Week 13

Second full week of quarantine complete!  All is well.  I, the introvert, am completely enjoying the home life and empty calendar.  Kids are doing school, Colombo is working, and we are all enjoying long dinners around the table, which generally lead to shenanigans.  The kids are troopers; quite creative and getting along incredibly well under the circumstances.  We're donating when we can, serving/delivering where we can, creatively blessing/surprising friends, working out as a family, hiking on Saturdays, creating challenges, walking the dogs a lot, and every day, I leave for a 20 minute drive around 4:00p for 20 minutes of solitude/change of scenery/prayer.  In our little corner of the world, we have found a rhythm, with moments here and there when it feels like the wheels are falling off.

In the same space and breath, I was shook this weekend when perhaps it became closer and more real than before.  As NYC's death toll doubled in two days and the City just got absolutely overtaken by the virus, my heart broke.  As 18-wheelers parked in the city streets to serve as temporary morgues.   My nurse friend reached out just heartbroken for the healthcare system and the tremendous strain she's under.  She's watching people die completely alone and it's just.too.much.  

There are heroes all around.  Planes full of nurses and doctors going TO New York City- into the fiery furnace- to do what they can.  And minimum wage earning grocery store clerks still going to work so that the rest of us can eat.  Staying at home is 'easy' when I consider the sacrifice that so many others are making.  We've all seen the videos.

We will emerge.  But it'll be different.  A page has turned and much like there was life before and after 9/11, I think there will be a historic line of life before and after COVID.  I've been so moved by the videos of hundreds outside and inside of hospitals crying out to God- in prayer, in praise.  People turning their faces to Him.  Doctors and nurses begging God for mercy.  Lord Jesus, have mercy!  Our Help and Hope is Christ alone and we steadfastly trust in His goodness and faithfulness.

Monday, Mar. 23rd
I had some 'work' to do, but a beautiful, snowy backdrop to look at.

Certainly grateful to all be together.  Maddy got creative and launched an official business platform, logo and all.  It will have many facets to it, but for now, she's teaching private lessons remotely at a discounted rate.

Tuesday, Mar. 24th
Some post-dinner shenanigans- the kids spontaneously started acting out Bible stories (charades style) and the rest of us had to figure out what they were.

Wednesday, Mar. 25th
C4 got the boys all re-energized about Pokemon.  His motivation was to have something in common to do with his bros, with a side of nostalgia.  He was way into the cards from about age 7-12, but has since sold them all.  So the boys scoured the internet and bought a ton of cards for pennies a piece.

Thursday, Mar. 26th

 Dance resumed via Youtube.

  

Ninny's birthday 6 years ago:

 Ninny's 2020 social distancing birthday:

 Somehow Rocco showed up in as Spiderman.  In some regards, quarantine means "anything goes".

  

 Nick's fam Facetimed in.

 Everyone followed the rules and stayed 6 feet apart.

 The kids came up with new games that kept them spread out.

Friday, Mar. 27th
Colombo had an important call and asked the kids and I to vacate from 9-noon.  Easier said than done these days!  So we considered him finding a spot to work...but...also currently impossible.  So, I loaded up the kids and I drove out to Tim's to drop some clothes and books and to have a lovely hour-long, safe-distancing sidewalk visit.  Missed a picture there, but caught the sight of $1.60 gas!!!

We did school all afternoon and then ordered take out from a local, non-chain owned by a friend of Colombo's.  Seeing what Renna would look like with bangs :)

Saturday, Mar. 28th
QD15- Saturday is hike day!

 This time we checked out Castle Craig in Meriden!

 This one definitely included some bouldering!

 Rocco always takes the path of most resistance (as far as hiking goes...not in everyday life).

Sunday, Mar. 29th
Our day was spent much like the previous Sunday.  I watched my Dad's service online and then the boys spent the better part of the day working on trick shots and obstacle courses.  I'm actually gonna throw those into another post since I've got quite a few videos now.

The girls sang, we did dinner, and then K and M introduced a "pyramid" like the one on Dance Moms (?) to the family.  Based on our 'performance' through the week, we were given a ranking.  Lots and lots of laughter.

 We finished the day with our first family Zoom call so we could all see each other's sweet faces.

Gonna wrap up with a couple of blasts from the past that I stumbled upon through the week.

The Passion and the King, 2013  (Maddy was turning 12)  She and James are still besties.

Not sure which year.... (Aiden looks about 3)

Homeschool Science Fair, 2008 (Nathanael was 4, posing with his still-now best bud)

Week 12

Well, we just completed our first full week of quarantine.  Not yet a full, government mandated, curfew-type, but highly suggested to just stay home, and we happily complied.  It's the best way for us to stay well and to prevent the spread.  The day-to-day hasn't changed around here.  Colombo is still working from home (although he's been busy assisting customers in getting their employees the ability to work from their homes) and school is happening as it does every day, except Nathanael is now "distance learning."  He still gets up by 8:00am because they have to login for attendance to classes.  

The biggest change is quiet evenings with no activities to run off to, and quiet weekends filled with quality family time.  It may get old soon enough, but for now we are filling the hours with countless card games, puzzles, ultimate hide-n-seek, practicing trick shots, long dinners around the table, family hikes, and family workouts in the garage.  I'm loving it!

It was also announced mid-week that The Passion and the Cross will not be produced before Easter, so that eliminated my little part-time gig for now.

We're counting our blessings, leaning in to see the good even in these circumstances, and looking for ways to serve and bless others.  Our hearts hurt for those who are ill, those who are lonely in isolation, the brides whose weddings have fallen apart, the victims of domestic abuse that are quarantined with their abuser, the seniors of high school and college whose hard work won't be realized in a cap and gown, the Olympians whose dreams are crushed, those who don't have money to pay their bills or buy groceries, those who are fear-filled for the now and for the future, and all of the other unthinkable collateral damage.  It's heavy and it's layered and it's a lot.  It's unprecedented, but hopefully temporary.  We continue to pray for unity in our nation, for the best of humanity to surface, and for strength for all as we emerge and heal as a world.

There have been some incredible stories of generosity and acts of kindness which bring so much hope!  We are also laughing often because there is so.much.good.content for memes and videos as people's uncrushable spirits shine through in the form of humor and creativity.

A pretty quiet week of pictures- themed by quarantine.

Monday, Mar. 16th

Business as usual for school resulting in a trashed lived-in school room.

Tuesday, Mar. 17th
Trevor has skill!

We made the decision to get Maddy home.  Her program was canceled at least through Easter, so she protected herself as best she could and thankfully flew on half empty planes.

Lots of outside time and playing together.  Every afternoon I take a 20 minute "sanity drive".  I pull away and just drive for 20 minutes to reset my brain and breathe in the only 20 minutes of alone time I have for that day.

 We've got a growing list of the good that can be seen all around.  I stole this idea from Elizabeth.

 Lots of "Presidents" card game.  For some reason, when Renna plays cards, 80% of the time her ears get super red and she says they hurt.  ????  Not sure if she's allergic to the cards or what, but she's quick to throw some ice on them.

 These two took advantage of my unlocked phone.

 Maddy's welcome home sign.

Wednesday, Mar. 18th
We drove out to meet Mom and Russ.  A) something to do, B) it was Bobbi's birthday the next day, C) Colombo had an important 3-hour phone call so I needed to get kids AND dogs out.  We enjoyed the warm sunshine.

I drove the kids past the Congregational church my Dad pastored from roughly the time I was 15-19.  So many memories in that building and that era.  It made me sad to see it in such horrible physical appearance. 

I allowed the Bigs to go on a hike so long as they did not engage in physical touching.  I was very specific- no piggy-backs, no wrestling, remember 6-feet.  And then I see this on Instagram.  Sigh.  I can only be so upset, though.  They've been extremely cautious and compliant and understanding and wiling to do their best.  Their social worlds have been turned upside down (on top of work, school, and church!) so I have tor remember to be grateful and grace-full with them.

Taco Tuesday turned into Taco Wednesday because I'm picking up shop-from-home at Shoprite now and Wednesday was the only available slot.

Thursday, Mar. 19th

Our pitiful little home gym's about to get worked hard!

Friday, Mar. 20th
A solid part of the afternoon was spent chipping ping-pong balls and attempting to hit the cup as a target.

I've been proud of the kids; they are all (minus C4) very excited and willing to workout in the afternoon.  Crossfit is no joke and even this modified home version is hard-core, but they all rise to the challenge at 4:30p.

We ordered out from Trattoria Toscana and had the most lovely evening around the table, but I failed at a picture.  Then, Presidents and a quick picture to swap with my gym BFF's for our Friday night check-in.

Saturday, Mar. 21st
Devil's Hopyard.  This was a hike!  As in traversing logs and climbing rocks.  Challenging but doable.  Not for toddlers and I'm glad I didn't have the dogs.  We all felt quite accomplished...highly recommend.  (We did the orange trail with Devil's Oven as a (no joke!) bonus.)

 They found the perfect stick guns.

Sunday, Mar. 22nd
I was shocked to learn that Dad would be Facebook Live for his service, and if all goes as planned, using Zoom for Bible study.  I was shocked, but happy I got to watch history in the making!

Almost the entire day was spent attempting and filming their well-planned and constructed obstacle course with 3 different trick shots, stretching from the second floor to the basement.  (Items included hockey sticks, golf clubs, funnels, pots, my hair dryer, wire, wrapping paper tubes and so much more.)  Many, many, MANY takes and a lot of luck needed.  They got close, but not quite.

We made a couple of "driveway drive-by's".  (Actually, Ninny and Papa stopped by for a driveway drive-by at our place mid-afternoon, too.)  The first was for a dancer friend's 13th birthday.  Jen (mom) slid cupcakes to the sidewalk so Rocco and Renna could grab one.  We all got a big laugh out of that. (You had to be there.)

Since we were in the neighborhood, we surprised cousins with our loud honking and cowbell shenanigans.  Good times...