#20

Birthday #2 in quarantine.

Lily turned 20 on Saturday.

My girl has grown up. Quarantine has been hard for her--she's on leave from her job and there isn't much to do (and she is a DO-ER!), but she played with the kids and got Claussen pickles. So what more could a gal ask for?

Love you, Jane.

First Two Weeks of Social Distancing

How two weeks of social distancing have played out at the Sanatorium:

The kids have responded miraculously well to it all. I'm sure that will wear off with time, but for the first two weeks, they got along beautifully. I do believe that one of the side effects of life coming to a virtual standstill is coming closer as families.

We've learned together--these three have been pretty forgiving when it comes to learning from their mom.

 I've made dozens of mistakes, and I don't know if they've learned very much, but they've each read and reported on at least one book not of their choosing (Micah--Unbroken; Hyrum--Endurance; Eve--The Giver and Gathering Blue). We've had a few attempts at math on Khan Academy, but with no direction from their teachers, I don't really know where to start them. We've watched Mark Rober every day and added in a little Crash Course US History from John Green. They're not progressing along a curriculum, but we have learned a few things.

The day we spent trying to make hexa-flexagons. Two hours and we finally got one to flip . . . 

We've worshipped together--Sunday meetings are shorter than normal, but we've had sacrament meeting and Sunday School each week, thanks to videos from the church and members of our ward, and handouts and directions from local leaders and teachers.

We've watched movies together--almost every night. UP, Captain Marvel, even added in some classics like Cool Runnings.

We've also been to stores with many barren shelves, pieced together a few meals when what we wanted was missing, and waved to our friends from six feet away as they walk the neighborhood with their families.

This social distancing will get harder and harder, and I'm anticipating a small revolt this week.

We've worked together--dug a new foundation for our chicken coop and adopted ten new hens (one died after only a few days, but the rest seem to be acclimating well).

This is S'mores, the short-lived member of our flock.

Eve was so sad.

All of them are tame and beautiful and lay consistently.

They've been a fun new distraction/addition to our family.


We've played together--almost every afternoon the kids play a few games of "Cover your A$$ets with Marc and Ashley (they live in our guest house and since we live together, we count as family, right?).

It's been pleasant most of the time, to be honest. AZ spring weather is perfection, with the slight breezes perfumed with citrus. We've been on bike rides and runs and walks.

Sounds like heaven, right?

I don't know if I'd describe it as heaven, exactly. But it isn't hell, either.

As for me, I haven't made time for my schoolwork. I had a big assignment due last Monday, but it was an excuse letter. I've eaten all. the. things and I wrecked on my bike last Tuesday, which resulted in a very minor concussion and a tweaked back that has lingered till today. I'm hoping by tomorrow I can get back to exercising. But the eating is all my own fault. I'm a big stress eater, and there's been plenty of that intertwined with the Shangrila moments.

So. Many. Good-n-Plenty boxes.

I don't know how I feel about all of the COVID-19 thing. We're following social distancing recommendations. We're fine financially. I wonder if this is all too much because of the economic toll. I wonder if this is all not enough because not everyone is following protocol and that will negate most of our efforts. I wonder if my neighbors are as strict with their kids or if they're stricter (and where should I be in that?). I wonder if someone I love will get the virus--and if that means I'll never see them again or is that just too doomsday and silly. I wonder how long can it continue and how much of our summer will be affected by this new reality we live every day.

It's a weird time, and life has changed in two weeks.

I can't say I hate it. But I don't love it either.

So strange.

This Is All of Us

Recognize this picture? This used to be my blog header. 

The original Dentons and our first in-law.

Now look at us.


All 22 of us.

I had big plans for a great family picture just before Thanksgiving dinner this year, but I forgot to charge my camera battery, and we only got a few mediocre shots.

But look at all these people that I love.

I'm so blessed in my life. That's the truth. Can you identify everyone from their Memoji?


Look out, 2020. Here comes everyone from the Denton Sanatorium!

Rollin' on the River

On a whim, we decided on a Denton family first. After living in the Valley of the Sun for 24 years, we tubed the Salt River.

We packed enough snacks for a 12-hour drive to Utah, rented tubes, and hopped on the bus which takes tubers upriver. It was more fun than I thought. Hyrum ran alongside our caravan, snagging treasures from the branches on the banks or off the bottom of the riverbed, while the rest of us just relaxed, snacked, and talked. We all loved seeing the wild horses cooling off in the water, watching their babies and grazing on the river’s provender. Most eventful moment of the whole trip was our exit, which included a screaming, fearful Eve getting dunked by her dad to get her untangled from the rope in her tube and also included a shocked Mom getting upended unexpectedly and being helped to the bank by a surefooted Hyrum because my shoes kept getting swept off by the current.

Not too bad for a first experience. Will we go back? To be determined at a later date.