Gardening, Phoenix loses 3rd tooth, Mother's Day

The kids had so much fun planting and distributing the sunflower seeds and making the sunflower garden they wanted to make a vegetable garden. Today is day 31 and the sunflowers seem to be growing quickly now. Rubix is starting to work on writing so Keith had him write 30 below. He loved how hard he tried, so he didn't have him correct the 3.

The kids decided that if we were going to be at home for the next 6 or more months that they wanted to get a dog or plant a garden. They have shown us over the past month at how good they are at taking care of the sunflowers and our apple tree that maybe we should plant a garden again. I love this picture of the kids pointing at caterpillars on our apple tree

 After much thought and discussion, we decided a garden would be a wonderful opportunity to spend time together as a family, learn how to build something from nothing, and learn how to care and nurture our environment. Here is Daddy preparing the soil. We needed to level off this part of the yard to fit our new 5' x 10' garden bed. 

 The nearly level area ready for the raised bed.

 We were very lucky to have our neighbors pick up the lumber for us at Home Depot. They have a big truck and have built many home projects, like a chicken coup.

 We also used their drills and shovel and will be borrowing their wheel barrel next week when our soil arrives. We are very blessed to have such wonderful neighbors.

 Axel and I did our best to help Daddy put the garden bed together. 

The actual bed went together quickly and smoothly. However, gopher proofing it, was a much taller task. It took twice as long to secure the hardware cloth as it did to build the bed. 

Axel and Daddy worked hard to weave the two sheets of hardware cloth together to make sure those pesky gophers don't manage to find their way through the two pieces.

The kids had a blast hammering in the hardware cloth. Phoenix also was our little helper, who handed out screws and took pictures of the process. 

We spent from 9 am to 12:30 pm completing this first phase. After our bike rides and visit to the baseball fields, we had the challenge of moving our huge bed to its location. 

Just before shower time and bed time our new garden bed was placed in its new home. We can't wait to finish phase 2, 3 and 4, which are filling it with soil, planting our seeds and building a cage to keep out the squirrels and birds out. As you can see, living in a more "rural" area comes with its pros and cons. We have learned from our neighbors that if you do not properly protect your gardens or fruit trees you do not get to enjoy its fruit before the animals do. 

On Sunday, May 3rd (our garden bed building day), Phoenix lost her 3rd tooth while I was out for my bike ride. Here is the picture Daddy took right after the event. 

Here is how I was greeted from my ride. Phoenix with her missing tooth on her bike ready to get her energy out. 

The kids continue to love riding. Here is a picture Daddy took of the kids on one of their recess bike rides. I am very proud of them for becoming bike and road competent and taking on new adventures with little resistance. 

I had to include this cute picture of Rubix experimenting with sunglasses. Here he asked me what it would be like if he had two sunglasses on. So cute!

 The kids have been having so much fun playing baseball on our street and the Shelter in Place orders announced allowing baseball fields and other areas open to single families in isolation, that Daddy took the kids to the baseball fields at the middle school. They had a blast hitting the ball and pitching to Daddy. Last Sunday was a huge day as we built the garden bed, went on a bike ride and then played baseball. 8 am to 8 pm filled with family fun!

 Daddy decided that he missed seeing the kids bring home their art work. Although, Axel and Phoenix have been doing most of their art assignments for school, he thought Rubix needs to work on the drawings that he would be doing in school. They have now completed a snake, a frog

and a bat. Here, they are doing a bat. Rubix decided to skip this because he wanted to go to bed. It was already 7:15 pm and without his nap, he was ready to call it a day.

 School has been a bit tough the past couple of weeks. But after tears and frustration usually comes a moment or moments of peace and calmness. Here are two of these moments. One with Axel teaching Rubix and the other with....

 Phoenix re-doing a writing assignment that she refused to do correctly the first time. I am so proud of her for getting over her frustration and choosing to be mature and re-do the assignment.

 While Daddy and Axel climbed up the mountain last Sunday evening, Rubix, Phoenix and I made calzones. They kneaded their dough, rolled it out and filled it with little help.

 You can see Rubix's is more blob like and Phoenix took pride in trying to make hers artistic with for indentations.

Earlier last Sunday, my neighbor walking by mentioned that she was having her hair stylist come to her house to cut the their families hair. I was so desperate with the weather getting warm and the thought that the first available appointment might not be until September or October, I asked her to see if her lady would cut my hair. She said yes! I came home and had Axel help me chop the foot of hair off. I then hopped in the shower and went over to my neighbors house, around her side yard to her back yard where I had my hair cut. She had a mask and it felt very safe. I do feel guilty as I know so many people who want to get their hair cut, but can't. I would be in the same boat if it wasn't for my neighbor! My donation is all sealed up and ready to be put in the mail!

The kids have been wanting to make lemonade. We finally did yesterday. They did such a great job. I diluted the sugar in boiling water and they did the rest. I love how much they are learning to do around the house and in the kitchen. 

After lemonade making the kids enjoyed a water balloon fight that ended with water dumping on each other. It was a great way to end the heat way of 90 degrees weather. 

 Today we enjoyed a family bike ride and picnic in the park for Mother's Day. Here Phoenix drew a picture of us riding our bikes together.

 The kids made me their own sunflowers with a leaf for every year of their life. I love it!

 What a lovely day with my littles!

 And our first food order since Shelter in place. Oh, how we loved our Noah bagel sandwiches, bagels and muffins.

 We are starting to prep for the summer and my return to going into work, come June. We are not exactly sure what things are going to look like, but it will be odd when I am going into work on a semi regular basis or even a regular basis. We are setting up the babysitter, who has been sheltering in place and figuring out if I need to cut my hours. Only time will tell. Keith will likely continue to try to go into work on weekends and maybe a couple of afternoons/evenings a week. I will likely not post until the end of May. By then we should have our garden in and maybe a few seedlings starting to sprout. Until then Happy Mother's Day to all of our family and friends. 

What Shelter in Place Looks like for us. End of April 2020.

One afternoon a couple of weeks ago while I was cleaning the house and Skyping with Grandma Sonia and Grandpa Bruce the kiddos made a fort in Phoenix's room and turned into super heros. I thought they were adorable. They had so much fun together....until the didn't :) And that is the way life goes around here. We are having a good old time.....or we are a ball of tears, outbursts or frustration. 

 We are blessed for both the good and bad moments. Here is another humerus moment when Axel is working on his acting skills. He had his egg together and then he tore off the top and was giving the quizzical look, "Where did the yoke go?"

 I included this picture just because Rubix started to do the comb over, "to look like Axel." It was very, very cute. The boys now have hair cuts with the weather becoming warmer so the old man come over is no longer.

 The super heros theme continued for a few days and they used their water guns to attack the "bad guy bubbles."

 Another fun moment!

 Rubix received his remote control car birthday present from Auntie. He asked for one, just like Axel's. He was very happy to have one like his brothers.

 Phoenix has build about half a dozen forts since we have had the shelter in place orders. They have been in her room, Rubix's room, the Pinball room and any where she can get away with it.

 I can't remember why I took this picture. I am pretty sure Phoenix is doing school work and her brothers became interested in what she was doing. Maybe it was another calm moment that I wanted to capture since there has been so many heated outbursts of frustration the past week.

 Axel has been starting to help more and more with chores. A couple of Friday's ago he did the dishes, folded the laundry, cleaned his bathroom, cleaned the Pinball room and helped with dinner. It only took me an hour or two to figure out he was trying to earn Minecraft back since I took his computer away from him a few days before for not listening and talking back to me. I was really proud of him for working so hard. The day started with him making coffee for Keith and I. It was lovely.

 Here is just a cute picture of Rubix being his silly self. It has been a little interesting to see him testing his boundaries. He really has been such a great child. I am hoping that he decides it is better to be his sweet self than defiant.

 We often do not get to Phoenix's school art projects until Friday or the weekend. Here is another example of us doing school work over the weekend. The great thing about this particular art project is it was something the three kids and I could do all together. Rubix made a cute cat.

 Axel made a wizard's castle which we called Gargamel's house.

 Phoenix also made a cat, but a 3D cat head with paws, a flower and a castle, that we called a Smurf's house.

I think I mentioned our toilet paper situation and purchase, about a month ago. Well we have been using our hospital grade (paper thin) coreless toilet paper now for a few weeks and decided it would be fun to share how the inside of the roll looks. It really does have much more toilet paper and seems to last significantly longer than normal toilet paper, despite it being thinner. I actually think it is more economical and might consider buying similar toilet paper in the future. Especially, if I continue to not be able to purchase toilet paper locally. 

 Besides school, our days are filled with bike rides, runs, baseball, basketball and other sports. Here are a few pictures from one of our many bike rides. Rubix continues to amaze us with his abilities. It is hard to believe he has only been 4 for 6 or 7 weeks!

 Another wonderful moment of the kids loving on each other.

 Here is a picture after Rubix's first bike crash. I came home from my bike ride to find him crying in the driveway. He was a trooper and brushed off his injuries telling us it didn't hurt. Apparently, he went into our driveway at full speed and flew off his bike as the curb is pretty steep.

 Phoenix showing a curious face for a language arts assignment.

 Rubix deciding he wanted to go for a run after watching Axel run a mile and Phoenix run a half a mile. We ran to the end of Ravenwood, about a quarter of a mile, and then walked home. He is so cute!

 One night before bed, Rubix asked if he could wake up and be a super hero. Well, at 6:50 am the super hero appeared on my bed :)

 The Sunflower Project has been a hit. The neighborhood has all planted their sunflower seeds and we see our neighbors happily stopping by to see our sunflowers growing. They love the counting of the days too.

 Last weekend we splurged and had pumpkin pancakes and homemade whipped cream. We needed to use up the heavy whipping cream before it expired. It was delicious!

 We all ate very well :)

 Axel and Keith have been riding up the mountain every week for 3 weeks. He came home and I noticed his first pimple! I told him, this is a very big milestone, but both him and Daddy thought I was over reacting. I said, "this is the first sign of puberty!" I don't think either one of them agreed with me.

 Axel is also running 3 times per week. He does speed work one day, which is 4 x 400, the mile another day, and a long run of 2 to 3 miles the last day. We discovered Rolling Hills Middle school track is open, which has been great for the mile and speed work. I paced Axel a couple of weeks ago, when he PR'd with a 7:47 minute mile. He is starting to really enjoy running and cycling.

 I just love how Phoenix and Rubix want to be like there bike brother.

 Home school started off pretty good, but after a few weeks it has gotten harder and harder. Phoenix often struggles to get through her work and Axel often gets distracted with "chatting" with his friends. It is difficult to make sure they are staying on top of all of their work.

 Sometimes the Zoom meeting seem like they are more disruptive of the day then helpful. Hardly any of the teachers are teaching. They are often just checking in with the students. It is really sad that so much of the learning is lost or falls onto the parents. It really has been a very stressful time for us to manage work and teaching. Keith has taken the brunt of the teaching as I am often going from one video call to another seeing patients back to back for 7 to 9 hours a day.

 The one who suffers the most is Rubix. He now gets his school lesson before bed. He was really taking off with his work, but now recognizes that everyone is busy. He looks forward to playing, but often gets bored and wants attention. Luckily, he gets to watch some school videos or books with Phoenix.

 I am writing an article about implementing outcome measures with telemedicine. Keith thought I would need a picture of me treating a patient so he took this picture. Yes, I often have to work in the bedroom with the door closed. My patients are very understanding. Yes, I wear my badge and yes, I apparently do smile all of the time, especially when non verbal communication is so important. I find it funny seeing myself.

 Our cute little super hero again!

 Here is Axel the first time going up the climb. He made it to the half way point. The second time he made it up 2/3rds. Today he made it all the way to the top of Bohlman! We are very proud parents!

 With bike riding comes crashes. All 3 of the kids crashed on their bikes one week. Axel tried jumping a big curb and fell on his hip. Phoenix tried standing and pedaling with one hand, and Rubix flew off his bike going full speed into our driveway.

 Daddy also takes them to West Valley College where they do fun tricks like ride down stairs. I thought this was a picture, so this video is not uploaded to play as a video. I should make a blog with a bunch of fun videos. Maybe next time.

 They also do trail rides along the railroad track. Rubix is not always as tough, and sometimes has full on meltdowns on the bike like he did on the trail last week. He is pretty amazing for just turning 4.

 The kids play all kinds of fun sports for P.E. One of their favorites is baseball. Here they are grounding, but they also hit and throw.

I just love this picture of Rubix throwing. 

So much has happened. I do hope to post again soon in the next week of all of the fun projects that we have had the opportunity to do. Check back soon!