Doesn't matter what you call it. It has completely turned everyones lifes upside down. The entire world.
We have been in "quarantine", sheltering at home, practicing social distancing, since March 12th. We are not supposed to leave the house except for essential items, like groceries. 50% of people are wearing masks or gloves or both, and all non essential stores and restaurants had to close. Some restaurants still offer take out though. There are lines outside of busy stores, as they allow one person in, as another one exits, so they don't exceed a certain number of persons in the store.
Everyone is supposed to stay at least 6 feet away from each other, except within your immediate family.
The kids are doing "distance learning." I'm amazed by their resilience and ability to adjust to an unknown situation so easily. Jadon's school was able to easily convert to online learning as the kids all had chromebooks. Avery's school wasn't so easy. They missed several weeks before they were able to send out books for the kids to work in. But its not much. Around 15 minutes a day. So we have Avery do other stuff as well. Carter is doing some small stuff at home.
They are stressing that don't worry about your child falling behind, every kid in the world is in the same boat and they will catch back up next year.
Sadly, school has been cancelled for the rest of the school year. It made me sad because Avery is missing out on so many fun field trips in 4th grade. Today we picked up all her school supplies and papers and anything else she had at school. We pulled into the parking lot, and her teacher, wearing a mask and gloves, brought everything to our car and we didn't even leave the car.
This is such a surreal time. We encouraged the kids to write down stuff in a journal because this is historical. Someday they will tell their kids all about the time that we were quarantined and school was cancelled for 6 months.
In stores, everyone had stripped the shelves of TP, flour, sugar, and rice.
Today, April 30th, there have been 1,031,659 cases of Covid 19 in the USA. And a total of 60,057 deaths.
I'm kindof all over the place with this post.
Life has definitely changed around here. We are working from home, kids are "homeschooling" and we hardly leave the house except for groceries or Rx's. We have spent 24 hours a day together for a month and a half. You'd think we would all be at each others throats. But, I think its been good for us to slow down significantly. Jadon and Avery are getting along wonderfully again. I'm teaching Avery how to cook and Grandma Debbie is teacher her how to sew. Avery and Carter and I planted a garden. Something we haven't been able to do in a few years because of time. After Carter goes to bed, we've been reading The Hunger Games with the older two kids. They've enjoyed that.
The kids have A LOT of down time, which is where they struggle, they don't know what to do, so they just want to play video games and watch YouTube, but we put a limit on that. Once they come up with something to do they are great.
I think its even been good for our marriage. Derek and I have been going for walks together with the dog, and sometimes Carter. Its nice to have that time together where neither of us is stressed out or mentally exhausted. Its definitely making me rethink continuing my job. But i'm feeling happier, less stressed, than I have in years.
And surprisingly, none of them are driving me crazy. In fact, I'm soaking in all this time I've been given with them. I'm dreading when things go back to normal again and we have to be constantly on the go. Its like a dark cloud over my head.
Sure, we are running the dishwasher every day now, and going through TP much faster. But its so been worth it.
Thursday, April 30, 2020
The years flew by....
Wow, its been 4 years since my last post. I figured I was done with this blog! I had forgotten how to get into it for a long time, and I just plain haven't had an ounce of time to blog. Last summer I almost just deleted it completely. I'm glad I didn't. I'm trying to figure out how I can print the blog without spending an arm and a leg.
I decided to read back through some of my posts, and boy did that bring back memories! I'm soooo glad I had the blog to document some of these things! Most of them I remember, but some I do not. None of the pictures show up anymore, because we've since created a "photo library" and all of our pictures were moved and sorted into the library. So none of the pictures show up in the blog anymore, but I know exactly which pictures were there still.
Its amazing how fast time goes. As a kid, it went so slow. I thought the years would never pass. But now they just keep going faster and faster like a snowball rolling down a hill.
In my last post, Jadon was in 3rd grade, Avery in kindergarten, and Carter was just 8 months old. They are now 7th grade, 4th grade and preschool. Carter starts kindergarten in the fall already.
Jadon is 5ft 4in now, just a few inches shorter than me. Its so weird to be over to look at him almost eye to eye! On top of anxiety, he has ADHD, and Premature Adrenarche. He might not get to be taller than me, but luckily he has tall genes in his family so fingers are crossed.
He plays soccer, basketball and track. He is a really fast runner! Didn't see that coming! From the boy who used to clomp and stomp his way across the basketball court, to one of the fastest kids in his grade. (Someone taught him how to properly run.)
He really likes girls too. ;) And the girls seem to like him as well. He is Mr. Socialite. He talks a lot, has no trouble making friends and being around people. Its so weird that I have a kid like him that loves to socialize since i'm such an introvert.
He wants to be a pilot someday, and aside from girls, planes and flying are about all he thinks about.
Avery, my sweet girl, she is 5 ft tall. She.'s been about a head taller than most of the kids in her class throughout elementary school. She is artsy, crafty, creative. She loves quiet things, like reading, writing and drawing. She's a TAG student (Talented and gifted) and has been labeled as TAG in math, and her teacher also thinks reading or writing, i cant remember which. I personally think she is a very talented writer. But she's always been good at reading too.
She does swim team. Yep. Reading back when Avery was in Waterkids at 18 months or so old, I had typed that she loved jumping in and loved going under water. I've always known she'd love the water. She has done several swim meets, and has won quite a few ribbons.
She's still as stubborn as ever though. Holy moley is she stubborn.
Avery and I enjoy when the boys are gone and the house is quiet and we can hear each other talk! :)
Avery wants to be a preschool teacher someday. She got to help out in carters preschool class a couple of times.
Carter. Oh my little Carter. He's mama's boy through and through! He will crawl into bed with me at night and snuggle into me. If I have my back to him, he will spoon me! 😂 Hes always picking me flowers, or i constantly hear "mom, watch this!" and he'll do something that he thinks is totally awesome and amazing. He talks CONSTANTLY. Like, it never stops.
He's probably the most headstrong of the 3 kids, he's also stubborn like his sister, but not quite as bad. He's fast. He loves to play anything that involves running or a ball or jumping.
He's very social like his brother.
He was much easier to potty train than his siblings.
Derek is still working for the hospital. He's become quite a respected, important person in his job, enough that they suggested a manager role, but he doesn't want to manage anyone (i dont blame him.)
I started working part time at our church as children's ministry director in November 2017. Since then, we've been non stop on the go. Between church and the kids extracurricular activities, we have no time to breath. I've never liked being overly busy. I enjoy being home, being able to take care of my house and my family. So its been quite an adjustment. And lately i've been praying about even continuing the job. My kids have grown up and I feel like i missed the last 3 years of their lives. So, we will see how God answers my prayers, whether he wants me to continue, or whether that season of my life is done.
One thing is for sure. I feel old. I'm tired. I don't have the energy I used to. I was a better mom to Avery and Jadon when they were little than I am to Carter. He knows I love him, but we spend hardly any time playing on the floor together like I did with Jadon and Avery. This is why you have kids in your 20's, and not any later! 😜
I decided to read back through some of my posts, and boy did that bring back memories! I'm soooo glad I had the blog to document some of these things! Most of them I remember, but some I do not. None of the pictures show up anymore, because we've since created a "photo library" and all of our pictures were moved and sorted into the library. So none of the pictures show up in the blog anymore, but I know exactly which pictures were there still.
Its amazing how fast time goes. As a kid, it went so slow. I thought the years would never pass. But now they just keep going faster and faster like a snowball rolling down a hill.
In my last post, Jadon was in 3rd grade, Avery in kindergarten, and Carter was just 8 months old. They are now 7th grade, 4th grade and preschool. Carter starts kindergarten in the fall already.
Jadon is 5ft 4in now, just a few inches shorter than me. Its so weird to be over to look at him almost eye to eye! On top of anxiety, he has ADHD, and Premature Adrenarche. He might not get to be taller than me, but luckily he has tall genes in his family so fingers are crossed.
He plays soccer, basketball and track. He is a really fast runner! Didn't see that coming! From the boy who used to clomp and stomp his way across the basketball court, to one of the fastest kids in his grade. (Someone taught him how to properly run.)
He really likes girls too. ;) And the girls seem to like him as well. He is Mr. Socialite. He talks a lot, has no trouble making friends and being around people. Its so weird that I have a kid like him that loves to socialize since i'm such an introvert.
He wants to be a pilot someday, and aside from girls, planes and flying are about all he thinks about.
Avery, my sweet girl, she is 5 ft tall. She.'s been about a head taller than most of the kids in her class throughout elementary school. She is artsy, crafty, creative. She loves quiet things, like reading, writing and drawing. She's a TAG student (Talented and gifted) and has been labeled as TAG in math, and her teacher also thinks reading or writing, i cant remember which. I personally think she is a very talented writer. But she's always been good at reading too.
She does swim team. Yep. Reading back when Avery was in Waterkids at 18 months or so old, I had typed that she loved jumping in and loved going under water. I've always known she'd love the water. She has done several swim meets, and has won quite a few ribbons.
She's still as stubborn as ever though. Holy moley is she stubborn.
Avery and I enjoy when the boys are gone and the house is quiet and we can hear each other talk! :)
Avery wants to be a preschool teacher someday. She got to help out in carters preschool class a couple of times.
Carter. Oh my little Carter. He's mama's boy through and through! He will crawl into bed with me at night and snuggle into me. If I have my back to him, he will spoon me! 😂 Hes always picking me flowers, or i constantly hear "mom, watch this!" and he'll do something that he thinks is totally awesome and amazing. He talks CONSTANTLY. Like, it never stops.
He's probably the most headstrong of the 3 kids, he's also stubborn like his sister, but not quite as bad. He's fast. He loves to play anything that involves running or a ball or jumping.
He's very social like his brother.
He was much easier to potty train than his siblings.
Derek is still working for the hospital. He's become quite a respected, important person in his job, enough that they suggested a manager role, but he doesn't want to manage anyone (i dont blame him.)
I started working part time at our church as children's ministry director in November 2017. Since then, we've been non stop on the go. Between church and the kids extracurricular activities, we have no time to breath. I've never liked being overly busy. I enjoy being home, being able to take care of my house and my family. So its been quite an adjustment. And lately i've been praying about even continuing the job. My kids have grown up and I feel like i missed the last 3 years of their lives. So, we will see how God answers my prayers, whether he wants me to continue, or whether that season of my life is done.
One thing is for sure. I feel old. I'm tired. I don't have the energy I used to. I was a better mom to Avery and Jadon when they were little than I am to Carter. He knows I love him, but we spend hardly any time playing on the floor together like I did with Jadon and Avery. This is why you have kids in your 20's, and not any later! 😜
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