Bluebonnets 2020

This corona quarantine has changed our lives in ways we never expected. Each day I try and write a blessing or something positive that has come out of it. Today it was that the bluebonnets that haven't grown in this field close to our house have grown back this year and we got to take advantage and take pictures. I love my kids and am so grateful they are healthy and being great sports about this challenging situation. I also do love Texas and our state flower!!

Love these cute kids and they are getting so big! 

Beautiful girls. 

All my handsome boys! 

The kids insisted Ragnar and I had to get our pictures taken if they had to :) We obliged.  

This is a time we will never forget, but I am so grateful I have a healthy family by my side through it all. 

Spring Break and COVID-19

These past couple weeks have been part of history that has never happened before. So many unprecedented things have been happening and we have been taking it a day at a time. We started Spring break as normal and we went to the park and then on Tuesday we went down to the Houston Rodeo and Livestock show which I love to do each year.

My kids love the farm and seeing the animals and especially the carnival. 

We started at Fun at the Farm where they pretend they are farmers. Even Ella still likes this, even though she pretends she doesn't :) 

They have petting zoos and pig races which I love. 

We did the carnival last, and it was so much fun this year. They kids really worked together to try and win big and they were so excited with their winnings! Cavin used most of his tickets on trying to score a basket so he could win this huge sloth prize! It was as big as him, but he was so proud of himself and SO excited! 

Then Deacon tried his size basketball shot and won two of these basketballs.  

He traded them in for this HUGE ball!  

Ella won this adorable pig!

Then Ella and Cavin helped Channing win this cute unicorn. 

Here they are with their loot. They were so happy and had such a fun time. I loved watching them work together to make sure they all got something they loved.  

After the rodeo, we went over to Ikea and hung out until we went to the Toyota Center and to see a Rockets game. 

We had an awesome time as Ragnar was able to get us a suite by ourselves and it was so nice to just relax in the suite after a long day at the Rodeo! 

The girls were having fun taking pictures! They are cute!

The day after we went to the Toyota Center and the Rodeo, the world shut down. The world had been hit with the Coronavirus (Covid 19) which started in China 3 months ago and has taken over the world. Everything has shut down. No one except essential workers can go in, so Ragnar has been working from home for 2 weeks and there has been no church or school or anything and it's supposed to last for at least another 2 weeks. We will see how it all goes. The NBA suspended their season and so that has hit Ragnar's job pretty hard, but surprisingly I have felt calm about it. I had not felt good about getting a job and wasn't sure why, but have been so grateful I don't have a job to worry about right now as I am able to be home with the kids to teach them.
There have been some blessings for sure.

My birthday was on Monday and it was very uneventful as it was the beginning of a modified stay at home mandate. Luckily my parents and sister were at least able to come over and celebrate as we are not supposed to be with more than 10 people. We played some games, Cavin and Channing made me a Kahoot and we ate a hamburger and cake and then watched a Hallmark. Not a terrible day, but not too exciting as we can't really leave the house. My sweet friend Rachael took me to a pedicure a few days before, so that was nice. Hopefully 37 won't be a year full of some of this crazy stuff going on.

The kids have been being pretty creative! They miss basketball and sports since they are all suspended, so they made a Lego court!

Cavin put together this court and Ella did the stands.  

Channing helped with the concession stand.

There is a ticket booth.  

Also..a food truck! 

They are creative kids and I have loved having some extra time with them! We have been trying to adjust to our new home school schedule and make sure they get their work done and continue to progress.

They put all their beanie boos to good use and buried Deacon :)

Some of my highlights about the quarantine are the MEMEs that come out. I thought these two were funny. 

Ella and I have been working with her Young Women to make masks for the nurses and Doctors who are helping treat the victims of the virus since there is a shortage. They have NOT been easy as we have a really old sewing machine and I am NOT experienced.  

Some of the things I have been saying since all the kids are in school this year is that I so miss them cause they are gone all day! This has been a special opportunity to have a lot of time with the kids. It was so sweet to have Deacon fall asleep for a nap in my arms!  

Ragnar, Cavin, and Ella have been practicing and playing the cello together since the Lamb of God performance got cancelled. 
All in all, we are doing fine. We have food and shelter and we are healthy and together, so we feel very blessed. 
We are praying for our nephews Fabian and John who just started or are starting in the mission field and everything has been turned upside down. This virus has turned our economy upside down and we pray it doesn't take years and years to recover. 

Ragnar's First Half Marathon!!

A day I had only dreamed of came to pass yesterday. I knew when I married Ragnar that soccer was his thing and not running. Yet, through time, I had hoped that someday he would run with me and we could enjoy it together. The past few months of training together have been really fun. I have really enjoyed having the time together to talk (mostly me to him ;)) and workout together. I have always joked that Ragnar should run a half marathon, and this past year I had mentioned it more since he lost 100 pounds and has been working out a lot. Much to my surprise he said he actually thought he could do it and made it a goal for 2020!! Talk about my dream come true ;) So, after a few months of training and long runs, we signed up and his race day was yesterday, March 7, 2020!

My heart was so happy Friday morning when I saw he had set out his clothes for the race. My cute hubbie is becoming a runner ;) 

I got our race packets and our bib numbers that day and so we were all ready! 

The morning was a little chilly, but beautiful!! The sunrise was heavenly! 

Daphne was amazing and came from Baton Rouge to support us. She even went and got our kids so they could be there for their dad and I. We have the best kids!!

The race began and we started strong and I was really excited about what Ragnar could do. We were doing fine until we hit about mile 6 and he saw the first hill. I looked over at him and I saw in his eyes the uncertainty of the task he had ahead of him. It was just a small glimpse, but enough for me to know the rest of the race was going to be a real challenge, and it was. He was physically ready for this race, we had some good training runs, but something about racing does things to your brain. So, while he was physically ready, he wasn't mentally prepared for the inclines and the pure mental exhaustion that comes. It literally was heart breaking to watch him the last 5 miles. He kept going, but I know he was really struggling. I was really having a hard time watching him as I knew exactly how he felt as last year during the full marathon I mentally lost it. It is so hard when you have to fight so hard mentally. All in all, he really struggled to finish, BUT HE DID IT!! He finished. We held hands and crossed the finish line together. 

This picture is a true depiction of our race!

It was a challenge to get him from the finish line out of the corral cause he just wanted to sit down, but we cleared the corral and then he collapsed. He said he had nothing left, and that is always what you hope to be able to say after a race.  

Family support is the best!

I'm so grateful for Daphne to be able to help make this day memorable for us.  

I was so proud of him! He would literally do anything for me, even run a half marathon and I am so lucky to have him give his all for me everyday! 

Our official results! We finished at 2:25.  

Afterward we didn't have time to rest! We hurried to Cavin's soccer game where Ragnar had to coach and then to Culvers for a celebratory lunch! 

It really was a day I won't forget and I am so proud of who Ragnar has become the last year and his very determined focus on his health. It isn't something that is easy for him, and I am so proud of all the efforts he has made and how far he has come! I look forward to many more milestones we can accomplish together!!