Crawling Towards the Finish Line

Good morning my friends. It's been a hot minute. Are you still hanging in there? 

A lot has happened in the last few weeks both here on the home front and all around the world. I have a lot of thoughts about the latter and would love to 'spill the tea' so to speak, but I will save that for another post. 

Dustin and I were just sitting in our living room last night reflecting on the last three months. We laughed as we thought about the very beginning of the quarantine. It felt like an unexpected gift of vacation time as a family. (I know that's speaking from a place of privilege and it certainly wasn't that for many). But we spent those first weeks going on lots of walks, camping inside the house, watching a movie together almost every single night. It was luxurious family time at it's very best. 

And then work kicked back in and things began to shift to a juggling act of responsibilities. 

We have two more days of school left and here we are, crawling towards the last day. 

The kids have become addicted to having personal chrome books. And from a busy mom standpoint I have been grateful for their engagement in searching Harry Potter crafts and playing online games together so that I might squeeze in time to check off my to dos. But this weekend, when they excitedly showed me an 'awesome' video about students finding sneaky ways to bring food into class like... Who in the world thinks of making these ridiculous videos??? And how on Earth do my children find them? And also choose to watch them exhaustively? Needless to say, Wednesday we turn the chromebooks back in and I think that will be a very healthy transition. 

The thing that has been occupying much of my mind space is that I found out I am going back to the classroom next year!!! (Or whatever that will look like as our district makes decisions for how we will move forward with learning during the continued pandemic). I am going to teach 2nd grade! I am filled with excitement like a fresh, new teacher all over again... dreaming up ideas and spending way too many hours in awe of how far classroom organization and decor has come in the last 7 years since I have been in my TOSA position. Wow!

So here and there throughout the week, I am sneaking over to school to make copies of things and laminate, and cut out... back to the good ol' days. 

I can't stop myself from online book shopping! So many beautiful books to share with my students!

I was able to get into my new classroom last week! Here she is... It always gets really messy before it gets very organized. I spent hours organizing ev.er.y.thing. It was such a gift! 

This is the start of the library with lots more to come. I am so excited, and nervous, and eager, and anxious and... lots of feels about going back. But mostly, my gut tells me that I am headed exactly where I should be and I can't wait to make an impact on these little lives. 

Meanwhile, on the home front. I got a slice of humble pie when Emmerson and Taylor were playing "house" one afternoon. This is Emmerson's version of being in a Google Meet as she plays Mom. She rudely barked at Taylor, "You need to be quiet! I am in a meeting and I have 5 more after this!" Ouch, is that what I sound like these days? Likely, yes. I think it's a good thing that summer is coming for all of us. 

Emmerson has continued to be a champ throughout this distance learning model. She has some mornings where she is more reluctant to log in and get started. But she gives it her all and has done an amazing job. 

Donovan... my 9 year old going on 13 has a meeting with his class every morning. At 8:30 his teacher explains the directions for each of their daily assignments. However, this kiddo wakes up around 7, hops into his Google Classroom and completes all of his assignments before the school day is technically even started.  While I wish he didn't rush and would take more care and effort to push himself, I also completely get it. Distance learning is hard. It's not a style of learning that Donovan gleans much from, and academically he's doing just fine. So we let it go and he spend the majority of his day playing and doing what he enjoys. 

And Taylor... is Taylor. This girl. She's the boss. 

We are lucky on the days we can get this princess to lay down for some beauty rest even if for a short amount of time. 

 In other quarantine 2020 news... we continue to bake a lot. The girls helped me make a coconut cake for Oma and Grampie's anniversary. 

And I just had to include this picture of her little buns hanging out. This dress is Taylor's favorite and she requests it every chance she can get it on. On this particular day it was a quick change after swimming in our blow up pool in the yard. I laughed so hard when I saw the back side of my bakers. :) 

 Cheers to 45 years for these two! I am so happy for them. 

 The Quarantine Crew made a secret hideout on the side of our yard. They spent countless hours in this random spot. They created and buried a time capsule, made tools and weapons out of sticks and developed a nurses station complete with natural plant remedies for stick injuries. 

 At times I dream of having a much bigger yard that would offer more space for their imaginations to run wild, but then I remember that their childhood imaginations create magic in any amount of space. I can just sit back and watch them go. This was actually a few weeks ago. Last week, they were all about Harry Potter crafting. We made hanging candles, magic wands and potions. This week they have moved on to a Car Wash business which is supposed to open today at noon. If you need a wash, you know where to go. 

 Emmerson finally learned how to tie her shoes all by herself!

 Wednesdays we look forward to popsicle deliveries from Oma and Grampie in the afternoon. 

 A few Saturdays ago, we drove up to Orange County to celebrate our niece Laurel's 8th birthday! It as so wonderful sitting in their backyard and enjoying family time again. 

 Oma and Grampie have been joining us for Sunday morning church and donuts at home which has been a wonderful new tradition. 

 And last but not least, the kiddos got to have a sleepover at Oma and Grampie's at the end of the last week so that Mom could spend an entire day organizing her new classroom. 

 It was Taylor's first sleepover and the kids had a blast! 

So friends, that is what we've been up to. Summer is almost here and so is a VERY anticipated time with our Grammie who we have missed more than words could say. 

Wishing you all a great week ahead!

xo

The Day We Actually Had Something To Do

Last week my Dad notified us that the Thunderbirds were going to be flying over all of the hospitals in San Diego as a tribute to our first responders. 

This unexpected occasion felt like reason enough to dress up in our most patriotic gear and drive over to a scenic spot to soak in the view. 

 America!!!

 It was pushing nap time so this little one was putting on quite the dramatic show of her own. 

 And then they came. Twice actually, once coming in from the coast and then again after their fly around Palomar hospital. The picture doesn't do it justice at all. The ground practically shook and the sharp noise as they cut through the air at such high speed was deafening. It brought tears to our eyes. 

It may have only lasted a few seconds, but I am so glad we got a few pictures and some phone videos to remember it by. 

And that was the day we actually left the house to do something for 30 minutes.

A half an hour very well spent. Thank you United States Air Force for the show!

The Quarantine Crew

Our neighbors moved in just a few months before Dustin and I did. I still remember the nights we were all young, having each other over for dinners, sans kiddos. And then came the babies. First their turn, then ours, then theirs, then ours, then theirs and then... ours. 

Some seasons the kids play together non-stop and then others seem so busy that we hardly see one another except in coming and going and quick waves from driveway to driveway. But over the course of the stay at home orders, these kiddos have become inseparable. 

It started off with bike rides, all afternoon long circling around and around with frequent reminders to give each other space. But as the weeks passed by, it became harder and harder to keep these kids separated. 

First it was their big dreams to develop a go-kart delivery service for homemade ice cream. 

Then came the talent shows and dance routines. 

Then came the random day this week where they all ran into their house and came out with these looks on for no apparent reason. 

They make me laugh. 

Sometimes they spend an entire day playing and then run inside and start to email each other about who knows what. 

There are fights and days where they get irritated with one another. Just like siblings. 

But I sure am thankful to have these built in buddies to keep my kiddos going day after day. 

So without further ado, here is our Quarantine Crew. 

Mother's Day 2020

This Mother's Day was everything to me. 

It was filled with an abundance of love. 

I woke up on Sunday and heard Donovan scurrying around. He was already dressed in a button up shirt and handed me a menu that he and Emmerson had made together. There were a few items to choose from but I selected the ones that were "recommended for you" which was the coffee and waffles. 

Dustin whipped up breakfast and I luxuriously sipped on coffee and watched cooking shows in bed with all three of my kids. It was a cool, overcast morning. Perfect for snuggles. 

We ate our waffles and got ready for online church to start at 10:00. Afterwards, the kids and I worked on some crafts and I finally got around to taking a shower. We had a surprise visit from my dear friend from work and her family who delivered some hand picked flowers and a thoughtful Mother's Day card. 

Perhaps the best part of the day was that for the first time in months, we decided to have my parents and Oma over to join us for dinner and dessert. 

We tried our best to social distance although I must say, Taylor doesn't really get that whole idea entirely. 

 To serve my Oma her usual cup of coffee with cream and sweetener felt like such a treat to me after all of these weeks.  I have missed her company terribly. 

We spent the majority of the day playing in the yard and just kicking our feet up. 

One of the most memorable things about the day was the best scavenger hunt that Donovan and Emmerson sent us on. They thought of the whole thing themselves and set up little cards and cut out hearts all around the house with little clues to help us find them. They were so excited and we were cracking up as we raced from room to room looking for their sweet treasures. 

The gifts we exchanged were small and filled with love. The only thing missing was Grammie! We are counting down the days until we can be with her again. 

We ended the evening with some angel food cake, strawberries, and homemade whipped cream. 

The gift of being Donovan, Emmerson, and Taylor's mom is not lost on me. And neither is the gift of being a granddaughter and daughter to the most amazing women in my life. I don't have the right words to convey my gratitude but my heart is so full.