First Days of School

This week on the shed, we finished insulating the gables and filling in all the cracks with caulk and/or Great Stuff. I also cleaned everything up today and organized the tools - again. Our next step is to measure for insulation batts and get those in before Dad arrives on Labor Day. He had so much fun, he wanted to come and do drywall for us while he drops off Lars at college. I'm not complaining.

I took the kids to meet their teachers on Monday. Thankfully, I was able to get a babysitter! School officially started on Tuesday, and I think it's been a bit overwhelming for everyone. They are required to wear masks, which can get uncomfortable, but I think they are adjusting. It's been hard to get up early again. I haven't had to worry about it for 5 months.

I'm starting to get into a routine again. I've missed cuddling up and reading to just the 2 little ones. I've also started playing the piano again and will resume Kenny's lessons. I picked green beans at Sis. Smith's house the other day, so I'm going to learn to use my new pressure canner that I'll hopefully get today. I also have yard work to do through October. Basically, I have enough things to keep me busy - for now. I enjoy having a big project (like the shed) that I can split into a bunch of small things. The little kids will survive about an hour of me working outside before they get bored or try to run off.

I still wish that the pandemic would end. It makes me feel a little on edge. I don't even know what "normal" feels like anymore. I don't feel like I can operate at 100% until things are more certain. I really hope that's soon.

Phenixes Visit, Heads Visit

 We had a really busy week, but it was great. James and Dad got the shed completely wired. It has a fan/ light with separate switches for each, several outlets, and a separate window and outlet (with its own circuit) for an air conditioner or heater. They also squared and leveled it on blocks. Nash and Ricky helped with insulating the floor, which was done with strips of wood and foam board in a grid pattern. I think Dad and James put in at least 50 hours!

My main contribution was cleaning up all the tools, trash, sawdust, and foam pieces. I also filled in the trench when the electrical was done and made the rocks look relatively nice again. I even organized all the tools and leftover parts. It was a ton of work, but worth it.

Mom baked us lots of goodies: bread, cookies, cinnamon rolls. I cooked keto for my parents while still including carbs for everyone else. We watched a cute show together in the afternoon called "Austentatious" and kept everything clean and "together" while the men were working outside. Sunday was especially nice since we'd all been working so hard.

We got James's car back from the shop on Friday! It was really expensive, but it finally runs again.

Everyone left on Wednesday. Dad, Nash, and Ricky drove, though not together. I dropped off Mom at the Vernal airport, and she flew home with Dad from Denver. They made it safely late last night. Nash and Ricky should make it back on Friday. I don't know if I mentioned that Ricky officially got a job in Sanford (30 mins. from Apex), so he and Mara are officially going to live in NC now. I'm so sad about that.

The Heads arrived at 5:45 last night, so we ate dinner and then played some games. Today is Melodie's birthday, so we're planning on going to Steinaker reservoir to hang out with the kids. I'll make Thai yellow curry for dinner and fudge sauce to put on the ice cream roll cake that I made yesterday. It should be a pretty good day.

James worked yesterday and has his first official day tomorrow. I'm definitely not ready. We'll have to work on the shed on weekends only now (probably), and that's kind of a bummer since it's going to seem to take forever from here on out. Next up, we'll finish insulating the entryway and gables, plus filling in any more cracks we can find with caulk and Great Stuff. I can't wait for the final product, but I think it will take till October to get there, and that's okay.

Shed, Car Repairs, Phenixes Visit

 It's been quite the week. On his way back from Rexburg last Friday, James found a shed! It was on the side of the road, so he stopped and got the information so he could call the guy. We worked all day Monday clearing and leveling the ground and putting down blocks to set it on. Unfortunately, the process of setting the shed down wasn't as precise as we thought, so we'll need to straighten it out a little and level it. Thankfully, that can be done with some boards and a jack. I think it's going to be an all-day process, though. It's a really nice-looking shed - like a little cabin, and the outside is already stained. Yay! We're hoping to finish the inside by October-ish when it starts snowing.

To make a long story short, both of our cars ended up in the shop yesterday, though it was only maintenance for the Yukon. James ended up having to walk to the dentist and back to the shop. It was 95 degrees outside, so it was an unpleasant day. It also meant we didn't get anything done on the shed. My parents and Nash arrived around 7, so they ate dinner and hung out with us for a few hours. Nash leaves for Provo and I'll pick up Mom and Dad after I do my grocery pickup today.

The stress of preparing for and getting the shed, plus having no cars for a day, has really messed up my sleep this week. I hope I can start feeling better. That, or I'll just be prepared for when school starts. I don't want to be awake this early!

Summerween, A Week Without James, School Decisions

We decided to celebrate Summerween (like in the show Gravity Falls), so the kids dressed up, we catapulted candy, and the boys carved a jack-o-melon. It was silly, but fun.

I went to church on Sunday, and it was great. I think there were only 35 people this time, so I was at least 10 feet away from everyone else. I got to talk to a few people afterward that I hadn't seen in a while. James and Joseph left right after to go to Rexburg. James wanted to help his brother Sam on his new house, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity before our visitors come and we start school. Speaking of which, I made my fast on Sunday about whether they should go back or not. I feel good about sending them, so I've registered them and purchased school supplies. I'll need to figure out the "meet the teacher" part since it's during the day, James will be at work, and I can't take the little kids.

It's been a tough week without James. I have accomplished some good things, like reading 2 books, spraying all the weeds, baking cookies for neighbors, and keeping all the children alive. I don't have James's magic touch, so Lewis refuses to nap and then falls asleep much too late in a random place: on the floor, sitting at the computer, while reading a book. It's really frustrating. I was hoping to meet up with a friend to go walking, but she never texted me back even though she invited me in the first place. I was really upset at first and took it personally, but I'm sure she's just busy. Really, if I look at all the friendships I've ever had, they have all let me down at some point. I can forgive a certain number of times, but there is eventually a point where the relationship fades away. Social media is no help this year. I hate almost everyone.

I can't wait for James and Joseph to get home tomorrow. I think we will still be alive by then.