Sarah's Bedroom Finally DONE!

In December we moved Sarah into our office and the playroom became the office.  When quarantine started, I peeled her wallpaper.  Then I told her we'd wait until summer to finish.  It took me all summer, and quite a few mishaps.  But this weekend they had a sleepover with Aunt Maren and I finished it up.

 This blog post from April has the first part of the update:  Sarah's Bedroom Update Post from April 

Here are the finished pics.  She wanted an Astrological Theme.  I got some help from my awesome designer friend Anna to get me over the initial decorator's block I was experiencing.  

The before pics from Friday afternoon:

You may recall that this is the 2nd bed that I bought.  The first bed I tried to match the wood and it was a complete fail--but of course I didn't realize it in time to return it.  Then I called in Anna to help me figure out what to do.  I finally sold the bad bed (as I came to think of it) on Offer Up.  (It was only a $250 loss...sigh.  Never a good way to start a project.)

------AFTER------

New office chair--for her hours at "school."

Behind the chair, I got a custom star chart from the night she was born.  The really gaudy frame (I did look for but didn't find a replacement) says "Never Stop Shining."  Pretty good motto for my Sarah :)

The first time I have actually added wallpaper to my house.  Inside the shelves--the top have a starry night fabric, but the lower shelves are actual wallpaper.  (And that stuff is expensive!)  Derek even helped me hang it! I got all new pulls from Discount Home Furnishings--they were 1/6 of the price of the same ones at HD. 

Close up...

Phases of the moon pics from Etsy.  I had to spray paint the frames to get navy.  Royal pain.  These frames do not want to keep the paint on--even with sanding and liquid sandpaper.  I also spray painted the little side table.  Forgot to get a pic of that.  

I made 3 of the pillows on the bed...(two out of the extra set of curtains to cover the other "window" that was in the room when she first moved in.)

I'm glad to be finally done.  This room took what felt like forever since in the interim I got distracted by so many other projects.  But finishing it means that summer is finally over :(.  

Teacher Workdays--Back to School Remotely

This week I started teacher workdays.  I actually went into school and worked from my classroom for about 2/3 of the time.  It is so strange.  And surreal.  I am always overwhelmed a bit by the teacher workdays.  They pull you up and have you looking at your teaching from this macro level that makes the job seem impossible.  Then the last couple of days you get to zoom into the micro level of lesson planning and thinking about the day to day...that to me seems more doable and fun.  But everything is so different this year.  More overwhelming.  The delivery and content of much of the training has been off the mark for what I feel like I need.  But I muddled through--thanks to an awesome team of teachers.  I don't feel ready--but I don't think I really will for this year.  I thankfully still have 2 full workdays before I start teaching.  But Virtual Meet the Teacher is tomorrow night.  Yikes!

I just want COVID to be over.  I want real life back.  

But my bitmoji is putting on a good game face.  

Libby's Bedroom & Dining Room Updates

Disclaimer: Blogger has done some updates...and for some reason things are looking right.  I'm going to look into it today and try to fix.  Sorry! 

 For my COVID coping strategy, I've chosen home projects.  I've basically been dabbling with something in almost every room in the house.  (We even got a new sink for the laundry room last night.)  So while my hope was/is to create an orderly, functional place where we can all do school here at home, right now it is pretty chaotic.  And spray paint fumes are keeping us all  little cray cray...(that is stuff for Sarah's room--which I'm hoping to finish this next weekend.)  

Anyway, this week Emma and Kaj brought their paint expertise again to help with lightening up the dining room and giving Libby's room a debubblegumming.  (I know that's not a word--but we were going for a less bubble gum pink.)

Current state of the laundry room.  Costco had this amazing sink--faucet included for a really reasonable price.  Our old sink was a disaster.  We bought it online and it looked good, but it was a cheap piece of junk.  Wouldn't stay closed (I had to kick it closed at least once a day--as the spring loaded hinges were terrible), sink permanently stained, felt like it was going to all apart when you turned it on...Derek actually took this project on...he'll finish on Monday after work I guess? 

Here is the bubble gum room, 3 years ago.  Ouch.  It's so so pink. Last summer I added lots of gold accents for Libby's bedroom makeover.  But I didn't have time/energy to repaint.  

Here is the new color.  Hawaiian Shell.  I bought 5 samples before we found the right color.  A nice light pink that was warmer and would still go with the gold accents.  Then I constructed a desk/vanity (it was her greatest desire to have a place to do her makeup--the stand up makeup corner I gave her last year wasn't good enough) out of the shelves in the corner.  

I got Ben all set up for remote learning by borrowing a desk from my classroom, and getting two new shelves that take up less room than his old one and offer more book storage.  He really wanted to move his bed (actually he really wants a new bed, but I'm putting him off until he goes away for his first camp--whenever that might be).  Under the window was too scary for me (I could just see a kid tumbling out).  So we were moving it back against the original wall, with Ben really upset that he didn't get a bedroom change when we paused right here.  YES!  He said.  Right here.  So his bed comes out at a diagonal.  It makes the underneath area feel more accessible--and fort making has abounded.  

Here is the dining room before...It was SO dark.  I liked the wall colors.  But I needed more light. Since this pic, I've added shelves and a new buffet..this week was just paint.  But it feels SO GOOD.  Hello sunshine!    

Oh yeah, and did I mention that I had to fix the dishwasher this week?  But I called our appliance guy and he let me call his parts guy directly.  I installed the new spray arm myself (see the old one duct taped?  It somehow got all chewed up (kids putting plates that were too tall?)

Deception Pass Camping!

 Although Maren has no memory of it, she apparently promised Jed & Rory that she would take them camping this summer.  When she could no longer put them off--we found two back to back days that she could get away from work--and that we could find a campsite (miracle).  We booked!  Then a few days later I found out that I had a math training.  Ugh.  But thanks to the miracle of zoom, I am now making up the training via recorded sessions.  So it actually worked out and we had a lovely overnight at Deception Pass State Park.

The highlight of this trip was definitely the campfire.  (No surprises there). we burned through so much wood.  Thankfully they had a little store right around the corner from our site.  But we should have bought more--because they didn't open early enough in the morning. Maren had to go to a convenience store nearby to satisfy our fire (and the kids') appetite for feeding the fire. 

I am really into the camp stove cooking.  It's fun!  (Makes me want a gas stove at home).

We sang camp songs (introducing Jed & Rory to some classics), ate s'mores, played card games (Cover your Assets, Uno & Monopoly Deal) and put more wood on the fire.

After we cleaned up on Wednesday, we went to the lake right there (Puget sound at your back as you sit at the lake--it's really lovely) and the kids swam and had a blast.  (Libby mostly sat in the car listening to her book.)   

It was a little tight in the site...not quite enough room for all of us around the fire. 

And definitely not enough room for both tents.  Emma's tent only has doors on the sides too--so it was tough getting in and out.  Luckily the littles kids stayed in that tent. 

Libby was into selfies with everyone. 

Ben played "Proud Mary"

Goodnight! 

We (of course) walked across Deception Pass Bridge....that is scary business.  The wind from the vehicles buffeting you as you walk over this small sidewalk WAY up over the water.  Nerve wracking.  Then we took a little "hike" to the summit nearby.  (.4 miles is not a hike--but some kids were complaining nonetheless.)

It really is so lovely! 

We are not afraid of heights...okay maybe a little

We tried to throw rocks into the water...and luckily no kids slid down in.  

Down behind me you can see the beach off the State Park where we camped.  

Masked ninjas at the bathrooms

I am trying to look on the bright side of the COVID restrictions that have taken away so many things--we haven't ever managed 3 camping trips in one summer before.  Thankful for all the outdoor time! 

Independence & North Lakes Hike

 My brother-in-law Brett and my nephew Kaj do a ton of hiking.  I asked if I could tag along.  Then I also pulled Maren into the hike...and my kids.  It was an intense hike.  According to my fitbit we went about 7.5 miles.  And there was a lot of elevation gain.  And it was wet and chilly (lots of foliage brushing you as you went along the narrow trail--so you got really damp--especially Ben).

But we did it!

I learned one really important lesson (or two I guess).  I put the van key into my pants pocket.  It isn't a very deep pocket.  So I kept checking for it along the path.  I stepped off the path to go to the bathroom.  It was more slippery and steep than I expected.  I slipped and fell.  I got up and found a spot to go potty.  When I rejoined the group, I felt prompted to check for the key.  It wasn't there.  Mini panic.  Mental prayers.  I rushed back to check the area where I had gone to the bathroom.  No key.  I realized I should also check where I had fallen.  There--after I moved bushes around, etc...I FOUND IT!  Huge relief.  So thankful that I had been prompted to check right away and I could remember that spot on the trail where I had stepped off.  It looked much like 1000 other places on the trail.  Anyway--I zipped the key into my fanny pack after that.  No insecure pockets for important things like keys!  

All smiles, ready to get hiking (note: the forecast did not call for rain or moisture--but here it was)

We couldn't actually drive to the trailhead--so this extended the hike about 1/2 mile (each way)

Less smiles

Notice Ben's frustrated face?  Definitely bit off a bit more than he wanted to chew.  But he made it!  (I gave him Sarah's sweatshirt and gave Sarah mine for the way down.  That helped.  My hat was a lifesaver--it kept me dry and warm....and so fashionable!)

This is the end of the hike where you are supposed to look down and see a beautiful view of North Lake.  Well--the fog was also lovely! 

We did get to see Independence Lake on the way up (and down) from the North Lake overlook.  It was so cool in the fog & mist. 

Thanks Brett & Kaj! 

Defend NOT Defund

I went to my first rally today.  It felt good to be actually doing something to show my support for police officers and the work they do.  And it felt sad to see people on the opposing side and their anger, yelling, and deep misunderstanding of what police officers do.  There was a lot of community support for police there today.  Many people do understand that to defund would be the wrong choice--especially for the communities that need police protection the most, those in the poorer communities around Seattle.  But the City Council is marching forward with their plans to make some cuts.  At this point Derek's job looks safe.  But we aren't sure that the citizens of Seattle will be with few officers (we are already so understaffed), a command staff now being paid far less than they should be, and moral among officers very low.

Tomorrow is another vote.  I'm hopeful that 160,000 signatures on the stop defunding petition and the rally today will help show the City Council that they should rethink their plans.

YW Camp 2020

When a member of the Stake Presidency wanted to talk to me in January, I felt a strong impression that I needed to say yes, even before he extended a calling to me.  And there have been times in the last 7 months that I sort of wished that I hadn't felt that impression.  Planning for camp during a pandemic has been really hard.  I just wanted to do what most stakes have done--nothing.  Just let it go.  But we felt like our girls still needed something.  And what that would be changed monthly.  As cases were still so high here--it ended up being "camp in a bag."  This delivery of items was linked to online resources and zoom meetings that gave the girls more than enough activities to keep them busy for 3 full days.  Then I knew why it was so important that I accepted my calling.  Even though I had never used google sites before, I had used blogger (ha, of course), and a few other website builders.  I knew how to create a schedule document, upload videos, change video formats, host zooms, create breakout rooms, and all around manage the tech we needed to make camp happen.  It was great to have something positive to focus my energy on.  And all the leaders and YCLs (youth camp leaders) pulled together to contribute to the packet and website.  It turned out so well!  I spent those 4 days doing almost nothing but camp, because I got into the activities with my own girls.  Even though it was sort of hard to get them into all of it--they did have fun.  And so did I.  We encouraged the girls to take videos/pictures of the things that they did and upload them to a google album.   

Libby and Sarah picking up their stuff (Grammy brought them to pick up since Derek was working Mariners). 

Lots of love from YCLS and leaders for the girls. 

Our first service project--making a paper chain for Rachel with inspirational thoughts for her chemo treatments. 

The girls also created and completed an obstacle challenge!  It was hilarious when the garbage truck came just as we were filming the girls going through it.  The truck knocked gently into the finish line sawhorse, bumping off the treasure box. 

Drop Everything and Read and Share

DEARS

I decided to add cooking out and sleeping out to the Girl's Camp agenda.  It was all fun and games until the rain started (seriously--it hasn't rained for weeks.  And it decided to rain us out at about 6 am.)

Ben got to be an honorary camper. 

Tin foil FTW!   Yummy! 

The girls also did a skit via zoom with the ward.  It was a Willy Wonka were the kids end up friends...Libby was unhappy with the story.  But she was satisfied that at least she got to be Charlie.  

We did some crafting.  We didn't quite finish all the crafts, so we can do more crafting over the next few weeks. 

One of my favorite activities was where there were scriptures about nature.  You had to collect the nature and then create art with it--outside.  And then just leave it to return to nature.  (Sarah's I obviously had to move so we could eat...)

Libby's lovely lady, complete with mask. 

2nd night we cooked out again, even though it was still pretty wet.  Hotdogs (and tinfoil dinners for some). 

The big tent still had a lake inside of it.  So we came inside to sleep on the 2nd night.  (We invited the Hardie girls to sleep over too--to make it feel more like YW camp.)

On Friday the challenge was a cooking challenge.  Libby made hers "instagramable." Apparently it was also yummy.  I didn't get to try it. 

Sarah made tomato basil soup....

Ben was helping me put the soup into a leftover bag and we ended up with a soup tragedy. It was not my favorite way to end the week--cleaning up soup from everywhere.  

I hope and pray that by next summer, we can have normal camp again.  But I am thankful for the hard work and inspiration that helped pull this year's camp together.  I had wonderful leaders to work with.  I felt like the girls appreciated the effort.