Day 15: But Day 1 of Spring Break

Yesterday was the first day of spring break, so the kids were very excited to see a lack of school work plans on the door. However, Issa does have a new dance training schedule:

Since we know the studio will be closed through at least April, they came up with some home classes and activities:

 Issa had her first Zoom dance class yesterday, and she wasn't overly thrilled going into it. Dancing on camera and without her friends beside her isn't ideal. That said, she came in from class with a huge smile. She said it wasn't the same, but it was good to see other people and to dance "with" them instead of completely along. It was so good to see her so happy and back doing what she loves--even if it looks a little different.

We have also seen more of my sweet girl these days:

 Inks is getting more adventurous, and she even played with toys for the first time yesterday! Issa has nicknamed her Squeakers because of her little meow, and I caught her mid-squeak yesterday:

 This morning, she even came down and laid on my feet while I did dishes!

It was another gorgeous day yesterday. I mowed for the first time in the morning, and then I spent a chunk of the afternoon sipping tea and reading on the front porch:

 Generally, the kids were sloths all day--aside from Issa's dance class. Since we can't really do anything big for spring break, we have removed all screen limits, and they soaked that up yesterday. Everyone needs a day or two like that.

After dinner, though, we went on a family walk around the neighborhood. These two took a field hockey ball that mysteriously appeared at our house to bounce back and forth:

 Issa is not a ball-sport kind of girl:

 We all laughed so hard at them playing this little game, and it was so lovely to enjoy the fresh air.

When we got home, the kids showered and then we played several hands of spades. Just to add to the spring break vibe, though, Daddy made garlic knots at 8:30:

They were amazing.

This week won't be our traditional kind of spring break, but we are enjoying it none the less!

Days 12-14: Another Quiet Weekend

We had another quiet weekend around here, which I think is the norm for the next couple of months, but we did have some exciting moments! Both kids finished all of their schoolwork for week 2:

 Issa had a Zoom call with her math class Friday, which was a nice opportunity for her to see some friends and reconnect with her teacher. They will both have more of those Zoom classes in the coming weeks.

 They are thrilled this is spring break and they have a week off!

Saturday, Issa's dance Company also had a Zoom hangout:

 They will be doing Zoom classes starting this week, and she was excited to see everyone, although they realized that is a few too many people on one call.

I've also started making myself afternoon tea again:

 After I finish all of the have-tos for the day, it's a nice little respite in the middle of the afternoon.

We are also thrilled to be supporting one of our favorite CSAs again. Humble Umble usually doesn't deliver this time of year, but since the farmers' markets closed, they started early. We were beyond thrilled by our salad Saturday night:

 And their bouquets always make me so happy:

Last night, we went to see Mom and Shannon, and we taught the kids how to play Spades! They caught on really quickly and are already asking to play again today.

The only bummer of the weekend was discovering all of our local trails have closed. Although the state Shelter in Place order allows walking outdoors, they are closing trails that have been too crowded to be safe. We have found a couple of smaller trails not too far away, so we are hoping to do some exploring this week!

Day 11: What a day...

Yesterday, I had work calls from 9-3. It was a zoo. Brad was on and off calls, and both kids were amazing about running to bring me questions about schoolwork in between calls. By the time late afternoon rolled around, though, I was toast. I just couldn't with the cooking. So, we ordered our first family meal from Antonia's:

 It was alfredo pasta with broccoli and grilled chicken, a lovely tossed salad, and a life-changing nutella mousse. Since they knew Brad had celiac, they swapped a brulee for our bread. It was so good, and it was lovely to not have to cook.

After dinner, Neela came in with a flower petal on her nose:

How cute is that?

The boys and I started watching a new show while Issa face-timed a movie with Trevor. It was a lovely end to a crazy day! One more day of crazy until the weekend!

Day 10: Another Set of Cards

My work week has been way more hectic this week, but we are all still hanging in! Issa is enjoying a quiet end to her week because she worked ahead at the beginning of the week. As soon as I finished work yesterday, she and I made our next batch of cards for the VA Hospital:

 We have a whole series of ideas for cards, and we are genuinely enjoying giving back in this way!

Buddy is also enjoying having us around:

If you can't see, he is actually using a throw pillow to cushion his head. I think the kids had worn him out!

Day 9: Thankful for This Space

Before all this craziness began, Brad created this amazing space in our garage:

For eight weeks now, I have been starting my days out here doing a workout. I don't know if you can see, but after my first month we even bought a little set of hand weights to add to the space. 

Issa has been doing stretching, strength training, and yoga out here since the studio closed. Yesterday, Evan and Brad did their live stream dojo workout on the mats.

The kids have spent a ton of time playing out there, too.

Having this extra room in our house where we can move safely has been a real sanity saver for us--especially on rainy days like today and yesterday. It's another small blessing we are counting during this crazy time.

Day 8: Well...That was weird.

We are really trying to not go anywhere, but yesterday Leo needed crickets, so I had to go to Petco. I went as soon as they opened and found six foot squares taped off outside the door. They were only letting one shopped in at a time, and there was no browsing. Go in. Get what you need. Get out. I told them I needed crickets and I literally just walked to the counter, picked them up, paid, and was out. I spent more time waiting in my box outside that I did inside. I appreciate the safety measures, but it was really surreal.

School went really well yesterday, though. Evan's school is doing a virtual spirit week this week. Each day they post a specific picture so they can see all their friends. Yesterday was reading day:

 In another bizarre turn of events, the governor announced schools would be closed until May 15. Issa was not sad:

She is really enjoying doing her work at her own pace when and where she wants. Yesterday, she finished her electives, math, and science for the week. At the rate she is going, she may finish her schoolwork today and have the rest of the week free. Whatever works.

Days 5-7: A Lovely Weekend

We truly had a lovely weekend around here. We are taking this social distancing really seriously. No play dates. No street parties. But we are venturing out into nature more, and we are really trying to support as many local places as we can.

Friday, we took part of our lunch break to walk the Riverwalk to our favorite ice cream place:

 Evan was super excited about the photo.

 Both kids finished their entire work plans last week:

We are so proud of the way they have adapted to this idea of school at home. If they are still rocking it by the end of this week we decided Friday can be a school pajama day.

The only people we are still seeing are Mom and Shannon, so Friday night the kids went over there for their usual Nana night. Brad and I ordered in from our favorite Italian place here in town. It's been amazing to see how our local restaurants are adapting to no in house seating. The food was fabulous, and it felt good to support local.

Saturday, when we picked up the kids, we decided to hike Occaneechee Mountain. We have always talked about doing it, and we finally just made it happen:

 It was about 2.4 miles around the loop, and the views were beautiful. We are talking about making it a weekly hike.

Saturday afternoon, Issa and I walked the neighborhood to find all of the paper flowers for the scavenger hunt. We had so much fun finding them all and then creating a sheet for families to carry around the neighborhood:

  When we were sitting on our porch, we saw some people out doing the hunt, which was so fun!

Saturday and Sunday we went to Mom's house for dinner, but the rest of the time we really just tried to relax and find cozy things to do inside. Inks is not so sure about all of the extra attention:

She wants to be around us, but sometimes she hides under the blankets.

I hauled out some half-finished craft projects. I added about an inch to a hat I'm knitting for Issa, and I hauled Evan's stocking back out:

I have made a very cozy nest in my chair in my room, and I'm setting a goal to spend more time there this week than I do checking news sites.

Week two of school started smoothly this morning. The new normal is feeling more normal, and we are looking forward to another week of being together.

Day 4: Was Hard

I promised to always keep it real in this space. We are really doing fine. We are still incredibly fortunate, but yesterday was hard.

For the first time, Evan had trouble focusing on school, which made me the bad cop. We got through it, and he actually did goo work, there was just a lot more prompting needed from me.

We got word that all of our cards were delivered yesterday at the VA. They went to the Hospice wing, who also is not allowed visitors. That broke my heart. Issa and I have now adopted them and will be sending weekly cards.

Our act of service yesterday was making joke sheets about sharks and sloths for the pediatric oncology unit at Duke. They are only allowing parents, and some kiddos that can usually come home between treatments are having to stay in the hospital because of the increased risk. They are making a joke wall. Happy to help, but I was heartbroken again.

Sunday, we had to cancel my Italy program for the summer. I've been so busy I didn't have to time to grieve that until yesterday. I've been in touch with my friends in Italy, and I am so, so sad I won't get to see them.

And work. We are through the first round of the storm, and now there is an odd stillness while we wait for updates from the state. Most of my days are filled with students. My student teachers are on break, and no one can just pop into my office. This is usually the time of year when students are popping in for all kinds of advice and to just check in. I miss them so much it hurts--truly hurts. We are facing the heart-breaking reality that graduation will likely not be our traditional format, and the idea of not hugging my seniors goodbye is just too much right now.

Yesterday, I sat on our silent front porch. No big groups of kids playing. So cars traveling home from work. I was trying to match the blooms and birds singing with this surreal rhythm of life right now, and I just couldn't. I broke.

And I needed to. I'm better today. Everyone is back on track. I'm more centered. At my core, I'm an optimist, but I'm also an empath, so big feelings hit hard and fast. I'm learning to lean in to those moments, let myself have them, and then pick up and do the next right thing. Today, that's doing school and helping draft documents. It's going to be okay.

Day 3: Daily Giving

All is still well for this family of introverts. We were made for a time such as this.

We are also doers. We don't like feeling helpless or like we can't help, so we have committed to find a way to serve every day--even if we can't leave our home. 

Yesterday, once of our neighbors who works for the VA said they had closed the hospital to visitors and asked for cards. Issa and I were on that, and Evan helped by being our runner as we planned poorly and needed supplies or whatnot:

 We made this cute spring cards:

We have been saving Grandma Bower's button collection for special projects, and I think she would love knowing that they were used for this purpose. We made 12, and we found out this morning that there are ten patients in the Hospice wing that will receive these cards. We have now committed to making them a card a week until the hospital reopens to visitors.

Brad and I did our weekly grocery shopping at 7 this morning. We were able to find everything we needed while running into virtually no one. I think this may also become part of our new normal.

We have also started  Quarantine Quote Board on the front door. I'm sure there will be some classics by the time this is over. Leave it to our crew to find the humor in any situation--I wouldn't want to be stuck with anyone but them.

Day 2: Feeling Very Lucky

 Day two of social distancing went well--although we were probably the most social we will be for the next several weeks.

At 9 on the nose, both kids snuggled in for school. I have been making a lot of work plans and school schedules for friends, and I keep emphasizing structure combined with choice and voice. At our house, the structure is school starts at 9--no ifs, ands, or buts. The voice and choice, though, is that they choose where to start on the work plan and where to do the work. Issa, my type A angel, starts with the first period of her day and claims the futon:

 Buddy is not at all complaining about the extra snuggles with all of us home. Issa works straight through her school schedule, then does her active time, and ends with her chores.

Evan, however, starts with everything he can do on his laptop and sprawls somewhere different about every thirty minutes:

Evan likes to mix up his day: a little school, a little activity time, a little school, chores, finish school, finish activity. 

The work plan helps me keep track of where they are in their day, and we are all doing well. I am so glad we started this way because I am now also working from home for the duration. Meredith moved to all online classes and only people who absolutely need to be are allowed on campus.

Midway through our day, we went to Evan's school to help bag food for families. Weaver Street Market made a huge donation--like pallets of food. A local camp also donated everything fresh that they had on hand when their events got cancelled. I was so unbelievable proud of my kids. They spent two hours hauling and packaging. Evan and one of his friends packaged a gallon of garlic cloves into family sized portions. Issa hauled boxes of everything, helped bag rice and beans, and tried to help organize the massive effort. We ended our day portioning and bagging meat. It was a lot of work, but the end result is over 100 families will have groceries, and that is absolutely worth it.

We all enjoyed Irish stew and soda bread for dinner:

 And Issa and I ended our day with a craft project:

 Frosty was ever so helpful.

Someone in our neighborhood had the brilliant idea of a community activity that everyone could do in their own homes. Every couple of weeks, we will pick a new theme, and people can create an object to hang in their window or door. Our first theme was flowers, so Issa and I made these beauties for the door:

The idea is that as people take walks through the neighborhood, they can look for the items and know we are all still connected. Issa and I are going to go through the neighborhood and take pictures of the flowers and create a scavenger hunt sheet for any families who want to try to find them all!

Issa and I both feel better doing things--even small things--to help people feel more connected. We both need to feel like we are helping, and having the opportunity to do that yesterday was hugely helpful. We are still feeling really good, but this new normal is still very new. We are still having an adventure, and I'm so grateful to be writing a chapter in which good is winning.

Day One: Success

We are officially hunkered down now. I went into the office yesterday morning, but that will be my last time for a couple of weeks.Our schedule works really well, and the kids are finding their work loads pretty manageable. Evan was finished by 1, and Issa was finished by 2:30. They had plenty of time to play outside and binge watch some favorite shows. 

Brad and I are planning a few surprises over the next couple of weeks to try to avoid the crazy: we've ordered a couple of new card games to pull out for a fun family game night, we will do take-out from some of our local spots, we see some long family walks in our future. Today, the leprechauns came and left leprechaun sandwiches for breakfast, and Buddy the Elf brought fun socks and earrings. A little magic in the midst of the unknown goes a long way.

We are also embracing the "okay, sure." For instance, Issa found a new reading spot:

 It wasn't on, but she said it was cool and quiet. You do you, boo.

We also are embracing the fact that school projects mean full desks:

Issa is doing a research scrapbook on the Black Death for English. It makes no sense to put those supplies away every day. That said, we absolutely are keeping up with the tidy circles, dishes, and laundry. I tend to get overwhelmed when things get messy and give up, so I'm working hard to stay ahead of it.

For better or worse, this is our new normal. It's 9 am right now. Brad and I have already done our workouts. All four of us are dressed and started on our work days. Tonight, I will make Irish stew and soda bread and we will celebrate how truly lucky we are.

We are having an adventure!

We are having an adventure!

That has become my new tagline. COVID-19 has us all on our toes, and I am choosing to embrace taking life one day at a time. 

Last Thursday, we got the word that the kids' schools would be closing starting today. The next two weeks they will be doing school work at home, and the third week was our already scheduled spring break. Hopefully, we will be headed back to school on April 6.

Friday, Brad and I spent the entire day at the elementary. I am always proud to be a teacher, but those folks raised the bar on Friday. In less that 24 hours, they sent every child home with differentiated work, books to read, and managed to have school on Friday. Brad and I helped make copies and assemble packets, and I am still marveling at the quality of the work that went home.

When your mom is a teacher, school from home looks a lot like school at school. Brad and I spent part of Friday night making a plan for what the days will look like, and then I helped each kid make a learning plan for the week. Our front door is now is our school bulletin board:

We are a family that thrives on routine, so we set some general guidelines for the days:

 I wanted the kids to feel like they had plenty of choice and voice, but I also don't want them to turn into sloths.

Evan's teacher sent home brilliant work and overall instructions. We just turned that into a daily checklist:

 All of Issa's teachers had separate assignments, and Issa was a little overwhelmed at first. When we actually got it in a table, though, it wasn't so bad:

 The silver lining in this is that we will get plenty of family time! Instead of Mom going to Chicago last weekend, Shannon came here for the next three weeks while her office is working remotely. The kids are learning the kind of self-pacing and self-management they will need in college. I am learning to be more flexible and calm. These are all good things.

Let the adventure continue...

Surprise!

When the trailers for Call of the Wild came out, Evan thought it looked like a great movie. I told him then that if he read the book and talked with me about it I would take him to see it in the theaters.

He read, and loved, the whole book! Bless his heart, he was devastated when John dies, and he was so thrilled to imagine Buck running with the timbre wolves. It's not an easy read, but he did it.

So...yesterday after school, I waited for the bus. As soon as he got off, I just told him to get in the car. He had no idea where we were going, but he figured it out as we got closer: 

He was beyond thrilled--and too darn cute. Every time there was a tense moment, he would lean over and tell me what was going to happen so I wouldn't worry. It was hysterical.

We don't often manage to pull off these surprises, but I sure do love it when we do.

Everything Hurts Except My Soul

Please check out these fitbit statistics from yesterday:

Our campus is on spring break, and that is the traditional week that I get our front yard spring ready. Unfortunately, it is supposed to rain everyday but yesterday here. Fortunately, my student teachers had a work day yesterday and didn't need me. So...instead of spreading all of that yard work over a week I did it all yesterday. Our front beds are weeded, bushes and trees pruned, and the spring pillows are on the front porch.

I was pretty tired by the time Evan got off the bus, but it is sweetheart week at dance this week. Every dancer is invited to bring someone special to class with them, and I got to go with Issa last night. I thought we might learn a little combo. And we did. And we also did their stretch routine and turns and leaps across the floor. We were originally slated to do 45 minutes, but they invited us to stay for the second class, so I danced for an hour and half.

This morning, I did manage to get up and do my workout, but I'm pretty sure every muscle in my body is screaming at me this morning. Even my toes hurt from turning.

But...my soul is so full. I spent a full day in the sunshine listening to nothing but birds and the wind in the trees. I got to dance with my girl and see her face light up when I tried--even when I was terrible. This soul feeling is absolutely worth every muscle screaming at me.

This Girl

I truly couldn't be more proud of this girl:

 We had another competition weekend, and she is so sick. Seasonal allergies struck early, hard, and fast, and she's battling anemia. We are on the upswing, but she is feeling pretty rough. She pushed through, though, and had the best solo performance of her life. Many of her teachers and I were in tears as she danced.

Sunday, the boys came with us because it was time to prop dad and brother:

 And the team earned the top studio award:

That picture may go down as the worst picture in the history of pictures, though.

We were able to have a lovely family dinner after the competition, and everyone was tucked in early. We are really thinking this was the start of a fabulous week.