42 Days In

It's been over a month, 42 days to be exact, since our world changed drastically, and kids were no longer attending school. The peak of viruses, or at least what we think is the peak, has come and gone here in Oregon. The trends are showing declining numbers of cases and deaths, and the imminent danger seems to have passed. I'm not feeling as worried or stressed about the virus now (I'm sleeping a bit better), but I am concerned about the economic effects this has caused and wondering when life will go back to "normal."  We know school will not go back to normal, for this school year, for sure, but when will people go back to work? When will we be able to visit with friends and shop and do things that were normal, everyday things over a month ago? Will we be able to go to Disneyland as planned in October? Will kids go to school in September? Greg's company instituted a 10% pay cut in salaries for the foreseeable future, along with no 401K matching and no extra spending or travel.  I have received two weeks of unemployment so far, which is a blessing for which we are thankful, as spring is when I normally sub a lot to put money away for vacations, activities, and savings--the "extras" things. When we got our flooring done, we found out we have significant water damage below the slider, so we have another house project (and deck rebuild) in our future, closer to summer.

Distance learning officially started two weeks ago, and we got off to rocky start. This was my post from April 13th (the day after Easter):

This switch to “distance learning” is no joke. Grant and I have both shed tears today. 😭😂 I’m glad we had a practice week last week, because we failed to figure it all out. 🤪 I’ve spent this entire morning troubleshooting and trying to get everything everyone needs (it keeps changing/adding) and trying to get our technology and logins to work for all 4 kids and all their teachers/classes. Grace. That’s my mantra in all of this, grace for ourselves and grace for our teachers. We’ll figure it out! #neverwantedtohomeschool

(And yes, I know this is NOT homeschooling. 😆)

It has gotten better. We've had several more hiccups and technology issues, but it's getting easier. Grant knows where to go and what to do for his assignments now, and I don't have to sit for hours next to him while he does school anymore. I help him get started and then check in along the way. I picked up a chromebook from the school last week, and that allowed all four kids to have their own device to use each morning. It was very overwhelming for all of us that first week (Kari was especially overwhelmed), but the kids have all settled in. It feels doable now. 

The novelty of this quarantine is wearing off some. I admit, I really am enjoying the simplicity of life during this time, the slower pace and the time with our family at home. I can already see myself having a difficult time letting go of that part of all this. However, the monotony of the same routines, the same lunch time walks, the same dinner prep, and so much kitchen clean up is starting to get to me. Dishwasher is running twice a day, just like it does in the summer.  I'm a creature of habit and love routine, but my to-do list is shrinking, and my motivation to do it is waning. It started raining this week, too, which kind of puts a damper on things. Life is sunnier when the sun is out! There are still lots of blessings in this, though, lots to be thankful for. Our floors are done, our trim is up, and our house is looking wonderful! Our family is healthy. Greg is still employed. We have plenty to eat (might be a bit chubbier after this is all over!). I get to be home and don't have to worry about working. I can be home and help kids with school. I can read and clean and do puzzles and learn new skills. Aubrey did her first acrylics painting yesterday, using a tutorial on YouTube. I'm going to try it myself soon!

Joel has been doing a lot of bike riding with friends and been doing lots of basketball drills and shooting in our driveway. Aubrey and Grant have been riding bikes, too, with our neighbors. Bikes help them maintain that required "distance," while seeing friends. They did some chalk art one day last week and made some cool designs using painters tape and chalk. Kari and Aubrey have both still been practicing piano, and Kari spent some time today just playing for fun. I love listening to piano. The girls are going to start having piano lessons once again but over Zoom, starting next week. Joel and Grant have played their fair share of video games. We have limits again now. The first few weeks it was a bit of a free-for-all with all the craziness and our flooring project adding to the crazy.

This last Sunday, before church, Greg asked Kari to play a song with him. I sneakily videoed him playing the guitar and Kari playing the piano and posted it on social media. The chorus says, "His grace is enough for me"--such a great reminder for this time we're in. The next day, when we came back from a lunchtime walk, there was a sign on our porch, a gift from Shelley E., with these very words on it. I love it! I put it on our piano, as a reminder of that truth, that moment I captured of Greg and Kari singing and playing together before virtual "church," and a reminder of the blessing of encouragement from friends, just when we need it.

puzzle #2--on my 3rd one now--Not sure why the cats like to sit on the puzzles. They only do it when we're sitting there working on it!

"tea and crumpets," aka, afternoon snack (not much social distancing from Kate--made an agreement with her parents at the beginning of all this)

Magformer building during church, used every single Magformer piece

playing an escape room game that was passed to us and which we passed to another family after we were done

silly kids--those things on their heads are pant legs from the pants I turned into shorts for Kari

"waffle cone Wednesday" and Thursday, Friday, Saturday... :-)

Aubrey's first attempt at painting flowers