A fresh snow

We enjoyed the weekend like this.....

People were good at keeping a 6 foot distance from each other at

Stage Fort Park in Gloucester, MA

And then, I went shopping yesterday (after holding off for 10 days)

When I came back, the world looked like this......

So, we are in a winter wonderland suddenly again

Reading the news today feels like this......

And in case you are interested, a mattress and other junk that has been decaying in the woods for about 40ish years, looks something like this.......

I just skimmed the surface of the mound of rusty metal and trash hiding in a certain corner of our lot.  Some dummy used this particular little hill to dump junk long long ago.  In 2 months it will be so covered with plants, it will be inaccessible, so I made a start at clearing it out yesterday before the snow fell.

If I fill about 5-6 of these, I think it will be just about gone.

COVID-19

Nearly bare shelves on March 13th at Walmart in Salem, NH

 For posterity's sake, we'll do an update on the COVID-19

Since January, we have been aware that Coronavirus is spreading from China to different parts of the world.  Although this was concerning, and reports were that it could become serious, I don't think anyone really anticipated how very much it would affect everyone's daily life, not only China, but throughout the whole world.

Milk was gonzo

As the virus started to spread, cities starting requesting that schools and unnecessary businesses and gathering be closed.  On March 11th, things really kicked into gear.  Most who could started working from home, church meetings and activities were promptly cancelled worldwide.  Two days later, UMass Lowell and the kid's schools announced their closures.   

Mom and Dad Parker knew it was time to bail on their travel plans and get home to safety.  On March 14th, they turned around in Texas, where they were en route to New Hampshire, and headed back to St. George, where they are safe and sound.

This week, starting March 16th, school has been closed in New Hampshire and about 36 other states.  I've never heard of anything quite like this. 

"Social distancing" includes not having any playdates, not going to any restaurants, gyms, gatherings, or anywhere you might have contact with others.  

The only reason to be out and about is for shopping, playing in ones own yard, and nature walks.

We get daily reports of this virus continuing to balloon, and the stock market plunging.  We are keeping updated on the race for a vaccine and other medicines that might be used, the economic supports the government is trying to quickly offer....it's pretty crazy.

The kids have been doing their schoolwork at home, and we were amazed 

that the teachers have been able to put together such specific learning in just 2 days time.

  

The boys get an email each morning with their work for the day to do on their Chrome Books and online.

Cora got a huge Kindergarten packet with worksheets to complete and online learning and also gets a morning email with the list of homework to do, which is so extensive that we haven't completed the whole list yet in these first 2 days.

Aaron's monster smoothie moustache

The first two days with no school work were just fun hanging out at home and playing outside.

"Welcome to Cora's House"  Parking lot in the background

Shamrock Hunt

Now that home-school is "in" we are so busy!

We are eating lots of healthy homemade food, and in some ways it's nice not to be running around town to different activities all the time.  It's a definite change of schedule.  The one bonus, I would say is getting to sleep in the mornings.  Otherwise, we are just trying to do school, clean, cook, get some exercise, and keep everyone happy.   And that is a busy schedule in and of itself. :)

In addition to the social distancing, church closure, school closures, Scott working from home....we have been battling a problem with our plumbing. :(   We have a airleak somewhere that is causing horrible odor in the basement when we run laundry & other water too much, and have been trying to find a solution.  Now that we are all home ALL DAY, we had a plumber and septic company over, and were on the phone for about an hour today with a leach field specialist.  

We still don't know what the cause is, but are hunting down the issue.  Please pray for us to remedy this!  It's a huge pain in the neck. 

We were amazed to hear of the 5.7 earthquake and many aftershocks that happened this week in Utah!  Such an added stress for our dear family and friends there at this already anxious time.

From our bunker to yours, we wish you a safe and healthy quarantine time everyone!

Love, KT and Scott

PS - before the quarantines, we had a great time getting in one more ski day at Ragged Mountain.  Here was Saturday the 14th:

Covered Bridge #15

New use for our van

So we have this "pokey bush" right next to the basketball hoop that Aaron absolutely hates, so he finally convinced KT to get it out (I liked it because it protected our well).  When I came home, she said "Let's pull this thing out with the car."  I hadn't really done this before, so I thought of things like "what if the roots damage the well (which is right next to the bush) and what if the rope slips off and sends a metal hook hurtling towards our back window?  The amount of stored energy in a strap that is pulling a stubborn bush can be pretty high.  But we threw caution to the wind and gave it a shot.

All hooked up: I put both ends of the strap to the car with one wrap-around so that it would tighten on the bush as it was pulled to prevent slippage:

...a little tire spinning later, and viola!

Then a little chopy-chop with the chainsaw and we tossed the whole thing into the woods: no more pokey-bush!

The inside of the bush was amazingly bright yellow!

SOUTHERN UTAH TRIP

Coronavirus Scare?  Cheap airline tickets?  I'll take advantage of that!

= Spontaneous February break trip with me and the 4 kids.

Poor Scott was stuck on Jury Duty and normal teaching/research obligations, but it gave him a little time of peace and quiet anyway.

Spirit Air - bare bones flight, but non-stop!

Mom & Dad Parker generously pick us up!! 

We enjoyed looking at their photo albums and being in their beautiful home

This one of Aaron age 4 makes me laugh so hard!

"recreate the face, Aaron!"

These kids have grown up so quickly!

After church at Mom & Dad's congregation,

(Mom is a master Primary teacher, by the way!)

we visited Brigham Youngs Winter Home

Brigham Young and his Counselors

The piano made to fit perfectly into a wagon

Brigham's private room

The "Mormon sofa" with a pull out bed underneath

Timmy and Aaron on the benches that were originally in the St. George Temple

St. George Temple Visitor's Center

Day 2, we hiked the Toe Trail

 Cheer up Cora, Ollie!

Grandpa and Grandma led us up a canyon that had an amazing echo!

Beautiful views and so nice and warm

 Playing at Grandma and Grandpa's is so fun!

 Getting out the old U of U kite!

 Macha, Papa and Nancy came to visit

Macha brought fun rocks that you wash and discover hidden gems & beautiful colored rocks

Wow!  So cool!

We hiked the (Lava Rock) Temple Quarry Trail

Apparently, there is a Sandstone Temple Quarry Trail too!

Painting rocks with Grandpa and Grandma

Day 3, we visited Thunder Junction

Of course, Ollie was in love with the train!

That night we met up with Macha, Nancy and Melissa to hike the Red Cliffs

It was such a beautiful hike with cool steps etched into the rock that you can hike up into the slot canyon with.  There are also petroglyphs on the way!

Day 5 we hit the St. George Children's Museum and Snow Canyon

A Crane!

Flying an airplane

 A show starring the Stapletons!

Shopping with Aunt Melissa

Playing with dinosaurs

Playing in the Castle Room

Snow Canyon has so many beautiful hikes!

We chose Jenny's Canyon and the Pioneer Names, and then White Rocks & Amphitheater

 Jenny's Canyon

 Near the Pioneer Names

Any ancestors belong to you?

Aunt Melissa is so much fun! 

Aaron's getting up there!

 Hanging with Macha

The white rocks trail had Lava Tube Caves at the beginning

We explored the entrances to a few

We had so much fun, we made a big list of all the fun things we did. :)

Aaron was master of the universe for winning Ye Old Skull King

Pickleball Tournament with Melissa's friends

Got to see the Murphys, who I hadn't seen since childhood.

This park had about 32 Pickleball courts!  Taking 4 there was no problem.

The kids and I played at the incredible park and then joined Macha for dinner before our flight 

  At Aaron's insistent request, we dined at The Pizza Pie Cafe, and it was very delicious!

Perhaps a little too delicious?   The boys ate until they could nary eat a bite more.

On the flight home, Aaron revisited his meal at 2 am.  

Grandpa Kent has now renamed their local restaurant "The Pizza Pie Barf-ay" in Aaron's honor :)