Season Ends without ever really Begining

And just like that softball season was a over just as quickly as it began. They got in a few practices and one tournament, but ultimately all schools and school sports were shut down due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. They didn't play one region game, get to go on the bus anywhere as a team, compete for a state championship, or make the memories that come along with being part of a sports team. It was so sad and hard on all the athletes. I especially felt bad for the seniors who never got to play their last high-school game or have senior night. I'm not going to lie it was hard on our family and especially hard on Chloe.

I'm glad we got these few photos from the one tournament and couple of games they got to play before it was over, especially since our team photographers daughter was a senior this year, so we won't have these awesome action shots next year.

Also Chloe's stats after that tournament were looking pretty good. I wish that we would have had a season to see what she achieved.

TEAM PHOTOS

We will look forward to next year, and I'm sure it will mean even more when they finally get to play again. #chloeellison #softball #ladyflyerssoftball #dixie

Sunday Hike-Gunlock Falls

This Sunday our hike led us to Gunlock Waterfalls. They only flow a certain time during the year, when the runoff from the snow melting is high. They are fun to explore. It was a little bit crowded this year, with everyone trying to get out and find somewhere to go where they could still get out of the house but be at an appropriate social distance from others. We still had fun though and were glad our Brinkerhoff friends came along.

#sundayhikes #gunlockwaterfalls #stgeorgeutah

Sensory Room

It took a year or more to plan and get it how we wanted, but the sensory room is finally complete and it couldn't have come at a better time with the quarantine stuff going on with COVID-19.

Lots of options in this room for big and little kids alike. Including-2 different swings, Nugget couch, rock wall, and a couple different punching bags. It definitely gets used and the kids cousins and friends approve as well. 

Snowstorm in Zion

It had been about 2 weeks since shut downs from COVID had occurred and my friend Amy and I needed to get out. Luckily we live in an area where a lot of outdoor recreation is still open to the public. Zion National Park although, partially shut down, was actually still open and free to the public so we decided to take a drive and at least get out of the house for awhile. The drive was beautiful and very scenic. Most of the trails were closed, which was a bummer, but probably for the best since it started snowing on us and was actually pretty wet and cold. WE did get out for a few minutes and explore. The kids had a blast and it was just good to get out of the house and not be cooped up worrying.

I guess right now it's about learning to embrace the storms in life in more ways that one.

St. Patrick's Day

We had a little leprechaun visit our house on St. Patrick's Day. Bryce woke up and found a trail of gold that led to a pot filled with treasure (more gold, a st. Patrick's day shirt, some Pokemon cars, and some lucky charms). He was pretty excited. 

Luckily I had thought ahead and grabbed a few things before all the COVID stuff started because grocery stores are a little bit crazy right now.

COVID -19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome. It was first identified in China and has since spread globally, resulting in an ongoing pandemic. The virus affects the elderly and those with weakened immune symptoms worse. Some people will test positive for the virus and have not issues, while others could be hospitalized and even die from it.
Unfortunately this virus has come and affected everyone's life in one way or another, because pretty much the whole world has shut down or at least slowed down. Schools closed, high school sports were canceled, many jobs closed or people had to work from home, hospital and medical/dental services were limited, gatherings were limited to small groups of no more than 10, church services shut down, public parks and recreation places were closed, there were runs on items at the grocery stores which caused shortages and limits to what people could purchase, people stayed home more than usual (in some places they didn't have no choice as it was enforced), restaurants closed and starting offering curbside pickup only or offered nothing at all, hair salons closed, people starting wearing masks in public to protect themselves, and the list goes on and on.
There are varying opinions and data as to whether or not the pandemic was as bad as it was made out to be, but despite anything the fact is, is that everyone was affected in some way.

Here are some of the ways our family was directly affected...
Our kids didn't go to school for 2 months, and finished up their school year online.
I worked from home the best I could teaching students online (kind of hard when they are special needs students).
Landon moved his office to the house and worked from home at least partially.
Luckily we both still had jobs (both considered essential I guess).
Chloe lost her Sophomore Season of Softball.
We had to cancel our anniversary trip to Hawaii (so sad we had waited 20 years for that trip)
Our RV (which we rent out) had lots of cancellations.

I'm sure there are a lot more, but this is some of it.
This is for sure a crazy time in the world. We are optimistic and have faith that things will get better..let's hope.

First Grade Book Signing Day

Bryce's class wrote and published a book. It is a book called "If first graders went to space". Each student wrote and illustrated one page. They then had a book signing day. At the book signing parents were able to come and listen to the teacher read the book and then you were able to take a picture with the author. 

Here is what Bryce's page said-

"If first graders went into space I would go to Neptune when I got tired of eating carrots. When I got to Neptune an asteroid came flying toward the planet. I noticed a black hole I was scared. Was it going to suck me in?"

The book is seriously so cute and Bryce loves to read it, sometimes he chooses it as his bedtimes story.

#BryceEE

Crash and Burn

Bryce was riding his scooter at Chloe's softball game and came back to us covered in scrapes, dirt, and blood. Poor kid wrecked pretty hard on his scooter. Look at his poor nose-his knees were even worse. We went in the concession stand and got him some bandaids and then he was back at it. 

The Magic of a Pedicure

I don't know what it is but there just seems to be something magical about getting a pedicure. I love going and just sitting their letting my feet soak and getting a good massage. Usually I go with friends or family so that adds to it, because I get to relax while having a good conversation. I think part of it is that its one of the only times I truly let myself relax and am not trying to multi task something else.