Things That Are Good

 There have been many things that are good in this time of staying home. I can't really call it a quarantine since to my knowledge we haven't been exposed. It's also not a lockdown since our governor "can't lock down the state." But whatever this is called, there has been plenty of things that are keeping us smiling!

Like games. We are a board game family anyway so this has been a nice time to play with each other extra. M and I had quite the Guess Who? battle. She's quite good at it.

Husband and I also have been playing games in the evening after the kids go to sleep. Keeping our brains sharp and our communication solid. It's quite easy to not talk a lot if you're watching a show. 

Twinning with my girl, mostly an unplanned event. I braided her hair at night after her shower since we didn't have time to dry it. I then opted to do the same for mine because I was tired. 

I was wearing my VBS shirt all day. M changed into hers for her walk with Husband. But nevertheless, for about an hour, we twinned. There's a VERY small window where she will think this is fun so I am just going to embrace it. 

My parents sent the kids spreaders. My dad swears by using a spreader over a knife for peanut butter. And admittedly, when the kids make PB&J they do tend to hack the bread up a bit. So it's a handy little tool that makes the day to day stuff more exciting. 

This kid got to do his Spanish video lesson. And then found his favorite video from kindergarten Spanish. He laughed and laughed and watched it several times. I took a quick picture and texted it to his teacher. She remembered how much he loved it well!

Our daffodils have bloomed. March came in with one day like a lamb. Then a lot of gross with one nice day sprinkled in here and there. And it went out, cold but sunny? Is that lion-y or lamb-y? It's still lovely to have a sure sign of Spring!

We have been keeping busy with all sorts of extra activities including Perler beads. There's something so satisfying melting plastic beads with an iron into fun shapes. Plus it feels very zen as you are creating. 

I made my first ever cheesecake yesterday. We haven't tried it yet but it looks okay. It didn't crack at least. There are some brown dots on the top but I can live with that. I will try and do better next time. And I guess we will see if it taste good later.

Yesterday C also had his first zoom with his class. They aren't doing anything educational in their meetings. Just 20 minutes of being social with each other. I was kicked out of the area as Husband supervised. Apparently, there was chaos, and then order as the teacher called on each kid to share, and then more chaos. But I think they all adored having that little bit of face to face time with each other.

And so it's another day. It's April Fool's Day but since it feels just exactly the same as yesterday no tricks are needed. Have a great Wednesday everyone!

Monday

Hello Monday!

Our weekend was pretty normalish. Groceries were obtained. Church was viewed.

I discovered my Echo Buds were the best Christmas present I could have ever imagined. They have Bose noise-canceling technology. Even if I am not listening to music I can't hear the noise of my children. Don't get me wrong, they are not neglected. I can see them. I just can't hear them. And sometimes... that's worth all the money in the world.

So apparently we are social distancing until at least April 30. Okay. I wonder what that means for schools here? I legitimately wonder if it would do more harm than good to go back for a month? By the time all the kids found their groove again school would be over. I don't know. We will see. Time will tell.

Our state isn't sheltered in place. So it's really hard to keep up our spirits watching lots of people just go about their normal lives. Just going to keep on keeping on I guess. What else can we do?!

This weekend we also spent a lot of time with Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed the Rock Experience. More Mo of course.

The Alliance Theatre out of Atlanta had to cancel their production but they made it available to stream for 48 hours with a donation. So we did that for Family Movie Night Friday. We've had the record for a while and on Saturday because it was so rainy we brought the record player upstairs and listened some more to the soundtrack. And we watched it two more times before it expired.

This weekend would have been my next show to see for work, as well as a show to see for pleasure. Both were canceled. One theatre canceled their entire season. Sad.

Last night we went to the Corona Kindness Light Show. It didn't start til 8 so the kids went in their pajamas. This is across the street from the big Christmas light show house. But they helped create the show on our friend's house!!

Just a few minutes of upbeat dancing and flashing lights really does a spirit good. 

Our school week is off to a good start!! But my zoom rosary didn't work well today. I am not a fan of that!

What's Up?

This week has been full of ups and downs. I am so thankful that we are safe at home and things seem be going pretty well. We've struggled a little adjusting to this new normal but all within the range of what you'd expect.

Things that have made life sweeter include a social distancing safe flower delivery from a friend.

I have my kids writing a letter to a friend every weekday. It's like social distancing connections, this week has been fun for the kids to get mail back from some of their friends.

When my parents came to visit 2 weeks ago, before the world shut down, they brought us a Super Nintendo. So the kids are slowly learning how to play some video games. They still bounce when Mario or Luigi do and they lean to the side. It's been super cute to watch.

Wednesday we picked up the school stuff. And it was the first time I really mourned the end of the school year as we know it. While I hope and pray we can go back to school this year, I just don't think it's super likely. The school sent home ALL of the everything. There is nothing in the classrooms that belongs to my children anymore. 

It was heartbreaking. It just became real. What really hit me was C's teacher sent home a birthday certificate for his end of May birthday. It took my breath away. 

Husband points out that they just don't want to have a pick-up event later if we don't go back but we can easily send in our supplies again if we need to. 

The teachers are so cute, they asked for pictures of the kids with their work if possible. And both kids have emailed their teacher their work. 

All in all though, we are good! I hope you are as well!! 

Our Domestic Church

Since for the time being, we are stuck churching from home we decided to fully decorate as such!

It should be noted that I must have fully lost my mind in delirious isolation because my normal self would no way think this was a good idea. But for "creative time" yesterday we made our own "stained glass" window.

I taped it up. Painters tape really is the key to homeschooling for me. It's useful for so many things. I ordered more. 

The kids painted. It's just washable paint mixed with dish soap. I've tested it, Windex takes it right off! 

Then we peeled back the tape and let it dry a good while with no one around. In fact, I made them go clean up the porch. 

Then we set up our little Mass kit altar for a Mass. Because why not? It should be noted that this whole thing makes us seem 100% more pious than our "watching Sunday Mass on TV" behavior would actually indicate. 

But it was a fun activity and it really does look cool. So total win?! 

Scenes from the Weekend

How was your weekend in? Ours wasn't too eventful. The good news is that Husband officially has begun working from home today. So that's interesting. We will have to see how it all plays out. 

This little extrovert gal was so excited to get to talk to one of her besties on Facetime. We don't have iPhones so she was stuck on a computer. But that was good! 

The giggling was something else. It was good for my heart. 

Last night Husband and I had a little at-home date night. We played Skip-Bo, and had cookies and grown-up hot chocolate. (Spiked.) Because apparently, it's Christmas here. 

Our winter wonderland last night. It's all going to melt today but I sent the kids out to play in it this morning. They're actually out there now. Snow and fresh air is good for them. 

This morning we had our typical Monday rosary via zoom. It wasn't as good as the normal chaos but it was so nice to see their sweet faces and pray together. Plus these days we've got to take what we can get. I am praying that the social distancing really cuts back on the spread! 

Finally Friday

Well, we made it to Friday. That's good.

I think the stir-crazy has set in. It's been rainy and gross so we haven't been able to get outdoors which is not ideal. Today is going to be cold but we will go out if even for a few minutes because we just have to.

It's weird since Husband still has to go to work. On some level, the kids don't really see how this is much different than a normal break. Except we've seen no friends and done none of the fun things we had talked about doing for Spring Break.

Our school plan is that there will be some sort of organized time to go pick up stuff at school on Wednesday. That gives the teachers 2 days to make packets and figure everything out. Everyone is doing their best and I am not worried about the school part.

M is a total extrovert so she is not doing so hot with the whole isolation thing. She is stuck to us all like glue.

C is a total introvert and isn't getting enough alone time so he's freaking out about all the things.

It's been... fun.

Wednesday I snuck out in the evening to go to church. Some of my rosary group met for a rosary in the sanctuary.

We were 8 in total and we all sat very far apart!

I almost cried walking into church though. I miss it so much already! I so appreciate the posting of daily mass for us online, and the live rosary is wonderful too. It's not the same but I will take what I can get. They've also been doing an evening devotional, so that's been nice. 

I am trying to figure out a meal plan for the next week. All the grocery stores have limited hours which is super annoying to me. I totally get it. And I will not order grocery pickup as requested since we can shop normally. But because Husband still has to go into work, and I can't take the kids out because that's irresponsible, there aren't a whole lot of options on when to actually go shopping! 

What's on your menus? What obvious meal am I not thinking of? 

Okay, well, if you need me, I'll be around. The good news of social distancing is that people are blogging. I like that. 

Home Schooling

It's raining today. A literal damper on the potential to get outside today. If it stops we will probably put on our boots and go for a walk.

We started our schedule today. The kids 100% earned their spring break and I feel a little bad that I am having them work on academics during their time off. But Kansas has already canceled school through the rest of the year and if we go the same route we will need routine sooner than later.

In the first part of our day, we wrote letters. I ordered stamps today so we will be well-stocked, but I think writing a letter to a friend every day is a great way to stay connected with our friends.

I am glad that we got workbooks last week "just in case." Hopefully, we will get some more guidance as time goes on from the teachers. It's funny, I always kind of wanted to homeschool and this is my chance to see if it's really something we could do. Admittedly, I don't have an actual curriculum but I think I can wing it okay for now. I have Seton Math already and that's where I'd really struggle to teach on my own anyway. 

Morning recess is Cosmic Kids Yoga today. I imagine as it gets nicer we will be able to be outside more and more.

I have some grief if the school year as we know it really is over. But perspective really is everything. A little boy from M's class has been battling cancer and is getting moved home from the hospital to hospice. His family would give just about anything to spend time with him and for him to go to kindergarten. And here I am sad that potentially the next time my perfectly healthy (and currently virus-free) kid goes back to school she will be in kindergarten. 

Thankful always. That's the only way. 

And one day at a time. That too. 

Our parish is posting daily Mass for us every morning. And a rosary at noon. I am so grateful because I already miss my faith family and even if it's connecting online, I will take it.