2021, March 22-28

With the arrival of spring, even a bit of turbulent weather couldn't keep the blooms at bay. This week has been a little turbulent when it comes to emotions and gymnastics. 

Monday we found out that Eliza's coach Lauren was leaving, and Eliza and her teammates had a hard time with that news. It was sinking in more and more that AirTime had been sold, and the new owners are making a lot of changes. This is going to be a super hard transitions, and blocking out all the gossip has been tough.

Our awesome friend Adi had her last official practice Thursday, and of course we had to have a party for her. So these fabulous girls joined Hallie shopping for party supplies. Eliza and Lily had to leave with boas because (as Lily said best) she looked "stylish." 

We got a bit of wind and precipitation mid-week, which thing included dramatic clouds kissing the slopes. Hallie has a great view of the mountains when she comes out of work, and Eliza captured the view as we headed to the car for an afternoon of celebrating Adi.

For school, both kids completed third term this week (with flying colors! We're very proud), which meant a day off on Friday. One of Eliza's activities this week included writing poems on a chosen theme. She chose her favorite feline, Fergus. 

Here's the ol' boy at rest after a night on the hunt. 

For whatever reason we weren't told that we didn't have a lesson at horseback riding lessons on Friday, so Hallie and Eliza still made the trip out to the barn. When the girls arrived, they met this nice lady named Barb. Barb owns this amazing horse below named Chance (Chancellor). Chance (part Friesian, part thoroughbred) is an amazing horse! Barb warmed Chance up and then let Eliza ride him several times around the arena. Eliza is brave!!! Chance is 16 hands 2 high -- a big horse! We have made a new human and horse friend at the barn.

On Saturday, the girls had a morning running around up north. First they watched Adi compete at her final state gymnastics meet, and then they attended a bridal shower for Katelyn, who we knew as a young woman in Belle Isle. 

Between classes and meetings this week, Mike made trading stamps. It's nice to have the drawing thing as a little side line. 

Palm Sunday means Easter in a week. How the year has already zoomed by!

Mike and Eliza took a little walk around the neighborhood after visiting with Grandma and Grandpa M. earlier in the day. Spring blossoms are out, and new shoots are starting to show. Loveliness all around!  We spoke fondly of the seasons from our times living in Michigan and California. We sure do miss our times in the other places we have lived.

2021, March 15-21

Spring arrived this week, but winter didn't leave without a fight. The kids blew off a bit of steam throwing axes, and Landon competed in his state meet.

The kids had a minimum day Tuesday, so Mike took them and our friend Sully to Heber Hatchets in Provo. They proved to be natural axe throwers. Uncanny, really. Mike had meetings, so Hallie came to pick them up and share lunch at the burger place named Backdoor BRGR nestled in the back of the axe place.  The burgers and fries were AMAZING, and Hallie definitely plans on going back with whoever will go with her.

Those mugs were full of soda that the kids were happy to drink before their burgers came.

We had a bit of rain in the afternoon, and after Mike and Hallie's date at Vampire Penguin, Mike caught an eyeful of a lovely rainbow in Provo, a bit of Irish love preceding St. Patrick's Day. Vampire Penguin was super yummy, and Hallie had no room for dinner. Hallie had been there before on a girl's night out and once again we forgot to take a picture.

Hallie got her new shades. Fancy!

Wednesday brought green, shamrocks, corned beef, and cabbage. Hallie made the shamrock below in art with her students. When she went to Starbucks on St. Patrick's Day she realized that the cute piece was still in her purse and asked if she could put it up on the plexi-glass, and of course the girls said, "Yes!"

Eliza learned a bit about "customary" units of measure. 

Mike got a real-life version of one of his flag designs even as the New Utah Flag got the official nod from the state as Utah's official 125th anniversary commemorative flag. 

Hallie got lovely new nails. 

Eliza has been learning about the coast redwoods in her reading class. She's worked super hard this week, so she finished early enough to go visit Mom at work and do art with the other kids in Hallie's class. 

She had a great time riding in the warm weather the coming storm pushed in. It is a bummer videos do not show well on this platform. Hallie takes a fair share of videos, and it is fun to watch Eliza improve and enjoy everything about riding Annie.

On the first day of spring, winter let loose with a bit of snow. We didn't let that stop us from going up to Landon's state gymnastics meet. Despite recovering from injury and scratching two events, he performed well, scoring a couple of personal bests for the season. Landon placed 4th on Parallel Bars, an event that doesn't come easy to him. His coach and one of the judges believe he was finally able to get out of his own head. He practices great, but when it comes to competitions he has a hard time.

After the meet, we celebrated at Sweet Rolled Tacos in Orem. Hallie surprised everyone in the car with this little side trip on the way home. None of us had ever been to this ice cream shop, and we had a lot of fun celebrating and eating really yummy dessert!

Mike drew some more, a bit for himself, a bit for pay, and a bit for friends. 

The kids spent a bit of Sunday playing Minecraft with their brother in law Caleb in Oklahoma. Caleb has found a way that they can all play together including his brother Brandon in Idaho. As parents we are grateful for Caleb and that he wants to spent time with Landon and Eliza. Both kids spent a little time with friends before it was time to come home and wind down before we start another exciting week.

We found out this week that our gym was sold to a family who has a lot of gymnastics experience. Gym life will definitely change starting in April. We are not sure how the changes will affect us yet, but we wish our current owners until we meet again, the new owners good luck, and we for all of our athletes including our children much happiness in a sport they love.

2021, March 8-14

March continues to race by. Hard to believe that it's been a year since we were told we would have to do remote learning with the kiddos for "at least" two weeks. A year later, Eliza has made quite a bit of progress in her academics, and both kids have seemed to thrive in spite of what has been an unusual and challenging twelve months. Fergus has gotten so used to having us at home that he may (but only may) miss us when we go back to being out of the house all day. 

King of the Castle in restful slumber while Dad and Eliza do school. 

Landon felt under the weather Tuesday, so he did some school from home. Both kids are learning about Utah's tribal peoples and measurement. 

As part of Eliza's social studies unit this week, she learned about Navajo blanket weaving.

She also wrote a fun "fractured" fairy tale: 

 The Mouse and the Three Cats 

Once upon a time, there were three happy cats living in a teeny tiny cottage. There were papa, mama, and baby cat living in the itty bitty cottage. They were making lunch. It was too hot, so they went for a walk. A greedy mouse living in the cottage went outside of his hole to play in the cottage. He was a mean mouse, and the cats were trying to catch him. 

The mouse was scared, but that didn't stop him!! He started to eat the food. The food was absolutely delicious. He couldn't stop eating until he ate it all!! He was tired and his belly was full, and so he went over to sit on the couch. The couch wasn't very comfortable. It wasn't even tall. It smelled like cat feet. Plus it wasn't a bed. He chewed his initials onto the wood of the cat's couch. Then the mouse climbed up the stairs very slowly, and then he went to the cat's room where there was a huge bed. He fell fast asleep. 

The cats came home to a mess!! First they found the empty bowls, and they were mad. They knew it was the mouse. Then the cats went to the couch. “The mouse chewed his initials on the couch!!” said the Papa cat. The cat family was very mad. Then they went upstairs. They found the mouse in their bed. They started to wake the mouse up!! The mouse woke up, then the mouse screamed and ran downstairs. The cats were chasing the mouse all over the place. Then the cats saw the mouse’s hole. The mouse was heading toward the hole. The mouse escaped the cats! The cats were very mad. They were going to watch out for the next year. 

Mom got the kids (and grown ups) Easter candy and corned beef, as they were on sale this week. For Eliza and Lily, this meant a couple of early gifts. 

Eliza and Hallie also got new glasses this week. At the rate Eliza breaks hers, she'll be back to the eye doctor for replacements sooner than later. 

We got flocked by flamingos on our lawn (part of a fundraiser at a local school). They were adorable, if small :) 

The weather has oscillated between warm and cold this week, with snow, rain, and clear skies often within minutes of each other. The cloud-shrouded mountain views have been astounding.  

Eliza had a hard time falling asleep Thursday night into Friday. Apparently at some time during the night, she put on "scary clown" makeup. Oh, help. 

Later in the day, she had her last meet of the season. She ended the season on a high note, placing 4th overall in her division and first on vault which was a tough one for her this season!

Look at this handsome boy. 

As Sunday was "Pi" Day, we had delicious country apple pie a la mode. 

As part of a low-tech day, Eliza and Dad made a "diamond painting" scene. Eliza learned the word "tedious" in the process, but she was very pleased with the result! 

Mike has continued developing his vector drawing skills, concentrating on learning how to produce the illusion of shading with layers.

He even has managed to get requests for paid work, something quite surprising!