Joseph's Earth Day Recycle Project

Meet Bob - Joseph's recycle puppy dog! 

Keeping Spirits High

 The local news is encouraging families to "Howl" at 8 pm every night in support of Health Care Workers, First Responders and Frontline workers.  It's nice for neighborhood morale - we've added it into our bedtime routine.  It's our way of supporting people fighting COVID 19, making the strange new "norm" our kids are facing a little more fun and a nice way to say goodnight to our neighbors.  Today we were lucky enough to be on the "flight path" of the US Air Force Thunderbirds as they circled the metro area putting on a show for all of us staying "safe at home" and in appreciation for all frontline workers. 

Family Zoom Calls

 

A Sense of Community - Even though we're apart

 St. Anne's encouraged the kids to dress in various theme's this week - to keep the sense of community and build moral as we finish our 4th week of remote learning. Here are my 2 Bronco fans today!

1st & 3rd Grade Class Pictures

 

Easter 2020

 This certainly was a unique Easter.  We woke up to an April snow shower, hunted for Eggs as the wet snow dripped down their faces and necks and watched Easter Mass online (the same way we've been watching mass for the last 4 weeks).  My mom and dad came over for an early Easter dinner yesterday (the weather was much nicer on Saturday).  We didn't hug them, they didn't come through the front door, they came around the side yard.  We ate out on the back patio, I served their food through the kitchen window, on plates they brought from home.  They sat at a table for two, and the four of us ate at a table together.  How long can this last?   Is this anyway to live? We certainly want to keep people safe, especially our loved ones but, this is weird.  We were supposed to be on a beach in Mexico this week!  Fortunately, the airlines and resorts are being super understanding.  Our flights were reimbursed and our condo in Mexico was "credited" back to us to use at a later date.  

More Outdoor Play and fun activities at home

Joseph, Jack and Sam found a "safe way" to play together.  They are using pool noodles to sword fight with each other - I guess that's one way to stay 6 feet apart?!

Apparently Strange Things Happen When You're Home

 The kids and I kept hearing a noise coming from inside the chimney today.  I was afraid to open the fireplace and potentially let out a rabid critter into our living room!  So we patiently waited for Dad to come home from work (I couldn't very well ask him to leave work 2 days in a row for a household emergency!).  Mike had to unscrew the grill around the fireplace to release a woodpecker!  

Whittling Injury

 Well the good news is Joseph loved whittling with Dad so much yesterday, that when he completed his schoolwork for the day, he couldn't wait to work on his boat a little more.  The bad news is, his hand slipped and he stabbed himself  between his thumb and index finger!  We are still trying to "flatten the curve" and slow the spread of Covid 19.  Doctors offices are closed,  ER's are open - but not the place you want to visit right now.    I held a paper towel on his wound, while Lillian called Dad.  Mike came home from work to inspect Joe's hand with me. He was able to clean it up and butterfly strip the gash.  Joe will be fine in a couple of days - thank god!

Dad is showing off his skills again....

 

The chicks are almost full size!  They need more space and we need to get them out of our garage LOL.  Mike enclosed the kids sandbox and added an indoor roosting space for them.  They'll have a heat lamp for the next few weeks.  

Dad is teaching us all the lost art of whittling.  I wonder who will have the patience to actually finish carving their little wooden boat?   These things take more time than you think they would!  But I guess we have time on our hands right now....

Indoor Camping and a Wedding.....

 OK I lied, maybe we are getting a little stir crazy!  Today we agreed to let the kids set up "camp" in the living room, they swear they're going to sleep in the tent tonight, we'll see how that goes!  And Lillian requested a fancy formal (at home) dinner, it doesn't get much fancier than our best wedding attire.  Who says quarantining with your family can't be fun!

Being Silly and Using our Brains

You gotta have a balance between being silly and sharpening your mental skills while you're "quarantined at home".  We are getting the hang of this homeschooling thing, Lillian's teacher has eased up a bit - her initial workload was a bit brutal!  We're still coming up with creative ways to have fun, unplug from screen time and enjoy each others company.  

Spring is in the Air!

With the weather warming up and Easter coming I stole this idea from someone online.  A little painter's tape and sidewalk chalk allowed the kids to create their own "stained glass" cross for the driveway.  And Grandma Dominick sent the best Easter gift - a magnet set!  So far it has provided hours of scientific fun.