Week #11

We went swimming and hung out for Memorial Day.

 I got a hair cut....Finally!

We saw Nanny.  Illegally but we still saw her.  

 FIRST OFFICIAL DAY OF SUMMER! 

We watched history be made. 

First commercial flight into space.  #SpaceX

It's been a big/tough week for our country.

This is true. 

Last Day!

Today should have been the last day of school.  We never expected the year to end as crazy as it did but we made its through 3 months of homeschool!!!!!   Colton has officially graduated from Elementary and we are so proud of hm.  He made AB Honoroll all of elementarily and really learned so much!  He is excited about Jr. High and I PRAY they go back in August! 

The first day of Kindergarten I snapped this picture of Colt and Addy. When I took it, I though, "I want this picture on their last day of 5th grade."  Didn't really imagine we'd have to fake it and ask them to wear masks, but here it is... 

First day of kinder. "Last day" of 5th grade.

Today was Chases last day of 3rd grade.  I can't say it's been an easy year for him.  Third grade was a bit of a challenge for him.  But, he's worked so hard and really had such a great attitude.  We're so proud of his love for learning.  Homeschool wasn't Colts thing, Chase on the other hand loved it.  We got lots of one on one time to work on areas of struggle.  Too bad I'm not a 3rd grade teacher and after all that I still can't figure out how or why they teach math the way they do! 

Today both boys had their last Zoom.  Colts was actally his first and last. We had a little photo shoot at school with Addy and then....

...We did a thing!  The boys went out in public for the first time in 10 weeks and we have new family members!  Meet Casper and Bubbles (Chases says he will probably change his name in a couple weeks).

Happy #9

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY 

#9 

to our sweet, silly, kind, easy going Chase Man!

He worried that this birthday would be "the worst birthday ever".  But, it turned out to be two days of celebrating!  We had to make it all a little smaller and we kept it all outside but, it all turned out great! 

Week #10

Week 10...when will I stop counting?  I feel like slowly we are getting out and trying to be "normal" again but I have to admit, its not normal.  I went to the store today and everyone was wearing masks.  That's the norm now. It made me tear up the first few times I saw it but now.  It's expected.  I wonder how long life will go on like this.  How long do we need to continue with some of these precautions?  I feel like I'm always very clean and cautious but we're defiantly at a new level.  However, I went to the store a few times this week and I am excited to share, IM NOT WIPING GROCERIES ANYMORE!!!!!!  Big move!  

This week we started the week celebrating Grandad.  We made him all his favorites for dinner and had him over Monday night for an out door dinner.  (Maybe our last one since its getting HOT!) We spent a little time with close friends, Chase had his last speech zoom, the boys played outside and probably played too much Fortnite, Zak got a haircut and WE FINISHED HOMESCHOOLING!!!! I'm proud to say both boys left this 4th 9 weeks with STRAIGHT As! GO ME! 

Monday, Dawn and I got to say goodbye to our Dino Class.  It was bittersweet.  I could have NEVER imagined how this year would end but it was so great to see our sweet kiddos and their parents! 

Bye Bye...

Tonight, Colton's school made a big deal out of the 5Th graders who are graduating and moving on up.  We drove through and saw all of the staff and ended the parade with awards and a special sign for the year.   I can't believe this is how Colt is wrapping up his 5th grade year.  He's missed out on so much but I have enjoyed the extra time we've had together (minus homeschooling!).

Week #9

Week 9....

Are we still in quarantine, Im not sure?  The official Stay At Home order has been lifted.  Stores are opening up and people are out.  A LOT of people are OUT! So I guess it's not the end of week 9 quarantine but end of week 9 pandemic.  A month or two back I though this would kind of pass and all of a sudden we'd be back to normal.  Unfortunately, I think our "normal" is going to look a lot different for the for seeable future. And I hate it! 

We're still being REALLY careful.  Zak and I are getting out a bit more but we are very cautious, well I am.  He says he is but I know he's only washing his hands because he doesn't want to hear me.  He's still working from home and will for quite a while.  We don't take the boys out in public.  And we're still not going out socializing, much.  We did celebrate Addy this week and with much hesitation, I let the boys go swim at a close friends house.  I worried the whole time but it was so good to get out.  And Colton told me it was so good to be out at least 20 times.  Aside from two bike rides and front yard visits with the grands, this was their first time out. 

We started the week with Mothers Day.  It was such a nice relaxing day. I got to talk to my momma.  Zak worked on the trailer and  wouldn't let me lift a finger.  We went to the local HighSchool to watch the war planes fly over. The weather was beautiful and we ordered dinner from a local italian place and ate outside.  

This week was full of more staying at home.  School work.  Room rearranging.  Kitchen painting.  Outside time.  And, Zak and I went to our first store together in months! Wednesday we had to go up to the school to pick up the boys items that were left at school.  It was heart breaking.  I hate that this is the way we leave the year. The cafeteria was full of 1,200 brown bags full of school items,  papers, memories, art,  and supplies.  We waved to some of the stuff and the boys held up a sign in the back of the truck that made me tear up.  This sure will be something we all remember. 

Week #8

So, we're ending week 8 of Quarantine.  Is it even still "quarantine".  I'm not sure.  Stay at home orders were lifted and certain businesses have opened at smaller capacity.  People are starting to get out but some businesses are still closed.  Zaks still working from home and the boys are still homeschooling.  Even when you do get out it feels weird.  I'm super cautious and seeing people walk around with masks on is SCARY! It's just plain weird.  I guess for now it's our new normal.  

The boys are playing a little with Addy and even played basketball with Noah.  We're going to a few more places but still not eating out and I'm not ready to take the boys out.  As we start doing more, it makes me feel happy but also worried.  The time is going fast.  This week, we celebrated CincoDeMayo. Zak went to the meat market and made the most delicious fajitas!  Colt finally gave in and let Zak cut his hair.  I worked on putting a lot of Foundry stuff together and seriously has so much fun with it.  I miss teaching! I loved getting crafty.  We made play dough, got ice cream, spent a lot of time outside and even played with neighbors. Amber and I went on one of our walk/runs and we enjoyed some meals outside.   On Wednesday, we  saw the Blue Angles fly over our neighborhood.  It was pretty spectacular and really cool to see everyone who was able to come out and see them! The weather has been spectacular! It's been nice getting a few things checked off our list.  This weekend the boys and Zak have been working on the trailer.  We also got to go hang out with Lori for Mothers Day and had a social distancing date with the Brown family on Saturday.  I love for that time out of the house hanging with our family. 

I'm not sure what things will look like from here on out.  I want to let up and carry on with life but I do still worry.  So, I guess we will ease in slow. 

 My funny Meme game was weak this week! 

Week #7

Week #7...I can't believe we've wrapped up week 7!?!?!?!   In all honesty it's gone so fast. I can't believe were in week 8 and all we've done is stay home!  Although I have loved this slower pace of life, at the end of this week, I'm starting to get stir crazy.  I want to go out  and be normal.  I don't want to wear a mask to the grocery store or wipe down groceries or worry about taking my kids to run an errand.  I want to go to my moms home and visit with her I want to hug my dad and hang out at the Beer Garden with our friends.  I want to see my nephew who's growing so fast.  I want to celebrate birthdays with birthday parties not drive bys.  I want my 5th grader to celebrate his achievements and the end of Elemntary.  I want to go wander around TJMaxx and run to the store to get the cucumber I forgot on Friday.   I want to get excited about our Colorado vacation instead of wonder how different this year will look.   I am so thankful for our health and jobs and everything that's going so right for us.  But, I want so desperately to go back to normal.   This week started out with a call from Nanny.  She doesn't understand FaceTime or our calls or even any part of what's going on.  With each passing day I know she is forgetting us more and more and it's breaking my heart. I miss her so much.  Dad got cookies for the care takers in the Memory Care section and the boys made the sweetest card to thank them for caring for our Nanny.   We spent Sunday with no AC. Thank goodness for a beautiful day. We finished up yard work and spent all last weekend outside,  Monday was HOT as they installed our new unit and we tried to carry on with work and school.  Tuesday I got 30 minutes in my classroom to get everything I needed. I even got to see Dawn in passing.  I'll take what I can get.  The rest of our week consisted of the usual.  Lots of outside time, school work, work work, a couple social distancing bike rides with grandad.  A birthday visit with Gaga. A birthday parade for Kennas 18th and helping (or watching) her and KK decorate for the Senior parade.  the boys, mostly Colt, even cleaned out their rooms.  At the end of the week, we let up a little.  The boys drug their pool over to Addy.  About 5 minutes in they were all in the pool together.  They ate ChickFilA together on the driveway and we spent some time with Matt and Amber. It was much needed.  A little glimpse of normalcy.  That day ended with a sleep over on the trampoline.  I can't believe all 3 made it through the night. I'm ready to be normal again!  Saturday was a lazy boring day after a long night on the trampoline.  We got up early for a bike ride with Grandad but the boys were so sleepy we cut it short.  We spent the rest of the day laying around. I think we all even had a nap.  By that evening I wanted to get out so bad!!!! Saturday was when it really all hit me.   I'M READY TO GO BACK TO NORMAL!!!!  

 I got this text from Zak one evening when he "left work".  Coming from his make shift office in the bedroom to the living room.  He made me laugh with this one!!

 Pa stopped by with the motherload!!!!