29th May, 77th Day of Quarantine, 47th Day of School at Home

The high today was 69F, but it was a very rainy morning and a very chilly day.

The kids had some small tasks to knock out in their google classrooms, but it was a pretty easy morning.

I took out three big projects (and of course the usual chores.)

The first thing I finished was assembling teacher gifts!  Since thrift stores, garage sales, and leisure shopping have been non-existent the last few months, I put in only what I had already gathered for them before the lock down.

I had each child draw a picture to present, and of course the staple embroidered handwriting zipper pouch. = )

All tagged and ready to go! I plan on dropping them off when we return library books and pick up 'leftover' supplies.

My second task was to make "not wolf lodge" shirts for the kids to color when we celebrate "not going" to great wolf lodge. = (  I'm doing everything I can to make it a memorable at home experience.

When I bought the markers and the iron on vinyl (back in February) I was planning on making matching shirts that we could wear on our trip.  And one of the 'in room' activities was going to be coloring them.  = (

I was impressed with how easy it was to cut, weed & iron this vinyl!  Hopefully it stays put for more than just the initial day of wear.  The shirts are still from the box my mom scored at a thrift store years ago.

And, the most exciting of accomplishments: I finished my 150 continuing education hours to renew my texas teaching license (in 2023.)  I'm so happy to not have this hanging over my head any longer!  I'm actually at 162 (and 172 if you count the lesson that hasn't yet been graded!)  Whew.

It was also a mowing day, since Sarah came last Thursday, and it turned into a sunny day, despite the cold, wet morning.

For dinner we had tortellini alfredo and strawberries. = )

We finished the day with Kim Possible and Bueno Nachos.

It was a productive day, and I am glad to have so many tasks off my long term to do list!

later days

27th May, 75th Day of Quarantine, 45th Day of School at Home

Today the expected high was 86F.

I woke up with my alarm this morning (for the first time in over a week!) but was up and working on my certification nice and early.

Alice, Grace and Juliet had video meetings today.  William had a hard time getting started on one of his end of year assessments, so he ended up working in the (dry) tub as a way to get his brain in gear.

Once all the school work was finished, we went back to the park and played in the river.

I was not thrilled with them getting soaked, but showers at home went pretty quickly.

For dinner we had barbeque sandwiches and grapes. It's a William favorite, the rest of us are kind of over it. But, the person who needs the weight has more sway on the menu than the rest of us.

I poured through some more of the materials for the fall, but I still have a long way to go before I feel "ready." Having all the books and materials will help me feel better I think.

I made an appointment with a thrift store for some shopping tomorrow.  I forgot to ask if they were able to accept donations, so I packed up my car, just in case. ; )

Hoping for a smooth morning tomorrow so that I can get out the door for my mops event and then distance shopping with Sarah!

later days

26th May, 74th Day of Quarantine, 44th Day of School at Home

The expected high today was a respectable 89F!

Before starting school the twins wanted their hair to be matchy-matchy and Alice wanted to be in the picture too. = )

School work moved slowly. Billy had several meetings.  I worked on more certification classes.  True to form, the day after a holiday is hard to get back to work!

For second recess, we walked down to the park, and the kids waded in the high river!

I also got in another round of books and I'm so excited that my printed manuals arrived today too!  Just in time to sit on the front porch and pour through them in the lovely warm weather. = )

For dinner we had teriyaki chicken and rice.

It was finally enjoyable to sit out on the patio after dinner and enjoy the evening on the front porch!

later days

May 25th, 73rd Day of Quarantine, Memorial Day

The high today was 87F.  It was also the first day this year that I heard a Michigander complain about it being hot (and it was only 78F this morning when I heard it.)

I woke up around 6:30, and got started on my trainings not too much later.  Emily and William practically followed me down, but were happy to have nothing to do for school.

Grace really likes Emily's scrunchies, so much so, that she put in as many as her hair could hold.

Sarah came by to drop off some of her finds for our schooling next year, and grab the recycling and other things I had waiting for her.

Once she left I went to pickup the groceries. I was early enough today (since I wasn't fighting children to get one more thin done before I left) that I got gas before the groceries!

The groceries did not take long to stash away, and the kids snatched up the lunchables for lunch.

For afternoon recess all of the kids played out with the water toy!

Once Billy got to a stopping point in his engineering today, I convinced him to help me clean out the shed.  We didn't get rid of much, mostly leftover relics from our boat plug booths. The shed does look much cleaner and better now though!

William's teacher came by and dropped off a sweet little gift for him.  It was so hard to see her and talk to her and not give hugs!  I am so sad about the twins missing out on her lovely class next year, seeing her just made me cry.  Emily didn't understand why we made each other cry as she left.

For dinner we had chicken faijitas.

After saying that I needed to for the last 24 hours, I finally got the ice maker in the basement ready to go!

A thunderstorm blew through making Alice all kinds of nervous, and cooling things back off.  We are expecting rain for the next few days, but had no plans to go out anyhow.

later days

22nd May, 70th Day of Quarantine, 43rd Day of School at Home

Today the high was a lower 64F than yesterday, and it was a chilly rainy spring morning.

I pushed William through his to-do list quickly.  Thankfully Friday is a catch-up day in his class, so he only had a tiny bit of math, piano and reading to knock out before his appointment.

At his 7 year check up, he had a 7 degree spine curve, so we had to go in for his 6 month scoliosis check.

The doctors are currently seeing patients outside, to help prevent contamination.  It as sprinkling during his appointment, thankfully they could hide under the cover of the back lift gate.

So, his spine has progressed into a 9 degree curve, which is sad, so we will continue on the 6 month check pattern.  His next one will be at his 8 year check up.  With his history of bone issues, this is not something that surprises her, and we will just continue to keep an eye on it.

I did have a moment of panic when the nurse weighed him at 9lbs less than our previous visit (that's a 25% decrease in weight!)  The doctor reweighed him, this time on a level surface, and he actually gained 5lbs since his last visit just a few months ago!  This is awesome and means that the protein shakes are doing their job. = )

When we got home, William was trying to find the tree that he had seen a the doctor's office in our new field guide!

Also, I got in the first wave of books that I ordered!

I put them all on our book trolley!  Our second trolley arrived, and Juliet helped me put it together.

I unenthusiastically completed the course I had started for my Teaching certificate.  The lesson itself wasn't bad, but since I didn't get to get started on it until after noon, most of my motivation was evaporated.

I also finished the 5 day series for the introduction to the kids' homeschool in the fall.  I watched this with slightly more vigor, but should have watched it earlier in the day, since I was so spent.

For dinner we enjoyed pizza from our local place, and watched Kim Possible as a nice end of day activity.

later days

20th May, 68th Day of Quarantine, 41st Day of School at Home

The expected high today is a sunny 66F.  The day started out pretty, hopefully it stays that way.

Worked on my certificate during another early morning.  Sarah had me convinced that my refrigerator had died when she brought over donuts & coffee! (yum!)

The kids were up early (eating their donuts.)

Grace/Juliet & Alice had meets back to back this morning.

The refrigerator repairman came, cleaned our filter, and told us nothing is wrong.

After he left I went to celebrate Jessica's birthday via drive by! woohoo!

Juliet helped me assemble our new book trolley.  It was smaller than expected, so I ordered a second one.

For dinner we had barbeque sandwiches.

All in all a good day.

later days

19th May, 67th Day of Quarantine, 40th Day of School at Home

The high today was a rainy, breezy, chilly 66F.  We did get some sun right before sundown.

Today I woke up before my alarm, and worked on my teaching certification renewal.  I broke down and purchased a subscription to a CPE provider, for $100.  So, now I have one year to knock out my 150 hours.  I have some (maybe a third?) already, but need to finish the remainder before 2023.  But now, I will finish before May 19th 2021.

The kids worked diligently this morning.  Emily had some make up to work on, since she didn't successfully submit it.

For recess, and many hours after, Grace and Emily practiced bike riding along the sidewalk.

I knocked out my third day of homeschool introduction videos.  They are so good, and I should probably watch them before doing my certification lessons, because I'm pretty spent by the end of the day.

For dinner we had tacos.

I received the rolling cart I ordered 2 days ago from Sam's!  I wasn't expecting it for another few weeks, so it's arrival was not on my radar at all.

Today, I decided that blogging every day is just not a good use of my time, so I will attempt once a week.  Maybe making a post that I add the temperature and food to each day?  This everyday posting is just not working out for me.

Now, it is late, but still light out, so it's off to bed for my dear ones.

later days

May 18th, 66th Day of Quarantine, 39th Day of School at Home

The high today was a rainy, cold 61F.

I mailed off the withdrawal form to the school district, certified mail, so I guess we are now officially homeschooling this fall!

Alice and Emily practiced their Peppa Pig song during piano time, so I snapped a video!

From there I dropped off a few liquor bottles to one of my busy moms, then went to Sarah's to drop recycling, and trade collected goods from the past week.  Seven was outside, so I actually got to give him a cheese stick!

I picked up my groceries in the rain, then got quite a bit of gas, after our Friday trip to Grand Rapids.

At home Billy had made lunch, and the kids were almost done with their school work.  I had to fight the three little ones to finish up!

I finished another hour of my CPE training, and the next installment of the homeschool introductory video.

For dinner we had shrimp scampi on a bed of rice.  It was so good.  Alice, Billy and I ate it up, the other three whined and moped a bit.

I ordered a few other items for our homeschool adventure.  A Michigan field guide and rolling cart for all of our books and papers and school supplies.

I also cleaned out most of my "school supply" area to make room for my new rolling cart.  That's where I currently keep snacks & sanitization products to send up to the school each week.  Well, now I won't be sending anything to teachers, so I integrated most of it and sent some of it over to Sarah's for Avia to take to church.  The rest I will take up to the school sometime in the fall.

later days

May 17th, 65th Day of Quarantine

The high today was 61F.

After a digitally interrupted church service this morning, I spent a good portion of the day on my computer.

I managed 2 hours of my CPE for my Texas teaching certificate.  It doesn't expire until 2023, but I like to work on it long before that date, so I'm not so stressed about it's completion.

I watched the first introduction video for the homeschooling curriculum, and ordered a few more things for this fall.

We made "birthday cookies" for Uncle John.  Everyone approved as they wished him a long distance happy birthday!

Billy picked up Arby's for lunch, and we had a variety of leftovers for dinner.

And, a very sad part of my day, I filled out and addressed the withdrawal for the district.

Today was bath day, grocery ordering, and I managed a load or two of laundry too.

I think we have everything ready to go for tomorrow.

later days