Week 6 in quarantine.

Quarantine is just plain awful...it really is.  But I hate to constantly complain about, so I will try to focus on some positives from the past few weeks. 

I love that the weather is changing...Spring has sprung, and it is beautiful!  I love getting outside with my family or just being alone.  But I've found that getting outside is essential for my sanity!  I'm so grateful that we are able to get outside, I know there are many countries that can't...I just couldn't imagine!  I'm including pictures of our latest mountain bike ride with Piper and Haley.  I love having relaxing family time (when everyone gets along!).  Ha!  We eat dinner together every single day...no going out...just together in our dining room and I have really enjoyed it.  Yes, it feels like I've cooked 5 billion meals since we started quarantine, and I do look forward to going out again!  But in the meantime, we have had some really great meals! 

But...I look forward to seeing my girls playing with their friends again.  I look forward to outings without masks.  I look forward to family birthday parties and holidays.  I look forward to hugging people again.  I look forward to going back to work.  I look forward to the way things were. 

It's hard to not be sad all the time.  I do great on the weekends and in the evenings, but as soon as I have to work I just spiral down to such a low.  I miss my students so much...and I hate teaching online.  I hate seeing my children learn online.  Their teachers miss them too.  Teachers need to BE WITH their students.  I miss their little personalities and hearing their banter with each other, their little successes, their wit, their creativity, their smiles...it's what drives us. 

Well...I guessed I complained about it again.  Whoops.  I suppose I better not make any promises...it will probably happen again. 

Easter 2020

 Easter 2020 will go down in history as one of the weirdest Easters...thank you Corona Virus and social distancing.  We have family right down the street, yet we are unable to hang out.  

My parents stopped by briefly and we all visited outside making sure we were all at least 6 feet apart.  It's just plain awkward.

But, we made the best of it!

Our breakfast was top notch!

French toast with all the berries!

And later we made Easter cookies!

The weather wasn't the best...sunny, but windy and pretty chilly!

So we mainly stayed inside.  The older kids did, however, make an Easter egg hunt for the little ones despite the cold...so that was nice.

Dinner was an Italian Sausage Soup...not very traditional for an Easter dinner...but so, so good!

And I made a lemon bundt cake for dessert!

Very low key Easter, and slightly weird...but fun none the less.

Happy Easter!

Piper turns ten!

Having a birthday during a quarantine has got to be the pits for a kid!  But we made the best of it considering the circumstances...and I think Piper had a great day in the end. 

We let her decide the day's activities, within reason of course, ha!  We woke her up with the traditional breakfast treat (blueberry muffin in this case), complete with candle and birthday song.  She asked if she could open her presents in the morning...to her surprise I answered with a big "Sure!".  All kids ask to open their presents in the morning, and it's always the same answer, "Wait until the party tonight."  But since there was no big party this time, I threw tradition to the wind!  She was elated! 

So that's how we started the day!

Because of the quarantine, the girls weren't able to get out and buy Piper a gift, so they created their own and they did a pretty good job!

Rory gave her a little "succulent" made out of rocks from the garden...I think it turned out so cute!

And Morgan painted a really cute "pet rock" complete with its own crocheted "bed" to sit in and adoption papers!

And Piper finally got her pineapple roller skates!

Piper wanted everyone to play kickball and foursquare, so that's exactly what we did!  We walked over to the school to use the courts there...and the weather couldn't have been better!  And yes, we played kickball and foursquare with a volleyball...it is what it is.

By the time we got home for lunch the weather took a turn, clouds rolled in and it started to drizzle.  Perfect weather to cozy down and watch a movie...her choice, "Go Karts", which turned out to be pretty darn good!

Beyond Burgers and fries was on the menu and a Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cake for dessert (which she helped make!).

She ended the evening with a "sleep over" in the basement with her sisters!

We love this girl of ours!

Happy Birthday Piper!

Masks all around.

My mom made masks for everyone this week, so Ryan and I made use of them this morning at the grocery store.  We left early to avoid any unnecessary crowds and to hopefully avoid anyone we know.  It's just so awkward wearing a mask, but then, we weren't the only ones wearing them.  We are trying to do more online grocery shopping, but it's about a three day wait until you can pick up your order...that doesn't work so well for me.  So in the store we go.

I've been going on daily walks through the neighborhood.  Lately, I've been doing 4-5 miles everyday with a fair bit of climbing.  It has become quite therapeutic for me, and I look forward to it everyday.  

We have been in this house...everyone...together...for over three weeks!  Let's just say, it's nice to have some alone time every now and then.  I'm thankful that we can still exercise outside!  The weather was amazing today!

Shaving Belle seemed like a good project for the afternoon.

If anyone is enjoying quarantine, it's our pets!  They don't understand why, but I think they really love having us home all day, everyday.

Tomorrow we get to mix it up!

We get to celebrate Piper's birthday!

Quarantine, Day 24

The world is currently in crisis.  COVID-19 (Corona Virus) is quickly spreading and countries are locking down.  Here in Utah, schools closed on March 13th (which just so happened to be "Friday the 13th") and we teachers have begun online teaching with our students.  Only essential businesses have remained opened (such as grocery stores), restaurants are take-out only, everyone is advised to stay at least 6 feet away from each other,  face masks are also recommended when in public places, and no groups or hanging out with people outside of your immediate household.  I still can't believe this is happening.  I would have never imagined something like this happening in my lifetime.  I keep telling the girls they are living history right now.  They ask questions that I have no answers for...this is all new and we are all trying to figure it out. 

This week is spring break for us, so we get a little break from staring at our computers all day.  Online teaching is something I never thought I would be doing.  Online school sucks all the joy out of what teaching really is.  I miss my students...I absolutely adore my class.  I taught most of them in fifth grade and then looped with them for their sixth grade year.  I am crushed that I (most likely) will not be able to finish out the year in a classroom. 

I am sad for my own children.  This is Morgan's last year in Middle School...what a way to end it.  The most excitement my children have during a school day is when they get to Zoom with their classes.  They get to SEE their teachers and classmates...even it's on a screen...I can see their faces light up! 

I have been challenged beyond belief these last three weeks.  We all have.  BUT, I am thankful I still have my job, I'm thankful Ryan still has his job.  I am thankful we are heathy.  I am thankful our parents, siblings and distant family have all been healthy.  I am hoping it remains that way.  I am hoping we can all work together to end this crises.  I am hoping that our country and economy will heal.  I am hoping that all the small business owners will recover from this.

I think this quote pretty much sums it all up!