Playtime Movies

The boys love to make videos of the playing. Then they figured out how to do slow motion on Eric's phone and just had to try out make some cool videos doing slo mo.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bW35rxgCoktpnujWA

Snow Surprise

The boys had really been hoping to find snow on our trip. But really there wasn't much fresh snow at all. Just mostly icy old stuff or way off in the distance. But after we got home we got a surprise snow. It only lasted a couple hours, but it was enough for them to get out and sled for a bit and throw some snow balls.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/U6MXH9qLSxDieZkeA

Our Kitty Missed Us

Our kitties seemed to have missed us while we were gone. We had been watching them go in and out of the cat door from our phone. So we knew they were fine. And they had plenty of food. But they do tend to miss us when we are gone. Jessie seemed to be happy to snuggle up with her boys to watch some Star Wars.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/HPqxRX1DnyACMVCA6

Trip to Utah

Eric's dad in Utah has not been doing very well lately. He is home from the hospital now so Eric wanted to make a trip out to see him. The boys are on mid winter break and have no school so it is a good time to go. The boys do not remember the last time they had been there. The last time Eric went by himself. So they were not sure what to expect for this trip really. We were hoping we may get to play in the snow a little along the way as there were several mountain passes.

We headed out Saturday morning. I convinced Eric to take his time since the boys were on break and we were not in a hurry. So we stopped for the night in Baker City, Oregon for the night. We had hopped to see some snow and stop along the way at some point on Saturday. But after passing several passes, no snow to stop and play in. I think this was the first night the boys had ever slept in a hotel. And they were sleeping in the same bed. There was a lot of bickering over blankets and space. At one point we caught Tommy T-Boning Jake in his sleep.

We did wake up to snowflakes starting to come down. But Eric wanted to hit the road, so we were soon past them. We made it through Idaho and then to Utah by about 4 PM and then went to go visit his dad. His dad was a bit surprised as Eric only gave him a couple hours notice. But he and Eric's stepmom were glad to see us. We kept our visit short as he is still recovering.

We got a hotel not far from his house. The next morning the boys and I hung out in the hotel room while Eric visited with his dad. We then drove down the road to visit his uncle Darrell and aunt Sandy and have some baked beans lunch. They boys were glad to stretch their legs in the back yard. But were still wishing there was some snow out there. We then stopped by Eric's dad house again to pay a little visit. After our visit we drove up the canyon to see the Devil's Slide but still didn't find any snow. We headed back to the hotel and took the boys to the pool.

The next morning we went to Eric's dad's house to say good bye. And then we spent the rest of the day in the car. I tried to convince Eric to take it easy and stop in Oregon. But he wanted to drive all the way through. So we were in the car for about 14 hours with just very brief bathroom breaks. It was pretty exhausting. We did make it home by a little after midnight. We saw some nice hills and mountains along the way. And lots of windmills. Tommy was also pretty excited that he drove along the Oregon Trail as they are studying it in class. But we never got to play in snow :( But we are glad that we got to pay Eric's dad a visit.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/hbcZH3KzRCaU7ZJz9

Full Moon

We had to run an errand uptown and we were so lucky to get to see this beautiful moon. On the way their we saw it right as it was rising. It was still a little light out to where the moon almost looked like it was the sun. And then we got to see it on the way home too.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DH6m8KVYvH1khcsw6

Best Chicken Wings Ever

Jake's stomach has not been feeling well after having COVID. We were worried he was going to have long COVID. He tested negative on Wednesday, but did not go to school because of his upset stomach and lack of apatite. He stopped having an upset stomach over the weekend, but still did not have much apatite. This morning he woke up feeling hungry and ate a regular breakfast. He tested negative again this morning so he got to go back to school after 6 days out. He was very excited. Especially since it was Valentine's Day. And for dinner he got to have grandpa's left over chicken wings. He said they were the best ever. He gave it a 10 out of 10.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/dxtGtsWVMRv8Ck1NA

Super Bowl Half Time

What a different kind of Super Bowl. We stayed home yet again this year. But the different thing was that we were watching the Olympics up to the start and had it on the tablet while the Super Bowl was happening. Sports extravaganza! One of the highlights was the half time show. Snoop, Dre, Eminem. It was awesome. The boys seemed to enjoy it. We also had some great food. Grandpa made us some chicken wings. Sadly Jake's stomach has not been well for several days. So he did not really eat any of the good food and just had soup and crackers. But it was a fun day.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/XBZJvzUdGRSXmtBv9

Last Wrestling Practice

Today was the last wrestling practice. Kind of sad because Jake missed the second half of the short indoor season due to COVID. And Tommy was just starting to get the hang of some things and it is already over. But they did have a last fun practice.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KwQqzoTCjGPecnAq7

Just Like The Pros

Tommy and I came up with his snowboarding trampoline act while watching the Olympics snowboarding slopestyle. They have now started women's snowboarding halfpipe. They were showing a video of Chloe Kim when she was a kid. And here she was with her snowboard jumping on her trampoline and doing tricks. Tommy thought that was so cool and had to try out her trick too.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/q4jF2NiTjCqASDQaA

Someone Likes Quarantine

Jake has been stuck alone in his room for several days. So Tom has been sleeping on the couch as they sleep in a bunkbed together. Guess who is just loving this. Tommy's snuggle buddy Jessie. She has curling up with him in bed every night.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qEkzh9KJb1wD77r58

Snowboarding

Well the Olympics is back and Tommy is at it again. He saw the snowboarding this morning and he thought the tricks were so cool. I found him trying to make a snowboard out of cardboard, paper and scotch tape. I told him I would help him out. It only took several hours and several rolls of tape. Not to mention several attempts at different types of bindings. But he seemed like a happy kid once we figured it out. He even landed his first 360. Jake tried too, but the goofball picked up ski poles and was going on the the thing sideways. What's next. They going to ask me to build them a bobsled?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/PsjFQ4PCXF416Dsq6

Jake Tested Positive

The school notified us that he was a close contact as early as 1/21/2022. So we began testing. While testing he and Tommy got notified as close contact multiple times. So we kept testing them. Jake had 6 negative tests over 2 weeks. And then this morning he went to test at the school testing site again and it was positive. So he came home. Tommy was still negative. Jake has no symptoms so he is pretty bored. We have him in his room or outside because we are hoping he doesn't give it to the rest of us. I know, wishful thinking. But other than being bored he is all good. Let's hope it stays that way.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rF9DuPjm2VRN355k7