I think I'm getting used to our new normal. I guess it takes two weeks. I don't mind it so much now and feel like I've accepted our new routine. It's peaceful! Even with ten people in our house. So. The peace doesn't come from quiet. It also doesn't come from not having things to do, because everyone has lots of schoolwork and even the one chore I've assigned everyday to each person in the household only gets done about half of the time. I guess it's peaceful because we don't need to go anywhere and there's no chance we'll be late for anything and if Megan says, "We're going on a hike!" and Beth and Ben want to go, then I just let them go because there will be plenty of time later to do their work. If we stay up too late, we just sleep in.

We did have one appointment this week and we were so excited to have it! Last week we called the temple to schedule a time for Mariah to take out her endowments. They told us they didn't have time for all the appointments that had been made before the temples had limited attendance so they didn't have time for us. We were sad. But Saturday night we got a call telling us they'd had a cancellation on Wednesday afternoon and did we want to take the opening? Did we ever! She could bring only six guests, so Kevin and I, Savannah, Sarah, Megan, and Grandma Gazdik came with her. What a unique and special experience! We felt so blessed. Later that evening, the church announced the complete closure of all temples until further notice. We just barely squeaked in!!

Mariah left the next day. She took Kevin's car and went back to Dixie to get her stuff and say goodbye to friends and wrap things up. She said she didn't know how long she'd stay but no longer than a week. We miss her and hope she doesn't get sick!

Megan did take Mariah, Ammon, Beth, and Ben on a hike to the Y this week. They said Ben complained ALOT but they somehow made it to the top and back and stopped at Reams to bring ice cream home to the fam!

Ben has had crazy amounts of work assigned from school! Some moms talked to the teacher and by Thursday/Friday his work was more reasonable but most of the days this week saw him in front of the chromebook we got from school--either doing his work or pretending to do it while actually avoiding it. Poor kid!

Bethany seems to have it best. Her work only takes a few hours tops and then she has the Mila's to play with. Megan, Ammon, Savannah, Cali, and Chey do homework a whole lot! Everyday they manage to do some exercise, too. Online Zumba in the family room is my favorite, but they also will sometimes go play tennis or run or hike.

Sarah and McKay came over on Saturday and also Wednesday after the temple and brought their new favorite game to play with the fam. I think it is called Golem but they just call it "the jewel game." This was the fam Saturday afternoon:

Game, treadmill, chilling on the beanbag.

Homework

And what do I do you may ask? I've been helping a little with Kevin's business so I like to sit next to Ben while he does his work and I do mine. I've also gone on long walks at sunset (my favorite time!) and read some books. I also try to keep the house in order and have family dinner every night. No one's schedule conflicts with family dinner anymore! That's pretty nice. I've also been Marco Poloing by sisters and mom a lot. That's been really fun!

Typical morning. That's my computer bottom left. Twins at the counter, Beth and Ben at the table.

Sunset trails!

Gorgeous, right?

Last Sunday was a really fun day. The weather was beautiful! Grandma and Grandpa came for sacrament meeting again and we had talks from Mariah and Savannah and testimonies from Cali and Chey. After that, all my daughters tried on the bridesmaid dresses that we picked up this week. They all looked so cute we had to take pictures and then I thought it'd be fun to get out the bouquets from Sarah's wedding, and it was so fun! After that we went on another long family walk (hike) and had Sunday dinner and some YouTube sunday school and some games.

These are the skirts Meg brought back from Malaysia.

We have Cali and Beth in some pretty tall heels!

I love being with this group of people!

Just because I'm getting used to things, doesn't mean everyone is. I think Cali and Chey are really struggling with the loss of their old life. They do talk on their phones a lot with friends which I think is good for them, but I guess it is not the same. I suppose we will all get through somehow!