April 3rd, Day 21 of Staying Home, 1st day of Spring Break!

The expected high today is 61F.  It is currently brilliantly sunny.

I started the morning by stripping the beds that were used (again.)  And spraying everything down.  Hopefully this will be the last day of bedding washing, once we put in the medicine.

This morning the twins had a zoom call with their class.  They were excited to see everyone!

After noon I went to pickup the kids' prescription medicine, and it had to sit on their heads for 8 hours!  It smelled awful and is either exceptionally flammable or does some damage if heated.  We kept the windows open all day to try to air out the house (luckily the temperature was accommodating.)

Now that the talent show has been officially cancelled, Emily put together a package for Abby, which included the matching outfits they were planning to wear.  Emily wanted to send a puzzle of her wearing her dress to Abby, so we took the picture and she made it up.  Sadly, it was drying away from the box, and I forgot to put it in.  = 0  We'll have to mail her a letter with it next week. = )

We played with the Google 3D animal option for a little while.

After dinner, from our local pizza parlor, we waved to our neighbors from the driveway while we drew some happy art.  = )

After coming in, I found that I had completely forgotten to remind Alice about her first class zoom meeting. = (  It was almost 45 minutes after her meeting time, so there was no chance for her to even chime in late.  We'll have to do a better job of setting an alarm next time (versus the single calendar reminder that I missed.)

And last night, I took down the paperwork from the fieldtrips that will never happen.  It made me more sad than I would like to admit.

The twins each put on some jeans and found a toy phone to stick in the back pocket, so that they could be "like mutti."  It's so endearing.

I picked a comedy from the Netflix library that I didn't recall seeing, but apparently had, called The Ugly Truth.  It came out in 2009, so it must have been one of the last movies we saw in theaters before Alice arrived. = )

At the late, late time of 9:45, I started the regimen of showering the medicine out of everyone's hair and combing through along the scalp.  Thankfully, we saw no signs of lice or nits, so I'm carefully optimistic that we may be in the clear.  I also trimmed the girls' hair to make combing easier.  Since I've not trained at all for hair cutting, I cut of the tiniest effective amount. My hope is that once we are able to make a salon trip, they will be able to easily rectify any mistakes that I made.

It was a late bedtime, so the kids were out quickly, and I went to bed as fast as I could manage.  I left one single load of bedding in the dryer, because it was just too late.

later days

March 30th, Essential Trips Only: Day 17; Day 11 of School at Home

The expected high today was only 43F.  It was cloudy and cold all day, with a decent wind, so it felt much colder.

My day started poorly with standing water in my dishwasher.  I called the warranty company, and they were able to send the tech out between one and five, today. what?what?

The kids got quite a bit of their work done before 10am, when I set William up on his Zoom call with his class.

I headed out the door to run the recycling by Sarah's and grab the groceries. Kroger was not nearly as busy as it's been, and I was there at the pick up with only one other car.

After that, I dropped some elastic from my stash in a bin at the high school. (They requested donations for the 3D masks they are printing for doctors and nurses.)  I also dropped a small load at the food bank.

I made it back to get the twins logged in with their friends at noon.  Juliet kept trying to chat with her BFF and was so sad that the call ended before they had time to chat.

For lunch the kids made some sandwiches and I fried up some yellow squash. yum!

Not long after the groceries were put away, the repair man came.  The pump was broken. = (  He had a spare one on him, and by the time he left it was up and running!  Yay repair guy!

I messaged back and forth with Kennedy's mom, so she and Juliet were able to zoom until my phone was about dead! = )  It was so cute, they were showing one another all of their special 'treasures.'  Next time I will try to set her up on the gypsy again.

Emily wanted to go on a bike ride, so the two of us made a path around town.  It was a chilly day, but we have enough hills that we were plenty warmed up by the time we made it home.

For dinner we had tacos, since they had tortillas this week (but no bread for us.)

Billy's Anniversary gift arrived.  It was so apropos for this year, I couldn't resist!

Tonight we got word that it is very likely that the kids will not return to school (it is still not official, but everything is pointing that way.)  They will all "move up" next fall with no conclusion to this year. = (

I am struggling with so many emotions.  Right now, I'm just feeling robbed.  I'm so sad that my 'golden' year ended so abruptly, and that Alice will never be in elementary again.  Alice didn't get her send off, or fourth grade trip to the wildlife center.  Emily missed out on a week long field trip to the capital to learn all about Michigan history, and she will never be able to make that up.  William will not get to finish his year with the.best.teacher.  And my twins, well, once again they will not get to finish a school year with their sweet, wonderful teacher. I will never have a kindergartner again.  There was no move up day or chance to say goodbye.

I'm sad about missed opportunity, but still applaud the leadership doing what's best for the majority of the population.

Tomorrow is Emily's Grand Rapids appointment, but it's not until the afternoon, so we should have a normal morning.

later days

Kindergarten Country Mill Fieldtrip

With the twins starting kindergarten, this year is full of "lasts."  Since Alice and Emily didn't go to kindergarten in Michigan, it's not been too bad.  But knowing this was the final fieldtrip pulled a little on my heart strings.

It was a cold, wet day.  I bought some coffee on the way to keep my hands warm during the first part of the tour.

The twins went last year with their class, and Billy came too!  But I think they had a good time with just me (and the rest of their class.)

Taking a cold ride on the tractor pulled wagon.

We each picked an apple, and a pumpkin.  And there was no surprise hand holding, unlike last year.  At the end of the tour we were given a donut and some cider.  The cider is cold, which is always surprising to me, as far north as we are.  It was still tasty. = )

G&J striking a pose in front of a real giant pumpkin!

The first school field trip for my last little babies.  I'm just a little sad.  Really.  I love getting to do more and more with all of them every year!

later days

later days

Winding Up the Twins' School Year

The twins finished up their year a week and a half before the big kids! 

They had a class picnic at a park near their school.  It was really sweet, they fed us and everything.  Sadly, we couldn't stay long, since Alice and Emily were singing that afternoon.

They also had a field day one very chilly morning. = )

The twins had a fun day, and everyone walked away with a 'medal."

I bought these adorable graduation caps to pass out to William's class, but they don't have a ceremony for the kindergartners, and I didn't have quite enough for his class size.  So, the twins were able to share a treat with their friends. = )

We wrapped up a fruit roll up in the note, and tossed in a summer ring. = )

I completely forgot to take a picture of the teacher gifts.  = (

This was the gift for the bus driver.  I found the necklace fan and thought what a perfect gift for a bus driver!

They are so happy to officially be in kindergarten now.  And I'm excited for a year of all 5 of them together at last. = )

later days

Kindergarten Reading Celebration

To celebrate the Kindergartener's progress in reading, they held a pot luck dinner, followed by an opportunity for William to show us his work!

We were a little early, and had to entertain ourselves.

Avia's memorial day watermelon turtle made a second appearance. = )

William was excited to show off all of his work.  I think he would have showed us the entire portfolio had we not run out of time (the teachers needed to go home.) The teachers give up so much of their personal time to benefit our children, I love them so much!

He has come a long way in a single school year, and we are so proud of him!

He will make an excellent first grader this fall.

later days

Kindergarten Round Up: Gracegarten & Julietgarten

It happened.  My very last Kindergarten Round-up.  And, despite the quantity of times I've attended one of these events, this was my first time at a repeat school!!!!

The twins are ecstatic to go to school with the big kids.  Apparently what they are most looking forward to is not riding the bus. ; )

The office staff seems to be super excited to take them into the fold next year.  I'm excited to have all 5 at the same school!

Since they have seen the ENT and ophthalmologist recently, they did not need the hearing and vision screenings.  So, they spent time coloring while we waited.

 

Before they went into the big group 'screening' and I went to my informational session, we spent time touring each Kindergarten classroom.  They really enjoyed spending time in William's classroom.

They spent time with the other future kindergartners while I listened to a repeat of information (but sometimes it's good to re-hear.)

On our way out, they danced along the paw prints.

They.are.ready.

And, as teary as I felt it made me, I know this is nothing compared to Alice's middle school orientation next year. = 0

later days

Kindergarten Roundup

Somehow, William will be starting Kindergarten in the fall.   While I've had no trouble reconciling myself to his "pre-kindergarten" status, Kindergarten just seems so official.

He's been showing all the signs that he's ready, pointing out letters and numbers, getting frustrated that he cannot read things and has to seek help from the big girls, shutting the door when he goes to the bathroom.  So I know he's ready, but it still feels like it happened awfully fast.

In the literature from the school, we were separated into 2 groups, A-L & M-Z.  Sadly, that put our start time at 4:45, which is before Billy gets home.  So, my mom came to watch the girls while I took just William.

They had an adorable photo booth in the entrance:

William and one of his friends were racing, and I was counting them off.  Naturally, we acquired other energetic future kindergartners in our race. = )

At the end of the evening, they allowed the kindergartners to check out the bus, and even took us all for a ride.  

We still have a month and a half left in this school year, but I think he is going to be ready for #williamgarten!

later days

Everything Else

My final post of the day, all of the other pictures from my phone that didn't fit anywhere else. = )

The Sam's club near us closed down.  I went back a handful of times to see the stages of it closing, and it was sad, and crazy, and sad.

 

If I already posted about this in the blog (I don't think I did) it is really a very upsetting event for my weekly schedule.  Having to go clear to the other side of town to do my major shopping every week is not a possibility, so I'm having to rework all of my tendencies, in the middle of winter. = /

The kids really like the giant icicles.

Alice's friend Willow came to spend the night.  Everyone really enjoyed having her here. = )

There was a lot of dressing up the entire time!

The snow went away for just a few days, and it was a welcome change for my little ones to go out an play, even though it was still cold!

The twins write with opposite hands. G-J

But they make me feel very loved. G-J

The puppy was getting a makeover from the twins. = ) J-G

Emily went on a field trip to the hospital.  She thought it was pretty fun. = )

Alice did chores for me and Aunt Rocky, so that she could buy her new prized possession.

William looks so grown up these days!  Kindergarten round up is next month, and I can see him more and more as a kindergartner! = 0

There are giant snow piles in every parking lot.  This is not something they ever show in the Hollywood version of winter, so it is still surprising to me.  Understandable, and logical, but surprising.

Speaking of which, it's probably why giant stores have so much extra parking in them, it's occupied by snow piles in the north.  Oh, and all those road signs that say "pass with care" and "turn lane ends" are actually probably because you can't see the stripes on the road during this time of year here.  FYI.

My very busy Juliet:

I was super proud of William.  I helped him put 100 dots on the poster, and tape on the title, but he drew all the W's without fighting me once!  He loved the stickers too. = )

The instructions for the poster were not very clear, in fact, they were just a single line on the reminder for the 100 day food item. So, when we brought William's a day early, the other moms were a bit panicked.  I figured that I'd just overlooked the instructions in the weekly newsletter, but apparently that one line was the notice.  It all worked out though, everyone had their 100 day things the next day. = )  This time of year is so crazy for the teachers, with 100 day celebrations, valentines, count day, parent teacher conferences, and starting to look ahead to next year!

There are nights Alice is Johnny on the spot with her homework, and nights that she would rather pout against the door than to take care of it.  This was one of those times.

Avia bought Juliet a new nightgown, so she was waiting by the washer for me to clean it for her.

Did I mention that it snowed?

later days