Family Walks

Now that the weather has been getting nicer, we have started to do many more family walks. For the past month or so we have been walking to the temple every Sunday afternoon to check on the progress. We have also tried to do some Saturday walks to some place that we usually don't go to very often. This last Saturday though we had to skip that because our van broke down. And then, during the week, we often get in a walk or two somewhere around our neighborhood. There is still snow on the mountains, so we haven't done any big hikes yet, but the walks have been nice.

This year the walks have been extra nice because it gives us a chance to get out of the house and move our bodies. It is also nice to be able to see people out moving around too. Sometimes, being cooped up in our house day after day, it is easy to forget that there are actually other people out there. And it has been fun to see the trees budding, the flowers starting to come out everywhere, and all the plants starting to turn green again.

Here are some pictures from our recent walks.

The rock walls at Ross Park.






The columns at ISU.




Progress on the temple. This is from up above, so the top of the main floor is just barely visable in the picture. They are still making lots of progress on it.





We have still been trying to find clever ways to occupy us at home too. This is Christian's attempt to use every tile in the banana grams bag. Sorry about the sideways picture.

Backyard Zipline

Last year I tried to put in a backyard zipline. Once I got all of the posts in and had it all set up, I realized it was just going to be too dangerous for the kids (for the right ground clearance in the middle, they were going to have to start and end the zipline 8 feet in the air). We really wanted to do something where they could just go out and play with it on their own, so I took the whole thing out. This past year I spent a lot of time thinking about a replacement way to do it. And finally, after a year of planning and a couple weeks of work. The new zipline is done!

The kids have been loving it! The first day we got to try it out, several of them said it made the top 10 best days of their lives. On the two ends we have 9 foot poles that are in 5 feet of concrete with four of those feet buried underground. Those are attached to two 6 foot anchors with guy wires that are also in four feet of concrete underground. Then it is just a 1/4 inch aircraft grade wire cable between the two. They are 50 feet apart with somewhere around a 2 foot drop between the post. It doesn't seem like much, but it is just right for the speed we were hoping for. And the run has a steeper drop in the middle, which makes it easier for them to get on and off of it, but still thrilling that they are going over a bigger drop.

Here are a few pictures. They have all been able to do it, but it scared Asher a bit the first two times he did it, so he has been hesitant to do it ever since. We like to be out there supervising for Agnes too, but the rest of them have no problem doing it all on their own.

When the social distancing requirements are over, anyone who is interested is welcome to come and visit and try it out.

Happy Easter

We had a wonderful Easter. Our celebrations started last weekend as we watched General Conference. It was so nice to hear the Prophet, Apostles, and other church leaders and members testify of Jesus Christ and the Restored Gospel on the earth today. It always feels rejuvenating, but this time was especially hope building amidst the pandemic that we are currently experiencing.

Throughout the rest of the week we participated in The Church's week log Easter devotional program. In past years we have tried to do our own thing, but it was really nice this year to have something to guide us through the final week before the resurrection of Christ.

On Friday, we joined people around the world in following President Nelson's encouragement to fast. Even Agnes and Asher went without one meal.

On Saturday we did a nice walk just south of the city. We hadn't done that particular one for the past three or so years and the children really enjoyed it. Then we did an hour long drive that we had never done before. It was really pretty, but Julia got a little car sick. When we got home we did our traditional Easter egg hunt.

Here we are on the walk.












Here are each of the kids right before they got to start looking for eggs.


















Up until today, I was feeling like our lives had not been impacted all that much by COVID-19. We saw the impact on others, and were hoping for a solution to decrease the health and economic problems that it has been causing. And it has been sad to know that missionary work has not been going on in the same way. But the negative impact on us as a family was relatively small. Our children our missing school and we probably won't be able to go on our summer trip, but we have been able to spend a lot more time together as a family - which is nice. And I am still able to do my work and we don't really go out that much except for grocery shopping any way. And there is plenty to do around our home and exploring all of the trails by our house. So things have been going pretty well. However, today, just didn't seem like Easter to me. I have been loving home church and we tried to make it special today, but it just wasn't the same. I missed the special musical numbers by people in our ward and I missed the special Easter message by our bishop. Instead, it just kind of felt like another day at home and sometimes Sundays don't feel all that different from other days of the week now. And I just really missed have a special Easter Sunday. And then I got to thinking about how much I miss being able to go to the temple and all of the other small ways our life as a family has changed. And then I was thinking more about all of the world wide impact on others and the hundreds of thousands who are sick, and those who have lost loved ones, and the people who are out of work, and those who are separated from family, and everything else. However, among all of this, it is comforting to know that our Heavenly Father is in charge. That he knows what is going on. And that He will not let it go past a certain point. I don't know what that point is, but He does. And I find that comforting. And it is also comforting to know that there will be a resurrection - that physical troubles like this are limited to this life only. And that one day we will have perfect bodies and be beyond these types of cares. I am grateful for that knowledge and my testimony that Jesus Christ lives.

Other End of Winter Activities

Here are a few other things that happened for us over the past couple of months.


Agnes had her final dance recital. Here she is with a couple of friends.




It was so crowded, so we just went up to the balcony to watch.




That same night, Julia and Ethan had choir concerts.




Ethan just got his braces on. Here are before and after pictures. So far they are only on the top. I think he was supposed to have his appointment to get the bottom ones on already, but things have been postponed a bit.






Just in time, Julia got her braces off. She has been enjoying all of the no braces freedom now. Lots of pop, caramel, and apples!




And here are Asher and Agnes hanging out on one of their last days home alone before school was cancelled for all of their siblings. We recently heard that school has been switched to home school for the rest of the year.

Elliott, Asher, and Christian's Birthdays

Elliott, Asher, and Christian all had birthdays since the last time that a posted. Elliott turned 8 on January 8th. This year he chose for the whole family to go roller skating instead of having a friend party. It was also a big year with his baptism. We were so proud of him. At his baptism I got to sit in the front row with him as they had a couple speakers and some musical numbers. He became teary-eyed in it and shared that it was feeling really special to him. I was glad I got to be a part of that.


Elliott with all of the cousins that came to visit. We had several family members come to celebrate with him, which was really nice.











Asher's birthday was next on February 20th. He turned 3 this year. He was so happy knowing that this was a special day just for him. He has been really into dinosaurs lately. Coincidentally, he received two dinosaur shirts as presents. Lately he has been asking which is stronger, dinosaurs and monsters. And then giving an explanation for why one would win in a fight over another.






Christian's birthday was on March 4th. He turned 10 this year. I forgot to take pictures at his party. But he had a fun time. At his friend party we did an adventure story that was kind of like a choose your own adventure. It meant that 90% of the party they were just sitting on the couches listening and figuring out problems. We were a little worried with how it would turn out, but all the kids really liked it. Not sure if that is just because of Christian's personality and the type of kids that he invited, but it was fun to try something different. The party was the day before everything shut down around here for COVID-19, so we were glad that kids still came.

Here he is playing the piano at a school talent show the weekend before.

Christmas and New Years

Unfortunately, now that it is April, I don't remember a lot from our Christmas break. I remember that we did have a fun time and the kids were all really excited. Even though I don't have a lot to say about it, I wanted to still post some of our pictures.

Ready to open stockings

Star wars shirts

Trying to figure out the main present. It required them to do a scavenger hunt with several riddles and problems to solve. They were not too happy about the work at first, but were super excited when they found out about our trip to Europe. Hopefully, we will still be able to do it.

Nathanael and Mary-Anne came for New Years. We had a blast with them and even did a balloon drop. Here are all of the cousins together.

Wrestling Tournament

Back in December, Ethan had his final wrestling tournament. He was really excited for it, but also a little nervous. This was an all city tournament, so all four middle schools in the city. For the JV boys, they set it up so each boy had to wrestle each other boy in his weight class. And then the person with the most wins (or most points if there was an even number of wins) won the tournament. There were two other boys from Franklin with Ethan, and then I think two boys from other schools. Ethan ended up getting second place, losing only once to the boy who got first. He even beat both of the other boys from Franklin - one of whom had been wrestling for several years and beat him every other time during the school year. He did a great job and we are proud of him for his hard work and determination.