown SL, where I got this great shirt about my irritating hobby. Mark had gotten me tix to the Conference for Christmas, and for a pretty hardcore genealogist, it was a dream come true. As was the hotel room. Where, as the sole occupant, I peeled off my socks and shoes and threw them in the middle of the floor. And full on tripped over them about five minutes later on my way to a long, hot shower, then cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory on my bed, then a very rare full night's sleep. I even turned off my phone so my two-year-old or my seven year old or my 12 year old couldn't wake me up.
It was also a very strategic getaway because it was the day after we dropped Leslie off at the MTC. The plan worked--it was a great distraction and I didn't cry much.

Mark and his friends started a biker gang at work. Just for one day. For about 30 minutes at lunch. Very few were injured, but many were intimidated....or amused.

Luke and Cooper and Macy all lost teeth. Cooper pulled four in the last month and is waiting for some to grow back so he can get a bridge retainer for his cleft.

Macy and her friends made good use of Macy's cupcake decorating set.

Grandma babysat while Mark and I were on a company cruise and took these two out for lunch and donuts on Cooper's career day in Orem.

Mom sent me this picture. That'll teach me to go on a cruise without my babies.

We made lots of food that Leslie likes before she left. Here she is with the homemade burnt almond ice cream.

Grandma shot a lot of varmints one night.

Rosie came to me with a pair of pink bloomers and said, "I need a Dolly for these pants."

Cooper played outside a lot and noticed this heart shaped knee abrasion.

Rosie on the Craziest Morning Ever. Someone else got her dressed. They must have known.

We got done with some projects. Rosie got moved into a big bed and Macy strung up these cloth hearts for her that she sewed while I was pregnant.

The most momentous thing of the last couple months was dropping Leslie off at the Missionary Training Center.

Here she is with her companion, Sis. Richards from Spokane

Here she is, a couple weeks in, hosting the "last" flight of incoming MTC missionaries. Look how happy she looks.

Here she is. We got done with lunch early and were waiting around at the BYU bookstore (where we had to do a last minute replacement of one of her outfits due to wardrobe malfunction.)

Our family photo shoot by our long-time friend the amazing Justin Hackworth included some missionary shots. This is one of my favorites.

We had a fun pre-MTC lunch at Panda Express, one of Leslie's favorite restaurants (the kids wouldn't have gone for sushi.)

The kids wanted chopstick lessons. I still need more chopstick lessons.

And we still had time for dessert at Crumbl Cookies, our fave.

Here she is with her MTC district on Leap day. Not having any fun at all.

Here she is with the other West VA missionaries on the Craziest Morning Ever, post earthquake, pre-cancelled flight and halted TRAX.

Here she is back at the MTC with no classes and nothing to do while she awaits her new travel plans, but very thankfully, still going. After more travel adventures, she arrived safely in WV a couple days later, and then was assigned to Buena Vista, VA to serve/be quarantined with her new companion there. Her new companion's name is Sister Dye, so I'm sure they are going to have fun with that. Rockbridge County, VA has something in common with Utah, actually.

Natural Bridge, VA. I hope she gets to check it out at some point. We collect arch hikes. But mostly we are praying that she will be effective as a quarantined missionary and still be able to help teach people about finding joy in a life centered in Jesus Christ.

Macy turned 11. We had to send Leslie this picture of Macy being taller than she was at this age.

On odd-year birthdays we do family adventures. So glad we had a chance to go to the Curiosity Museum at Thanksgiving Point before everything shut down.

And we took the kids to Olive Garden for her birthday lunch. Also glad we did before...

I think the kids liked the magic shop play place the best, with all the optical illusions.

Or maybe this giant lego room, where Boston and Luke hogged every last block to build a castle wall.

This was a fun water table, but even with the rain smock she got pretty soaked. It was our last venue.

I've been saving the pictures from our Pres' Club company cruise for last. We went to Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico. Much gras to my Mamason for coming to stay with our rugrats. Also feeling fortunate that we didn't get quarantined on the boat. We had a blast, but it would have been difficult not to with these awesome travel companions.

Before we left, Mark offered to make the huge sacrifice of wearing a red Utes shirt for our next door neighbor, Bryson, who is a high school senior and undergoing chemo. (Since Mark already has a shaved head.) He wore a different one on the cruise, which about gave him heartburn. Or maybe that was the endless food?