Transporting Ourselves

So our "summer" began.  I mean, we have been home together for months without stepping foot in a school, but summer break is no official.  We aren't really traveling anywhere, you know that Covid-19 situation and all.  But we are going to find fun things to do to keep us busy and transport ourselves to other places- some literal, some quite imaginary.

Grant is taking the literal route here and learning to transport himself via automobile!  Here he is after passing his learner's permit test, holding the coveted paper that proves his eligibility to operate behind the wheel.  

Dave took the kids to a park to run and roll down the hill.  Isn't it so great that rolling down a hill has been a favorite past time for ages!  Keepin it simple-that has to be one of the lessons of 2020.  Those simple things tend to be the things that last.  

All camps/EFY's/youth conferences, President's Club, etc have been officially canceled for this year.  Thus, there would be no transporting ourselves to other lands on vacation.  But,  we found we could still feel like we are on top of the world...

We took Kate Cowley with us on a hike of Ensign Peak.  It is nice to be around friends (we try to stay outside).

Harrison, whose imagination eclipses mine stood atop that hill and transported him self right to Rio de Janeiro. 

 

Most 6 year olds like to impersonate world renowned statues, right? Ha!  

He may be unique in his love for famous architecture and art, but Harrison has fallen into the very popular with the kids (and many adults) Star Wars club.  Because sports have been off the tv (with the exception of some riveting Corn Hole competitions on ESPN- for real hahahah), Harrison has had to spend his time in other ways.  He hasn't been asking to look up logos and make schedules.  He has begun to watch Star Wars.  Grant has enjoyed that-bringing back memories of his childhood.  Harrison has even shifted his career goals.  I no longer hear about which professional sport he will begin with, but he declared that he would like to rule the galaxy when he grows up.  He will give his kids a chance to join him, he said...or they can die.  Well...I am not sure if we are going to encourage that path of employment.  Hopefully sports resume so I don't have to worry about intergalactic terror headed by my child.  

When Caleb was down for a visit, he let Harrison use his extra special light saber.  It was an epic battle.  

This past Christmas we gave the kids season passes to Lagoon. We thought with the virus outbreak we wouldn't be able to use those passes.  Lagoon decided to open up with limited capacity, social distancing and mask rules-so we thought we should do something this summer.  I already took them every week in June, I think I need a small pause on the Lagoon fun.  

It has been somewhere we could be transported to new speeds, heights and adventure.  Harrison, however, will not give the Cannibal another chance this year. We asked him to try it, he screamed while on it, yelling,"Why am I doing this?"  He got off saying he would never try it again.  When we met up with Caleb the following week, we thought we could talk Harrison into it.  He got all the way to the front of the line when he fell to the ground and refused to board the roller coaster even while the rest of us were sitting in it.  It was quite the scene and I wanted to transport myself to another place, immediately!   Harrison said the ride is a thing of his nightmares, so we will hope for better luck next year.  

Shannon and Brenna had been talking about playing Clue and making it a whole murder mystery night.  So, Shannon made it happen.  We were transported to a crime scene right from our kitchen.

The best part was we all took on a character.  Harrison was known as Monsieur Brunette for the evening and he took his accent very seriously.  It was exceptional.  

Miss Peach was a doll and her friend Madame Rose also showed up.  

It was intense and fun!  

While we haven't been able to travel much or transport ourselves to places we thought we would be going this year, we are still trying to get out of our regular routine.  We have learned a lot and while discussing scripture stories we have loved the videos that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has made to accompany the chapters.  Our kids have anticipated watching them, so much that Harrison even cheers and has big plans to imitate it.  We watched as a scripture family took a difficult journey in the desert and now he thinks our family should also have a desert wilderness hardship to teach us and use it as a vacation.  My ideas of vacations next year will be different.  Harrison also said he has plans for his future family-desert journeys included. He said that will teach them about the pioneers.

 He told me he is going to be a really, really good dad.  But, once a month he said he will "be really hard on his kids, because it is good for them.  You can't be nice all the time. That's how they learn.  They need to step it up."  I will be interested to see how the once a month schedule works out for the Harrison McArthur family.   We can't necessarily transport ourselves wherever we want to go while we are on desert journeys, pioneer-like treks, or covid caused isolations.  But, we can transform ourselves to see the good and make it good-for now, that's what we are going for.  Also, praying hard for Harrison's future children!  Haha!