The First week of October

211th Day of Quarantine

68F

Started new Jim Carrey Biography.

Billy sanded, then Grace and I painted the back porch.  It was the final item on my summer home improvement list and I'm so happy that we had such a nice weekend to finish it off!

We also put away summer things, and got out winter things.  I need to winterize my car, but am still currently waiting to get it back from the mechanic.

leftovers or sandwiches

------

210th Day of Quarantine.

79F

We had pizza for dinner.

On the way to picking up pizza, I happened upon an estate sale.  I didn't get much, since they were closing, but they had soooooo many books (and so much other stuff) that I hope to return.

Finished book.  It was a good ending, but not a happy ending.

------

209th Day of Quarantine.  I do feel obliged to include today that much of society has reopened, and we are independently deciding to isolate.  There is no fear of the illness in particular, more fear of misinformation about the coronavirus, therefore, we cannot make a sound decision, and the best of all options is to stay put.

Today was cooler, but still coming in at 67F.  I am totally okay with this as an October temperature.

Grace's handwriting was just beautiful, I had to share!

Alice is quickly shifting from child to teenager, and I'm having so much fun with it. Whenever I say something it's either "soooo sarcastic" or annoying. She has no idea how flattering it is to me that she thinks I'm sarcastic!  She wouldn't say it any more if she knew, I'm sure.

My favorite is her current reaction to the way I say her name when I pull out her stick (for her turn to answer during lessons.) Apparently I was "too excited." So, after having a little fun with that, I tried to say her name as mundanely as possible. She didn't like that either. Apparently "too excited" is better than "bored."

For nature study, we did some pumpkin activities.  We guessed how much the pumpkin weighed (Juliet won), and voted whether or not it would float.  Then, we cut it open to see the seeds, and made some pumpkin seeds and I made a pumpkin pie. = )

For dinner I made some PF Changs Ramen mixed with some of the cheap stuff.  I thought it was pretty good, Billy really enjoyed it.

Tonight was our second mops meeting of the year.  I've switched over to the virtual group, and really enjoy it.

------

208th Day of Quarantine.

Somehow, we were gifted a second comfortable 69F day, in October!

For dinner we had sausage and beans.  Well, everyone but Billy who opted for candy instead.

Also, I'm reading the new Suzanne Collins book, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and it is really good.  = )

------

207th Day of Quarantine.

Today was a respectable 67F, and probably the last comfortable day of 2020.

In German we are learning some morning routine phrases, so I pulled up a German teeth brushing song that we enjoyed.  I managed to jot down the first chunk of it, before I was completely stumped and had to consult a real German.  Thankfully, she helped me get most of it squared away, and I wrote up a translation for us to use tomorrow during our German lesson. = )

For dinner we had tikka masala.

------

206th Day of Quarantine.

The expected high today is 58F.

We started our 8th week of homeschool, and homeschool is a lot like having toddlers, the days are long, but the weeks are flying!

We played a board game that I bought for my potential German classroom 15 years ago (and never used.) But today, I got to play it for the first time with my big girls!!!  Alice won, and they enjoyed the break from our usual German drills. = )

During science they created a webbed glove, based on one of DaVinci's models.

For dinner we are having a crockpot potato & beef in a wine sauce.  The house smells really good!

------

205th Day of Quarantine.

53F Was the high.

After online church, picked up groceries, in Billy's car, since mine is still in the shop.

For dinner we had the chicken Satay.  It wasn't as good at the restaurant's recipe, but not bad either.

------

later days

31st May, 79th Day of Quarantine

The high today was a brutally cold 64F. 

I finished the masks for my friend, ran some copies, printed some pages, wrote some letters.

The kids played outside to help with bedtime.

I read some of my book, and also read how to use the German with Miss Mason and Francois.  So, I'm excited about the foreign language aspect of the fall now too. = )

For dinner I made stew in the slow cooker.  It was well received.

Everything is ready for tomorrow morning, and Sarah and I have an appointment at a different thrift shop at 10am.

Tomorrow marks the final week of instruction for my littles ones, and we are all ready for summer break!

And, after 5 months of daily updates, this will be my final intentional daily entry.  I'll continue to log the temperature and daily dinner choices, but I'll be switching to a weekly format for the rest of the year.

later days

April 29th, 47th Day of Quarantine, School at Home Day 26

The expected high today is a chilly 62F.  We are expecting more rain in addition to what we have already had this morning. = (

Today was a regular day of school at home, complete with whining and smiles when the day was done.  = )

Emily had her weekly appointment with her teacher, and it just happened to be her birthday. So we blew up a few balloons, broke out some streamers and made a printout to wish her a happy birthday during the 10 minute time slot. = )

Billy seemed to have an onslaught of meetings all morning, so I took my chance to go during the first outdoor recess.

I drove (in a light rain) to retrieve our goodie 'bag' for our MOPS meeting tomorrow.  It wasn't too long of a trip and I dropped off an extra one for one of the ladies who also lives in Dimondale (that I'm not sure I've met?!?  Will certainly need to remedy that when the time comes!)

The kids were mostly finished when I returned, just lacking piano.

Once Grace finished her piano, I took out a project that I've had low on my to-do list for at least a decade! I'm translating an old German book (written in awful German script) for my own personal benefit.

That "G" looking letter at the beginning of the word? It's actually an S.  and the m in the middle, yeah, that's a w.  So the word is "Siegeswagens"  Which didn't translate.  But it is describing the statue on top of the Brandenburger Tor in Berlin, so I translated it to Victory Chariot.  In my searching I learned that we have adopted the Latin term for it and it is often referred to as a quadriga. Who knew?

For dinner we had egg fried rice.  And after dinner I attempted to use William's tablet as a webcam with his computer (our old laptop just doesn't have the processing power for the full group meetings...) but couldn't make it happen.  Once I gave up for the evening, I logged on with the laptop and got to chat with William's teacher a while.

I know my kids miss their teachers even more than I do, which just makes me really sad, because I really miss their teachers!  I'm happy to be able to connect with them one way or another!

Hopefully my dear ones can knock out their work quickly tomorrow,  so that I can 'relax' a bit during my mops meeting. Well, a girl can hope.

later days

Frankenmuth

For my birthday this year, my mom watched our little ones so that Billy and I could go away for a quick overnight stay in Frankenmuth!

It's called "little Bavaria" and while I was skeptical, I now approve of the name.  German, German everywhere!

The first stop was the self proclaimed "largest Christmas store in the world."  This place is amazing. Seriously.

They even had Tech ornaments!!

We stayed at the Bavarian Inn, because it looks cool, and we wanted to know if it would be worth planning a family vacation there;  Yes, yes it would.

The Bavarian Inn restaurant is across the river from the hotel.  There are restaurants in the hotel as well, but not the one of the same name.

It was a cold walk.

In the hallway leading from the river entrance to the restaurant there was a hallway with a concise history of Michigan.   I loved this picture because it showed how the mom hung outside with the kids so that they don't destroy anything inside/get too loud/complain about being bored/embarrass her.  I guess humanity doesn't really ever change.

Saw this cute little picture opportunity and missed my dear ones.

It wouldn't' really be little Bavaria without boasting their soccer team support!

We found a cool door, but it was locked.

A nifty collectible plate display:

We made it!

A hello kitty tree. = )

Heading to the cheese Haus.

After we left, we happened onto an escape room.  Since it was early on a Friday afternoon, they had an opening in 20 minutes.  We signed up and then walked around for just a bit to waste the time.

Picture on a very German bench.

We went back in, and the game we prepared. Our puzzle was a mob themed event set during America's prohibition. After a quick intro, we were left to solve the mystery.  It was soooo much fun.  A giant puzzle with a bunch of little puzzles inside.    We were successful in escaping!

Once we finished at the escape the room, it was late enough to check in to our hotel.

We had a glass door that was directly off of the adult only swimming pool and hot tub (we actually used it too!)

We set out to explore the resort.

We played a round of indoor mini-golf.

For dinner we went to the lounge and shared a pizza.  They had some kids games going on until 8, then they were supposed to have live entertainment.  We didn't make it until 8, but did order a couple of  root beer floats in fancy light up blinking cups! = )

It was an early bedtime after a super fun day.

We were up early the next morning.  We had breakfast in the ratskeller (think cafeteria, not bar, though there was a bar tucked away in the corner.)  Then bought some souvenirs and checked out.

We headed back to the Bavarian Inn restaurant center to do a little more shopping.  They had a chocolate counter that we patronized, because you know, we don't have any candy in the house...

From there we went to N'orlins coffee and beignets, though we weren't hungry.  We decided to check out the mirror maze.  It was very fun.  I can't wait to bring the kids there!  They also have a laser challenge that the older three will really enjoy I think.

We did watch part of the Glockenspiel show.  It was the pied-piper of Hamelin (In English.)  It was just too cold, so we didn't finish it.

When we got home, Lots of helpers made my birthday cake!

And after dinner lots of helpers ate my birthday cake.

It was such a fun birthday!  36 is looking good so far.

later days