Week Two

Another week down!  Wow!  There are some days/hours/minutes where I am loving this everyone at home at the same time, and others where it feels like too much and we can't go on.  It is a minute by minute thing!  I read an article that said it perfectly though.  I have always wanted more time with my kids, more time to slow down and do nothing, more time to talk, more time to bake, more time to exercise... etc.  That's what this quarantine time is!  It's a gift of TIME.  When I read that this week, my outlook changed. Don't get me wrong, it is still extremely hard - battling my own mental challenges during cold weather days, while helping these 5 kids deal with the fact that we really just have to stay home, no friends, and online school. It's been a rough week!  Here's a few snapshots of the week for posterity's sake!

I love that Jace and Sophie's teacher has a daily google meeting.  They all catch up and chat for a few minutes each day.  She also reads to them in a video that they watch every day.  It really brings me to tears every time!  The love and sacrifice of these teachers!

On Monday, after jobs, school and piano was done, we went to Sipn to reward ourselves!

Then Kaley baked the most delicious peanut butter cookies!  These were bakery worthy!

We've been trying new recipes for dinners too with our extra time.  This one was taco pizza!  It was a hit!

I helped put up a "We miss you" sign at the school.

We played a really long game of hide and seek one cold, rainy day.  Sophie is hiding IN the cello case!

On one of our walks, I took pictures of the kids to send on postcards to family.

Josh built shelves for our storage room!  They turned out amazing!!!  The kids and I loved organizing all our food storage that night!

The elementary teachers did a parade through all the neighborhoods!  It was the sweetest thing.  I could not stop tearing up!  I am amazed at the resilience of our students and our teachers.  I am so proud to be a part of such a great and positive community!  I hope I never forget the kids yelling, "That's my teacher!  Oh I miss her!  That's Mrs. So and So - I miss hearing her laugh!"

I completed the 2020 census!  Woot!  That's a cool thing!

Soph and I learned how to do the Renegade this week!  It was hilariously funny!  I made Kaley take a video of it to send to the Aunts.  

The kids also got into Boondoggle this week.  I love how creative they have had to be to entertain themselves!

Josh and I went to Costco and Walmart this week for fresh food and milk.  I had to snap a pic of the Costco line!  You are supposed to stand at the cones (the Costco Cone Zone), they are 6 feet apart.  Then you wait til you are given the OK to go in!  These are crazy times!

I made a couple videos for my Primary kids.  I miss being in Primary with them every week!  I made a video to teach them the names of the prophet and apostles.  I also made one of me singing the first verse - that's as far as we got in March - of I Will Walk With Jesus.

4-wheeler rides

Sunday - we broke out the puzzles.  I had been holding off on puzzles.  Once the kids start, they are obsessive!  We started with one called "Hold to the Rod."  It was something to help us as we joined in a worldwide fast. President Nelson asked us to fast for help with the Covid-19. 

Kaley has been wanting to dye her hair with Kool Aid while in quarantine.  Maybe I'm the coolest mom... I helped her do it!  I figure when this is all done, she'll probably get it cut off anyway!  She loves the way it looks in her high pony tail the best!  It's pretty cute!

For piano... I had been still having kids come to my house - I only have 3 students, 2 are sisters.  Starting next week, Elsie will do her lesson remotely.  I will try FaceTime with her!  The sisters are still coming to my house, and I feel ok about that!  

Week One

Just like that, we are getting ready for Chromebooks to be passed out to the students.  The technicians went in to help get them all ready! This group of gals is quite the force to be a part of!  I already miss hanging out with them every day! It's only been a week, but it's been long!

These kids are doing ok this week! They played outside together lots.  They fight like crazy and bicker, but they are good friends.

Cup Corral! We were going through cups like crazy, so I taped off a cup corral on the counter.

We've painted LOTS of nails!

Our friends, the Davis', let us borrow their knee scooter for Kaley!  Look at that happy face!  It has made walks and outside time possible.  It's been a small miracle for us! She can walk on the the boot just fine, but it's when we are gone on longer walks that it slows her down.

St Patrick's Day was nice weather! The twins and I went over to the school yard to play basketball.  We may have walked 8+ miles that day!  I think I made the kids do 2 walks, and then we walked to the school.  It's how we are going to stay sane!

Wednesday! We woke up to an EARTHQUAKE!!!  It completely threw me off the rails! The few earthquakes I lived through in CA have left me with some severe PTSD. I was literally not sure that I could make it through the day.  I was on high alert the whole day. Just waiting for aftershocks - which we never ended up feeling down here.  The epicenter was in Magna this morning, so most aftershocks were in SLC and Magna. 

And then we started SCHOOL at HOME!  This is what school looks like now! Kaley and Thomas have tried the piano room. They each are on a laptop.  Their teachers have done so much prep for them to work online entirely.  It's crazy!

Jace and Sophie are at the desk. They are so dedicated!  Up at 7, chores and stuff done so they can start by 8 or 8:30! They can't wait!  

Bells at the other computer in the family room. 

And Josh - at home working in our bedroom.  I guess it's a good thing that we put his desk from downstairs in there!  

The kids have done AMAZING at their piano practicing!  

We've done perler beads! Jace loved these!  Thomas was frustrated with his "fat fingers." The girls loved being creative. 

We took a "road trip" to Josh's work to pick up an extra cable for his computer and found a bunch of his business cards.  The kids have spent hours playing with them!  They built card castles and threw the cards into the pitcher. Anything new to pass the time!

We have played SO many family games!  This Uno Attack game is the longest game!  

I have to move things around to walk on my treadmill every day!  I usually do a walk and an online class of sorts.  Anything to keep moving!  It helps my sanity!

Jace listening to his teacher read.  I love that these kids can still "see" their teachers!  What a great time for technology!

We Portaled with Jarilyn and family - Thomas and Johanna were sharing their rock collections.  It was the cutest thing!

Passing by the Roach's house on the way home from a walk.  Just a quick couple baskets!

The quarantine had hit Kaley pretty hard - she was feeling down that she can't be active, can't see friends, and doesn't get school pizza twice a week.  So we ordered Dominos to go!  She was SO happy sniffing the box on the drive home!  

Another fire night!  The girls brought their books out this time.

We bought Tenzi and have playing this game like crazy! 

The past two Sundays we have had church at our house.  This time I made the kids take a picture. We have been instructed to have the sacrament in our homes since church has been cancelled.  We are not supposed to gather with more than 10 people.  We have only left the house to go to the store for groceries.  I have still been teaching piano like normal, but I'm sure that will end up changing too. It's been a rough week - with so many ups and downs.  We went on a walk to the Provo River trail today. It was a nice break from the usual life. I had a super breakdown tonight as well. It is so hard not knowing when this will all end.  It is overwhelming to be mom and teacher.  I feel like an emotional rollercoaster - I might be smiling and fine, optimistic and faith filled one minute. Then a crying basket case the next - thinking I can't go on, and don't want to do it anymore.  With an earthquake in the middle of all that!  It has all been too much.  My anxiety has been through the roof!  I know it will be alright, but boy, I've been a wreck!