2020, August 31-September 6

2020 has officially moved into the -ber months. Four to go until we can look back with hindsight on the year. 

When Fergus is not outside hangin' with the other kitties all night long, he is in bed with one of us. This is a frequent morning greeting. Or leaving junk from the field in our bed.

"Hey, sexy! Gimme breakfast."

Online school for Eliza continues to present unique opportunities and challenges. We got her a new laptop desk and whiteboard for lessons. She had a full week (Monday-Thursday) of live online class sessions with both her main teacher (Mrs. Buchanan at Mt. Loafer) and resource (Mr. Makin at Sage Creek). Apparently we are no longer at Westside until such time as we return to in-person instruction. 

Until then, this is the view of the office from the couch where Mike and Eliza have their setups. 

'Yay. Woo hoo. So exciting."

For date night Tuesday, September 1, Mike and Hallie drove up to Dutch Bros in West Jordan. We wanted stickers (which they give out while supplies last) but got there too late. We got caramel-vanilla scented car fresheners instead. 

We also went to Beehive Bazaar in Provo, which has finally reopened after a Covid shutdown. So many cute handmade goods! 

Mike started his Fall Semester class teaching qualitative research methods. It's a small class, and the Zoom setup seems a pretty good fit. He took Eliza up with him, and she did school in his office. Hopefully this is a working arrangement we can keep doing through the semester. Hopefully the campus doesn't get shut down with all the undergrads partying like its not 2020. 

Hallie and her mom went to look at washers and dryers. Our machines may be a bit long in the tooth as is evidenced by the washer's increasingly loud spin cycles. The one pictured below is not the one we are getting but it sure was tempting.

When she went to pick up Landon from gym, she ran into a brush fire right off the freeway. It was a little nerve racking calling 911 and it took at least 10 minutes before the fire department showed up.

This is the look Mom sports at work. She sends Mike and Eliza pictures. Landon has started walking down from SJHS with Sully, Hallie's co-worker Mijken's son. Generally that works out pretty well. Landon thought Mike was going to pick him up one day this week, so he stayed up at the school, and Hallie had to come looking for him. All the moms were a bit worried when he didn't show up at school with Sully. 

Eliza's norm Monday horseback riding session switched to Friday, coupled with a class on horse foot care (and s'mores!). Hallie was a good sport to stay out in the hot outdoors even though she was very tired after a long week. Eliza had the opportunity to ride a new-to-her horse, Doc. When Trainer Sarah asked her if she was up for a challenge she immediately said, "Yes!" Eliza had a blast and wants to ride Doc again.

Landon seems to have managed to avoid getting his picture taken this week! On Saturday afternoon, he, Eliza, and Dad went up to Vivian Park along the Provo River for a Young Men's rafting activity. While the boys and their leaders drifted down the river, Eliza and Dad hung out enjoying the outdoor ambiance.

Eliza even manage to catch some dead fish that were caught up in the underwater plants (eww, gross).

In the mean time, Hallie got a pedicure and a manicure. Aren't her nails cute? It was supposed to be a relaxing time but Hallie came back with lots of stories, and none of them sounded relaxing.

For an afternoon activity Sunday to use up the zucchini, Hallie baked a tasty bundt cake. Zucchini are always better combined with chocolate and sugar. . . . and Landon ate two pieces!!! He hates zucchini.