Before Corona Craziness
Each year I try to have my grandkids come over and make cinnamon rolls. Some years I have done that at Christmas time and other years for Easter. This year we did it on the first Saturday of March. Now that I have so many older grandkids, they like to help the younger grandkids make their rolls. I love watching them help each other. Each grandkid gets their own pan to fill and we usually make some extra pans to eat and for them to take home. I make lots and lots of dough, cinnamon/sugar filling and frosting and the kids do the rest.
Lulu loves making the rolls and she can hardly wait for hers to come out of the oven so she can eat them.
Sareya and Kelly with Sareya's finished rolls
Evie and Ruby with their rolls
Dex with his rolls minus 1 or 2 that were eaten
Violet and Ella with the finished product
Alex Returns Home from Ecuador
Along with so many young missionaries serving in foreign countries, Elder Woidka had to return home from Ecuador when the virus began spreading all over the world. With strict rules about picking up returning missionaries, only Jon and Allison went to the airport to meet him and bring him home. Hailey suggested that we have "Honking Homecoming" and drive down their street honking and waving signs to tell him welcome back.
We all gathered in our cars at the appointed time and honked and waved signs!
Alex learned to play the ukulele while in Ecuador.
Elder Woidka with his happy mom and dad!
Then our group left their cars to talk to each other.
Almost "social distancing" - no hugs, but it was hard not to!
Our cute Elder Woidka
The whole family - reunited and then went into a 2 week quarantine to be sure that Elder Woidka didn't have the virus!
Coronavirus Choir
Our neighbor (Jan Newman texted all of the Haley's Lookout neighbors in mid March and said he missed singing the hymns. He suggested that we meet out in front of our homes and sing some hymns each Sunday at 6:00 PM. Each family takes turns choosing the hymns and we sing our heart out each week. It does feel good to see each other- even if it is from a distance- and sing the hymns of Zion!
The neighbors next to us (Drapers) have a sound system with a microphone so we have music and some direction from President Newman (he used to be our Stake President until he was called to the General Sunday School Presidency). He is the man with the silver gray hair and is holding the microphone.
Diane and Brent Martin (they live across the street from us).
The Peterson's on the left and the Johnson family on the right
The Wrights on the left and Petersons center and Johnsons on the right
Family Sunday Sacrament
We have been gathering with Evan and Kelly's Family and Tricia and James' Family each week to partake of the Sacrament. It really is a very special and sacred time for us and one that we will always remember.
Easter Sunday I took pictures of the families and then they took a picture of Hal and I.
Easter Sunday I took pictures of the families and then they took a picture of Hal and I.
Woidka's Come for Dinner
After their 2 week quarantine, we had the Wodika family come for dinner to have an opportunity to talk to Alex and hear about his mission and to see the whole family.
Dishing up the Mexican food - we had Sour cream enchiladas, taco casserole and chile rellenos casserole with lettuce, tomatoes, salsa and guacamole to put on top! Lillian made a beautiful and delicious fruit pizza that we enjoyed for dessert, but I forgot to take a picture of it - dawg-on-it!
It was a fun evening and great to see them and spend some time together!
Alex Cleans Our Carpets
Allison and Jon have a good carpet cleaning machine and Alex spent 5 days last week cleaning every carpet in our home including all of our Oriental carpets! It was a huge job and he really did it very well!!!! He is in a kind of "limbo" right now trying to decide whether to return to the mission field as soon as possible(whenever that will be?) or wait a year, go to BYU, and then finish his mission. We were glad to have this opportunity to spend some more time with him. Whichever option he chooses will work!
Beautiful Spring!
I love springtime with all the flowers and blossoms and trees and shrubs getting green and beautiful! I had to include some pictures of blossoms on the trees in our front yard. Corona craziness or not, I'm so grateful to live in this beautiful world created by our Savior!
What a great post! I love your cinnamon roll tradition and glad you did it even with the virus. We haven't met with our family during it. We enjoyed Alex's emails. T hat 's a hard decision. I love the hymn singing idea. Your neighbor in the Sunday school presidency came here and did an area meeting for sunday school teachers. It was so good.
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