Mason's Big Day

 Mason turned 11 this year. He is so smart and fun and creative. He is responsible and good. He is a good big brother to his little Bus. He's been so fun and easy lately. I'm a lucky mom.

Covid-19 or the novel Coronavirus

 This has been a crazy week! On Monday the state cancelled school for at least the next two weeks to try and slow the spread of Covid-19. The kids, especially Mason, started getting very nervous about it last week when they started closing and cancelling things. It really got real for us in the U.S. when the NBA cancelled games because Rudy Gobert on the Jazz tested positive. 

Every day has been something new. We've had a lot of talks about how the virus isn't really a big danger to us, but we are trying to do our part to keep the hospitals from being overwhelmed. The stock market has tanked a lot of businesses have had to shut their doors (hopefully very temporarily). It hasn't been great for our oil stocks.

Then on Wednesday morning, the weirdest thing happened. We all experienced our first earthquake! It started at 7:09 AM and it was pretty short. Tim and I both woke up thinking it was the chimney rattling in the wind, then realized it was an earthquake and rushed to get the kids. We obviously didn't know what to do because we had them all gather under the doorways at the end of the hall. There were a couple of strong aftershocks later in the day, too. Everyone was pretty rattled all day. Especially Ava. She got sick to her stomach and felt queasy and nervous all day. I had taken Nyquil for a cold the night before so I felt hungover all day. It was a very exciting but long day.

The kids are doing online school now and it has been a learning curve for us and the teachers. 

Now for the good stuff...

Weeks before the virus came I kept getting a prompting that I needed to fill our pantry shelves. So I stocked up on groceries, toilet paper, and toiletries. I feel so blessed that I did because people have been emptying the store shelves like crazy and I haven't felt nervous. 

We've been able to do scripture study every night as a family. The girls asked if they could do family night on Thursday and they did a great job! Church is cancelled so we had a lesson and the sacrament at Pop's house last week and tomorrow we will do it at home. 

There is a lot of talk of the end of times going around. Global pandemic, natural disasters, general panic. The missionaries are being sent home. But through it all I have felt happy and peaceful. I have my family with me and we are safe and secure and financially stable. But mostly, I have my faith in Christ. I have the peace that come only through Him. 

Now one more thing... I wrote this in March, right as things were getting exciting. The kids never did go back to school, so here are a few of the things that kept us busy at home while the parks were closed and the friends couldn't play.

A Preschool Field Trip

 Bus was very serious about all of this. I think he loved it though.

Basketball

Mason played his first competitive basketball season this year. He had a really good time. Tim coached the team and they both learned a lot. Overall the season was pretty successful and I think Mason really liked being on a comp team. The won their first two preseason games, then one regular season game, and then their first playoff game. Beau was on his team so it was fun having family there. I am really proud of how much more coach-able and determined he has become. He is growing up so fast and everyday I am so impressed by my smart, funny, handsome, amazing boy.

Eric turns 5

Our little guy is getting so big.

Bus loves preschool, he is making a lot of friends and has even had a couple playdates with a new one, Luke. He is so proud of himself for all the things he's learning and he really wants to learn to read. His teacher said he is her favorite and that his personality so unique that he just cracks her up. 

Bus does not skimp on the cuddles. Anytime he wakes up before he crawls into my bed to play with my hair and squeeze me around the neck and give me a million little kisses. He promised me the night before his birthday that I don't need to worry about him growing up, because he'll always cuddle me. Anytime he is mad, you can be forgiven if you give him a big hug or a little tickle. He loves on everyone every chance he gets.

He loves to play with his family the most. During the day when he is done with his shows, he likes to play board games or Pokemon battle with me. He can't wait for the kids to get home so he can play house with Ava, or battle with Mason, or outside with all of them. He really likes it when Mason has friends over and he just follows them around trying to be included the whole time. Luckily, Mason is so good about this.

I really don't know how to adequately explain what a bright light he is in all of our lives. He just shines everywhere he goes. He is so full of love and life that it pours out of him all the time. It's like he can't contain the love and just has to get it out by showing affection all the time. He's funny and fun to be around. He's a great sport. He doesn't give up easily. I wish I could bottle him up because I know I am going to long for a little helping of four-year-old Bus for the rest of my life.