Social Distancing Done Well

As decisions to close down the world were made, I packed up the car and drove Kate and Ty to Georgia early Sunday morning. We spent the week with Lauren, Taylor and Austin. Not only was the company pretty sweet but the weather was better than anything Indiana had to offer. If we are going to be cooped up, I prefer to be in a yard without jackets.

Austin amused us all with his endless chatter and non-stop energy. He announces he is awake daily at five by screaming, "Mom! 'Mere! Change diaper!" Mimi has informed him anyone big enough to request a diaper change is also big enough to use the potty. He is not entertaining the suggestion.

Tuesday he yelled, "Lauren! Lunch!" And once again everyone but his mother was amused. She has her hands full with his big personality and spicy spirit. I can't get enough of him.

Uncle Ty was a big hit this week. They played baseball, tag, ran along the sidewalk, tossed basketballs and maneuvered remote control cars.

Any guesses as to where that shovel full of dirt ended up?
Hint: it brushed off easily and he thought it was hilarious. His parents did not.

The swing set was a new addition this week and it on top of the hammocks made for a lot of outdoor play options. We made the most of our time together in the backyard.

If Austin sees a phone, he requests "E-I-E-I-O". It's difficult to refuse him but his mom pretty firmly denies screentime. However, in an attempt to get some snuggles with a very wiggly Austin, we will slip in a quick video every once in awhile. He is otherwise too busy for sitting on anyone's lap.

E-learning is a perfect example of how poorly homeschooling would go with this particular child. He loathes schoolwork and I prefer he not associate our relationship with education. But until at least May 1, he is stuck with me enforcing e-learning. May God be with us all.

Wednesday evening I took Austin and the dog for a walk while Lauren and Taylor got ice cream through a drive-thru with Kate and Ty. We encountered a snake so I had to scoop up Austin and quickly reign in the dog. Austin was startled and kept telling everyone Mimi was scared of the snake. This is something he keeps repeating because it apparently made an impression. I'm just glad I saw it before the dog. But on the same walk, Austin kept pointing at others on the street enjoying their walk and screaming, "people!" It appears we've socially distanced the boy a bit too far.

Leaving the sunshine and this little family in Georgia so we could return to a life in semi-quarantine in gloomy Indiana left a lot to be desired. We are grateful for the days we had together but goodbye is always hard. When told to say goodbye, Austin hugged both of his parents instead. Once it was made clear we were leaving without him, he flat refused to say it to us. It reminded me of his mom at his age. She would block our door and decline to tell my mom goodbye when she left our house as if she would have to stay if goodbyes weren't exchanged. As I said, goodbye is always hard.

Toilet Paper, Hives and Friends

Sunday, I ran to Costco for our regular every six week or so stock-up and was unable to purchase toilet paper. I was mildly irritated and slightly amused. This week, however, when I went to both Aldi and Jay C and found both of those aisles cleared, I was a bit more annoyed. We are okay for a couple of weeks but if grocery stores close, things will get interesting around here. Overall I am prepared for the insanity of Coronavirus with a well stocked freezer. While the world loses it's collective mind, I will spring clean and enjoy my family. The blessing in all this mess it the necessity of slowing down.

Layla broke out in hives again this week. We still have no idea what is triggering them but I quickly dosed her with benadryl and they only returned a few times over the next couple of days.

Austin called a few times this week. He loves taking his mommy's phone and giving us a tour of his house. His vocabulary is growing in leaps and bounds as he clearly describes items he finds important. I love seeing his world and hearing his sweet little voice.

Out of the blue, Ty pulled out an old favorite this week and quickly sucked in both Noah and Greg. I love watching them all work together. 

We hosted a dance party during school Friday and I was a life guard which essentially meant I got to dance for two and a half hours with my smallest friends. We had a great time together and Saturday I felt like I had danced for two and a half hours. Ouch.

One of my sweet Kindergarten kiddos tapped me on the shoulder as I was squatting down to speak with another friend and told me she wasn't supposed to touch people because it spreads germs. As she was telling me, she panicked and clasped her hands behind her back, apologizing.  I assured her it was okay and we were all being careful and washing our hands a lot. She gave me four hugs before I left that day. I love her sweet innocence. I am going to miss my friends a lot these next weeks.

Ty suddenly needed to know more about volcanoes and so we spent some time watching videos of Mt. Kailua. His brain fascinates me and I am usually more than happy to follow his lead. Perhaps the e-learning days we are anticipating will have some delightful consequences. This is what I'm telling myself anyway. Typically, traditional school work is not a priority for my active boy.

Her school had spirit week with a share the love theme. I found it somewhat ironic given the social spacing being recommended at the moment. That being said, the photo is adorable and I am glad a friend took it for me.

Kate was sent home early one time this week but otherwise successfully completed an entire week of school just in time for them to close. Sigh. However, we saw a massage therapist who worked on her this week and she recommended a chiropractor for a neck adjustment to see if perhaps the ongoing headache isn't stemming from a neck issue.

Because I spent Friday dancing with 650(ish) kids and Greg spent an hour and half in the emergency room with an ill employee, we decided I didn't need to cancel my lunch plans with friends from Dayton. Annually we meet for a day and it takes months to find an open date on the calendar so rescheduling was not ideal. I'm glad we did it. We all needed the sanity check after this crazy week.

Weekend Review

Kate and I went to the zoo together today to get our membership card prior to Austin's spring break visit. We know the wait would be anything but fun with a two year old. It gave Kate and I an opportunity to see the lanterns for the new festival running at night this summer. We will absolutely be back one night for the full effect since it was so impressive in daylight.

If you know Kate, you know she loves elephants and she has been requesting an opportunity to see our zoo's newest baby, Fitz since he was born in August.  He was adorable and like all toddlers, kept dropping a rock he wanted to play with so he put it in his mouth for safe keeping. We were smitten.

Saturday, Lauren and Taylor celebrated Austin's birthday with a donut holding birthday candles, just like his Mommy always requested and a trip to Build-A-Bear for "Happy", the happy birthday bear. When we video called him, he was running through the house in his birthday suit screaming, "happy day!"

His serious little face as he listens to instructions for his bear's heart. Lauren said it had to match the pattern on the bear's feet because Austin insisted. He also selected the name.

Sunshine was absorbed fully this weekend. We walked, played outside and held down the porch swing after Kate and I walked the zoo. This weather fuels me and thank God because the week ahead contains a full moon, Friday the 13th, the time change adjustment and it happens to be the week before our spring break. The children are guaranteed to be out of their minds at work. Pray for teachers, friends. They need all they can get.

Kindergarten, Headaches, New Job

Ty was frustrated Monday morning because he was writing a comic strip and needed to get out the door for school. It's difficult for me to be responsible when creative thoughts are flowing in my brain too.  Maybe his DNA isn't from his father completely after all.

In Kindergarten we were creating rhyming books in small groups. One of the words my friends needed to rhyme was car. Several tossed out the word "bar" and I suggested drawing a chocolate bar as their illustration. It worked well for my first group but the second one had a strong leader who corrected me, "Ms. Sherri, a bar is a place my parents go for grown up drinks when they don't have kids with them." And suddenly none of the illustrations were Kindergarten appropriate.  From there, I curtailed creativity and suggested "star" for everyone.

While passing out supplies for a project,  a friend eagerly raised his hand to compliment my shirt. It was a solid white tee. Four days later, the same kid complimented yet another solid white tee shirt. I wonder about his future career. And if perhaps I don't need a different neutral color shirt in my repertoire.

Greg started his new job a little earlier than originally planned on Friday. He celebrated his final day off Thursday by cleaning the house. My co-workers want to know if he can teach classes on how to be a house husband. There is some jealousy there. However, he was welcomed warmly in his new gig and is anxious to be working again.

Kate successfully completed school three days this week, took walks, participated in ping pong in gym class and maintained a level one headache all week with the exception of Monday night where it spiked to an eight and she was holding her head sobbing. Had we not already had a clear CT scan in December, we would have been in the emergency room that night. However, my concern she was experiencing rebound headaches held true in that moment. The decision to pull all medication was a good one. She is clearly feeling better finally. We are anxious to have her fully back to herself but this was a massive improvement week.

I have often wondered what happens in my house after I go to bed because Ty is the only one securely tucked in before my early bedtime.......

The animals work together to drive me crazy, I am convinced. Friday morning at five, Layla barked at the wind. I jumped up to quiet her and Oliver made himself comfortable in my chair in the same instant. As soon as he was seated, Layla ceased barking and they exchanged a look I swear meant it had been planned.

And today, our favorite person turned two! Time flies when you are having fun, I guess because those two years went fast and he is a blast. We cannot wait to celebrate him in two weeks!

He got tubes in his ears for his birthday. Fourteen ear infections in two years warrants them. We are hoping they make life more comfortable for him. He handled surgery and post op well.

Grateful

I've likely mentioned it before but it's worth repeating; I start each day with my first cup of tea journaling my simplest blessings. This morning's list....

• Little chick salt and pepper shakers displayed
• Flowers adorning the front door 
• Two stinky boys sprawled across my living room in the early morning sunlight
• Fresh sheets on beds
• God's word and so many avenues to seek answers to random biblical questions. Today I trailed after Lazarus for a spell.

After a quick grilled lunch, Greg and I returned to church for a married couple's bible study where we rolled our eyes and got caught. Fortunately we were in good company but on the way home, my prince charming informed me he would be okay with me idolizing him. He's sweet like that.

We wrapped our weekend with a hike before saying see ya soon to Benjamin. We had a great visit and miss his sweet spirit here.