Coffee With Elly

Spring Break 2020 Readin' Hikin' Chillin' Sewin' Gamin' Bikin' Brother and Sisterin' And even some unexpected playing in the snow on  March 14!

Well, the world went crazy, the coronavirus brought COVID19 to town and we got an extra week of spring break out of the deal. Sadly, part of the bargain was that we couldn't go anywhere and fraternize with friends and family during that time, so we had a lot of time on our hands at home. In an attempt to keep my kids from playing an exorbitant amount of screen time and watching too much TV, we spent some time that first week accomplishing spring cleaning projects around the house: Ezra vacuumed and cleaned out the chandelier and in the process decided to turn the dining room table sideways. We decided to go with it! Here is Judah, cheerfully beating a rug. Excitement! 14 cubic yards of bark dust delivered... Mostly onto the road... Michael, Judah, Ezra and Ethan got right out there and moved it! At least off of the road.  Elena wiping off walls. Monica did her part as well, I just didn't get a photo. The joke is: the house has never been cleaner, but

Phinehas with friend, Owen enjoying a Hoops game at CCC Wow! That was a lot of hail! This is Monica and Phinehas experiencing the thrill. Michael opening gifts. Phinehas and Monica during Michael's gift opening for his 38th birthday. Phinehas with cousins Marcus and Hugh waiting for their Speech Therapy teacher at Candy Lane Elementary. Our for a family walk. The boys with their basketball coach before we knew their season would be cut short (just by one game) due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Judah Ezra Valentine's Day 2020 Ezra and Ethan watching videos - probably basketball videos. Elly with baby nephew Edmond. Elena in the dress Grandma Rachel made for Elly!

And you take pictures! This was at the wedding of Luke and Maria Dahlin, who thoughtfully provided a photo booth for their guests, run by Peter Mahar. A good time was had by all!  Photo booth silliness! My two blondes. I love this photo: Judah all casual and Ezra so serious... Eagerly waiting for the bride and groom to make an appearance! My three boys with their friend John - and Simon (behind John's hair).  

In an odd twist of fate, my parents now go to church with my Matron of Honor from our wedding 18 years ago! So when Mom's church had their annual women's retreat in Spokane, and somebody invited me to come, it was a perfect opportunity to kill two or three birds with one stone. For the small price of a 12 hour drive (round trip) to Spokane I got to see many old faces from my teens (now *much* older), my dear friend, Mystie, my mom, and my sister, Katy, (who lives in Spokane) all in one weekend! Extra bonus: Mom and I got to go wedding dress shopping with my little sister, who is getting married in May 2020! The Bozarth Mansion where the retreat was held - gracious old place! Wedding dress shopping - she didn't end up with this one, even though it was gorgeous, so it's not a spoiler! The dorms where most of the women stayed! Getting cozy for one of the sessions! 

Of all of our children, Monica is the one who loves swimming the most! She enjoyed her swimming lessons, though she had a bad experience in the summer with a teacher who rather rudely told her she should be two levels below where she was, which kind of crushed her enthusiasm for a little while. However, she does love to be in the water, so I signed her up for swimming lessons in the fall in Canby and she thoroughly enjoyed them! Unfortunately, she is quite nearsighted so at one point she didn't even realize that she had a substitute teacher one day! I finally ordered her prescription goggles - thrilling!  Monica in SunRiver, OR, in August, 2019 Since Monica has difficult feet - high arches, pronated, planter fasciitis - swimming might be her best option for life-long exercise. *sigh* Not the easiest one to do from home! (though Monica would be entirely pleased if we dug up our backyard and put in a pool!!)