Social Distancing Teen Style Part 1

We are trying to figure out this social distancing thing.  Honestly, I wish Gov Abbot would issue a shelter in place for Texas, and then our family would have to do it.  Also, then I wouldn't be the bad guy!  It's the law...sorry guys.

It is really hard to keep teens home and distanced from their friends.

I have had more than one conversation with other moms of teens trying to figure out just how they are planning on navigating "social distancing."  As this pandemic becomes more real, I think all of the parents are reigning in a little more and it is better all around.

Parker worked last week (manual labor) and that was super helpful for him.  He was busy and tired and working with friends.  This week is going to be harder for him.  He is definitely our child that has always needed to be busy.  

Here is part one of pictures from some of what the kids did last week to keep busy.

Park, Tanner and Aub were really good about exercising.  (Bryn and I did some walks...but these guys were running, lifting weights, playing b-ball etc....)

Morgan and Bryn planned a picnic.  I love that they included Aubrey.  They also made some puff paint and created lots of cute pictures.

Brinley stopped by the Birds to pick up books.  It is soooooo hard to stay 6 feet apart from those little cousins. (They are doing great with social distancing.  The kids are only hanging out with each other.)   Ella and Brinley gave each other air hugs.

Avery and Aubrey have been meeting up in the evenings for bike rides in the neighborhood.

We are mostly just fine with our food and supplies at home, but one evening I decided to pick up some bread, milk and cheese from the store.  Didn't have much luck.

Tanner had Tate over one day and went to Mason's house another day.

Park has been cleaning out one work site and moving it to another.  He comes home beat but happy.  He is working with friends, eating out for lunch and making money.  (Probably his top three favorites at this point in his life: friends, making money and fast food.)

The boys have been trying to annoy me by way too much nuzzling or snuggling.  If I walk through a room and they are both in there, they reach out their arms and say "Come to me Mom"  "No, come to me."  "No, you know you like me better. Come sit with me."  And on and on it goes.  I try not to react.  I don't want to encourage them.

I am the one being smothered on the couch.

And this!!  Our new air hockey table.  A friend listed it on Facebook Marketplace for free, and we were the lucky recipients.  I felt like it would be the perfect quarantine addition.

The best part is, when we are done with it, we are passing it on to the Bird's to put in their new shop.  I love that we can enjoy now but it doesn't have to permanently reside in our living room.

I also appreciate Brian and these strong High School boys who helped load and unload it.

Bri, Cole, Park, Harper and Tanner

By the end of the week, we were doing better about social distancing I think.  Friends are just such a part of the teenage years.  It's hard to keep everyone happy and apart.  I'm glad my kids have each other.

Part two of pictures tomorrow.

Home Church

Week one of no church landed on Brian and my anniversary, March 15th.  Twenty three years and counting.  I loved being able to have church with Brian, all of our kiddos and my parents right in our family room.  

The pictures are after our meeting was over.  I promise, Tanner did not lay out on the floor during church.  (Although he did grumble quite a bit about having to put on church clothes, including a tie and socks.)

We sang an opening, sacrament and closing hymn.  Aubrey conducted the music.  

There was a reverence in our home as Parker and Tanner blessed and passed the sacrament.

Tanner and I gave talks.  He spoke on faith.  His intro was pretty great.  He was straight faced as he said, "Good afternoon brothers and sisters."  Then he did a fake laugh and said, "oh, I mean morning.  I can't keep our new church time straight."  He continued, "I have to admit, I have been scrambling quite a bit to prepare my talk since Bishop asked me to speak last night."  Then he cleared his throat, allowed a little half smile and gave his talk.  

My talk had no catchy intro.  I spoke on preparing for conference and ways we can hear Him (Jesus Christ) more in our lives. 

Afterwards everyone was very content to just hang together and visit.  It was pretty sweet.

We had week two of home church today, March 22.  Social distancing became a more understood thing this past week, and we met with my parents and my friend Christie Applegate on ZOOM rather than having them in our home.  (Kind of sad...but worth it.)

This picture was taken right after our meeting but it was the only one we have.  Parker spoke on Feasting on the Words of Christ, and Brinley gave a talk about how we can improve our personal scripture study.

Then the kids headed one room over to play air hockey and ping pong together.  Not our usual second hour of church, but it worked for today!

To fill the rest of the day some of the things some of us did: played Uno Flip, played Life, went on a walk, went on a bike ride, read, looked at our phones, went on another walk, napped, more phone time, made dinner, made a second dinner, studied Come Follow Me, watched the First Vision video, talked on the phone/texted with friends, ate some more....  

I have to admit this Sunday, after a full week of pretty much mostly just being home, was a very, very long day.

One sweet thing I want to remember:  Parker was on make dinner but he was asleep.  Aubrey offered to do service and surprise him.  I thought her kind act deserved much more thanks than she received.  However, I guess that is service.  We have to be willing to give with no thought of reward.  I think deep down in that big ole 17 year old body and soul, he was more thankful than he let on. 

I am not seeing attending church as an option anytime in the near future.  I think/hope we will look back on these times when we were able to have church in our home as special and memorable.

Some Pretty Great Memes

With social distancing being recommended and school being postponed for at least three weeks, there are some pretty awesome memes circulating.  Here are a few of my favorites.

I do tend to eat when I am bored or stressed.  This could be a bad combo.  (Don't worry, I did stock up on butter and chocolate chips and a few candy bars...just in case we need them.) 

I love this one!  It just cracks me up for some reason.  I think Tanner is feeling a little panicky.  He has lost 4 pounds because he is not eating his usual "lunch" of sack after sack of processed foods.  (He's not panicking because of the weight loss.  He is panicking because he doesn't want to warm up leftovers.)  He keeps opening the pantry and declaring, "WE HAVE NO FOOD."

We have more food than ever because a couple of weeks ago, I stocked up on some things we were short on.  Also, my dad gave me a free trial of Hello Foods so this past week, we have had four full meals shipped to us.  I have made dinner every night this week except Wednesday...and Bryn made it that night.  I will insert a picture of the pantry below so you can no this kid won't be starving anytime soon.  (Although he might need to learn to hunt for his Doritos.)

Lot's of homeschooling jokes going around.  We actually won't start until Monday.  We are going to have to work on 1. bedtime before 1:00 am 2. up before noon (I have just let them sleep.  Usually on weekends or in the summer our rule is 10:30 am to get up and start doing chores.  This week though, we are just taking it easy.)  3. Fighting the battle of not waiting until the end of the week to do all the work assigned for the week.

On another note, we haven't been asked to self quarantine here.  We are trying to social distance from others though.  Brit and I have gone on walks but have not touched each other.  Mostly Bryn, Aub and I have just been home.  Tanner keeps asking to have his "group" of friends over, but I have told him he can invite one or two only.  Park and Brian go to work everyday so there is that.  

We have two confirmed cases in Ector County as of March 21st.  On Friday, the governor issued an order for all restaurants, gyms and bars to be closed in Texas.  (Drive thru windows can be open.)  We have been asked by Pres. Trump not to gather in groups of more than ten.  Right away my kids wanted to know if that meant no Sunday night gatherings with family.  Sorry my loves, yes it does.

We learned of a BYU student who was diagnosed.  He lives in the apartment complex of Brinley's dinner group and intramural soccer team.  That was a little too close for comfort.  Parker angrily  told me if I made him quarantine he was RUNNING AWAY.  He was getting heated and quite panicky.  I just laughed and told him, "If we need to self quarantine, nobody will want you at their house."  Crazy kid.  

It's been hard to contain the teens.  I am a little jealous of my sisters who each have four children 12 and under.  They are able to keep all of their chickies right under their wings.  They have just stayed home this week.  I say just a little jealous because it would be REALLY hard to be stuck at home all day everyday with four little ones.  The toddler stage was especially hard for me.

And this meme really brings everything into a sobering light.

Our parents’ generation 

was asked to go to war.

We have been asked to sit on 

the couch and watch Neflix.

We can do this.

And then, on top of all of the Caronavirus stuff,  there was the 5.7 magnitude earthquake in Magna Utah this week.  Lot's of damage but no fatalities.  Moroni lost his trumpet and there have been some funny memes.  One said, "Ultimate Mic drop."  Here is another one:

And this one....soooooooooo true.  My dad will not stay home.  I think he is at the store every other day.  He is hard to contain.  It will definitely have to be his choice.  They have also been getting their weekly massages.  My mom goes to physical therapy twice a week for her knee which is definitely needed.  Come on peeps, we love you...stay home!  

Back Together Again

Finally reunited!  Brinley made it home from BYU about 11:00 on Saturday night, and Aubrey made it home from Mexico/the airport about 11:45.  It was so heartwarming to watch all four of these siblings hug, laugh, talk about their spring break adventures and just hang out together.  I bowed out at 12:30 a.m.  

They have been keeping a pretty late schedule since being home, and it's a lot of fun watching them together.

No picture of Tanner but he was there...on the recliner a few steps away.

  

 AND THIS!!!  Our Life 360 app...all together under one roof again.  Makes my heart happy.