Quarantine Cats!

DU GSSW Experience Day... Online...

I was supposed to be in Denver today, meeting Mason to attend her Graduate School of Social Work Orientation Day.  Instead, we attended from her room. Not quite the same experience. It opened my eyes to how different and possibly difficult these online classes might be for some students. It’s almost too easy to “sit in the back of the classroom” and the opportunities for engagement and social interaction are limited. I’m sure there are positive aspects as well and all of the kids might as well start trying to find them because we’re in this for the long haul.

Corona Times

These are strange and sad days, but we are making the best of them. We are staying home, other than my occasional trips to the grocery and to visit/ help Granny around her house. I am walking outside early every morning and sometimes again in the afternoon, and Andy and I are still going on our mountain bike ride every day. I do miss swimming every day very much and look forward to doing that again soon. Andy’s outings are rare, but will soon include trips to the cancer center for chemo and radiation. Although the center is located at the hospital, it is a separate area and he assured me that the hospital is extremely vigilant about checking every worker who enters the building. He had a procedure this morning to put a port in his neck/chest area for the chemo and I wasn't even allowed to accompany him. The kids are hanging in there. Mason has begun her final quarter of undergrad classes online (the second picture). She has been so careful about social distancing even in our own home (I haven’t even hugged her sweet self yet), but it will be two weeks on Sunday and she seems just fine. Dylan misses “the boys”, but has found many ways to communicate and “hang with the homies” from the occasional skateboard meet-up (skating with a friend or two keeping 6 feet apart and no skate parks) to online gaming, a pastime he had completely given up for at least a year. He is staying up way too late (4:00am 😳) and I’m trying to let it go for the moment because all of the boys are up playing with him and connecting, which is important now. Online school should start sometime next week and his teachers have already begun reaching out. I promise, we will have a decent bedtime at that point. As for Hannah, I’m completely deflated and crushed for her. This is her senior year and she is missing all of the “lasts” that come with finishing strong. I’m so proud of her accomplishments and wanted so badly to celebrate them with her and her school community. She is currently trying to decide which college to attend now that all of the acceptances are in and I’m crushed that all of our plans to tour her favorites are cancelled and she will have to choose without getting a feel for the campus, something that was pivotal in Mason’s college decision. 

But, alas, there are good things coming out of this time of isolation. Being with family and slowing down, spending time outdoors (our hike below—notice our distance from each other), staying healthy, and not wearing jeans. Take care of yourselves, everyone! 

Three of My Quaranteammates!

It’s not easy and school was cancelled for the rest of the year today. That is crushing on so many levels, especially with a senior, but we all understand and agree with the decision. Hannah’s high school is working hard to make senior assembly night and graduation happen in some way. In the meantime, I have all three of my babies under my roof and that’s the way I like it! 

Kick Flipping!

Practicing Social Distancing!

Mason just came home from Denver, where there are a lot of cases of Coronavirus and a roommate who was not social distancing from her friends, so we are a little scared of her. The grabber came in handy to pass her some soap and she played cards with Hannah and me from outside the window. 😂 We are so glad to have her home and just in time for our shelter in place order, which came this afternoon.

Skating the Ditch!

At least we can still go outside during our social distancing. 

Beautiful Bellatrix!

Stolen Pictures from HQS!

Hannah and her friend, Leo, went out and took these artistic photos and then let me steal them for the blog!

COTTONWOODS

AT THE RAIL YARDS

Flying!

DRMS Advanced Orchestra MPA Performance!

New Board and Trick!

HOSA Bowl Award Night!

Hannah and her team got 2nd place in HOSA bowl this year!

Weekend in Denver!

We spent the weekend visiting Mason in Denver and it’s a bit sad but these are the only pictures I have to show for it. Three of them are from dinner at a hot pot restaurant that Mason wanted us to try. We also spent a day driving through the amazing, gorgeous Colorado mountains to Glenwood Springs. The pool and hot tub felt wonderful, especially with all of the snow and freezing air, but they were very crowded and probably not a spot we would visit again because of that. Dylan and Hannah chose not to even get in!

Lots of Orchestra!

These are little snippets from the LCHS Cluster concert and the DRMS Elementary School Tour. We could not see Hannah from where we were sitting, but doesn’t her orchestra sound amazing? Also, the picture of Dylan playing bass in his beanie is on pick up day from a weekend at Hummingbird Music Camp.

Skater Boy!

Class of 2024

It’s so sad when your rising freshman won’t get in the picture, but we had a fun time at 8th grade rally night tonight.

Sunlight

Meanwhile, In Denver...

These three are finding lots of adventures in Denver this weekend, including a frozen lake in the mountains! I’m so happy they are spending this quality sister/cousin time together. How lucky are we that they are all so close?