Music & Videos

With the shutdown, I began figuring out how to create quality video music lessons for my pre-school kiddos. David and I had fun testing out the new tripod.

Beau also had to video his piano festival performance that he missed because of everything being cancelled.

Fish & Marbles

On the second day of homeschool, we went to buy our first fish.

Beau wanted to know what we would have named another baby, had we had another one. I told him our girl would have been Eleanor Anne. But, this was a boy fish. (I can't even get a female fish pet!) He asked what boy name, and I told him that we almost named David, Devon. We really wanted to name him Devon, in fact. It's always been one of my favorite names. But, we prayed about it at the hospital and both felt like that wasn't the name. It just wasn't.

So now we have a fish named Devon.
Devon Vader Wasden
(The boys just discovered Star Wars!)

Unfortunately he a tidally died within a week. So, we now have a beautiful, new Devon Vader.

I also let the boys each pick out one game at Target, knowing that we'd be spending quite a lot of time at home. Beau picked out Yahtzee, which had been a big hit. Lewis picked Code Names. And David picked a marble run. It's been a lot of fun for our little engineer boy.

Coronavirus Central!

Coronavirus shutdown has happened.

We are living in a dystopian novel.

The weekend before the shutdown, right after my recital still felt somewhat normal, and quite lovely. We did spend a fair bit of time stockpiling what groceries we could. As the pictures show, a lot of the staples were nowhere to be found!

Everything had been cancelled. Concerts. Recitals. Sports. School. Work. Church. Everything.

But, over the weekend (March 14-15), we still had not been put on a shut down. Stores were open. And, people were still free to socialize.

The boys had lots of play dates and playing with kids in the neighborhood.

We had a really special family church on Sunday morning. Lewis passed and Mike blessed the sacrament. That felt very special. I played the piano. We all shared testimonies. We did a primary lesson. I think Beau and I in particular felt a real feeling of responsibility for the Spirit and creating a meaningful, spiritual atmosphere. It was so lovely.

Afterwards we headed to Rosedale Park where lots of families were out enjoying the weather. We had a rousing game of sardines during which Beau actually hid in a trash can!!!

Recital for Norah

I had the pleasure of being asked to perform in a master's recital with Donny, a friend from the 2nd ward and a countertenor student at Westminster. We performed 3 duets - Pergolesi Stabat Mater, Monteverdi Pur TI Miri, and ALW Pie Jesu.

I had a cold the week leading up to it so I was a bit worried. But, my voice was feeling good by that Friday night, and it went really well.

It was amazing that the recital happened at all. Donny has scheduled it at the church instead of at Westminster. The day before, church shut down all meetings and church events. But, this wasn't a church event. The morning of, Westminster shut down all concerts, recitals, and events. But, this wasn't being held at Westminster.

So, we sneaked it in as officially the last event to happen for a long time! I'm so glad we were able to perform.

Lewis graduated from cub scouts!

I still can't believe Lewis is this old, nor can I believe that we really have a scouter!

Lewis moves up to Boy Scouts along with Mason and Will. They had a really nice dinner and ceremony to celebrate them and celebrate the year.

We made a Pac-Man cake to contribute for dessert, and Lewis won best in den for it...the only entry!

Day out for Norah in the city

I dropped Beau at swimming on a Saturday at the beginning of March and then headed into the city for a day on my own. Mike had been out of town for work the weekend prior, so it was really nice to get a break.

After training in, I grabbed my favorite vegan wrap at the farmer's market by Lincoln Center. I then grabbed myself a TKTS ticket for Come From Away for that night. SUCH a treat! The show was amazing!

Then I headed to the temple and had the chance to be sealed for my grandparents and other family. I also did initiatory for many of my direct line great grandparents. It was so special. I am also so grateful that I was able to do that because within a week, all temples were closed due to Coronavirus.

After that, I went to the YSA stake women's conference. Elaine Dalton was the keynote speaker, and the whole thing was great. I saw a few women from our branch there. And, the biggest treat was catching up with LeeAnn and Christine from Singapore while we were there.

It was a great day! Totally worth the late night getting home!

Cute funny boys

Lewis is so endlessly creative! Here is one of his disguises. He showed up to piano lessons like this to show Ms. Megan!

David and I had a great outing to the Bucks County Children's Museum. I love going out and about with that boy.

Visit the old house

Our first home in Pennington is on the market, and we were able to pop by the open house. I couldn't believe the sweet, amazing feelings I had walking through that home. It was such a happy, special, sacred place for us. I also couldn't believe how small it was!

Beau really loved seeing his old room. He's such a nostalgic, angel boy!