School life is back to normal, but I have learned that it can change in a moments notice.  Very fluid situation!  Looks like the snow will be slow in coming, makes all the skiers nervous.  Jacob is so ready to get out on the hill, but looks like he will need to wait a few more weeks.

We had a great Thanksgiving in Ohio.  Tons of family time!   Mostly stayed in and played games and chilled.  Benjamin flew both directions by himself (his request).  His 2 flights out were very dicey.  A huge storm rolled through Denver, so he missed his connection in Denver and was rebooked through Chicago (instead of only one stop in Denver).  Due to mechanical issues in Denver, he missed his Chicago connection and was put on the last flight (for Cleveland) out of Chicago.  He arrived at the airport in Bozeman at 6:15am and arrived at my sisters around 10:15pm!  He navigated things well and learned some of the airport game, as well as talking with gate agents, advocating for what he needed, etc.  I did not realize how much airlines are on top of the game when flights are delayed.  They are often rebooking passengers before they even realize they need to be rebooked.  His first solo flight is done!  He fortunately had no issues going back!

Benjamin has been through the ringer lately.  He had his hand surgery on Friday the 13th.  Had huge issues with the nerve block.  Then on Thursday the 19th, he had jaw surgery.  This has been scheduled for several months.  The white 'lines' above his teeth are the hardware they placed.

It was the first time he had general anesthesia and had a horrible time as he was coming out of it.  He was very combative and ended up really swollen.  (The Doctor had indirectly downplayed the recovery time, so we were both unprepared for what followed the first few days after surgery).  However, a lot of his swelling has now gone down but he is still unable to chew his food.  He will continue on soft foods probably until the end of the year.  I have told him a huge steak dinner will follow when he has permission to chew!!

I am putting my head down for the next three weeks and trying to work long hours before Christmas break hits. 

 Thanksgiving 2020!

A year that will forever be etched in the hearts and minds of everyone, world wide.  Who would have ever known a year ago, what we would face a few months into 2020.  There will be residual affects for years to come.  What am I thankful for....

*A God who is in control and bigger than anything that we would ever face.  Doesn't mean it will be easier, but anything difficult and yet in His will, is better than anything outside of His perfect design for us.

*The fact that JR and I never saw a blip in our jobs/income through Covid

*Candles

*As much as our 1500 square foot home tends to feel like the walls are closing in, it is adequate and I am realizing the bigger the house, the more it will drive us apart, as we all would tend to retreat to our own little corners.  So yes, thankful a larger house has not become a reality.

*Toaster ovens

*Church leadership that was not afraid to seek out health department recommendations and pull out all the stops to keep us meeting weekly

*Watching my boys turn into young men

*Technology that somewhat allowed the boys to continue schooling, even though it was not in person

*Sweatshirts and leggings

*Boys that enjoy being in the kitchen and cooking

*Day after day of 'lockdown' and we all survived, and quite honestly, thrived more than I would have anticipated

*All extra curricular activities, and life as anyone knew it, came to a halt and forced us to focus on the bare necessities.  Included daily family walks and board games

*Conversations with Ben as he is thinking about life after high school (he is a junior)

*The internet that provided amazingly fun ideas and on some days, hours of entertainment

*Watching football games with the boys

*Health - Ben recently has been through two surgeries and so thankful we are not forever tied to lots of medicines and doctor appointments

*Going to the gym with the boys

Happy Thanksgiving.  So much to be thankful for, even in the midst of chaos, uncertainty and lots of fear. 

 Joseph finished his quarantine and the day he went back to school, Jacob started a quarantine.   Benjamin is still home for the month because high school didn't have enough subs to cover the teacher absences.  This alone has created a huge issue within the school district.  Not sure how they will solve this one.

Last weekend I was hit with a very short lived something or another.  The fatigue lasted longer than any other symptoms.  So, had a pretty chill week last week.  I think I left the house maybe twice all week.

Last weekend Benjamin and Jacob were horsing around and things got ugly.  Jacob kicked Ben and ended up breaking a bone in his right hand.  We were at the hospital at midnight last Friday.  Ended up at the orthopedic surgeon this past Thursday and they did surgery the following day.  Benjamin was very excited to get it taken care of.  He is ready to start working again.  The surgery went well, they input a plate.  He had a nerve block, but it did not take.  It became pretty obvious when the surgery was started that something was not right.  Poor kid, he was a mess by the time I got back to him.  In a lot of pain.  The nurses, doctor, etc were all incredibly impressed with how well he did though.  Such a trooper.  He had about 3 days worth of pain meds and that was it.  On Wednesday he will go to the PT to get a removeable splint made.  Then the following day, Thursday, it is jaw surgery.  Two major surgeries in one week!

This next weekend the boys and I head to Ohio for Thanksgiving.  Looking forward to lots of lounging and just being with family!  Looks like they are in for some decent weather!

 Two months gone!  Benjamin and Jacob both had a shortened football season, but at least got some games in.  It seemed like it was hit and miss a few weeks, with COVID issues...limited number of spectators, few games cancelled, etc.  I did not even get any pictures this year, not even in their uniforms.  Jacob was his favorite, #2, and Benjamin was #59!  Fortunately, we only had one really chilly game day!

Joseph was sent home this past week to quarantine.  One of the girls whom he sits adjacent to, tested positive, so as a precaution he was sent home.  His quarantine will only last for 7 days.  And starting tomorrow, the high school is sending all the kids home for the remainder of November because there is a substitute shortage.  With teachers having to be out, due to quarantine or their own kids quarantining, or just plain sick, they don't have enough subs to pull from.  (Our community traditionally votes down any levies, which is money for everything inside the buildings, including staff, and we pay considerably less than other nearby school districts for subs, so....)  Will be working really hard to get Benjamin on a schedule.  I do not want to slip back into summer routines of staying up late and sleeping in.

Now that football is over, Benjamin has gotten more shifts at work.  He is very thankful to see larger paychecks.  He has found out very quickly how easy one gets use to having money.  Although our community leaders are meeting tomorrow to discuss if we need to increase our covid mandates, which could mean Level 1 and a lot of non essential businesses having to shut down or greatly reduce their capacity.  So, his immediate paychecks could still be in jeopardy.  Benjamin has his jaw surgery coming up the week before Thanksgiving.  Because his upper jaw did not grow outward, he has a weird bite and it is starting to cause problems.  So they will go in and insert 4 vertical plates, to move the upper jaw forward, like 6 millimeters.  The doctor has said there is usually not any pain, so to speak, but more  so swelling and he has to eat soft foods for a week or so.  The good news, when he leaves the house, he is wearing a mask, so the swelling probably won't even be noticed by others. 

I have been working quite a bit, sometimes 35 hours a week, but also trying to balance it with things around the house.  I have taken a break from Crossfit and decided to go to the gym Ben and JR go to.  Jacob is old enough to also go, but he needs a parent.  Fun to see him in the gym!  Joseph is itching to go, but has to wait another year and half.

Over the past few months, I have taken Bree to a facility for single days, just to get her playing with other dogs.  Our yard is so small and even when we take her on walks, she just doesn't burn enough energy.  (She does best when I run her with the car, and she does very well.  Somedays going 4-5 miles!)  I took her about a month ago and while she was there she jumped their fence...their 6 ft fence!  It was not a clear jump, like deer, but she somehow manages to get her front paws over the top and then uses her back legs to get her over.  Crazy.  But she jumps the fence and then runs around to the office door.  So, I took her a few days ago.  When I pulled up, she did not want to get out of the van.  It took about a minute to coax her out of the van.  In the past she has loved the place and literally spends all day running and playing.  Was hesitant to leave her but did.  I called about lunch time just to make sure she wasn't giving them any more troubles and she had jumped the fence twice already.   The owner said she did great for about 3 hours running and playing.  Then he went into where the dogs were and Bree came over to him and he petted her, talked to her, etc.  He went back into the office and within 5 minutes she had jumped the fence and come around to the office door.  He thinks she really enjoys other dogs but loves her humans.  Both times she jumped was almost immediately after he had been around her, petting her, etc.  So, as much as they love Bree, she is not going back anytime soon.

JR is gearing up for snow.  We  had a big dump the end of October, but thankfully his snow contracts did not start until Nov 1.  This weekend the cold and snow return!!

School has started!  All of the boys are doing pretty well.  None of them really complain about the masks but it does seem that they stick to their small cohort and don't intermix with other students/friends throughout the day. I spend the school days working.  

Spending the weekend away with a North Dakota friend.  A slow paced weekend, with shopping and eating.  We did go hiking!  It was 7 miles round trip, but fortunately not a super hard hike, but made it back to a lake. 

I love all the shadows from the rising sun plus the smoke from wildfires.

This next picture, is one I will never forget!  Looking back, a situation that could have gone very bad, but didn't.  Take a look.

See what was on the trail??  A moose.  I came around this corner and saw the moose, facing me.  Probably 20 yards.  We both startled each other.  He had been scared by someone heading towards us, so he was coming down the trail towards us.  As you can see, it was pretty tight and narrow.  The moose was not sure what to do, feeling trapped.  The moose turned his back to us but did not leave.  We decided to scamper up a rock and get behind a tree.  A few seconds later, the moose quickly took off and ran right past us!  We kept replaying the incident and can't imagine what would have happened if we had not gotten off the trail.

On Friday a wildfire started in our valley.  The first time I remember one in 21 years.  Here are two pictures I got off of facebook.  No official word on buildings lost, but assuming there are dozens of homes.  Fortunately no lives have been lost yet.  Three firefighters got caught and had to deploy their emergency blankets and were able to walk away.  It is about 5 miles away from the ski resort so they are trying hard to keep the fire at bay.  There is currently zero % contained.  We have cooler weather with rain but in a few days, it gets hot and dry again.  The firefighters have weeks of work.  It has been amazing to see all the cooperation among all the emergency departments and all the help form the community.  Lots of livestock were roaming free when fences burned and people showed up with trailers, etc.  I believe it is currently just over 7,000 acres.

The long lazy days of summer are quickly disappearing. Us parents actually joke that "spring break is finally over"...our quarantine started the first weekend of spring break! It has been a 5 month summer. Benjamin has started two a days with football, which means he is only working on Sundays during football season. It still remains to be seen how much of a season they will have. Not sure if all the counties in our district are allowing football. They have said that as of now, there will be no spectators for the games! Will be very weird. 

School starts next Wednesday.  They are going full time to the classroom, with masks.  Sounds like middle schoolers will stay in their classrooms and the teachers will rotate.  Will be interesting to see how many mask breaks they get.  

 Here are several videos of Jacob loving summer. Jacob has been jumping off this bridge for several years but has never gone to the top. He recently ventured to the top, glad I was not around. He is the second kid jumping! Not sure the height, but guessing it is 35 feet!! The other two videos are at the skate park. I love the real time ones, but my eye sight has to see it slow mo, to actually figure out what he is doing. So the same video, one just regular time and one slow mo.

(Again, if you are getting this post in an email, go to this link to watch the videos... www.welcomeatmyfire.blogspot.com)

 

 I headed to Texas for a quick trip mid July.  We were all suppose to head down there, but with everything going on, I decided to go solo and for only half the time.   Great to get away!  Always fun to hang with the family.  Sure wish we always did not end up in Texas in July though.  So hot!

My niece Kristine came to visit for a week.  Got out and went on a hike to one of her favorite spots.

The following morning, she and Jacob went for a different hike!

Kristine and I went and had dinner at Benjamin's work one night.  He was doing Garm, which means he preps food (not cooks it) like salads, plates dessert, etc.  I ordered a cheesecake and look what I got.  He loves me!

Yesterday we celebrated Joseph's 11th birthday.  

The day prior I took him and 4 of his friends to the local trampoline park.  Then we came back to the house for pizza, games, movies and sleep over.  I was so frustrated because two of the boys were being really loud and obnoxious and I was up until 3:30!  I finally threatened to call their parents and had to put one of them in the hallway.  Fortunately I know both of the boys fairly well, but could not believe that one of them, a ten year old, had access to his phone all night and there appeared to be no filters on it! 

This past weekend our Friday night Missional Community group had our annual camping trip.  This is the 4th year and a great time was had by all.  We were lakeside, so the kids enjoyed all day Saturday on the water.  Benjamin came out Friday evening for a few hours and JR showed up Sat evening for a few hours.  The mosquitos were terrible, but other than that, a great time!!!

I am heading down to Texas for a few days.  This was suppose to be a 10 day trip, with main goal to celebrate my dad's 80th, but COVID.....

We all headed out for some fresh air.  Jacob has learned how to fly fish and wanted to try some more.

Bree loved fetching the ball

I look at this picture in amazement.  Still not sure how they both ended up so close to each other and both smiling!  A rare moment these days.

And then there is this picture...ha!  The wind was kicking up and some were ready to go!

Jacob and JR set out for an overnight back pack trip.  They hiked in 3 miles to a mountain lake.  Other than a storm that night, they had a great time!!!

Now if JR could get both of the other boys to go!  That is probably one of his biggest bucket lists right now, back packing with all of his boys!

We have put up a new fence!!


Look at my geraniums!  They love all the south facing sun

The boys have made a few skate park features.

Happy 16th birthday to this kid!  Hard to believe!  The one who engages me in crazy conversations, keeps me on my toes, loves his job and fascinates me with his love of sneakers and watches!

Joseph spent last week at an overnight camp!  Here are pictures I downloaded from their FB page.

My boys have never ridden the bus TO camp, but one of the fun things they do is the wranglers "hold" up the busses.

Cabin photo...he did not know anyone in his cabin.

Ok, so they never pack well for camp, despite my encouraging it.  So they never have enough warm stuff.  It was pretty rainy and looks like Joseph wore the same sweatshirt all week...at least he is easy to spot!

I had to laugh at this one, because I spotted him for his brightly colored socks first!

Almost missed this picture of him, because he is in a red shirt...haha

My favorite!!

Beautiful view!!

Jacob went with me to drop him off, he loves the low adjustable hoops.

For some reason, Jacob insisted on closing his eyes!!