Continuous Learning - It Begins

Here’s a little re-cap for you….

We were told on Thursday, March 12 that school was cancelled for Friday, March 13.

Spring Break was March 16 - 20.

The week of March 23 - 27 school was cancelled  

and we were told the kids would not return for the remainder of the year.

I called this time our “extended Spring Break”.

Well, today, we received information from the school district on "Continuous Learning”

and what that would look like for each grade from now until May 22.

We did not get the email until mid-day so we did not jump right in, 

first thing this morning - but we did see what the plan was and I introduced it to the boys tonight.

In a nutshell, they have taken the subjects each kid is learning and created one lesson a week. 

Each lesson follows includes: 

Explore: a video where a teacher from the district talks to them about the lesson for the week.

Explain: each kids has to explain what they learned fro the video by writing, drawing or telling.

Apply: looks different for each subject.

Create: looks different for each subject.

Jaxen’s Weekly Lessons include: 

Reading

Math

Science

Social Studies

Social-Emotional

They have also included ideas to include their “Specials" (Music, PE, Art, Library).

Jaxen’s teacher will do a Zoom video-conference each week with the class

(for those who can) and she has also provided extra resources. 

Jaxen will still have a spelling list and his teacher has even asked (for those who can)

to send in the kid’s spelling test each week so she can see them. 

Zane’s Weekly Lessons look a little different. 

Thankfully (for Zane) his teacher is the one doing all the videos for preschool!

Zane got to watch a video tonight, of his teacher reading a book.

Then he drew a picture.

We will basically work on letters, numbers, colors, and speech with him 

using resources they have given us. 

They also encourage the same “specials” that Jaxen has.

Tonight, I had Jaxen work on Math and Reading.

After he finished his math lesson, he clicked on “preschool” and worked with Zane on counting!

We will see how this goes!

And if you haven’t seen all the funny meme’s here lately about homeschooling, 

you should look them up. They are hilarious!

They make me smile each day.

I will leave you with this quote today - well, because...TRUTH!

Quarantine - Take 2 (Working from Home)

Want to know how we are doing?
Take a look at this pic and guess….

Just kidding!
It’s not going that bad.
Yes, this is the state of my basement - but I have let that go.
The rest of my house is decent (at this point).

So - what does being quarantined and working-from-home look like for us?

Well, thankfully, this model is not new to us.

When we lived in Wolcott NY Nik worked from home.

This is a bit different, but we are taking some things we learned from then and applying them now.

I am still working full-time.
My hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm.
We have created me an office space in the bedroom in our basement.
It’s a little cold in there, but I have a blanket and a space heater.
I am in there when I am working and then I close and lock the door when I’m not.

The boys and I also have a system -
If my office door is open, they can come in and chat with me or play in the room.
If it is closed then they have to show respect and not bother me.

So here is a peak at my office:
See the easter eggs above the white board?

I brought my work chair home and lots of supplies that I need.
Work has been a bit chaotic, but is finally starting to settle down and I think
everyone is finding their new groove.

Want to know a cool God-story?
The day I was told I had to work from home I drove up to the house and
saw the desk in my neighbors lawn for trash pickup.
They were outside and I asked about it.
It’s a perfectly good desk, just a little old and used and they did not need it anymore.
I had Nik haul that desk right into our basement and it has been perfect!
Thank you Lord for your provision!

Someone asked all our staff the other day what we are all doing with our extra “commute” time.
I am doing laundry!
We have so much laundry - so it helps to use the bit of drive time to start,
switch or fold a load of clothes.

Now - how is this impacting Nik?
Well, when we heard the boys school was cancelled for the year we were a bit concerned.
That basically meant that Nik would not be getting much sleep.
Now that I am working from home, it has actually helped.

The main thing I do to help is let the boys hang out with me first thing in the morning.
When they wake up I let them take their breakfast downstairs and they
normally have TV time while I work.
Sometimes they hang out in my office playing, or I will get an activity together.
Basically I will let them hang out downstairs with me until I need Nik to wake up.
And that can be different times different days.
If I have a conference call or video chat - I will wake him up so I’m not interrupted.
If I need to really concentrate on something and just can’t, I wake him up.
For the most part he will get a couple hours extra sleep, which is really helping!

My lunch hour is a little longer with no commute so it’s nice that we get time then.
I used to spend my lunch hour getting Zane from school, so Nik and I did not get much time.
Now, we have lunch as a family!

And everyday I leave the house to check the mail at the office.
This can either be the boys and I or a family affair.
Everyone just stays in the van while I get the mail, but it’s nice to have them out of the house.

Also - it’s nice that is is flexible enough to step away if I need to.
I usually pop upstairs to use the restroom and get a drink/snack,
so I can look in on them and say hi.
If someone does need me for an extended period of time, I can make up my work
time after the boys are in bed, or get started earlier in the morning.
So far that has not been an issue.

And then today, Nik texted me and asked if I could step outside for a minute.
I could and got to watch them make “volcanos”.

 

 

Nik is still taking a nap each evening after dinner until he goes to work.

Oh - and yes, I still shower everyday and put on a little makeup.
Mainly powder and mascara.
And I wear “real clothes” -
It is a bit more casual but at least I’m not wearing my “comfies” to work.
I have had at least one video conference everyday, so that helps to make sure I look decent!

That was a lot - hope it made sense!
Overall, it’s going well!

Quarantine - Take 1

This is a little of what “quarantine" has looked like in our home..

Monopoly.

For some reason Jaxen loves monopoly.

I thought I liked the game - but not so much anymore!

He has been begging to play, so I started with him Saturday morning and

then Nik took over Saturday afternoon and finished him off Sunday morning.

And now he wants to play again!

Neighborhood Walks.

I have been trying to get the boys outside for at least a walk everyday.

Some days it has been cold and rainy though.

But on the nice days the boys grab a bike, scooter, basketball, and even jumprope

and we walk our neighborhood.

I love running into other neighbors who are out and about!

 Bathtime.

Zane loves baths. 

He takes a bath everyday.

Being in quarantine just makes him stay in a bit longer!

Art.

 We have been doing lots of art!

One activity the boys have enjoyed is coloring Easter Eggs.

I picked up a pack from the store over the weekend and we have had so much fun with these!

We have about 20 on our fireplace and Zane has been placing them

other places all over our house - we will be finding Easter Eggs for months!

 Jaxen and I also did some art while watching our church service online Sunday morning.

Playing.

Overall, the boys have gotten along so well.

They decided to eat lunch on Saturday with their dinosaurs (see them on the table?)

They have also enjoyed watching these little “pills” dissolve and turn

into different sea creatures!

New (to us) Van

Well, we bought ourselves a mini van.

It is a 2008 Town and Country.

Black.

I don’t have a picture of the outside because don’t all mini vans look the same?!

We purchased it a week or two ago…

anyone else with me on the last 2 week running together?!

Which means we’ve driven it about 4 times before it sat in the garage.

Quarantine problems.

This was us before quarantine...

and then today we gave the boys a real treat…

we let them watch a movie while we drove through the bank.

Seriously, this is as exciting as life is getting right now.

They love the van though, and I do think it will serve us well, when we get to use it. 

In other news…

I am officially working from home now.

I’ll update more next week on how it’s going.

We survived day one :) pretty well actually.

Spring Break / School Closure

Spring Break started for the boys last Friday, after a decision was made to start early.

Then the decision was made to cancel school until April 6.

And now, as of last night, the decision was made to cancel school for the rest of the year.

Here is what we are doing:

 Letting the boys enjoy their spring break despite the bad weather, 

no playing with friends and being quarantined in the house.

Here is our attitude:

We are doing the best we can to keep everyone safe.

We are going to make the most of a crummy situation.

We are going to have good attitudes and thank the Lord for His goodness.

And most of all - we are praying. 

Praying for the spread of this virus, the economy, our leaders in positions over us,

our neighbors, friends, family...

and our sanity!

************************************

We had craft time this weekend....

and some good cuddles, by the fire!

We have also been playing lots of games, and the boys have had some wonderful "creative play".

Which means my house is a mess of forts and puppy houses - but it's ok.

I'm letting some things go for the sake of fun :)

Nik is still working his regular job, as am I.

There may come a day soon where I work from home.

But not yet.

I'll keep you updated on our situation as it evolves.

In the meantime, I need to go to the store and get more crafts and supplies! 

 

School Play

Last week the 2nd graders put on a play - "Harold and the Purple Crayon”!

It was pretty cute.

Can you spot Jaxen?

During 2 songs Jaxen got to play the wood block.

He loved it.

I have videos…but don’t want to take the time to upload it.

Just being honest :)

Text me if you want to see!

Zane was jealous the entire time - 

seeing all the kids playing the instruments, while he just had to sit and watch.

Hard life.

Life Lately

Here is a bunch of random pictures that show our life the past few weeks...

We had some of our favorite people visiting from the other side of the world!

Rusty and Didi (Diane)

The boys were playing with Legos one night and decided to do a challenge.

Who could walk barefoot on the legos...

Zane won! 

Look at my pretty new earrings!

I am trying to take advantage of all the nice days -

so I took the boys to a park before Jaxen's last basketball game.

Jaxen saw a friend, and of course, Zane had a blast!

Jaxen broke out in rashes while he had strep throat, 

and I made him lift his shirt while I took pictures (so I could watch the progression)

and Zane felt left out. 

He wanted pictures of his belly too. 

I obliged.

It is never dull at our house...just a little visit from 2 dinosaurs!

On nicer days, the boys favorite thing to do is to head to the skate park.

They do lots of cool "tricks" and I take lots of video. 

Driveway basketball games with the neighbors have been on repeat as well.

We have had many Jenga Tournaments around here...

and Jaxen enjoyed beating me at Candy Land one day.

I enjoyed the fresh outside air :)

I had a work Conference Call one night this past week and I told 

Jaxen he could lay on the couch (quietly) during my call.

He passed out. 

I joked that the call was so boring it put him to sleep :)

I was making chili one night and Zane decided he wanted to stir.

He wanted to use the knife and cut onions next... I said no. Lol. 

Spring has been in the air and that means these kiddos don't think they need all their clothes on.

And that's a little of life lately!

Spring Break is next week and my boys are happy :)