May 2020

In May we started getting out quite a bit more. For eight weeks everything was closed, including hiking trails, playgrounds, state parks, and all non-essential businesses. By the second week of May, some parks in Washington started opening. Everything in Oregon was still closed, but we were able to drive across the Columbia to get outside a few times. After eight weeks of playing in our driveway, it felt amazing to get out and see something different.

Mother's Day 2020

Mother's Day turned out pretty awesome, in spite of the worldwide pandemic. During the week I braved the Portland Nursery to bring home a bunch of flowers and ferns. Over the weekend the kids and Ben helped me plant everything in our bare backyard. Since we've been at home so much we've spent more time in the backyard. I wanted to dress it up a little more to add a bright spot in the middle of so much bad news.

During the pandemic I have rediscovered a love of gardening. It's a form of art and self-expression that I hope to explore more in the future.

We started Mother's Day out with a long bike ride. All of us rode to an empty OMSI parking lot where we locked up Lily's bike. With Lily and Clara on the back of the cargo bike, we did a loop across Tilicum Crossing and the Steel Bridge and then came back to OMSI to get Lily's bike. Overall, it was 12 1/2 miles and the kids did great!

It was a warm day so when we got home we pulled out the slip 'n' slide and enjoyed some water fun in our newly-planted backyard. Overall, it was a great weekend where we worked hard and we played hard, my two favorite things.

Outdoor Adventures: Moulton Falls, Errol Heights, Salmon-Morgan Creeks, Powell Butte, and Mary S. Young

For 8 weeks in March, April, and the beginning of May, we only drove the car to the grocery store and back. A trip to Tillamook and another one to Silver Falls were cancelled because of the pandemic. I wasn't working because the gyms were all closed and Ben was working from home full time. It ended up saving us a ton of gas money, even if it was really difficult and scary to be stuck at home with literally nowhere else to go.

However, by the second week of May some parks and trails in Washington were opening up. We chose the rainiest day of the week (so it would be less crowded) and drove up to Moulton Falls. There was one other car in the parking lot so we felt like it would be pretty safe.

It's funny how long a 45 minute car ride felt after being stuck at home for months. The kids were nervous and excited.

With our rain gear on, we hiked around Moulton Falls and saw a couple of different waterfalls. Clara got a little cranky, but I tried to distract her by talking about her favorite TV shows. Tommy was more animated and engaged than I had seen him in weeks. It was a huge morale boost for all of us.

That same week, we got word that a little wetland park in Portland was open. We donned our masks and enjoyed a little walk while watching some ducks do their duck thing. On our way back to the car we walked through the neighborhood where we ran into a huge surprise! As we rounded a corner we discovered a huge peacock in somebody's driveway! He spread his tail feathers wide and paraded around a little bit for us. The kids were thrilled.

The next week we drove up to Salmon-Morgan Creeks in Washington. It was another soggy day and we slipped and slid around in the mud during the entire walk. Clara's boot got stuck in the mud, which resulted in a muddy sock and a wet foot. She was a great sport and walked around in her boots without a sock. The forest canopy was so dense that we hardly felt the rain coming down even though the forest floor was soaked. During our walk we saw a newt and several snails and slugs.

Once I got into the groove of getting outside I realized that more sites were open than I had previously thought. We enjoyed a hike at Powell Butte on a beautiful sunny day. The kids literally ran up and down the trail. Can you imagine being stuck at home for two months and then finally having the freedom to run freely again? It was amazing.

During that same warm and beautiful week we made our first trip of the season to Mary S. Young. It took us a few minutes, but we finally found the beach, set up our blanket, and had an amazing day playing in the sand and water. There were several other families there, but everybody did a really good job keeping their distance and giving everyone else their space. Since all the swimming pools were closed, the Willamette River turned into our swimming pool. Mary S. Young has really soft sand with a really sticky clay layer underneath the sand. It is the best building sand out there! The kids made a whole bunch of different pools (including a Nosy bath for Clara to lounge in) and really worked together to try to figure out which pool would make the water evaporate the fastest. After months of watching the kids (especially Tommy) feel depressed on the couch, it was so rewarding to watch him become animated and interested in a project again. We had a wonderful time that day as we watched people paddleboard, kayak, and waterski on the river, as we played in the water and built in the sand, and as we lay back and enjoyed the sunshine and warmth and company of people from a safe distance. Mary S. Young became our favorite hang-out spot over the summer and we visited several more times until the fall. (I can say that because I am writing from the future.)

Tommy's Move, Obstacle Courses, and Hunting

In addition to our outdoor adventures, May also required an increase in creativity at home. We were all getting tired of the same old, same old, so some interesting things evolved.

The first development was that Tommy moved up to the girls' room. We left all his clothes and toys downstairs in his room, but we moved his mattress upstairs. It's actually kind of nice having all three kids in one room on the same floor as us. Tommy's room is very separate from the rest of the family. I think he'll move back down when he gets a little older, but for now it's really nice having everyone upstairs. And everyone is sleeping better, too!

We really got a lot of use out of our front driveway area in May. The kids played soccer, frisbee, and other fun games together. We also set up obstacle courses for the kids to do. That added some fun and creativity into our outdoor time!

The kids also came up with this game that I found slightly disturbing. They hid their stuffed animals around the house and then used Nerf guns to hunt and shoot them for their meals. In the living room they set up their campground and garden, which included a fire pit on which to cook their animals. Every time they shot an animal (these are their sleeping companions and friends!), they cooked it over the fire and enjoyed it together for a meal. It was hilarious and also deeply troubling.

Overall, the month of May was filled with a lot of hope, a lot of sunshine, and a lot of adjusting our lives to our new pandemic-living normal.

March 2020

March 2020 is a month for the books! This month will shape the events of our world and country for years to come. Our family started out the month with a fun trip to central Oregon. The week we got home the world went crazy and I'm not sure it will ever be the same.

Swimming Lessons

I enrolled both Clara and Lily in swimming lessons for the winter term. My kids don't have to be competitive swimmers, but I need them to be able to confidently jump into the deep end of a pool and swim around. Lily just has one more level to complete before she's there. She's a really strong athlete and swimmer when she puts her mind to it!

Clara had the best time in her beginning class. She mastered the art of blowing underwater bubbles and, I daresay, was the best swimmer in her class. Both of the girls got through three lessons before the rest of the session got cancelled due to coronavirus.

Trip to Bend

For my birthday this year we planned a 3-night yurt camping trip to Bend, Oregon. We have never been there and I keep hearing about how amazing it is. So we went!

We were *lucky* enough to travel during the coldest weekend of the month. It actually snowed at our campsite! It was just a dusting, but it was there. We didn't spend much time lounging around the campfire because it was wet and cold. I was so grateful we had our heated yurt to hide in!

Our favorite activity in Bend turned out to be sledding. We found a Sno-Park about 20 minutes up the mountain and spent several hours running up and sliding down the hills. We all had a wonderful time and left with a few extra bumps, bruises, and smiles.

Other activities we enjoyed in Bend included visiting the High Desert Museum, pigging out on French fries at 5 Guys, and swimming at the Quick Quack swimming pool. Despite the cold weather we did have a great time together.

On our way back home we stopped at Smith Rock. What an amazing jewel! I felt right at home in the rocky desert. We were grateful for an afternoon of sunshine and walking around Smith Rock Park before heading back to Portland.

Coronavirus

Well, this is where March took an interesting turn. On March 8 our governor declared a state of emergency in Oregon. At that time there were maybe 3 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state. We arrived home from Bend on March 9. By March 13 public schools, OMSI, church services, and libraries were closed. By the next week, March 17, gyms closed and I was out of a job. On March 23 Governor Brown issued a stay at home order. This closed all non-essential businesses, mandated that restaurants serve take-out or drive-thru only, and limited all non-essential outings for individuals. Social distancing was implemented, which means we can't be within six feet of anyone outside of our primary residence. Also, it snowed on March 14, which just accented the whole pandemic mood.

Ben started working from home right after we returned from Bend. I am so grateful he still has a job. A lot of people are out of work, businesses are going bankrupt, and the economy is tanking. It's a time of uncertainty.

Truthfully, as I write this it is May 2020 and we've been quarantined for 9 weeks. But I'll pretend like it's still March and say that when this all started it was scary and stressful. The uncertainty really got to me. There was a lot of fear about what was going to happen. However, the first week it was fun to have a schedule wiped completely clean. The kids put on their creative hats, made all kinds of stuff out of recyclables, and started virtual playdates with their friends. The weather was beautiful so we had picnics outside and went on a couple of hikes. I stained our front and back decks and deep cleaned the bathroom fans. We all thought that things would close for a couple of weeks while we got control of the virus and then we would be back to normal. We thought we would return to our swimming lessons and Trackers and gym classes. We had hope that Little League Baseball would still have a full season and that the public schools would open after Spring Break. But it looks like the world is really changing quickly and there won't be any going back to how it used to be.

Below are a few highlights of our home life while we were in quarantine:

Clara is our sensory kid. She loves anything she can touch and experience with her whole body. This month that was paint and slime that turned into a sticky gluey mess.

Lily has picked up a few new hobbies like FaceTime playdates with friends and riding her new two-wheel bike!

During quarantine we've been in our backyard more than we have been in the 3 1/2 years we've lived in this house!

The kids have done a lot of painting and creating this month.

That's all I'll say for now. I could write a whole post just about coronavirus, but I'll save some pieces for the upcoming months' posts.

Clackamas River Trail

There was a week between the time when all our classes and activities got cancelled and the time that Governor Brown issued her stay at home order. The latter closed all trails and day-use recreational areas. Luckily, in that week we fit in two beautiful hikes near the Clackamas River. Little did we know that these would be our last outings for over 7 weeks!

The drive through the Clackamas River Canyon is worth the price of gas alone. The road descends into a paradisaical river canyon lined with evergreen trees as far as the eye can see. It's breathtaking.

We chose the Clackamas River Canyon because it's less popular among Portlanders. Everyone either recreates in the Columbia River Gorge or at the Oregon Coast. We felt we could practice social distancing best within an hour of home by going there. 

The first hike was on St. Patrick's Day. We went to the Fish Creek Trailhead and hiked about  half a mile to the river. We threw rocks into the water, sent sticks floating through the rapids, saw a rough skinned newt, and saw a kaleidoscope of monarch butterflies.

That Saturday we took Ben with us to hike along the Riverside Trail. We found a little rocky beach area to sit and eat some snacks. The kids and I ventured into the ice-cold water to see how far we could wade into the river. I turned back once I fell in a couple of times, but Tommy was our brave superstar and waded almost halfway in the river! He was soaked up to his waist. That water was so cold it hurt. Pure snow melt. But we had a great time, especially since it was the last time we really left our property for almost two months!

 

January 2020

January was full of lots of friends and family as everyone stepped up to help us out after my foot surgery. The weather was unseasonably warm for a good part of January, making it blissfully wonderful!

Foot Surgery

The day after Christmas I underwent foot surgery for a nerve issue. It's amazing that the doctor just went in and clipped the offending nerve out and I was good to go! I spent 3 weeks on crutches/knee scooter. Honestly, 2 weeks after my surgery I looked at the 2-inch incision on the bottom of my foot and found it hard to believe I would ever walk on it again. However, 4 weeks post-surgery I was back at the gym teaching my cycling classes and doing just fine! It was much easier to cycle than to walk right at first so that worked out.

Ben and I even managed to go on our monthly Literary Arts date! We scored amazing seats with all the wheelchairs since I had my knee scooter.

I am eternally grateful to my friends who brought us meals and took the kids for playdates while I was off my feet. It's hard to take care of everything when you can't walk or drive for a few weeks! Overall, the recovery was very smooth and it was a good time of year to be laid up. Some of the perks included Ben cleaning up Christmas by himself, hiring cleaners to clean the house for a month, and my generous brother who made it easy to order meals and pay for a bunch of extras while I was recovering.

First Hike

By the middle of January I was so tired of being stuck inside that I practically ran on the trails at Tryon Creek. Just kidding. But we did go for a hike a few days after I got my stitches out and it did hurt, but it was definitely worth it. I am an outside, active person and I go a little crazy when I'm stuck inside for too long. The kids had a great time being outside, too, and since I couldn't go very far, there were no complaints about tired legs.

Kiddos

We had a few snow flurries in January. Nothing stuck, but it was fun to run around and try to catch the snowflakes as they fell.

Clara keeps us laughing with her unique and fun personality. She's willing to do anything for a laugh, in true baby-of-the-family style.

Tommy took third place in our Pinewood Derby this year! Every year they have spent less time on making the car, but he has placed higher. I think there is a correlation.

We had a Nerf Gun fight at the church for one of our homeschool group activities. The kids loved it and I thought it was hilarious that we turned the church into a (safe and appropriate) war zone.

Lily and Tommy had sleep overs with friends on the same night. That left Ben and I with precisely one Clary. We gave her snuggles and played Goose Game. Ben woke up with Clara and took her to McDonald's for breakfast and a little hike up Mount Tabor while I stayed in bed. Heaven!

Lily's Baptism

The highlight of January was definitely Lily's baptism. She was so excited and so radiant on her big day. Grammy and Uncle Wes flew in from Salt Lake to be with us. Uncle Mike flew from San Antonio and Grandma and Grandpa Chatterton drove from Springville to support Lily. Poor Grandma had pneumonia and still made the 13-hour drive to Portland to spend less than 48 hours with our family. That just shows how much she loves Lily!

Everybody gathered at our house on Friday where we ate dinner and visited. Wes tickled the kids and the Chattertons showered them with love and new toys.

On Saturday Lily got dressed in her rose-red dress that she had picked out earlier in the week for the occasion. She did her extra-special makeup and helped Clara get dressed and do her makeup, too. We met everyone at the church and took a million pictures before the service. Uncle Mike baptized Lily while Uncle Wes confirmed her. Tommy and I were the witnesses for her baptism. I felt so happy for Lily. She understood what she was doing and she was just so happy. I felt honored to be the one to help her get dressed and to be there with her that day.

We celebrated by treating everyone to lunch at the Olive Garden. Tommy made waves by ordering and eating (and enjoying) the calamari. The kids were all so well-behaved during lunch. It made me very proud that we are finally at a point that we can go to a nice restaurant and everyone can enjoy the meal and stay in their seats!

Our sharp kids turned heads. They really are amazing.

After all the excitement we crashed back at home to rest. We had another round of visiting, playing, tickling, and eating. Wes, Grandma, and Grandpa left early Sunday morning. Uncle Mike came to church with us and then caught a flight home. Grammy got to spend another week hanging out with us!

Grammy's Visit

It's always such a treat to have Grammy stay with us. We always do some extra special things while she is around.

She treated us to lunch at McDonald's and an afternoon jumping at a trampoline park. It was hilarious watching Clara. She watched the other kids carefully and then tried to mimic what they did. One boy who was probably 15 years old took a big running jump in his basketball game. When it was Clara's turn she took the ball and walked all the way back to where he had been and then she walked all the way back to the basketball hoop and tried to make a basket. The other kids were patient as much as they were puzzled about what she was attempting.

The two older kids have turned into little acrobats. After two hours they were exhausted and ready to head home.

On Thursday the big kids go to Trackers and I get to spend one-on-one time Clara. We call it Mama Baby Date. This week we got a Mama Baby Grammy date! Clara wanted to gather some acorns and chestnuts to see what would float in water. We were blessed with such beautiful weather that we drove up to Mount Tabor and spent a few minutes walking in the sun, collecting items to experiment with. We took Clara to storytime at the library and then came home and rested. Clara showed Grammy how to play Goose Game on the XBox, which was pretty funny.

On Grammy's last full day with us we dragged her to our favorite over-priced arts and crafts shop. All of the kids bought a few projects and then we came home for craft time.

Overall, January turned out to be pretty chill between the recovery from surgery and the visits from family!