Quarantined: Coronavirus Day 42

Can I go to Target yet?  I am missing me some Target.  LOL.  Day 42 of quarantine.  In case any of you are curious, I am up to 63 loads of laundry during this quarantine.  My hair is a hot mess.  I missed my hair appointment by two days before the shut down. My nails are short, and the makeup I ordered from Macy’s two and half weeks ago has yet to come.  

To be honest, I had a good cry today.  Everyday just kind of feels the same.  Matthew was worried when he saw me cry.  “Why are you sad mom? I’ll make you feel better,” and he gives me a kiss.  Sweet babe.  I told him I was just done with the Coronavirus.  I miss my people.  I miss the kids’ school and play dates with friends.  I am trying to find the normal with Zoom school but man it is sooo not the same.  I am still grieving, like I am sure we are all grieving.  

I found out yesterday that our reservation at Great Wolf Lodge was cancelled.  It was scheduled for June 14.  They are opening up June 16.  Even though I kind of figured it would be cancelled, I was still sad.  I know we will reschedule for a later time, but it would have been nice to get away and go.  

Some days I feel like my life is cook a meal, clean a meal, cook a meal, clean a meal, cook a meal, clean up a meal.  Do they really need to eat again?!?!  I kid...but wow.  I feel like I haven’t ever done this much cooking.  

The kids are troopers.  I realize it is as difficult for them as it is for me.  Bella and walk the neighborhood in the evenings and she has decided she is redecorating our front porch and flower bed.  She feels designing is her calling.  Haha. That girl.  She has looked at all the houses in our neighborhood for inspiration.  She had me out weeding the flower bed with her yesterday so Mark would go to Lowe’s and buy all the flowers on her list.  Off Mark went to Lowe’s today and came home with flowers, shrubs and a gardening kit for Bella.  She has us both wrapped around her finger.  

This time shall pass, and things will go on...perhaps different than before, but I know life will continue.  I know I will be thankful for things that I once took for granted, like having lunch with my mom, the kids’ schools, eating a restaurant with my husband.  It is these things I keep in my thoughts and look to the future with hope.

Quarantined: Coronavirus Day 29

I've done 43 loads of laundry since the quarantine started.  I really have no idea why I am keeping track of that, other than it is something interesting.  One load in the washer...one tally mark.  The cycle will continue...wash cycle, dry cycle, fold cycle, repeat...over and over and over again.

I've read 4 books since we've been home, and played many rounds of Yahtzee. I am currently being tutored by Luke on how to play Sequence.  I have yet to do any puzzles even though I enjoy them.  I have a couple of them waiting to be put together.  I can't do a puzzle without thinking of my Grandy.  She and I used to do puzzles together when I would stay the night with them at their house as a child. Such good memories.

The weather has been very nice this past week.  It was above 70 degrees a few days this last week, which means only one thing to my littles "swimming".  We have one tiny, and I mean TINY, blue swimming pool.  Miss B got it all set up.  She had chairs, and towels and toys for her and Man Cub.  They were sitting "poolside" with their feet in the water.  Oh. my. gosh.  I just love them so much.

This past week felt more "normal" than any of the others since we've been quarantined.  The majority of time is spent doing school with the kids, checking Google Classroom, responding to emails, and setting kids up in Zoom meetings.  Wow...even as a teacher, it is an undertaking.  I keep reminding myself that I don't have to be perfect.  My goal is focusing on what I feel are the basic subjects/skills: Reading, Writing and Math.  Luke still has World History and Chemistry and Health, but with the girls we are just scaling back and focusing on those things.  I try and be finished by 1pm so the kids can have the afternoon to relax, chat with friends, play video games and outside play.  I enjoy reading and I need time to get other things done too (laundry, bills, cleaning, planning, cooking).

Matthew has finally decided that going potty isn't as scary as he once thought.  So, in the midst of schooling all the kids, I am running him to the bathroom every 30 minutes or so (which is so fun, let me tell you).He is really doing well, but still behind other kids his age in this skill.  He has had some great success, and those Thomas the Train underwear really are the cutest on him.  My favorite is when he goes into the bathroom, he looks at me and says, “I’m doing really great mom!”  Yes buddy, yes you are.

This past week, I was able to sew some masks for our family and for some friends. I realized I had all the supplies on hand because I make hair scrunchies.  It took me a few patterns before I found the one that worked for me. Making masks made me feel happy and productive.  It was a way I could give back to others during this time.

And in other news...Mark and I finished watching "Tiger King." Although, Mark could never say the title of the show correctly, which was hilarious!  He would say to me, "Babe you want to watch "Tiger Shark?"  Or, "You want to watch "Shark Tank?"  "Ummm nope," I would laugh.  He even called "Joe Exotic"  "Joe Dirt."  Oh my goodness...Mark makes me laugh.  "Tiger King" was a weird, bizarre distraction from the Coronavirus, and we now know what everyone is talking about.  LOL.

Quarantined: Coronavirus Day 20

Today has been hard.  I think we are all grieving in our different ways for things we have lost.  Teen girl desperately misses her friends and the mall.  Teen boy misses all the people on our block and the animals.  He misses school too.  Pre-teen girl misses her friends at school, and playing outside with her bestie on our block.  Man Cub misses Wal Mart and Great Wolf Lodge.  I am missing my support system, nail salon and hugging my mom.

I am hopeful with some nice weather heading our way this next week, that being outside and soaking in the vitamin D will help our moods improve a bit.  We do practice being thankful.  We have so much to be thankful for: a warm home, our health, food, a covered back patio and so much more.  But I know how important it is to acknowledge our feelings and feel them when they happen.  Grace upon grace...so much grace friends.

So instead of sharing all the difficult this past week...I want to share some joy.  Miss B is full of humor and comic relief when you need it.  I want to share just a few of the things she has said.  For the past several months, I have been writing down the hilarious things she says...who knows? Maybe someday I will write a book.

Without further ado here is Life According to Bella:

Getting out of the shower this week Bella says to me, "I'm becoming a real woman because I now need the hair towel."  

Mark talking to the kids about being thankful.
Mark: "I need you take what I am saying seriously."
Bella: "I can't take anything seriously."

Bella came into my bathroom this morning while I was getting ready for the day.
Bella: "Mom, Dad made breakfast again and it was better than last time.  Nothing was burnt.  He made French toast, bacon, and a side of Luke arguing about everything."

I was talking to Bella last week
Me: "Matthew seems happier now."

Bella: "That's because he's with the fun master!"

Luke and Bella talking about wanting Menchi's (frozen yogurt).  

Bella: "Oh, I haven't had Menchi's in forever!"

Luke: "I thought you can't have the dairy in the yogurt?"

Bella: "Oh well...I can power through it."

Bella announces to me, "Mom, I want to go to the Burj Khalifa."

Me: "what????"

Bella: "You know the tallest tower in the world in Dubai.  Hashtag goals."

I am so glad for the gift of my kids, even if they are difficult and drive me crazy at times.  They bring such joy and I am grateful for their companionship during this time.  Someday we will look back and see what a gift this was.