January . . . . . . . . .

 I was 100% not ready to go back to work when Christmas Break was over. This school year has been REALLY hard! It isn't just one thing, it's all the new/different things. It's exhausting. It's feeling like at any moment you could be in trouble for not having a mask on, not sanitizing, not doing enough online, requiring too much. . . . the list goes on. Emotionally and physically I am very tired. I know it isn't easy for anyone, my students included, but it is still HARD!

Christmas cards are maybe my favorite part of the Christmas season. I just wanted to take a picture of them before I put them away. They make me so happy!

New Years day Amber and I hiked the Alpine Loop from the Aspen Grove parking lot. It was a gorgeous day. There wasn't a ton of snow but there was enough. The sunshine felt amazing.

 

The sun wasn't out in the parking lot we had to hike a couple miles to get above the clouds.

Moki was in heaven. I was too. There has been so little snow this year. It is sad.

The view from the top of the loop. So pretty.

The trees were frozen a little higher up and it was all so beautiful.

It was a great 8 miles. We were worn out after.

The next day Amber and I hiked up the American Fork side. We hiked on the Pine Hollow Trail and then came down on the alpine loop road. It was so pretty. The weather was great and it felt so good to be outside.

I love these Utah mountains! We hiked 4 miles this day and it felt great.

Sunday before returning to work Moki and I went up Rock Canyon. i have church at noon now so we have a little more time in the mornings. We just went up a couple of miles. It was snowing lightly. We enjoyed a beautiful morning in nature.

School started back up in full swing. It is always exhausting. All new classes and students. Basketball is also crazy. I had three players gone because of COVID the first two weeks back. That was so sad. It really hurt us but that is part of what we have to deal with this year. I was very excited when everyone was finally back!

I have been doing quite a bit of sewing to start the new year. Most my projects are not ready to be included on here. This is for Katelyn's birthday. I am so excited to get it to her. I think she will love it! Moki must lay on anything I am working on . . . she is the worst!

 Last Sunday Moki and I walked on the shoreline trail. It was a lovely morning. We started at Slate Canyon and headed towards the Y. You can see there is really no snow. So sad!

 

 

Moki let me get one good picture:) 

Sunday evening at dinner Audrey just wanted to play outside. I went out with her. She was in heaven. She loves the dogs right now. She was pretending to be one. She just sat at the fence and barked with them.

Then she played fetch like Moki.

We ended our outside time in Loralie's swing. This girl is such a cutie. I love her so much.

I brought a dress Nancy made for me when I was her age to dinner. I wanted to put her in it so Nancy could see. It took all night and some m and m's to convince her to try it on. It fits her perfectly right now. She is too cute. Nancy loved seeing her in it.

 Monday was Presidents Day so no schools. I practiced in the morning and then Sam and Amanda brought the kids down in the afternoon. Anthony came over too. We watched the kids so Sam and Amanda could go have some time alone to shop. We played lots of games and went to the park. It was really fun. Audrey and Emerson both wanted to walk Moki to and from the park.

I love these chill days with these cute kids.

Amber and I went up Rock Canyon this morning. We finally got some new snow. And we got a lot of snow, well the canyons and mountains got a lot of snow. It was so fun. It was also a good workout because there was so much snow.

 

 The branches had so much snow on them. It was crazy. We need the snow so badly so it is truly a blessing. I live for Saturdays with fresh snow.

It snowed almost our entire hike. I was very wet and cold when we finally got back to the car. It was a great way to start our Saturday.

The rest of the day has been spent relaxing and working on a church lesson. I have enjoyed the peaceful day.

December

 I did not take many pictures in December. That is super LAME! My days were spent working, coaching and trying to get some exercise. My mom was here for a couple of weeks during Christmas which was awesome.

I got Audrey the cutest pink unicorn tree ornament. She loved it and played it with it the entire evening. It probably won't make it through the Holiday season but it was a well spent $2.

I got Ben and Katie's girls and Audrey matching dresses. Audrey was so excited that she was matching her cousins in a picture she saw of them.

Christmas is magical with children!

Moki and I hiking up Rock Canyon. We have gone up that trail a ton. It is just a little less steep which is awesome. We did the Y right before Christmas and it was so steep and slick. Not fun at all.

Christmas Eve breakfast with the kids.

The only outfit we ever see Andrew in nowdays.

Christmas Eve morning we opened gifts and hung out at Dan's. Sam had to leave to go work but we had a nice day. We played games and visited. pretty low key.

Christmas Day was just Mom and her single kids. I hiked in the morning while they went to a movie. Then we had a delicious lunch and played games most the day.

Anthony and I in our new hoodies.

Playing games!

Sam and Amanda made it to Idaho . . . notice Andrew is still in the same outfit:)

The holiday season was nice but different. I don't know why but it wasn't as exciting for me as it usually us. That was disappointing. It was good though. I spent time with family and that was so nice.

I put away all my Christmas stuff before the New Year. It was nice to have my house less cluttered.

New Years Eve I had basketball then spent the evening at Dan's with my mom, Nancy and Loralie. It was actually a lot of fun. We had yummy food and played fun games. 2020 was a crazy ride. I am hopeful that 2021 will be better!

Surviving Quarantine

 I survived my 10 day quarantine. Luckily Jana and her family were positive at the same time and they let me have Thanksgiving with them. That made the day way better! I hiked in the morning, did Thanksgiving with them and then crashed in the evening. I still was getting really tired then. My only picture from Thanksgiving.

While I was in quarantine I worked on some sewing projects, as you can see Moki was very helpful. That was a great way to stay busy while being stuck at home.

Erica also tested positive during my isolation. We got out and went on a hike one day. It was so nice to be outside and it was a beautiful day!

Moki was in heaven as usual.

I got out with Moki everyday I was in isolation. I made sure I went at times when people would not be out and to places where I would not see others. I think it is the only thing that kept me sane. Everyday Moki would come nudge me when she was ready to head out.

 

 

Luckily my experience with COVID was not too bad.

 

I returned to school following Thanksgiving break. My first day back was basketball try-outs. That first week back was exhausting. Mainly because my days were really long. Luckily during quarantine I also set up my Christmas tree. So I could just come home and relax in the evening!

 It has been the weirdest year. From an awful election. . . meaning awful choices and all the garbage we have to endure leading up to it. . . . . to COVID-19 . . . . . to online school . . . . to no gatherings . . . to sports getting delayed. No one has been left untouched by the things happening in the world right now. It really has been a wild ride. I have been so grateful for the evenings when I can sneak in a hike or walk and just enjoy the beautiful world we have been given.

I tested positive for COVID-19 and so I am spending lots of days in isolation. I HATE IT!!!! I will be here all of Thanksgiving. The timing is actually great, which sounds terrible, but it is. I have been very fortunate and don't have too may symptoms. The worst one is the loss of taste and smell. This sickness will touch everyone at some point. There has been so much misinformation I have no idea what to believe. Honestly it is hard not see it as a normal flu, but I do have a mild case. It has been a long year. I am looking forward to basketball finally starting after the break. I love coaching and getting to know girls better. 2020 has been a wild ride and it doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon!

Family In Town

Having family in town is the BEST! It is always crazy but I love it. Everyone came to town for Andrews baptism. It was such a fun weekend. We all hung out everyday. It was so nice to see everyone even though it is a pandemic. It happens so rarely these days that we are all together. It makes you really cherish the time we do get to be all together. Even if it is loud, messy, busy, crazy . . . you know all the things. It is always worth it.

 

  We went to my school and played for a really long time on Saturday. It was so fun and let the kids get lots of energy out.

I took Monday off work to hang with these cute kids. Then we went on a walk/hike and it seemed like a lot of work. SO MUCH WHINING!!!!! I still love them though:)

It was a beautiful morning on the shoreline trail and Moki was so happy!

I love them so much and am always grateful when I get to spend time with them.

We also went up to play in the snow. Olivia and Braxton were hoping/praying for snow. I really didn't want them to get their hopes up. The weather can be so disappointing. But we got lucky and it snowed!!! We went up to south fork and spent the after noon sledding. It was such a treat and so fun.

The kids played so hard. The adults laughed and made sure no one crashed into the road. Sam made sure he threw just enough snow balls to get his kids angry:)

We stayed long enough just to get all those boys injured and/or crying. Then we knew it was time to go home, get warm, and feed everyone. It was definitely a success!!!!

By the time we were back in the car everyone was happy again.

I was sad when everyone left town. It is always nice to get back to real life but it was so fun to hang out and play too. Moki loved having everyone in town but she slept for days when everyone left.:)