Birthday Fun: Coronavirus Week 15

While things in our state and country, and definitely the world, remain unsteady and peppered with reports of Covid-19 cases picking up speed again, in our tiny little world of Westrate, there was some celebrating over Mommy's birthday on Tuesday.  I woke to a very special breakfast of cereal with blueberries, apples with caramel, iced tea and some lavender flowers in a vase, along with card from my 4 favorite little people.

That night, we had dinner that Grandpa and Grandma brought over in celebration. 

Thursday morning, Ezri and I were up and moving early to get Ezri to the orthodontist before 8 am.  With a lot more protocol to complete before entering the office, including temperature and pulse-ox scans, hand sanitizer and masks, we sat in the much emptier waiting room for a few moments before being called back. I was disappointed to find that some promised practices of distancing patients and hygienist mask shields were not in place, it was too late...   It was time for Ezri to get braces!  For over 50 minutes, I stood against the wall next to Ezri's chair (parents were only allowed back for younger patients and no chair offered) while they bonded brackets and wire to her front top 6 teeth for the beginning of some re-shaping on the top.  

 She got to choose her band colors and when it was all done, she was a happy girl.  The pain set in a couple hours later and then it was a rotation of medication for the next few days to help her stay comfortable while her mouth adjusts.  8 weeks and we go back for another adjustment.  And just like that we are doing "big kid" stuff with our baby!

 Friday evening was set aside for a special gathering which had this mama nervous in fear of a surprise party, but unwarranted.  Alex and Kathy spent their energy planning and cleaning and setting up a sweet gathering in the barn (thanks to coming storms that night), with dinner for our framily and some birthday fun.

When our friends arrived, donned in their best country attire, we gathered in the shop and the party began.

After some delicious fried chicken, mashed potatoes, asparagus, Snickers salad and dinner rolls, the kids played some games while we chatted.

Gifts were next...

 And then cake!

 Cut with precision tools, of course!

 While it rained and stormed outside, we laughed and took pictures inside.

Saturday it was back to business followed by a bit of interesting activity surrounding getting a quad off the top rack without the extra bodies we had to put it up.  Of course, my engineer sorted that out quick with some heavy equipment.  

 The quad needs some work, our hope is to get it back up and running smooth so it can go with us on our next trip north.

The kids made their own fun Saturday as well.  With our pool having tiny holes needing repair (and time), it is out of commission while we find and seal leaks.  The coming days are slated to be HOT, above 90 each day for the coming week, so thank goodness for a new trampoline sprinkler and for the ingenuity of our kids who made their own pools by filling their wheelbarrows with water and sitting in them.

Summer Fun: Coronavirus Week 14

We kicked off last week with our summer tradition of picking strawberries at Beard's.  The kids helped me pick a box full in less than an hour.  It was a busy place and the picking wasn't the best I've ever experienced, but the berries sure were yummy!

 Much of our week was spent in the usual fashion - work and play, with some packing tossed in.  With a return trip to the cabin in our plans, there was much to gather.  Sadie was in tune to all the goings on and packed herself so as not to be left behind!

 About 10am on Friday, we tossed the last thing in the truck and then rolled out with excitement for a weekend together with friends, some work and relaxation.  After we arrived at the cabin and got settled in, the kids set to playing while Tony and Alex headed outside to start cutting the tall grass and some brush piles to begin burning.  Kathy and I set our sights on the basement, where we cleaned, organized and re-arranged to make it more suitable for the kids to play as well as better to use for rainy or very hot days. 

Friday night, Jay and Becci joined us and they had a surprise.  A reveal of their baby's gender!

 It's a boy!!!

Saturday morning started in early with the mowing and chopping as well as gathering and stacking of fire wood.  It was an all day afair with breaks for water, food and shade.  At the end of the day, things looked tremendously different than when we first arrived, with all brush piles in the yard burned, wood piles cleared and stacked, and overgrowth around the cabin cleared.

Late in the day, the kids realized there was something worth going to the basement for, and that's where they made their home.

 At bedtime that night, they settled in for their "usual" - a movie together in front of the laptop.

 With all that was going on, we had a lot of stuff with us, including shoes!  Shoes for every occasion, for every pair of feet!

 Once the kids were settled, the guys set to hanging some swings for the kids.  I tried them out, and it was a good thing! 

 A bit of repair to the rope and the swing was good to go.  Elam then found his happy place!

 As did the rest of the kids when they woke up Sunday morning!

 Sunday didn't have much planned after the huge load of work accomplished the day before, but soon ideas started rolling about moving some large logs to create seating around the fire pit, which started a new adventure of pulling logs.

 As well as the beginning stages of cutting the large logs down into benches.

 The kids began work on some pretty fantastic fairy houses in a newly cleared area in some trees behind the cabin.

 Soon, the remains of a fallen tree still in the ground was a target.  With a truck, it too would come out.

 With a little help from the chainsaw.

 The kids watched with pleasure!

Tierney pulled out a tooth while she was watching too!

 Tired and fulfilled, we finally decided to load up around 3 and head for home.  It was Father's Day and we had some gifts for Daddy when we got home!

A good time was had by all and there is excitement at the plans for our next trip for more work and play.  It feels good to have a goal and some plans again, even if they aren't the plans we normally would have for a summer together.  With our governor extending the State of Emergency through July 16th, time will tell how things go moving forward, but having things to do and friends to do them with makes the world a much better place!