Amy Scott's Thoughts

Sharing the thoughts that bounce around in my brain!

Wrapping Up Summer August 30, 2020

Filed under: Simply Me — Amy Scott @ 10:41 am

This last month has been filled with adventures. However, there have been plenty of quiet days around the house even still. The boys have enjoyed time to play and be creative. The quiet days have been welcome especially after the excitement of Yellowstone. This last week in particular was a purposeful quiet. It was the week between Yellowstone and the start of school.  We are preparing for a new season and recovering from a big adventure. It wasn’t a thrilling last week of summer, but it was a good way to wrap things up.

We did have one last adventure to say farewell to summer. Yesterday, we took the boys to the beach. Jeremy and I spent a day at the beach for our anniversary in July, but the kids were with Nana & Papa. I got to spend a weekend at the beach at the beginning of this month. It just didn’t seem right to let the boys have a summer without a trip to the beach. It was great to pack up the minivan for one last hurrah! We spent the morning playing in the ocean at Seaview, WA and then we spent the afternoon exploring Cape Disappointment State Park. We crossed over the bridge to Astoria, OR for dinner at Pig’N’Pancake. It was the perfect way to wrap up our summer vacation!

IMG_7462

The things Owen creates with paper!

IMG_7465

Summer workbook done!

IMG_7478

I always look forward to Jeremy’s sunflowers opening.

IMG_E7484

A cousin play date before we left for Yellowstone!

IMG_7488

Getting the playroom wall ready for fall. I had a lot of fun printing the apple number cards! 

PZRQ1737

After our vacation, the boys have been thrilled to reunite with their toys! There has been so much creativity (and mess) around the house.

AWVO8364

It’s not too soon for Halloween costumes, right? These boys are super into space, so we couldn’t pass up a chance for them to be astronauts at home!

ARGT3998

Nothing like running in the ocean on a sunny Saturday morning!

KFIR1196

This is Owen’s happy place. He could have stayed in the water all day!

ECLK8762

Hanging out on the jetty at Cape Disappointment

AEIO7977

Cape Disappointment Lighthouse. The trail to the lighthouse was closed, so that was disappointing.

EZGI4358

Climbing on the rocks at Beards Hollow

 

Yellowstone Road Trip August 23, 2020

Filed under: Coronavirus Chronicles,Family Time,Travels — Amy Scott @ 10:58 am

Back in December, we made plans with my family to go on a road trip to Yellowstone this summer. We had some concern that the pandemic would cancel our plans. This was actually the 4th trip that my family has planned to Yellowstone – the first three were canceled, so it seemed possible that this 4th attempt would also be foiled. Thankfully, we were able to make it and what a trip it was!

Our mornings were early, our days were long, but each day was worth the effort! The boys love nature and trails, so add geothermal sites and it was the perfect park of the kiddos to explore. I loved walking the geyser basins in the cool of the morning with the steam pouring out of the springs and geysers. The sight of steam billowing over the landscape was awe-inspiring and never got old! We also really enjoyed visiting Yellowstone Falls and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. God’s creation is beautiful and powerful! We spotted animals like elk and bison throughout the park. We never saw a bear, but multiple times we were very close and had just missed sightings moments before. Jeremy was praying we would see a bear. I was praying that we wouldn’t. I know the boys were bummed that we had no bear sightings, but I was thankful. Bears that aren’t in a zoo setting scare me. Even the bison and elk caused my adrenaline to rush. We were so close to these wild animals!

Yellowstone was the main event on this road trip, but we also saw a few other sights along the way. On our journey to Yellowstone, we stopped at Craters of the Moon National Park. We have visited lava fields and cinder cones in Bend, OR so we knew that this would be a fun stop for the family. We collected lava rocks, climbed a cinder cone, and admired the vast fields of cooled lava.

One of our days in Wyoming was spent driving through Grand Teton National Park. We drove one route through the park into Jackson, WY and then we drove back to our rental house through another park route. The views of the Tetons were stunning. The mountains views on this day of travel are some of my favorite from our whole trip. One of the mountains in the range is named Mt. Owen so that held special meaning to our Owen. We didn’t spend too much time in Jackson, WY. The city was neat, but busy. On our way home, we stopped by Jenny Lake (where we were 100 yards away from a grizzly bear that Wildlife Management was tracking) and Colter Bay.

Our last special stop on the way home was a visit to the Lewis & Clark Caverns. The tour was brief. Due to COVID-19, the tours are limited to one room in the cavern. We were shown the Paradise Room which is impressive. The only downside was we could see the pathways that lead deeper into the caves and we weren’t able to explore them. I guess that gives our family motivation to visit again in the future.

Signs of a pandemic were seen throughout our travels. Masks were worn indoors – regardless of what state we were in. Outdoors we wore masks when distancing wasn’t possible. Mornings were the calmest in the parks, so we were able to roam without too many people nearby. As more people entered the park midday, the more often we had to wear masks. On the cold chilly mornings, wearing a mask actually helped keep our faces warm. When the day heated up, I will say that wearing a mask became less ideal, but we did it. Hand sanitizer was found throughout the parks. We also had stock piles of sanitizer in our vehicles. Overall between masks, sanitizer, and being able to do laundry at our rental house, I felt like we were safe and cautious while traveling.

With all that has been canceled due to COVID-19, I am thankful that this long awaited family trip was able to happen as planned. We caravaned with my parents to and from the park and we met my sister and brother-in-law there. We haven’t had an all-family vacation since Graham arrived in the family. It was fun to show the boys a Vitzthum-style vacation. My dad always packs way too much food. Snacks abounded and dinner was always tasty with many options for everyone! The house we stayed at was the perfect set-up. My sister and her hubby had the upstairs with their own bedroom, bathroom, and loft for their little dog to hang out in during the day. My parents had the master on the main level. Our family had two downstairs bedrooms and a bathroom. The boys had bunk beds to sleep on which are a special treat!

Okay, I could ramble on about the great memories we made and the fun times we had! There is just so much to share after an adventure to Yellowstone. It was a beautiful trip. From geysers to thermal springs to mountains to lakes to rivers and waterfalls – there is something awe-inspiring around every corner! I’m so glad we got to explore this lovely part of God’s creation. God’s artistry through nature never ceases to astound me!

Here is an itinerary of our daily explorations and photos from our adventures:

Day 1: Old Faithful, Yellowstone Lake, Mud Volcano, Hayden Valley, Upper & Lower Yellowstone Falls. Day 2: Lower & Midway Geyser Basins, Artist Paint Pots, Norris Geyser Basin, Mammoth Hot Springs, Roosevelt Arch. Day 3: Grand Teton National Park, Jackson, WY, Jenny Lake, Colter Bay. Day 4: Biscuit Basin, Castle Geyser, West Thumb Geyser Basin, hike to Brink of the Lower Falls.

IMG_7534

Craters of the Moon National Park

IMG_7592

Elk sighting

IMG_7593

Old Faithful

IMG_7651

Bison sighting

IMG_7708

Lower Yellowstone Falls

IMG_7766

Grand Prismatic Spring at the Midway Geyser Basin

IMG_7784

Norris Geyser Basin

IMG_7798

Norris Geyser Basin

IMG_7818

Officially Junior Park Rangers!

IMG_7832

The classic vacation picture!

IMG_7845

Grand Teton National Park

IMG_7851

Such a beautiful drive through the Tetons!

IMG_7864

Visiting Jackson, WY

IMG_7884

Dipping their toes in Jenny Lake

IMG_7901

My hubby walking through the Biscuit Basin on a smokey and steamy morning.

IMG_7908

We were all alone for this walk, but face masks helped keep us warm! 

IMG_7918

Watching Castle Geyser erupt

IMG_7981

Lewis & Clark Caverns 

 

 

A Garage Sale, A Getaway, and Fall Preparations August 9, 2020

Filed under: Coronavirus Chronicles,Travels — Amy Scott @ 5:45 pm

Life at home on the hill has been quiet. Our days have been spent enjoying the down time that a slow summer affords. We did a have a bit of excitement over the weekend in the way of a garage sale and a getaway trip.

Before COVID-19 was ever on our radar, my friend, Maggie, and I had set a weekend aside for a summer getaway. We did this last year and loved it so much that we are trying to make it an annual tradition. Maggie owns a vintage trailer at the coast and we settled in for two nights away. We ate all our meals at the trailer, we took walks, watched movies, read books, picked blackberries, and talked (a whole lot). We are used to seeing each other every other month for lunch dates, but we haven’t been able to get together since January. This time in person felt long overdue. A weekend away to rest and relax with my forever friend was just what I needed. We were walking back from the beach at twilight and we could see families insides houses enjoying their evenings. The smell of barbecue was on the air and I couldn’t help but smile because it felt like a “normal” summer evening. Sometimes between my isolation at home and what I hear on the news, I think the world is ending and everything is falling apart. Walking home from the beach after sunset, seeing families gathered, being in the company of a good friend – these things were so restorative to my soul.

While I was away at the beach, my boys decided to join a family garage sale. Jeremy and I have never participated in a garage sale before, so this was an entirely new experience for our family. I was able to help my family prepare for the garage sale before I left. Jeremy kept me up to date on the sale happenings. The garage sale did much better than I expected! The boys even walked away with some new math flashcards and a set of kids golf clubs. It was a very positive first garage sale experience!

These quiet days have been good for fall preparation (yay online shopping). We’ve kept tabs on the big school situation and we are fairly confident our boys will be home this school year. We haven’t made any official decisions yet. We are waiting for more details before we make the final call. I do know that more time at home is in our future. Back to school shopping this year looks like new sweatpants, socks, and underwear (not our most glamorous year to prep for, but necessary). With school at home being the our next great adventure, I’ve purchased a daily planner to keep us on track. We have curriculum ready in case we decide to do our own form of school and take a year out of the district. It’s been exciting to dream about what homeschooling will offer our family. Thanks to the garage sale and the fall prep, I’ve been sorting through clothes and getting us ready to be slightly more put together at home this fall. I am not ashamed that we spent our spring/summer mostly in pajamas. Now I have hopes of another comfy season at home, but just not spent in sleepwear. Time to raise our standards a little!

Every time I look at the calendar, I’m blown away that even the quiet days seem to disappear quickly. Summer never lasts forever. This fall will certainly bring change and new adventures. We are doing our best to prepare for them, but at the same time, we are savoring the fact that is still summer. There is still plenty of summer fun to be had!

IMG_7340

Prepping for the garage sale! The boys loved putting the little price stickers on all our items!

IMG_7342

First time making monkey bread! I was super nervous, but it turned out so good and yummy!

IMG_7349

We had to postpone a play date with a friend because they had the sniffles. Owen was able to video chat with them instead.

IMG_7365

We’ve never played with Facebook Messenger for video calling. The boys had so much fun with all the filters! Owen is the pizza face on the left!

IMG_7375

This trailer was the perfect spot for a getaway weekend!

IMG_7376

Vacay vibes! I brought cinnamon rolls to share and Maggie brought these awesome s’mores cookies!

IMG_7390

Beach Buddies 

IMG_7398

Such a happy place to be!

HYSQ9486

Thankful for our years of friendship and that we were able to make this weekend happen – thanks to the help of our husbands. 

PDCD4164

Documented proof that my kiddos wore something other than play clothes or pajamas this summer! 

 

What I’m Reading & What I’m Loving – July 2020 July 31, 2020

Filed under: Amy's Bookshelf,What I'm Loving — Amy Scott @ 8:30 am

What I’m Reading:

GLPB7634

  • Honey For A Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt – A great book that inspires reading aloud with your family.
  • For The Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay – A summery of Charlotte Mason principles for education along with Macaulay’s personal experience applying them with her family.
  • Answer for Homeschooling by Israel Wayne – 25 questions about homeschooling answered with practical insight.
  • Education: Does God have an opinion? by Israel Wayne – While I didn’t completely agree with Wayne, I did a appreciate his perspective and research.
  • Beyond Survival by Diana Waring – This was the final book that I read about homeschooling so I was a bit done with the topic by the time I finished the book. I appreciated her emphasis on unit studies and her focus on addressing how your child learns and how you, as a parent, teach.
  • The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom* – My mom had me read this book as either a middle school or high school student. Truthfully, I wasn’t interested in reading it and mostly skimmed the pages. After reading so many books about reading with your family and having this book be recommend for older children, I decided that I wanted to read it again for myself.
  • The Love Comes Softly Series by Janette Oke* – Love Comes Softly, Love’s Enduing Promise, Love’s Long Journey, Love’s Abiding Joy – I’m half way through this series that I have read many times.  These sweet, simple stories are what I needed to wind down and relax after surgery. They were also a great break from contemplating education.

*Books I have read before, but not in the last calendar year.

What I’m Loving:

  • Television – It took me until July and surgery recovery to finally succumb to television as a way to relax. Here are a few of the programs I’ve enjoyed this month:
    • Anne of Green Gables & Anne of Green Gables – The Sequel (I grew up knowing it as Anne of Avonlea)
    • Hamilton – I will admit to watching this musical three times in the span of a week. It took me two viewings to decide I liked the musical and then I wanted to share it with Jeremy.
    • Beauty and The Beast – the live action Disney version
    • Cinderella – the live action Disney version
    • TV Shows – Counting On, House Hunters, and Downton Abbey
  • The Library – Our local library is open for pick up! After reading so many books in the last month about reading with your kids, I’ve been excited to introduce my boys to the Tales of Peter Rabbit and the original Winnie the Pooh.
  • New Books from Favorite Series – Through Owen’s school we were introduced to Pete the Cat, Biscuit, and Gerald & Piggie. Between the library and Costco book sets, we’ve been able to enjoy these favorites once again. I was excited to find the book sets at Costco and add to our home library.
  • Camping – I covered this adventure in my last post, but I can’t express just how wonderful it was to get away for a few days. While camping isn’t my ideal vacation, I’ve been in a need a change of pace and location. This trip was just what our family needed!
 

Camping Adventures! July 29, 2020

Filed under: Simply Me — Amy Scott @ 3:23 pm

We got just back from a few nights of camping near Mt. Rainier National Park. Typing is a good distraction to keep me from scratching my bug bites. It’s also a good distraction from my achy legs. My boys love to hike. They did a certain hike last summer without me and they were so excited to have me come along this year. When it comes to hiking, I would prefer a level walk through a shaded forest on a moderately cool day. What I did with my boys on Monday was scaling a mountain. The trail went up, up, and away. We had to cross patches completely covered in snow. We were close to needing hiking equipment to do this actual hike. By the end of the mountain climbing, my legs were physically shaking! My boys continually surprise me with their stamina. Graham didn’t love the snowy parts because they were slippery, but other than that, my kids climbed a mountain like it was no big deal. They were the only kids we encountered on this steep expedition. Apparently they are mountain goats.

We saw many marmots on our hiking adventures. The boys did their best to hold still and see how close they could get to a marmot. Owen borrowed my old point-and-shoot camera to document the hike. It’s fun to see him process what is worthy of a photo. On one hike, he took a notebook to draw pictures along the way. Other than hiking and marmots, we played the license plate game as we drove around the park. We were surprised to find 40/50 plates. America is still traveling this summer. The effects of COVID-19 were seen throughout the park. Visitor centers were closed, masks were worn in common areas and we used hand sanitizer frequently.

Our campground was right by the Cowlitz River, so the boys played in the river multiple times. They loved throwing rocks and exploring the shallow shores. We set up our big tent and the boys loved having their own room because of a thin sheet that separated the space. We ate lots of yummy camp food. Honestly, camp food is one of my favorite reasons to go camping. I also love reading around the fire which I found a few moments to do while Jeremy took the boys down to the river. Our fires were small and short because of the hot weather. This was the warmest camping trip I’ve ever been on. It was in the 90’s while we were there. At night we went to bed only wanting a thin blanket and only much later into the night did we want anything warmer. It also wouldn’t be a camping adventure without an air mattress that doesn’t stay inflated. Poor Owen started in his own bed and had to move on to Graham’s in the middle of the night. We certainly made some memories!

It’s still 2020 and even camping had some differences due to COVID-19, but overall, we enjoyed all the things that we love about camping. I will admit that a cute Air B&B cabin is more my style these days, but I roughed it with my boys and I know they appreciated it. It was nice to get away for a few days. It’s been forever since I’ve stayed overnight anywhere and it felt like I had been gone a month instead of a few days. I always love coming home, but it was also great to have adventure outside of our usual territory. It was just the mini-vacation we needed!

HUPK8763

Our home away from home!

IMG_7013

Happy to be camping!

PKMZ1394

Around the campsite! 

CJDG7948

Camp food is the best! Not pictured is our hot dogs and Jeremy’s freeze dried meals he selected just for this trip! 

IMG_7037

Toes in the river!

IMG_7079

A beautiful day to visit a beautiful mountain!

IMG_7168

We obviously didn’t summit the mountain, but wow, did we climb!

IMG_7173

My hiking buddies! 

IMG_7101

Just a casual hike through the snow…

IMG_7161

Documenting a marmot! It’s amazing how they blend with the rocks! 

RWLF4782

Our day two hike through the Grove of the Patriarchs. This was much more my speed – mostly level, shaded, and through the trees. 

IMG_1694

Jeremy’s scenic photograph of a marmot on the mountain. 

IMG_7310

One of my favorite shots taken above Myrtle Falls.

 

 

 

Summertime Downtime July 23, 2020

Filed under: Coronavirus Chronicles,Family Time,Simply Me — Amy Scott @ 12:39 pm

I am two weeks post-op and doing well. I had my post-op appointment with my surgeon yesterday and it was wonderful to hear that I am healing well and that this process has finished. I’ll experience discomfort for a few more weeks as my body adjusts, but it should be minor. I’m back to my regular activity level and it’s been such a relief to have this recovery process go better than I expected. I tend to be imagine the worst and I then am pleasantly surprised when the worst doesn’t pan out. I am grateful to have this all behind me.

Because of my recovery, our family has had plenty of downtime these last few weeks. I’ve enjoyed reading (of course) and I’ve started watching a bit more television to help me relax. The boys are swimming every night in the pool. We’ve been doing workbook pages in the mornings, crafts and experiments, and there have been plenty of hours at play.  Jeremy has on the hunt for a small SUV and a great deal. We test drove a Nissan Rogue last week. While we didn’t purchase that vehicle, the test drive was good for our research. We aren’t in a hurry for a new vehicle. I appreciate Jeremy taking his time to search out the best fit for our family and budget.

I’ve enjoyed the slower pace for my recovery season. This week things picked up. I had dinner for the first time with a friend inside a restaurant.  We had a play date at a friend’s house. The one piece of my plans that didn’t pan out this last week was my MOPS & MOMSnext Leadership Retreat. At the last minute, we had to postpone due to unforeseen circumstances. This was a disappointment because I was ready to have the “big” discussion about how our group will operate this coming year. I was looking forward to having it settled. I am still living with the unsettled feeling, but having our conversation in August might give us more clarity. With local guidelines changing every few weeks, we might have more insight closer to our September launch time.

Living with an unsettled feeling seems to be the new normal for me. Like most parents, I am waiting to know what our local school district plans for the fall. I am waiting to settle details for MOPS & MOMSnext. I am aware that cases of COVID-19 are rising in my area. When the world shut down in March, I had no clue that our present reality at the end of July would still be so affected by this virus. It’s hard to live with so many unresolved questions on my mind. I know that I am not alone in this mental struggle. I’ve stopped reading books about homeschooling because constantly contemplating education was making it hard for me to relax. When my anxiety level rises, I pause to journal, read my Bible, and pray. I am reminded that I don’t need all the answers. I know the One who does. Trusting God is a daily decision and sometimes it feels like a minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour decision.

What helps with my unsettled feelings is living in the present. I can’t answer questions about tomorrow, next week, next month, the fall. I can make plans, but I have seen how easily they change. Nothing is certain. So I focus on today, on this moment. I read stories to my kids and bake muffins with blueberries from Jeremy’s garden. I read on the deck while my boys swim in the pool. The sweet, slow moments add up and they create momentum. I gain optimism from these good and lovely moments. I count my blessings. I do my best to rest and take of my body and my family. While I would love to know more, I learning contentment. It’s a lesson I never seems to fully master, but it is a good ambition. I will keep practicing.

IMG_6875

Graham completed his preschool workbook that we started in April! He was so excited to start a new Pre-K workbook. 

IMG_6881

Love listening Owen read out loud to his brother!

IMG_6894

It took us many prototypes to create vehicles that would actually roll! 

IMG_6908

The decorated “tube” cars. Getting smiles out of these wild boys is sometimes a challenge! 

TSHQ4343

Jeremy had the boys help him make his lesson for church this last week. I love that Jeremy includes our boys in ministry! 

IMG_6945

First time inside a restaurant since March! And first time seeing this lovely friend since the end of February! 

SLRA5733

Every night is a pool party at our house!

YIUQ8538

Graham gives summer two thumbs up! 

PEUZ3344

Introducing my boys to Peter Rabbit… in a tent… on the back deck. These are the sweet moments that keep me going!

IMG_6988

Today’s baking project – blueberry muffins with berries from Jeremy’s garden! Yum! 

 

Post-Op Update July 13, 2020

Filed under: Coronavirus Chronicles,Simply Me — Amy Scott @ 1:36 pm

Here I am! I’m alive! (Okay, that’s a bit dramatic!) I am thankful to be on the other side of my surgery and I’m happy to share my weekly update!

Last week our family tried to lay low for self-isolation. Since I had to take a pre-op COVID-19 test, the hospital didn’t want me to pick-up something between taking the test and surgery. The only downside to this isolation meant a quiet week before my operation and a quiet week after my operation. I feel like this surgery has taken two weeks of my summer from me. While it might feel like a waste of summer days to just stay home, it’s honestly what I would be doing anyway – thank you, Coronavirus.

The only day that isolation was inconvenient was Wednesday (the day before my surgery). Wednesday was Jeremy & I’s 14th wedding anniversary. The boys were off to a sleepover at Nana & Papa’s house, so Jeremy and I had the day to ourselves. Now we could have stayed home and tried to pretend like the next day wasn’t a big deal, but that would have been hard. We needed a distraction. Since the weather wasn’t too bad, we took a drive to the beach. It was nice to talk on the ride out to the beach without having to talk over the kids. We got take-out from our favorite restaurant. We went to Costco (which is apparently how we spend our dates). This was the only non-isolated activity of the day and I was very careful to social distance. We took a walk on the beach and then took off for home. It was a quick outing, but it kept my mind occupied which was helpful.

Thursday was my surgery to remove a benign mass that had been growing quickly and causing me discomfort. I got to the hospital at 10:00am and spent a considerable amount of time waiting. Someone had arrived two hours late for their surgery and it threw off the timeline for the day. I had ample time to wait and be nervous. I had one moment where I shed a few tears. I was sweating in the plastic hospital gown with my mask on (these materials don’t breathe well). My IV wasn’t going into my hand and they couldn’t get a good temperature or heart rate from me. Apparently the forehead thermometer is very sensitive when you are sweaty so they had to find an oral thermometer to get a better reading. It was frustrating because I was fever-free when I entered the building only an hour before. I blame the plastic gown, face mask, and nerves. I was a sweaty mess. The IV had to be placed in my arm instead of my hand. I told the nurses I am an Enneagram Type 1 so I hate when things aren’t “right” and I struggle with failure. My most stressful moments were over things I couldn’t control and yet I felt like I was failing.

Once the actual surgery happened, things improved. I was told by one of the nurses that my doctor/OR nurse combination was the absolute best in the hospital. I’ve heard so many good things about my surgeon from multiple staff members. It gave me peace of mind. I opted for a form of anesthesia they call “twilight” instead of full-on general anesthesia. I was asleep for the surgery, but I had an easier time coming out of surgery. I can remember being in the OR both before and after surgery. I hate feeling out of control, so the ability to think clearly matters to me. I don’t like feeling out of it. I left the hospital fairly quickly post-op (especially in comparison to pre-op). I was numbed so well from the surgery that I really felt has “normal” as I possibly could have for just having surgery.

My recovery has gone better than I imagined. My pain level has been minimal. I’ve been able to rest and lay low with the help of family. Both Jeremy’s parents and my parents have provided meals for us. Jeremy’s parents kept the boys until I was comfortable and settled at home. My mom has watched the boys for me a few times. Jeremy took the kids on adventures. We even rested as a family last night by watching a movie in our big bed. I am doing my best to rest, but I glad that I am comfortable enough to do daily tasks like laundry and keeping the counters clean. I’ve taken a few short walks.

I’m so glad that this surgery is behind me now and checked off the to-do list. July is a bit of a business month. Between surgery and MOPS planning, I’ve been in grown-up mode. I’m looking forward to “fun” adventures in August. With the fall being unknown still, I want to enjoy this down time and make the most of these quiet moments. They might not be exciting, but I have a feeling that my soul needs to recover just as much as my body does right now. I’m praying for peace, comfort, and rest. While this hasn’t been the busiest, flashiest, or most fun summer I’ve ever had, I am grateful, I am blessed, I am loved.

IMG_6800

Extra time at home before surgery meant many large blanket forts for these boys!

IMG_6803

Enjoying fort life!

IMG_6816

When we have time alone together, we go to Costco!  It’s our love language! Haha! We do appreciate a kid-free trip to Costco!

IMG_6839

A walk on the beach to celebrate 14 years of married life!

IMG_6852

You can’t tell from this picture, but this one size fits all purple gown was practically a sumo suit on me!

IMG_6856

Post-op goodies from family! Feeling loved and taken care of!

IMG_6860

To give me some quiet time at home, Jeremy took the boys on an adventure with some of the cousins.

IMG_6863

Down time and s’mores go so well together! As you can see, Jeremy approves!

IMG_6869

I got a six pack of these ice packs on Amazon! Possibly the best thing I’ve ever purchased. Ice packs are my new best friend!

IMG_6867

Family movie night! Instead of sharing what I’ve read this month! I might share what I’ve watched instead!

 

July is here! July 6, 2020

Filed under: Coronavirus Chronicles,Family Time,Simply Me — Amy Scott @ 11:02 am

This last week we said good-bye to June and hello to July. This summer certainly has a different feel to it. Usually July would mean daily swimming lessons at the local pool and multiple play dates a week. Now our days are mostly spent at home. We keep social events outside so we can have distance and limit the use of masks. Even with our endeavors to be outdoors, we are getting used to wearing masks when we aren’t home. We are adapting to this new normal and making the most of it.

This last week we made a couple of meal deliveries to families with new babies. I love that this ministry can continue even through a pandemic. Dropping a meal at a door is a quick and simple way to show love. We did two deliveries last week and we have another one to do today. Lots of babies to celebrate in our community!

With plenty of time at home, we’ve had time for puzzles, games, fort building, and baking. The days have been cloudy and gray for the most part so we’ve been snuggled inside playing and enjoying the free time summer brings. When it warms up, we head outside to play, explore, and exercise.

The special outing of our week was a trip up to see my sweet grandma (or GG has my boys call her). I’ve been keeping in touch with my grandma through phone calls and mail over the last few months. It was great to finally have an in-person opportunity to connect with her. My heart was definitely full after our visit!

This weekend was full of celebrating with family! We had Jeremy’s brothers and their kiddos over for the 4th of July. Our kids were so excited to swim with their cousins, show off the beaver dam, and light off fireworks. There is such a happy feeling watching cousins play and make childhood memories together! Yesterday was my dad’s birthday so we celebrated with my side of the family. My sister and brother-in-law joined us. It had been many months since we’d all been together. It was a great way to celebrate my dad! Nothing like good food and family to make a weekend feel special!

Now to share about my next “adventure”… I will be having surgery this Thursday to remove a benign mass that is growing and causing me discomfort. I’ve known about the mass for years, but this November it started to bother me. I went to the doctor and had it monitored for six months. It grew considerably during that time so it was decided that it was time to biopsy it in May. Thankfully the the results were benign. The fact that is continuing to grow and cause me discomfort is the reason I opted for surgery to remove it. I am nervous and not looking forward to the surgery, but I am trying to be a grown up and take care of my health. From having a biopsy, to having a mandatory pre-op COVID-19 test, to surgery – I keep reminding myself that I am capable of doing hard and uncomfortable things. I don’t have to like it, but I can get the job done and take care of myself.  Thanks to this being a slower summer, I will be able to rest and recover without too much disruption to commitments. I will be leading a MOPS leadership retreat 8 days after my surgery, so please pray that I will be able to lead without discomfort.

That’s the news for now! I’ll see you on the other side of my surgery and hopefully I’ll have a positive update to share with you all!

IMG_6517

Learning how to play checkers!

IMG_6524

This week’s baking project! The boys helped me make a red, white, and blue layer cake. They even put the sprinkles on the cake!

IMG_6558

Graham received his school art portfolio this week. He had a lot of fun walking down memory lane!

EUHR8435

Visiting GG!

IMG_6601

New puzzle! Oh how these kids love geography! They are obsessed with maps of any kind!

GLCW4579

Happy 4th of July from the Scotts!

IMG_6667

Parachute men are a favorite activity on the 4th!

IMG_6701

Introducing the cousins to the beaver dam!

IMG_6745

Sparkler Time!

VESS2984

I hope Grandpa didn’t want to blow out his own birthday candles!

 

 

What I’m Reading & What I’m Loving – June 2020 June 29, 2020

Filed under: Amy's Bookshelf,What I'm Loving — Amy Scott @ 8:47 am

What I’m Reading This Month:

IMG_6495

  • Mistress Pat by LM Montgomery* – On my Kindle, this is the second half of the Pat of Silver Bush series. It was a timely read because Pat is obsessed with her childhood home and can’t bear the thought of leaving it. I can relate to Pat loving home and fearing change.
  • Todd & Christy: The College Years by Robin Jones Gunn* – Until Tomorrow, As You Wish, I Promise – I started reading these books in high school. You can see how worn they are on the top of my pile. Until Tomorrow is 20 years old! Last month was a RJG heavy reading month and June continued the theme!
  • The Katie Weldon Series by Robin Jones Gunn* – Peculiar Treasures, On A Whim, Coming Attractions, Finally & Forever – Christy’s best friend, Katie, picks up the story right after Christy & Todd get married.
  • Todd & Christy: The Married Years by Robin Jones Gunn* – Forever With You, Home of Our Hearts, One More Wish – These books are on my Kindle so I haven’t re-read them until now. I wish I would have spent the extra money has gotten in paperback form.
  • Todd & Christy: The Baby Years by Robin Jones Gunn* – Sandy Toes, Salty Kisses, Sunset Lullaby – Again, this series is on my Kindle so it was only my second time reading these stories. Visiting Todd and Christy is like visiting childhood friends!
  • Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable Peace by Sarah Mackenzie – I asked a close friend if she would share some of her homeschool resources with me as I contemplate school this fall. This was the first book that she told me to read because it would help me realize that no matter what I do, I won’t screw up my children by homeschooling them. There is a lot of stress that can go into homeschooling – am I doing the right thing? Are my kids on track? Did I pick the right curriculum? I enjoyed the perspective of peace and rest when it comes to homeschooling.
  • The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids by Sarah Mackenzie – My friend also recommended this book. It’s not really a homeschooling book, but it’s a compelling case for reading aloud with your kids even after they have learned to read for themselves.

What I’m Loving This Month:

  • Homeschool Resources – My friend let me borrow a box full of homeschooling books. Some books are curriculum and some are about the philosophy of homeschooling. While our family is still on the fence about homeschooling this fall, I greatly enjoy learning new things. I don’t want to wait until August to formulate a plan for the fall. I’ve been reading curriculum reviews and watching YouTube videos to show me inside curriculum.  I now have a fairly good idea of what curriculum I might use if I decide to homeschool.
  • The Pioneer Women – Her most recent episodes are filmed from home with her kids as her camera crew. The episodes are hilarious and the recipes are fairly simple since she assumes people are shopping less and staying home more. Jeremy and I have tested out a few of her recipes recently and they were quite tasty. We made her French Toast Roll-Ups and Hashbrown Pizza. Yum!
  • My People! – Birthday celebrations, Father’s Day Weekend, Play Dates, Family Fridays – I’ve been able to see a few of my core people in-person this month. This is a cause for celebration and joy! As much as I love being home in my own little world, I’m glad that my circle of in-person people has widened slightly!
  • Switchfoot Concert – For the last seven years, I have tried to see Switchfoot in concert. It’s never worked out and I’ve always been sad about that. When Switchfoot decided to offer an online concert, I couldn’t pass it up. I went to many SF concerts in my high school years and I have so many good memories of this band. I was thrilled for the opportunity to make a new memory with them!
IMG_6511

Watching a concert from my couch fits the grown-up version of me. I was comfy for the show and then went right to bed afterwards with no late drive home. It was also really fun to introduce Jeremy to a Switchfoot concert! Seeing this band in concert was a huge part of my teen years, so I loved being able to share this piece of my story with my hubby! 

 

Does It Feel Like Summer? June 27, 2020

Filed under: Coronavirus Chronicles,Family Time — Amy Scott @ 10:21 am

We’ve had two weeks of our summer schedule and I keep pondering to myself – does it feel like summer? Now in Washington state, I could mean the weather. As I look out the window next to me, I am looking at gray clouds and the forecast even has showers for tomorrow. We’ve had some gray days this month, especially over the weekends. But really, I’m not referring to the weather when I wonder if it feels like summer. I’m referring to the change of pace, the summer vibes. Do I feel them?

My answer is kinda. They are there, but they aren’t as strong as years past. Usually the end of the school year brings a dramatic change to our household. With the kids being home all day since March, school being out doesn’t seem like a big shift. We started each day this week with 30 minutes of summer workbooks (15 minutes for each boy to keep their brains engaged) and then we moved into an hour of VBA (Vacation Bible Adventure) at home. Rocky Railway was the theme this year and my kids LOVED IT! It was a great time to sing, dance, learn about the Bible, and do a fun craft/activity each day. In a way VBA took up the window of time that “school” had filled just weeks before. Our flow of focused mornings, quiet afternoons, and free evenings has remained even after school is out.

Now there are some ways that it does feel like summer. Over the last week, we’ve turned on the air-conditioning as the days have risen into the 80’s. That feels like summer, for sure! My boys have spent every sunny evening in the pool. Jeremy is doing swimming lessons at home with the boys. Graham’s confidence in the water has sky-rocketed in just the last week. It’s fun to watch them learn important life skills from their father. I can swim, but I don’t relish time in the pool (unless I can just sit on a lounge float and soak up the sun). I’m thankful that Jeremy can engage our little swimmers at their level! He is truly the best dad ever! Another way that it feels like summer is our family adventures on Fridays! Last Friday, we hiked around Mt. St. Helen’s. Yesterday, we went to NW Trek with Nana & Papa. What a unique experience we had as we drove our own van through the wildlife park! It was also our first family outing where masks were mandatory. The boys did a great job keeping their masks on in public. The whole experience gave me hope that we can continue to do fun things that we love even if they look different for a while.

I find that I’m living in a season with more questions than answers. I had no clue when things shut down in March that life would look this way heading into July. I honestly thought this whole virus thing would blow over by May. I thought kids would go back to school, I thought I would coordinated weddings at the church, I thought we would be back to “normal” by summer. Now I’m realizing that normal seems like a distant memory – the good old days. I’m wrapping my head around a new world where masks are necessary, schedules are disrupted, and adapting to change is crucial. It might not be the summer I expected, but summer is here. I told Jeremy that I don’t want to spend my summer wringing my hands with anxiety over what the future holds. I want to live this summer day by day, moment by moment. The big picture might be hard to see, so I’ll focus in on what I can see – today, this moment. As we continue to move forward, I’m hopeful the summer vibes will come our way!

IMG_6275

Collecting moths has become a thing to do around our house. I’m happy to report that as of last night all the moths have been released back into nature! 

RUVZ2268

Excited for their first day of Rocky Railway! I love that my kids didn’t miss out on a VBA experience this year! And they got to do it in their pajamas (which as you know is how we roll these days).

IMG_6291

Learning the Bible Lesson from Teacher Lauren! These boys were so excited to watch “their” teacher from church. Jeremy and the kids team worked hard to make VBA a fantastic experience for our community of kiddos! 

IMG_6302

Tried a new chocolate chip cookie recipe to see if I could achieve a different kind of cookie… they turned out just like my go-to recipe, so apparently I only make one kind of a cookie… 

IMG_6305

Second play date of the season, so we had to go the beaver dam. It never gets old!

IMG_6337

The determined face of a kid trying to master the kick board.

TKAS9056

This feels like summer right here! 

JJWF2363

Family Outing to NW Trek! 

HXUU0468

Usually you ride through the wildlife park in a tram, but for a short window of time they are having personal vehicles drive through! Such a unique and memorable opportunity! 

UVBR2026

Even though the world feels weird, raccoons are still cute! 

PS: If you want to watch my 5 minutes of VBA fame, you can here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFFjU008neg. I had fun teaching a short and sweet Bible lesson about being good friends!