January 2021

 

It's a new month in a new year. People were hoping that 2020 was going to be all hindsight, and that things would improve with a new president and a Covid vaccine on the horizon. January had its moments though! An almost insurrection at the capital, Bernie Memes, and amateur investors buying GameShare stock overtook the internet this month! Closer to home ...

• Virtual Reality: The Occulus (Christmas gift from GraysonSanta) has been a hit. The boys look pretty funny when they have the headset on and are flailing around. Keaton has added after-market accessories and "moded" it so that they can get a lot more songs for the "Beat Saber" game. There's also an "acorn" game that multiple people can play on their phones while one (the tree) wears the device.
• Getaways: Gray got away twice ... once to Bear Lake (checking out a friend's cabin) and to visit family in Seattle. Cal and Kate hit sunny St. George. Landon and Sol left for a vacation in Mexico (more on that next month I'm sure). 
• Eye Issues: Jen has been struggling (almost a year now, coming and going) with the skin around her eyes. It was especially bad this month. Maybe an allergy to eyeliner? She has been going without makeup, which is easier with Covid limiting social stuff, but ... forever? Also ... sitting in the stands watching basketball games, Jen has realized that she can no longer see clearly. Everyone is blurry! She's outlasted all the Westra Siblings when it comes to getting glasses. Did you know Gray has glasses (he only needs them for viewing distance also, but he does wear them for watching TV). 
• Basketball: Jen has been getting out to basketball games, only missing one night so far (in Farmington, Gray hit that one, just five minutes away from his work). Colton has been getting a lot of playing time in the sophomore and JV games, and has played some varsity (he even started one game!) Most of the games are streamed, and Jen is recording and making highlight reels. Jen even stopped by Cal and Kate's house on the way home from a game (it was on the way!)
• Fitbits: One reason Jen stopped by Cal and Kate's, was Cal had texted saying his Fitbit strap had broken. Of course, Jen had extras, so, she wanted him to be back in business, as he's the only one still wearing a Fitbit (even Dad/Grandpa switched to an Apple Watch!). BUT ... Cooper asked for his and has been wearing it again! He's been hitting the treadmill, and he and Jen play ping pong almost every day. Cooper said "I've noticed on the days we don't play ping pong, it's detrimental to my step count!" *Ü*
• Kitty: Our Joy goes into heat here and there ... she's normally uber ornery, and only Cooper and Keaton can touch her. When she's in heat though, she wants love from everyone, ALL the time! She's very vocal too, meowing and moaning, sometimes all night. It's adorably irritating. It seems like she's been in heat this entire month! 
• Cars: The Durango had a tire losing air (slow leak) so into the shop for a repair. Of course then it was recommended that new tires be purchased, and it wasn't just a sales-push, they did need it. Now there are new tires on the car. Colton also practiced his driving and has been taking practice tests for whenever Jen gets around to scheduling an appointment at the DMV. Maybe Cooper will try for a permit too?
• Work: Gray's work continues to be busy. He got a salary bump this month. Landon has moved to a salaried position. Cal and Keaton continue all electrical. Coop had just been a sub at his cleaning job (guaranteed one day, and he almost always picked up more shifts). He is now officially on the job Mon-Fri. 
• School: Colton's semester ended and with some class changes, he now only has three in-person classes (moved one more online, just scheduling issues). So his pickup is earlier each day now. Coop has started some new classes this semester too. The all-online schooling is going good.
• TV Troubles: Our TV had been getting darker and darker, until one morning, it was SO dark it was almost impossible to tell if it was on or off. At about two years old, we had a couple warranty options (we had bought a SquareTrade warranty, bought it from Costco Concierge ... but when reaching out directly to TCL, they are covering it ... repair didn't work so a new TV is being sent out). 
• Food: Gray has been making fried rice fairly often,  and made shrimp one night too. He even tossed it to Coop and Colton just like at Tepanyaki! He smoked a bunch of meat for french dip sandwiches and made Philly Cheesesteaks. Fancy hot dogs with all the fixings. Gray's (well, Pioneer Woman's) tatertot casserole has been a hit, so Jen has now made it too. Made Ziti (one gluten-free for Grandpa) and lasagna. Homemade Oreos, and Wacky Cake (that was actually part of a school project for Cooper ... it's also called "Depression Cake" as it was made during that time when supplies were scarce, as it has no milk or eggs in it). It was also National Chocolate Cake Day ... really! We started off the New Year with the famous Blackham Pastry Wreath, Clayton continuing Pammy's tradition that goes back years and years.

Covid 2020

  Oh, the memes!

I titled this post "Covid 2020" ... although of course it's actually Covid-19, as the first cases were documented there at the end of 2019. But it was 2020 when most people realized that this coronavirus was going to impact everyone and everything. 

It was just a little ironic ...

As the year started, "Coronavirus" and "Covid-19" was something many people had heard of, but it was something that was a world away. It got closer. It was January when the news announced that the first case was here in the states. In March, there was a case in Utah. Still, it didn't seem real. 

It was March 11 when Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive, and the NBA shut down. (All other sports would follow suit. There was no "March Madness" and the NFL draft was done virtually, no school or community competitions allowed. The 2020 Olympics were postponed). In the following days, everything changed. Schools attempted to move to online learning, churches and temples shut their doors, missionaries came home and countries closed their borders. Employers transitioned to "work at home" for all who could. For a time, playgrounds were taped off. Funerals and weddings could only allow limited attendance. No big graduation ceremony for college/high school seniors. Drive-by parades became the only sort of celebration.

Restaurants were open only for take-out (this was encouraged, to help keep the economy going). Movie theaters, gyms, libraries, salons ... all closed. Disneyland closed and the Las Vegas strip shut down. Only "essential" businesses are allowed to remain open, and most would offer "contactless" shopping (order online and pickup). "Essential Worker" was a new buzzword, as was "social distancing".  Other phrases: out of an abundance of caution, super-spreader, uncertain times, flatten the curve, contact tracing, bubble, quaran-team, remote learning, new normal, "blursday" (as time lost its meaning), Zoom and P.P.E (personal protective equipment).

Stores and supplies were hit hard. There were shortages of sanitizer, disinfectant ... toilet paper. Many food items would be very hit and miss, and there were limits placed on most items. Pasta, yeast, flour, sugar, milk, bread. You never knew if you'd be able to get what you wanted/needed. Stores that had previously been open 24-hours now closed for cleaning, rest and restocking. For a time, the number of customers was capped. There were lines outside Costo. There were arrows indicating one-way aisles. Soon masks were mandatory, and there were plexi-glass dividers between workers and customers. Home delivery became very popular! There were other shortages ... bikes, trampolines, game systems, home gym equipment. Almost everything was affected, timelines for manufacturing and shipping were much slower. There was an aluminum shortage that affected cans of soda. Even money ... a coin shortage!

Masks, gloves, face shields, respirators ... there wasn't enough to go around. There was a lot of back and forth about masks. First saying that PPE should be preserved for the medical community, that they weren't really effective for the general public. Many doctors/dentists shut down ("telemed" appointments were encouraged) for all but emergency services, as much to control materials as contact.  People started sewing handmade cloth masks, but there were then shortages of elastic and fabric and it was still questioned if they provided protection. The thought was that wearing a mask may not protect the wearer as much as those around them. "I wear my mask for you, you wear your mask for me."  A few months in, and masks were mandatory and were being sold everywhere. Reusable (washable) fabric masks and disposable - the more protective N95 masks continued to be in short supply. SO much contention and politicizing of masks and procedures.

As things escalated in March, the Governor of Utah issued a "Stay safe, stay at home" directive for two weeks. Only essential movement outside of the home. This was an attempt to "flatten the curve", knowing that there still would be spread, but trying to control/slow it so that the hospitals would not become overwhelmed. Some obeyed, some pushed back. 

Restaurants, gyms and salons opened up again, with restrictions and safety protocols in place. Many people went back to work, but "work at home" will likely never be as limited, often still an option. Some businesses did not survive the shutdown, and unemployment/layoffs were issues for many. A stimulus package put money into most American's bank accounts ($1200). The NBA finally finished the season, with the players staying in a "bubble" with no contact with the world outside. School started up again in August. The Salt Lake School District was only online, but all the other school districts offered options for online or in-person learning. The kids had to wear masks. There were many quarantines and school shut-downs as positive cases were tracked. 

In the Spring, everyone watched as the numbers of cases increased ... in Utah, cases topped 100, then 200. Then there were 500 cases in a day. At first, testing was limited. Specific criteria had to be met; certain symptoms, travel from certain locations or contact with a positive person. Still there were long lines for an uncomfortable test (nasal swab). Soon there were options for a saliva test. Tests were required for travel and before medical procedures. As school started, there was required testing (every two weeks) for college students and student-athletes. Now, the norm for daily positive cases was in the thousands (2000-5000), with a number of covid-related deaths reported daily as well. Controversy and conspiracy theories were everywhere (the "plandemic", it's all a ruse, EVERY death is counted as Covid, people are testing positive who didn't take the test, it's all so the government can take away all our freedoms, the virus was made in a lab and released, everything should open/herd immunity, masks are dangerous or just don't work, this medication or that could be a cure, it's just the flu, etc, etc.) There was some good too though, as people attempted to work together, and there were many stories of environmental recovery. 

As time went on, most hospitals were at capacity and doctors and nurses were exhausted. Some states had crises earlier on (New York was hit hard in April/May) and every state was attempting control in their own way (as were countries around the world). The Governor of Utah set a second two-week shutdown mid-November. People were encouraged not to gather with family for Thanksgiving or Christmas.  As the year ended, a few companies had come out with vaccines, which were starting to be distributed (more controversy), but no one really knows how effective they will be, or if people will even remain immune after recovering from the virus. But there is a feeling of hope ...

Some days, life still felt normal (especially for introverts) ... 

Other days you'd open your eyes and see how odd it all was!

Check out this TIMELINE.

In the Blackham home ... there were no Covid-cases in 2020, although it did hit the extended family. I was a little surprised, as we weren't super careful, still out and about for the most part. Grayson, Landon and Callahan kept working. Keaton's job (Nike) closed, so he immediately went to work with Callahan/Camsen again. Sol (ortho unit at the U) kept working, but all the libraries closed, so Kate was unemployed. Colton is ever adaptable, and handled the school/sport/social shut down better than I'd expected. Things didn't really change for Coop much, as he was already online and didn't go out much. He would miss movies with Landon and Sol. Jen's Zumba was affected, stopping as the churches closed ... then she started teaching a couple outdoor classes a week once the weather warmed up. There was one church building that allowed their small Zumba class to continue when Fall rolled around. Colton ended up quarantined once, and Gray self-quarantined a couple times, getting a test done twice. Sol and Kate got tested - but no one else really had close enough contact or any symptoms. Cal and Kate had a Covid wedding, with reduced attendance. When school started up, Cooper was online again (and would have been regardless) but Colton went hybrid (four classes in person, three online) although that was more because of basketball than Covid concerns. Life went on ...

... and did I mention the memes?

See my Meme Album here.

Almost 400+ playful peeks at the pandemic.

#jenBsbooks 2020

 

I think everyone will say that 2020 was an unexpected and odd year. Definitely not normal! When Covid started to shut down everything, I wasn't sure how that would impact my reading. I was already a digital girl, so the libraries closing their doors didn't impact me as much as those who still checked out books physically. On one hand, I had MORE time to read, but on the other hand, I wasn't doing many of the things (driving, games, practices, shopping) that were my multi-tasking/audiobook times. Overall, I think it was a wash, and while I didn't get in quite as many books as last year, I still got a lot.

 

I would create a monthly recap - a picture collage with the covers, and stats (see them below) ... if I read the Kindle copy or listened to the audiobook (if it was KindleUnlimited, I had both options and would often switch between the two, although marking those as "audio" still). Where I got the book ... from the library, from KU, if it was a copy given to me for review. I bought a few (a very few!) With SO many books out there, I haven't been much of a re-reader these last years. I switched that up this year, and started listening to some old favorites I'd read previously. I also decided not to feel bad about not finishing a book if I wasn't enjoying it.

I track these things on different GoodReads shelves, as well as the categorizing the book by type (fantasy, dystopian, historical, etc). I LOVE GoodReads. It helps keep me organized, and I am a numbers nerd. I did a #jenBsbooks2020 post for my personal blog and you can check out the GoodReads recap HERE.

Bring on the books for 2021! But here's a scroll through last year ...

Blackham 2020 Recap

Hindsight is 2020 ... and looking back on the year, 2020 will be remembered most for Covid-19. That virus made such an impact, that it gets it's own post here on the blog (Covid 2020). It topped the news, even over an earthquake, hurricane-force winds and an insane election year. Here's a peek closer to home, at what was going on with the Blackham Bunch.

• Landon and Sol started off the year buying a new home! The papers were signed in January and they moved in February. Landon continued working at LKL, but was promoted and got use of a work truck (which is very helpful in their one-car situation). Sol continued working in the ortho unit at the hospital, and became a plant momma (in addition to their two dogs/two cats and some fosters).
• Cal and Kate had a big year. It started off on the wrong foot, literally. Cal stepped off a ladder at work and broke his foot. Again. Back to crutches and a boot. Cal moved forward at Camsen Electric, becoming a team leader (with a company van) and passed his residential journeyman exam. We had a WEDDING. He and Kate bought a house and got married in June.
• Keaton's Spring school and work had Covid complications. His college courses moved online, and Nike stores shut down. Cal said they could use him at Camsen, so Keaton immediately went to work full-time and ended up staying there, quitting Nike when the store eventually opened back up. Keaton was made a team leader and given a work van too. He bought his first car, bought a "purple" bed and bought LOTS of shoes!
• Cooper was already in online school, so the pandemic changes didn't affect him much. He avoided haircuts for a while, getting shaggier than any Blackham boy has ever been, before letting Keaton give him a buzz. He started wearing a cap constantly after that (not because of that, he just got the cap shortly afterward). Coop reconnected with some friends over the summer, and got his first job (school sweeper). He loves watching Ludwig on Twitch. Ping pong made a comeback at the end of the year, and he participated in the fantasy football league with Uncle Kolby again ... and WON again! $600!
• Colton still got in a bit of basketball despite some Covid cancelations. He finished up his season with the West Jordan 8th grade team, and played with his Wolves quite a bit, including a travel tournament in Idaho. In the fall he made the high school basketball team. With the rest of Utah, he finished his school year online. For 9th-grade, he got on a hybrid schedule, four in-person classes and three online classes (although this was more for basketball scheduling than Covid concerns). At Joel P Middle, with basketball class at the high school on A days.
• Grayson has been busier than ever at work - crazy busy, but there was financial compensation for all his extra hours. He still found some time for his getaways (Seattle, California, Moab, St. George, Bear Lake) and trips to Pineview with the wave runners. He said goodbye to the Sequoya and bought a big black truck. A new grill was added to the garage kitchen, and Tepanyaki style rice was added to the recipe repertoire. 
• Jen is still Zumba-ing (although it has been a lot less with Covid cancelations) and working out at home. After hitting a new high with weight, she had some small success on the scale in the last quarter of the year. She feels a little like she's in high school again, as she helps keep Coop on track with his studies. Lots of books and blogging (added Westra blogs) ... delving into some family history as well. No duck duty this year, but still grew a garden and spent some time on home renovation prep. 

Gadgets - Added the Occulus at the end of the year. It's another VR set, and the kids have been enjoying it. Coop had really got into Ring Fit on the Switch in January ... but it only lasted one month. Gray switched back to an iphone, and Keaton and Jen got new phones too (with Colton getting Keaton's old 11). Keaton lost his Fitbit, Colton/Cooper didn't wear theirs much. Only Cal was still competing with Mom. Jen added an Oura ring (after the Motiv died) and Amazon Halo devices ... can you have too many trackers?

Getaways - Gray likes to get away, and he did almost every month. A trip to Seattle in January. St. George in February, California with work buddies in March (right before Covid really hit). St. George again in May/September and December. Moab in June, August and September (Keaton went with him that trip). At least seven waverunning getaways (mostly Pineview) and then Bear Lake.

Group Gatherings - We had New Year's pastry wreath with the Blackhams. K&J came into town for the wedding, so there was another Blackham Bash in June. Father's Day with the Westras. Sam's baptism, Thanksgiving and Christmas with the Blackham side, but Covid canceled a planned Westra reunion in the summer and the annual Christmas Eve party. 

Home Sweet Home - As Cal moved out, water damage in the wall of his room was uncovered. That lead to a bunch of renovations. Drywall the damage, then paint. We went ahead and painted the whole basement, and then decided to do the upstairs too. New carpet in the basement. New lights and outlets (we have two electricians in the family after all). Lots of purging and donating and organizing (Jen got rid of all her scrapbook stuff). New beds for all the boys (that actually happened early on) room rearranging (Keaton downstairs in Cal's old room, Keaton's room now a computer room for the boys).  New washer/dryer, and downstairs fridge. Dishwasher repaired. The elliptical broke, and we looked into a new one, but decided on a repair for the Nautilus. LOTS of work on Maga's house too, then it was sold (Ana's family moved to a townhouse nearby, and Olivia to a condo in Daybreak) and the estate divided and distributed. 

Dogs Next Door - Cooper helped out the neighbors a few times, taking care of their dog when they would have a weekend out of down. Another neighbor hired him for some doggie daycare as well. Both dogs were named Remi! Next door Remi had puppies, and it was a puppy summer as we'd go over to play with them and watch how quickly they grew!

Cars - Keaton was without transport since the truck accident at the end of 2019. The repair ended up turning into "totaled" and now Keaton needed a car. We borrowed Grandpa's little blue truck for a bit ... Keaton learned how to drive a stick shift. He finally found a car he liked, but it couldn't be easy! It was a complicated purchase, then Covid shut everything down and the registration dragged on, the title never came in ... finally it was DONE but it was May before he was legal and registered. The driveway was full with Cal's van and charger, Gray's vehicle and trailer, and Keaton's car. Then Cal married, taking two vehicles ... which left the trailer open - and it was stolen. Gray switched out the Sequoia for a new Ford F-150, and then Keaton came home with a Camsen van. Cal had gotten into a car accident earlier in the year (similar to Keaton's last year, someone turning left in front of him) but was in the work van, not his car. Cooper has still shown no interest in driving. Colton turned 15 at the end of the year, so we'll be looking to getting his learner's permit.

WaveRunners - Lots of summer fun at Pineview. Trips with Kate's family and Sol's family and going with Symphony work friends. Dragged the machines to Bear Lake for a final weekend of fun ... and they wouldn't start! Jen and Coop didn't make it to the lake this year.

Derby Days - Gray got in a couple of derbies in January, and had a few scheduled for the year, although nothing like normal (before the whole church/scout breakup). But then ... Covid pretty much canceled everything. All the church buildings were closed, and scout/church/group gatherings were not happening. Gray rented a bigger storage unit and that's where the derby stuff is for now.

Entertainment - Jen hadn't been out to the movies in years ... but ironically hit TWO movies in January. The boys probably would have watched quite a few, but Covid shut everything down. The theaters AND Hollywood. The boys still made it to a few movies here and there. Gray even rented out a theater for work parties a couple times during the year. Gray and Jen went to Hale with Scott's crew.  We got Disney+ streaming (first season of "The Mandelorian" early in 2020, second season at the end, "Hamilton" in the middle and Jen got caught up on Marvel movies). While there are now dozens of separate streaming services, Netflix and Amazon provide plenty (with some favorites recorded to keep). 

Games - Lots of games going on! Bought a new card table, and then a new eight-sided table at the end of the year. Jackbox is still good for group fun. New game additions were Exploding Kittens, Poetry for Neandrathols, You've Got Crabs, ThrowThrowBurrito and Secret Hitler. Old favorites still enjoyed are Monopoly, Sorry, Ticket to Ride, CTM, The Great Dalmuti, Pirate, Racko and Sharp Shooters. Pokemon made a comeback with the kids, played on the old gameboys. Ping pong was popular again, especially with Cooper and Mom. Colton had basketball games year-round, even with Covid going on. Keaton and Callahan had groups that they would get together with ... but Covid (and the church buildings) did shut those pick-up games down. 

Food - Eating out was down with Covid concerns - we still had several family trips to Tepanyaki, although with Gray's addition of the garage grill and his own fried rice, who knows if that will continue to be as popular as we get so spoiled. There was still quite a bit of take-out ... Chick-fil-a, Popeyes and Little Caesars (pizza was pretty much a staple this year). Grayson made yummy cheese puff bites, breakfast casserole and continued with all things sous vide and smoked. Landon has still enjoyed baking, and Cooper tried his hand at making some breakfast sandwiches. 

Medical - There was the broken foot, again. Seriously? Jen struggled with eye issues (redness, swelling and she does need to get in to get glasses) and had some dental work done. Keaton had some chest pain, and then some skin issues. Cooper and Colton had skin issues too. Gray finished the year with stomach pain and fever (stressful during Covid, but his test was negative).

As mentioned ... Covid-19 was the big news story across the nation and the world. There were also fires in Australia, and Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash (I remember Cooper was the first to notice that on his phone and tell us all). Here in the U.S., there was also the ELECTION. Would Trump get re-elected? He didn't, but he didn't accept the results, said they were wrong, that there had been fraud. There were also protests and riots and a big Black Lives Matter movement. Here in Utah, we had another BIG SNOW, which resulted in a "snow day" for the schools (but not for Cooper, as he was online anyway). Then, there was an EARTHQUAKE. While it wasn't huge (5.7) it definitely shook up an already on-edge population! There were some WILDFIRES as well, causing concern and evacuations, although California had it worse. The smoke turned the skies red. Late summer, wild WINDS were forecast and they toppled trucks and a few unlucky neighborhoods were without power for a couple weeks. In our immediate area, there was a bomb scare (a house filled with explosives causing evacuations) and an airplane crash in the neighborhood next door

December 2020

 

At the Blackham home, we wait until after Thanksgiving to put up the Christmas decorations. Actually, we waited quite a while, and weren't sure we were even going to get the tree up at all. But we did get it up and decorated. Stockings hung and many a Hallmark movie watched (well, just by Jen, all while down in the home gym while working out). 

December also brought BASKETBALL. Tryouts happened quickly right after Thanksgiving. Colton is a freshman, but will be playing Sophomore and JV for the most part. He has played in a few of the freshman games, and has played a bit in a couple varsity games (he even started once already!) Each team has different uniforms, and each team has two (home and away) so Colton has NINE jersey/short sets (varsity has three sets). He got #5 for freshman/sophomore/JV and is #4 for varsity, as a senior already claimed that number. Only parents can come cheer, but often the schools will stream the games live - and Jen is trying to make her highlight reels too. It's been good to get back to games.

As a student-athlete, Colton has to take a rapid-covid test every two weeks. There have been some cases popping up. The team had to sit out the Christmas tournament when a few Varsity players got sick. Gray spiked a fever on Christmas Eve, his test came back negative (the fever is related to some stomach issues) but it did scare away our married kids for Christmas Day celebrations (we just had a quick drive-bye gift exchange). Sol was able to get the first dose of the vaccine. 

Colton had a birthday ... 15 years old! He can get his learner's permit and start practicing behind the wheel. We had some ice cream cake, and a yummy trip to Tepanyaki. The boys love the fried rice there, and Gray has been practicing and perfecting fried rice at home on his new grill. He also tried philly cheesesteaks. Jen got him the chef's hat for Christmas ;)

Earlier in the month, Grayson had a little getaway to St. George. Cal and Kate went there at the end of the month. Gray and the boys (Landon, Keaton and Uncle Adrian) spent a Saturday morning at the shooting range, and we got together with the extended Blackham Bunch for a Christmas celebration with soup/breadsticks and Bingo. 

The Oculus (a virtual reality gaming system) was the big gift for the boys this year. Keaton and Cooper really enjoy it, and Landon has played it more than Colton (just a little funny because Landon doesn't actually live here). Ping pong has still been a bit hit at the house ... lots of ball bopping going on. Coop even got Gray and Cal to play him (and Coop won three begedas from Cal in a bet.  A "begeda" is a type of Blackham currency ... but an exchange of three of them is a pretty big deal!) Cooper also won big in his Fantasy Football league. His Uncle Kolby got him involved last year. It's a men's league with decent stakes. Last year it was a $50 entry fee, but Coop walked away with the $300 first prize. They doubled up this year. $100 to participate ... and $600 for first place. Kolby has been doing this league for a while and said no one has ever won twice in a row before. 

Here's our monthly 1-second-every-day Video

... so that wraps up December, AND 2020. With the alignment of Jupiter and Saturn creating the "Christmas Star" will 2021 be a promising new year?

November 2020

 

November ... besides birthdays and Thanksgiving, what else was going on with the Blackham Bunch?

• Advancing Electricians: Callahan passed his test and is now an official residential journeyman. Keaton wasn't sold on sticking around as an apprentice, working during the cold winter, but when he mentioned his possible leaving to his bosses, they countered with a raise, made him a team leader (so there is a work van in our driveway again) and even offered to let him work just finishes (when the houses are closer to being done, closed up and a bit warmer). So ... Keaton decided to stick it out. He spent quite a bit of time cleaning out and organizing his tools and the van.
• Food Phases: Little Caesar's pizza is a staple at our house ... it's just such a quick and easy leftover for the kids. Jen loves the Italian Cheese Bread. Coop watched a food video about a french toast sandwich which he's been making for breakfast fairly often ... sometimes it sticks. Gray's latest new thing is a grill (in the garage) and he made some fried rice that was close to that of Tepanyaki (which is a family favorite).
• Eating Out: We went out to Tepanyaki with the whole crew to celebrate the November birthdays. We got it in right before the Govorner's announcement recommending contact only within households.
• Fishing and Fields of Geese: Gray's work buddies took him fishing for a birthday getaway, and we had to stop and grab a picture when we saw a field full of geese (at the old corn maze by our house). Gray loves geese. He doesn't really like fish (he's allergic).
• Skin Issues and Annual Exams: As mentioned last month, we've been having some skin issues. Keaton's cleared up, and I used the same medication on Cooper and that seemed to help. He's still got some shadows of spots on his arms and legs, they might be scars ... I'm so glad that the ones on his face cleared up completely (he had a LOT). Colton then developed a strange infection around a scratch on his thigh. It has cleared up, but again ... you can still see where it was. I got both boys in to the doctor for their annual exams, and to just double-check the skin stuff. 
• Pickleball and Ping Pong: Cal and Kate have been enjoying pickleball. There is a court quite close, and I happened to be driving by when I saw them arriving to play one day! At our house, ping pong has made a complete comeback (after no one playing for months). One day Cooper and I played for an hour, and he plays with Keaton and Colton too. And Joy - she likes to jump up on the table and bat the ball. 
• Other Games: Landon still comes over, for lunch and games. Some of the favorites are: Secret Hitler, Exploding Kittens, CTM, The Great Dalmudi, Sorry and of course Jackbox games!
• Plant Momma: Sol is a plant mommy, with a bunch of babies that she cares for at her house. She noticed one of my plants had outgrown its pot, and she had to come back the next day and repot it into something bigger so the roots had room to grow. The basket I received just over a year ago from the folks (at Pammy's funeral) is still looking large and lovely.
• Maga's House: After a year to let the girls settle, the guys felt it was time for some closure. There was a lot of work in the past month and more getting the house ready to sell, and it was only on the market for a day or so. Ana's family moved into a little townhome nearby and Olivia got a condo in Daybreak. The estate was divided and distributed. 
• Covid: Colton got the "quarantine" call and did school from home for two weeks. He went back for two whole days before the whole school shifted to online learning for two weeks. Gray had another possible exposure at work and did a self-quarantine for a couple days, working from home. 
• Jen's Exercise/Eating: I recommitted to attempting to lose the Covid 15 (and what was gained before that) and am back on IMF (intermittent fasting), counting calories, and upping the exercise. And down that first 15 ... Too cold for outdoor Zumba anymore. One small Zumba class still had permission to use the church gym (our Mon class, and we added Wednesdays) but we did stop for a couple weeks after the Governor's and the Church's announcements - But, we've been allowed back in! I'm lucky as I have a complete home gym anyway, but it's nice to get in a solid hour, keep up my memory of the routines and see friends (even if we don't ever get that close).  
• Basketball: Tryouts had to be postponed (they were going to happen Monday, November 9, but then there was the Governor's announcement). They were allowed back in the schools at the end of the month, so tryouts were the 24/25 and Colton made the team. He'll be playing sophomore, JV and dressing for Varsity if they need him there. Colton will have to have the rapid Covid test every two weeks (he has his first one this morning). Unlike October, there were NO games in November. The first game is Monday, and there is a good chance they are streaming all the games this year (only parents allowed to attend in person). 

As mentioned ... there were birthdays and Thanksgiving. We did gather with Clay's family, but they just had Covid last month, so it should have been pretty safe ;)  And that's what's up with The Blackham Bunch! In National news ... there was election day and Biden topped Trump in the count. 

October 2020

 

And October has ended ... Halloween finished up the month. We had had a small family gathering for pizza and games, putting the candy on the front porch (until one little boy just took it all, caught it on the Ring camera). Pumpkin cookies, pumpkin painting and a pizza jack-o-lantern. The weather turned cold, and frost killed all the plants. I'd picked all the tomatoes beforehand and gave almost all of them away. What else went on this month?

• Covid Concerns: West Jordan High School switched to online-only for almost all of October. Colton takes one class at the high school, and the "open gym" basketball had to cancel. Grayson had a Covid contact and quarantined himself to be on the safe side while awaiting a test (it was negative). He can work from home, and the commute and dress code are much simpler ;) Covid hit Clay's whole family but they have all recovered fine.
• Skin Stuff: Keaton got hit with a couple weird rashes. One on his stomach, and one under his arm. We ended up using the "telemed" option our insurance offers, and with a couple of prescriptions, they have cleared up. Now Cooper has little sores all over so I may have to call or take him in. 
• Home Improvement: Grayson redid his garage a while back, but has yet to add a cool finish to the ceiling and floor. He has a plan for the top, and part of that was redoing the garage door openers. There are no longer boxes and a bar across the top of the garage, it's all on the side now. Our dishwasher went out, so we were handwashing for a week before we could get that repaired. Of all appliances to not work, the dishwasher IS the easiest to work around. 
• Basketball: LOTS of basketball this month for Colton ... that happens when you are on three different teams. I think he had 16 games this month.

Coop has continued to work most days. Just an hour or two. The first quarter ended and both boys got all As. We voted ... Kate made sure of that! She waited while Keaton and I filled out our ballots, and then took the envelopes to a drop-off location.  I'm still leading Zumba three days a week. Gray has been extra busy, as the Blackhams are working to sell Pammy's house. It's been a year now. 

September 2020

 

September 2020 started off with continued home renovations and room rearranging. There was a birthday and a baptism (Cousin Sammy). NBA playoffs going on, and football started up ... Coop has his fantasy team all picked for another competition with his Uncle Kolby and co. The movie theaters opened up, and the boys went to two movies this month. They also had a backyard movie night with smores and socializing. It was pretty busy. Here are a few more details on the days ...

• Home Sweet Home: After painting the basement, we decided to do most of the upstairs too. Cleaning off walls and shelves and closets, there were a couple trips to the DI to donate (you just have to make an appointment now). The front room is now Cooper and Colton's school/game room. They each have a desk and two computers (school/games). Bought a new chair for Coop. Jen now gets her little nook all to herself (she was sharing with Colton's desk) and even has a spot for the sewing machine. The recycling, coats, and cleaning supplies all got switched up, and some cute decor was added (covering up some ugly old electrical). The boys went through all the old electronics ... we have quite the Apple graveyard!
• Gray's Getaways: Grayson has been super busy at work, but tries to stay sane with a weekend getaway or two. He headed out to Moab, taking Keaton along, then hit St. George with his work buddies. Rock climbing with the RZR.
• Puppies: The puppies made the highlights last month, and were still a big part of our September. The neighbors would bring them out almost every evening, and we'd pop over to say hi quite often. The puppies grew SO fast! Right as September ended, all the puppies (except one that they are keeping) were off to their new homes.
• School: School has been going good. Coop's year isn't very different than last year, as he was already online. His Lifetime Fitness class had a unit on tennis, and Coop and I hit the courts to play. Colton is adapting fine, going to school in the mornings, then online classes (he does tend to do his schoolwork reclining in bed rather than at the desk), and off to the high school every other day for basketball class. We've been watching the Covid numbers, as Riverton shut down for two days for cleaning, then Copper Hills. As September ended ... West Jordan had too many Covid cases and will close the school and switch to online learning through the end of the term (two weeks, then the scheduled Fall Recess). So Coltons WON'T be going to the high school basketball class, but his middle school is still in person ... for now.
• Basketball: Colton has been busy with basketball. Playing on two 10th grade teams (his Wolves, and Showtime, which is basically West Jordan) and a 9th grade WJ team. The coaches have been working together and with those scheduling, and there have been no conflicting games! I posted some ColtonClips on FB/Instagram.
• Cooper:  A bit ago, a couple of Coop's buddies reached out, and he's been going to several social events with them. This month, they had a "Big Brother" competition (little minute-to-win-it games and challenges, eliminations) and some sand volleyball. I sure wish he'd want to get his license so I wouldn't have to drive him (and do late pickups ... yawn!) He also ... got a JOB! A couple friends were working as a "sweeper" at the local elementary school and suggested he apply. It's perfect; super close, just an hour or so in the afternoons, with a couple of buddies. He had the interview, the training and his first couple shifts.
• 2020 Monthly Plague: There was a HUGE windstorm on Tuesday, September 8th. Hurricane-force winds were predicted, and they came. We weren't hit too bad in West Jordan, but trucks and trees were toppled across Salt Lake and Davis Counties. Power was out for many people ... for up to a week for some! Additionally there have been multiple fires (in Utah and surrounding states) and the skies have been super smoky, which has made for some beautiful but unusual sunsets.

We see the married kidlets fairly often. Landon comes over for lunch most days, and he and Sol come to play games.  Keaton is still working with Cal, although they are rarely on the same jobs. Keaton was even offered a team leader position, but unlike Cal, he's not thinking long term on electrical work. He's a little up in the air, not sure what to do for the future, and Covid sure complicates things (and makes dating/social almost impossible). Gray has been SO busy. Covid has NOT hurt the building business or Symphony's sales. He had two major Menieres attacks this month (one at home, one at work). My life is pretty simple ... just supervising the kids school and running them places. I do little trips all throughout the day (7:15 drop off Colton, 9:00 Zumba, 11:10 pick up Colton, 1:00 run Colton to the high school, 2:30 pick up Colton from the high school, 3:30 run Coop to work, 5:00 pickup Coop from work, run Colton to practice at 7:00, pick him up at 8:30). Of course Covid cancelations will reduce some of those. I have still been teaching Zumba Mon/Wed, and added in Fridays outside, as long as the weather permits. Outdoor Zumba is actually quite nice on a cool morning. 

August 2020

This month was pretty packed! There was work in the basement ... paint and carpet and rearranging of rooms. There were several trips to the lake. There were PUPPIES! There were birthdays, and the start of school ...

• Puppies: The neighbor's dog had puppies, and we've enjoyed going over for puppy time several times this month. They are so cute, but we are sticking with just enjoying the dogs next door.
• Home Improvement: It all started with one wall (water damage) and that lead to new paint and carpet downstairs. While prepping for that, we went through everything (books, boxes, cupboards, closets, etc) and there were several trips to DI (planning ahead and making appointments), give aways to friends, family and neighbors (clothes, books, all my scrapbook supplies). The poor gym was FULL of stuff for several days. Then after the workers were done with paint and carpet, it was time for things to go back in position. Keaton moved downstairs (Callahan's old room). Then there was the replacement of lots of lights (handy to have a couple electricians in the family) and then we went ahead and painted upstairs too.  Whew! The reorganization is ongoing!
• Lots of Lake: There were three trips to Pineview, going up with Kate's family, Sol's family and extended Blackham family. At the end of the month, Gray and most of the guys (Cal&Kate, and Cooper and I skipped) went to Bear Lake.
• Landon's Work: He got a "work truck" for driving to/from and on the job, which is a HUGE help for their one-car family.  He had been having Sol drop him off at our house in the morning, then he'd take the Segway to work! With the new neighborhood road, he can get to our house super quick. He also got a "work phone" and now carries two phones around.
• Eating Out: Gray and I went out to Texas Roadhouse, and then the whole family hit Tepanyaki (birthday dinner). Gray has been liking Uber Eats to get some food while continuing to work at the office (lots of late nights!)
• Birthdays: Coop had his 17th birthday, and Keaton turned 20! Landon's b-day is coming right up. Grandma and Grandpa came out for birthday wishes, cake and games.
• School Starts: The Jordan School District pushed the start of school back one week (originally scheduled for Aug18, to Aug25). Fridays would be digital, and in-person or online-learning (or a combo) was offered, although not all classes were offered online. Colton decided on a dual approach, going to school in-person in the morning, then three classes online, lunch at home. The reasoning behind this was more because of basketball than anything else. The high school coach called and mentioned he'd really like Colton to attend the 4th period basketball class at the high school (the last period of A days), so the online option worked out wonderfully to help with that schedule. Cooper is all online again at Mountain Heights. Keaton's old room upstairs has been converted to a "school" room with desks for both Colton and Cooper. They both have Chromebooks checked out from their schools.
• Basketball: Colton has stayed busy with basketball. His Wolves are still playing and practicing, and his Jags have had some practices and have a tournament coming up (he'll be playing on both the sophomore and freshman team).  I still haven't gone to see him play, as all the recent games have been further than I travel ...
• All the Other Stuff: I went out to an impromptu Westra gathering (bringing some of my purged products) and picked up the family baby books for blog posts. 15 Westra Way posts for August. Keaton upgraded his phone ... a needed update! The Apple Store has been shut down due to Covid, but he and Gray were able to make the change with AT&T (our phone service provider). He now has an 11. Grayson had a getaway to Moab w/the RZR and work buddies. Our stake officially closed the church building to all but essential meetings ... so my Zumba is on hold again. We haven't been kicked out of one of the other buildings, so we have still been having classes Mon and Wed ... and I've been teaching, as the instructor there broke her toe.  I found Fresca (it's been impossible to find in cans!) Colton and Cooper and I got in a little last-minute summer fun with a trip to the bowling alley, and Aunt Olivia made a housecall for haircuts. Coop has had several hangouts with friends ;) and Gray had a major Meniere's episode (woke him in the middle of the night).   

Here's a peek at the One Second Everyday ...

Star Students!

 Okay, everyone at the school got to be "Star Student" at some point in scchool, but the kids always thought it was great fun when it was their turn to be in the spotlight. For some of the boys, it was up to me to make the poster myself. I'd pull out the scrapbook supplies and photos, print out items the boys were interested in for illustrations...

...other years, we filled in a pre-made poster.  The same, but different!

It is fun looking back and seeing what the kids wrote, in their own handwriting. I'd saved these posters over the years, usually just hanging them in a corner of the closet. The boys would always laugh as they looked back on them. As we did a basement remodel, I ended up pulling everything down for new paint, so I took pictures and figured I make a post showcase all our stars! And I still stashed the posters away, in case the kids want to look at the originals. As I was checking on some dates, I realized I did a post years ago featuring some of these posters (2nd Grade Spotlight) ... I am now missing Coop's premade one he filled in. Good thing I already had a picture of it!