Has it been a week or a year?

What a week it's been! Friday was our last day of school!!! This was a major big deal for us. We've been looking forward to this for 3 months. I finally realized it's because getting school work done sometimes our day out in such a negative light. Logan's mostly accepting of having to get the work done but Dustin is a wild card. Sometimes he would comply and get everything done quickly and easily, but a lot of the time it was a fight to get him to complete his writing or reading. Not that he's bad at either (he's really advanced for his grade), he just doesn't enjoy doing it. When Logan pushed back it it typically math related. He also is good at it, but hates doing math online.

This week though was easy to get everything done. Dustin's teacher only did Science experiments all week long, so no writing or reading required. Logan's teacher had electronic field trips and they finished reading a chapter book, so nothing bad on either front. All three kids worked to get all the homework done this week. They all wanted to participate in science experiments and all wanted to see the field trips.

Another big milestone in our Social Distancing life is that our library has started to allow book pickup! We have sorely missed the library, and the kids were ecstatic to get online and reserve some books to pick up. The boys had an easy time requesting books, but we had a harder time finding picture books for Brooklyn (who usually just browses the shelves until she finds something that looks interesting to her).

Wednesday night the young women leaders from the stake had a parade and my kids loved waving at them as the decorated cars drove by. Since they weren't traveling down our street, we drove a few blocks over to wait for them. The kids played in someone's sprinklers for a while, and sat on the roof of the van for a while. Afterwards we swung by the school playground and played until well after bedtime. Dave worked very late that night, so we were in no rush to make it home.

Friday night and Saturday morning we worked in the yard. The boys learned how to mow, although they haven't mastered going in strait lines yet. We also trimmed all the bushes and weeded. It was nice to have all the work done by 11am Saturday instead of letting it all drag out all day. Dave also went on a pretty intense hike with a friend from the neighborhood. They both came back sore and exhausted so it must have been a good one.

Dustin is crazy excited that his orange poppies have been blooming and growing! He's tried planting these flowers before but this is the first year they've thrived.

We finished off Saturday with a BBQ inviting the same neighbors to join us. It's been so nice to periodically see friends! We've missed socializing so bad and although we still are being cautious and not seeing people often it's nice to do a little.

This week we received a package from my friend Tenille containing "ninja" face masks! The kids are so excited to get to wear these to church when we are able to go back. Because nothing is more cool than going to church dressed like a ninja.

Brooklyn has been a little diva when it comes to clothes lately. She has looked in her drawers several times this week and started crying because "I don't have anything beautiful to wear!!!" So I made her this shirt to help tide her over. I'm afraid I'll have to make a few beautiful PJs too, since only one of hers currently is deemed beautiful.

Although this week was easy school-wise it was difficult in other ways. In mainstream media George Floyd (who was black) was killed by a police officer (who is white). It's been a horrific situation to internalize and to explain to the kids. Saturday in Salt Lake what started as a peaceful protest ended with rioting and destruction. We've had several tough conversations about what's going on in America and Utah right now. We've shared many prayers for those effected by racism, police brutality, and for the protection of the police officers that are trying to keep rioting under control.

I've personally done a lot of internal reflection. I feel my parents did a good job raising us to judge all people by their character and not by their skin color. We grew up in a city that was culturally diverse and had friends of all races. I went to sleepovers and dinners at the homes of Blacks, Asians, Indians, Polynesians, Middle Easterners, etc. My parents trusted our judgement on who made good friends, and I hope to do the same. I hope to instill the same value for all people in my children, because all lives should be protected. Not just the lives of those that look and think like me.