Pretty things

     It's been a great week. Greg finally got the toe kicks/baseboards installed under our kitchen cabinets and it only took 3 years. Now who wants to wager how much longer it takes before he finishes caulking around the backsplash?

Reclaimed wood for baseboard/toe kick looks cool!

Should we put it above the cabinets too?

     

        I don't necessarily care much for football but we can always get behind yummy food. 

Super bowl foods are so yummy and some day I'll taste and smell them again.

     I love looking out on the backyard and seeing the most amazing sunsets!

Seriously! Gorgeous sunset!

      Our security camera gives a much wider view of our super bowl gathering. I'd turn the photo but it wouldn't come out as large but you get the idea.

A different view of our Super bowl festivities.

Not a sporty family but we don't mind an excuse to make yummy food and set up the projector.

     My friends let me babysit for them and I wasn't sad to sit in this room for a bit and enjoy their awesome view of the mountains.

My good friends have bought a house with some of the most amazing views of our Alpine mountains. These photos don't do it justice!

     So that's our week. We're looking forward to our Valentine's/President's Day three day weekend. And if the weather people can be trusted we might just get a bit of snow over the next couple days.

last but not least

    I forgot to share this photo of the yummy spaghetti dinner my best friend brought for us while we were down and out with Covid. It looked great and I can only assume it smelled and tasted just as good as it looked but with no taste or smell I can't give it a full critique. There's a hint of my senses returning but I'm still eating tasteless/scentless food. Losing taste and smell is about the dumbest side effect/symptom of a virus!

Yummy!?

     Thankfully we all got back to our regular lives of school and work and being alone at home this week. It's definitely been nice having a few hours to myself the past couple days. And Greg was 'happy' to get back in his plow truck today to push a little snow. Now let the snow fly for a few more weeks and replenish the water supplies and then bring on spring!

Covid central

      Covid has hit and is making it's rounds through the majority of us. It started with me and Greg and now it's slowly working its way through 4 of the six kids that live here. It's been bearable and definitely could be worse. I wasn't a fan of the lower backaches but those only lasted a few days and thankfully medicine helped alleviate that pain. Greg is definitely struggling a little more with really painful coughs and body aches but he's still able to move around. Thankfully it's been the least taxing on the kids and hopefully they can all return to school by the end of next week. And the no taste or smell is about the strangest sensation I've ever experienced. And don't tell Greg, but I'm kind of glad he's developed the same loss of senses because there's no way of understanding it unless you experience it for yourself. Hopefully those senses return soon so we can get back to enjoying the flavor of food again. 

       Being stuck at home hasn't been that fun but I'm sure grateful we had most of what we needed and only needed a tiny bit of help from Kayli, who was a great help with the few things we did need, milk, cheese, etc. We also got our 1/4 beef that Greg purchased for our food storage so we're sitting pretty on our meat supply. And if my calculations are correct I'll be able to get to my regular shopping Monday. 

We've never had such a variety of meat options, can't wait to TASTE again so this can be fully enjoyed.

     And thanks to my brother Tad's suggestion, we've been enjoying the first season of "Alone" on the history channel. I guess having Covid while living in a safe shelter with all the modern amenities isn't so bad considering the alternative. 

Another teenager

     Brock turned 13 Saturday making him an official teenager. It was a pretty simple celebration but we did what we could. His gift arrived late and broken but he didn't complain and made the broken gift work.

Brock and his buddies.

Jello cheesecake is always a win.

Singing happy birthday.

Charlie and McClane got new stuffed friends.

We had dinner at Kayli and Tanner's and cute Beau didn't know what to do with all the extra people in her house.

 A new controller that came broke but he fixed it.

     So that's our weeks highlights. Mark finally got a full time job and starts next week as a dishwasher at a restaurant up at the Snowbird ski resort. And now on to the next week.

Pretty pets

     Have I ever mentioned how expensive it is to get dogs groomed around here? It's outrageous, but they sure look pretty when it's all done. This time around I was feeling rich and got both dogs groomed on the same day and now I'm not feeling rich at all and yesterday McClane started his second phase of orthodontia and I'm feeling even poorer! I really hope he's my last child that needs braces of any kind because I don't know if my budget can handle any more orthodontist bills.

Smalls is a handsome devil.

Pretty girl.

   And we had a little playdate with cute baby Beau, which is always a treat.

Everyone likes to lay the big bed.

     So that's our week's highlights. We're currently praying for snow and more snow but also secretly loving the mild winter weather for now. Let the three day weekend commence.

Animals and babies

    We've done some dog-sitting recently and it's always comical to see how they all congregate around Greg whenever he's eating or lying down. And Charlie always welcomes extra pet friends to play with.

Just a line-up of fur!

The kennel came in handy a time or two. 

This pretty girl has been finding odd places to pose herself.

She's been around a lot more with the colder weather keeping her inside more and more.

    And in case you haven't heard everyone gets old and my eyes are my first big reminder that I'm no exception to this rule.

My first pair of reading glasses. And yes they're pink and crazy because why not! I'm mostly just sad that they're actually very helpful for reading and playing solitaire on my phone.

Beau definitely looks a lot cuter in reading glasses then her 'Joey'.

    So there you have it. Our first week of 2021. I watched a funny video of a guy trying to unsubscribe to 2021. He said after his 7 day trial he wasn't a fan and wanted out, ha ha. Sadly this year is not looking any better then 2020 but, like I said to a friend, even if the world can't offer us peace at least we know where we can go to find personal peace. Jesus is the answer to it all!

Bye, bye 2020

       I don't mean to be rude, 2020 has definitely been a weird, rough year, but as I look back, personally, it's been a pretty good year for our family in our little bubble. We've been healthy, Isaac bought the coolest car any 18 year old could buy, we have been blessed with the best financial situation we've been in, probably ever, and I feel like we made more effort then ever before in gospel study at home. Church at home has been a blessing in more ways then it's been frustrating. I'm sure we'll continue to grow and stretch in 2021 but I'm not going to hate on 2020 as much as others might because God's been good even in all the craziness. Just the fun homemade ice cream Sunday gatherings made the social distancing bearable. We live in one of the best neighborhoods and definitely loved who we were quarantined with. Now here's to hoping 2021 will bring even more fun and blessings.

     

Charlie loved spending some quality time with this pup and her Kmetzsch grandparents.

And she was thrilled to see her buddies for a few minutes Christmas night.

And we all love time with baby Beau!

     Charlie was the only one who really got together with family over this Christmas break. We had a very simple week and finished up the year quietly. Here's to more quiet simplicity to start 2021!