Jan. 2021

Today is actually January 4th 2022!  I haven't blogged for an entire YEAR, so I'm going to try and sum up the last year of our lives and I figured I will try and do it by month!  That will keep it to 12 blog posts which seems much more doable than 365!  

Some of just photos to remember our lives and others have a story to go along with them.  

Kory wants to grow out his hair.  I've always made the boys have military hair cuts, but decided years ago that they can choose what they do with their hair.  Kory wants his long, but with his has come some face issues.  We bought him some new medicine and hopefully it helps.  Hopefully soon his hair won't rest on his forehead.  We'll see how this goes.  

Kyle made some bowl and a cup in ceramics.  I love them!  They are not only useful, but beautiful.  These are more special to me than any cup or bowl I could buy anywhere because they are made with his hands.  I love the talent.  

Coach Charles brought over her new puppy.  Oh how my boys want a dog.  Do you see their faces just wishing for a puppy.  Sorry boys...I guess you'll just have to dog sit whenever Coach asks you to.  Cute, but I'm not convinced yet.  

This Year Makai wants to try and get into better shape.  He's going to be a big boy, but he knows he needs to move more to try and stay fit.  This is him at the gym.  If you notice you can only work out of every other treadmill due to COVID.  But, at least the gyms are back open.  

Working out to a video on the tv.  Now doesn't that look fun.  When it's winter in Nebraska you sometimes have to resort to options of exercise that are indoor fun.  You got this buddy!  

January weather stinks!  So cold.  So cold!  

Makai helping shovel all of that snow!!

With the new changes the church has made Makai became a deacon in January instead of having to wait till December.  We did it at home because we are still doing at home church.  Congratulations son!  Now all 6 of the men in my house have the priesthood.

Makai is student of the month this month at his school.  The yard sign enjoyed it's month in the snow--couldn't reach the grass.  

Flights are pretty affordable this time of year as many people are not traveling due to COVID.  Monty found a good deal on flights for us to head to Utah to see his Dad and be there for Mahonri's baby blessing.

Kory was just on the other side of the place sitting by me.  We all LOVE wearing our masks.  Actually, when it's cold we don't really mind.  I just miss seeing his handsome face.  

Meet Mahonri!  Uncle TJ and Auntie Dora adopted Mahonri from Alaska.  He's such a good baby.  We were glad we could meet him when he as still so young.  

Does it get any sweeter than this.  Mahonri has many cousins to love him.  

Enjoying some indoor games as it wasn't exactly blazing outside.  The kids did play a lot of pickle ball.  We also found a gym to go to and they played basketball for a few hours.  St. George was beautiful.

Dad and I at Mahonri's blessing.  Again, church is still not in person, so we did it just with family.  There was a lot of family there to enjoy the festivities.  

Since Kory has been growing his hair out he was wondering if his hair was long enough to braid.  Well, Aunty Dora has a gift for braids, so yes.  She did an amazing job.

Before taking it out I snapped a pictures.  So, before...

And After...

We also were able to meet Grandpa Tini's new wife Maree.  They came for the blessing.  Tini wasn't doing so well, but it was good he got to be there.  

Picture with everyone but Tyler and Danny.  Pretty cool picture.

Grandpa with all his grandkids except Tyler.  Tyler would have loved to have been here.  

18!!

Kyle is officially 18.  He isn't a huge sweets fan, he'd prefer protein any day of the week over sweets, but does love Winchell's Donuts, so we went and selected 18 donuts for his 'cake'.  He blew very gently on his cake because blowing out candles is a thing of the past I'm afraid.  "I didn't want to breathe on everyone's donut" he said.  I'm sure he'll be telling his kids about how we used to blow out candles and they will think we are completely disgusting creatures for ever having that practice.  We let him pick out a new pair of shoes, got him a new speaker he can carry around with him and some granola he always asks for.  Not hard to please this kid.  We also got him his own water jug for when track season starts since he lost his during football and no one shares water jugs.  He shared with Kory during football, but they don't do the same events in track, so he needed his own.     

We went to Chilli's for dinner.  The plan was to go somewhere else, but those plans were foiled.  However, hopefully he enjoyed his dinner.  Kyle is a fun kid to have around.  He's always helpful and tries hard to be pleasant and respectful.  Occasionally he gets upset, but it's pretty short lived and can often be fixed with a trip to the gym.  He's definitely a leader and we look forward to seeing what his next plans are.  Only a few more months of high school.  We wouldn't mind keeping him around, but if he decides to venture off we support that as well.  Thanks for being a wonderful son Kyle.  We are blessed by you daily.  

 

Sledding at ERMS

This week we had online school which allowed for more time together.  One day after school the boys had an epic snowball fight in the backyard.  I loved watching them play together and actually use our backyard.  It was also great for Makai as it got him moving and was right up his alley with how he imagines life.  The next day the boys decided to go sledding after school.  Although, it had been over a week since it snowed there was still a good enough amount of snow to sled.  We couldn't find a sled anywhere, but a guy at Walmart told Kyle that he heard air mattresses worked well.  It just so happened we have a few of those, so we gave it a try and for the record air mattresses are way better than sleds!  It worked perfectly and more than one person could go.  In fact, several times all four boys went down at the same time.  It was really fun.  

Kyle did bring a coat--I ended up using it when he said he was hot because I didn't bring one and it was cold.  Our hands were pretty cold by the end.  But, next time it snows you better believe we'll be taking the air mattress out for another ride!  

 

Frog Anyone...

Monty, Kyle and I were out at the Asian Market this week when we saw something we'd never seen before--Frogs for sale--to EAT!!  We did NOT buy one, but when we got home Makai was so sad we didn't buy one for a pet.  I can honestly say I'd have to be VERY hungry to eat these little guys.  The Asian Market never disappoints.  

 

Ice Skating and Glasses are not a good mix.

You gotta love when you get a text message from your son with a picture of him in this condition.  He was smart and sent a picture of it stitched seconds afterward.  The mission is full of all new expereinces and thankful for the doctor who did a great job stitching his handsome face.  

 

Makai 11

Makai had a birthday.  He loves his birthday each year and talks about it for weeks and days before asking me countless times if I've gotten his gifts and am ready for his birthday.  Of course, I got him gifts, but always toy around with him saying things like, "Oh, is your birthday coming up?  I've halfway gotten your presents.  But I will get to it, I promise."  Getting him gifts are pretty easy because he tells me what he wants, but this year I nailed it.  I found him a couple things that he didn't ask for, but loved.  

We got him his Lego set he had been asking for for week.  We finally adopted a Baby Yoda, got him a Roblox gift card, and some army action figures.  It was exciting to watch him open his gifts.  He was very happy for receive all that he got and later that night Tyler called to give wish Makai Happy Birthday.  It was sweet of him to remember him.  

He sat and played with these army guys for hours and hours!  It was the best $3 I ever spent. 
 

COVID HIT US!

 

Well, 2020 wouldn't be complete without getting COVID, right? Thursday night, the boys went to play some basketball on an outdoor court because the internet was out at our house.  When they got home Kory went to sleep and slept for several hours.  This isn't unusual behavior for Kory.  Friday, the boys got up for online school, but then Kory just slept.  After school, he slept some more.  He had a little cough, but nothing big.  Friday, December 4th we went to the gym as a family.  We hadn't been in a while and decided we were going to begin going to they gym again.  It felt good to be back.  We went to the store afterward, got chicken burgers for dinner and then showered and went to bed.  That night I noticed my body was achy, but I just figured it was because we'd gone to the gym.  Then, Saturday morning Trey had a basketball game.  I was still feeling achy and now my head was hurting and my throat.  Monty said his throat was hurting a little bit too, but we didn't really think much of it.  I noticed my throat started hurting a little worse, but at this point we weren't thinking anything of it.  Sunday, Kyle and Kory had their football banquet.  I still wasn't feeling good, and started to worry about going back to school the following day.  After all, 2020 is the year that you can't cough in public.  I went to the banquet and noticed I was feeling a little hot and tried to cough only when people clapped and things were loud.  When we got home I took my temperature and noticed I had a slight fever.  The next morning Trey woke up with a slight fever and complained about a sore throat.  We took him to get tested.  Two days later the results came back--POSITIVE.  We had to pull the boys out of school and everyone was placed on quarantine.  Trey is almost out of quarantine at this point, but Kyle started feeling symptoms a few days ago, so his 10 days begins from then.  I've been sick for about 2 weeks now.  Starting to get back some energy, but still have a lingering cough.  Everyone has a lingering dry cough.  But, we do have people we know who have died from COVID, so we count our blessings that no one has been seriously ill in our family as a result.  Tomorrow I will leave the house for the first time in over 10 days.  I need to buy Makai some birthday gifts and pick up some supplies from Makai's school for the week after Christmas break when they are doing remote learning.  The plus side is that we shouldn't have to quarantine again since we've all had COVID at this point.  But, we shall see.  Who knows what the guidelines will be in a week.  Cases are going up so things could become more strict. They do have a vaccine that they are rolling out.  I'm not thrilled with the idea of getting it--we don't even get the flu shot, but I'm pretty sure they are going to make us, so I sure hope there aren't any crazy side effects.  I don't trust new vaccines.