Sick and tired. Also, it’s cold

 I’m just sick of sick. And I’m tired of the cold. Tomorrow is May first and it’s currently just whipping wind and is cold! And it’s been freezing. This spring is one cold and rains spring! 

It’s also full of germs that are lingering and never wanting to leave. Strep and flus and are hanging around like flies on poop… for lack of a better analogy. 

Last week Avery came down with the stomach flu for two days. Addie then went down for two days. Followed by Aaron; in fact, when I went to pick him up from school, he was in the nurses office and I had to wait for him to finish puking into the toilet. On the way out another student was entering the office with a waste pin he was throwing up into. We thought we were safe and all healthy again when Maddix didn’t go down next. However, Friday night I began to feel like I had a cold. Then yesterday I was just trashed. And today I feel even worse. I think I have the flu: chills, body aches, sinus pressure, nasal drip causing a sore throat, and clogged and pained ears. Thankfully I have a nice family that has tried to let me rest as much as I could around our activities we’ve had going on. It’s just getting so so old. I am so so sick of sick. And I’m sick and tired of the cold. Have I said this already? 

Highlights from the week: 

-Travis : completed ALL his workouts to prep for his upcoming triathlon. He’s reading a motivational book, written by a former BYU tennis coach; it’s been quite good. He has basketball on Tuesday nights. He installed a new dishwasher for us (my hero!). He’s teaching the boys how to lift weights three times a week. He is helping them set their own goals and teaching them how to be independent motivators of those goals. He’s teaching himself the piano. He took the soccer tournament shift from me since I was sick and spent his entire Saturday driving, sitting, and watching soccer, and enjoying time with Maddix. 

-Me: I completely my goal of getting in 5 days of cardio/ 5 weight lifting days, and I’m really proud of myself. I’m coaching Aaron’s soccer team and enjoying it. I began reading Saints, and I’m really interested in it. I did 10,000 loads of laundry and have had nonstop vomit/poop to clean up for a week. And am now sick myself. 

-Maddix: he accomplished his goal of practicing  his soccer drills 3x’s this week. Finished up his end of year testing. Had the “highlight of the year” at his school dance. Is having some great soccer tournaments to start the season. Enjoyed our date to Pretzel 🥨 Maker. Enjoyed his dinner date with Travis to Olive Garden. 

- Aaron: despite being sick, he accomplished his goal this week of reading a more challenging book 3x’s on the week. Today just just completed the 1st Percy Jackson book. He’s loving soccer. He also enjoyed his Raptors Bbq and just running around like an animal with other players. 

Addie: getting so good with her writing, memorizing words, and drawing. She’s been so whiny though; that’s a new change we aren’t loving. She’s been getting so big to run around the neighborhood with her friend, Cara. And she has this cute new bond with Travis since their return from their trip. 

Avery: she learned how to write her name!! She is a little musical prodigy. She never walks anywhere, only runs or dancing. She has a giving heart. She is starting to get the hang of her big bike and has loved our bike rides and wants to do more once we are healthy and it’s warm again! 

-Nala: she turned 14!!! This old dog has been around with Travis and I since just after we got married. I cannot believe her heart of gold and her desire to keep l info her best puppy life, even though her body/ mind are starting to go. She has some dementia kicking in. She wanders away and doesn’t realize how far she has gone. She has a painful ulcer on her eye that we are dealing with currently. She has cysts all over. Her hind legs are going paralyzed. But despite it all, she is genuinely happy, playful, silly, loving, and kind. She doesn’t seem to want to leave us anytime soon! 

-Lily: she has turned into quite the cute and kind little pup. She keeps us on our toes though. When the mood strikes her just right we disappears! We’ve had multiple people bring her home over the oases few weeks. And always with a BIG smile on her face! 

Easter and a Daddy-Daughter trip!

 Travis’s nephew turned 8 and was going to be baptized. They live in San Diego and so we debated how we wanted to go about being there. In the end, we decided that the boys get ample time with dad, and Avery is still little; and with Addie being next to get baptized, it was decided that she would be Travis’s travel partner. 

They set off Wednesday night for Des Moines since their flight was so early the next morning. 

They spent all Thursday playing. They had breakfast at Ruby’s with the family. Next, they went to the beach. Addie got to snuggle Travis and watch a movie. To end the night, she got to go to dinner at Spaghetti factory with Uncle Lee’s family. 

Friday: they started out on a hike with Garett and fam. Lunched at In ‘n’ out ! And swam in Lee’s hot tub (Addie’s favorite). They played with cousin Luke at the park. Then Travis and Addie met up with Jed at Medieval Times and had dinner. Addie got a rose from the knight. He’s bought her a glowing Battle Axe! She was spoiled! 

Saturday: Brigham’s baptism. Travis led the music and Addie said the prayer. Afterward they were invited to an Easter party at a ward members… mansion. Their property was insane. Addie danced the night away with Dallin in the concrete dance floor, in front of a live band. She climbed their giant rock wall. Enjoyed swinging in their hammock. But never did use their half pipe! 

Sunday, Easter: they flew home, drove back from Des Moines, and then celebrated Easter with us, since we’d waited. 

Meanwhile, for us back on Mason City… we had beautiful weather. We walked the dogs a lot. Went to the dog park. Rode bikes. The kids played in the tramp, ran amok with all the neighbor kids, lit fire crackers, had nerf gun battles, colored work chalk, and more. Avery had a sleep over in the boys’ room the first night. Well all (including Lily) dog piled in my bed the 2nd night, which was the best! Then I stayed up watch movies with the boys on the other nights. I hosted Book club one night and they played video games, I just remembered. We waited in a Chik-fil-a food truck line for 2hrs one afternoon!! We hosted the Friend’s Easter Party and this year we had a “Golden Goose” prize for the winners of the egg toss. This has been a fun tradition; I’ll miss it! We went and cheered Maddix on at his scrimmage soccer game and also watched the baptism via zoom. 

Easter morning was so extra special at church, listening to the program that had been prepared. I sand a duet with Elder Lee and Avery and Aaron sang with the primary. Avery sand her sweet little heart out!! At home we dyed eggs, and the kids were in charge of the bunny pancakes. And this year Maddix made the bread bunny!! And after Travis and Addie came home we finished our Easter celebrations and had dinner. Glad to have our family back together!