What Day Is It?

(4/3) Quarantine day 22. Work and school for the boys and me, and Dad had the day off. The twins had Zoom sessions with their classes. They really enjoy them, and spent a good hour on with their classes. They're now on Spring Break, not that we're really doing anything different.


(4/4) Today we were all off. Dad got up early and made us a pancake breakfast. I took Zumba from my living room, which is always the best way to start the day. After class, I went to the store and purchased flowers to take to Nanan for her birthday coming up next week. We parked 6' apart and talked a little through our windows. That was so much harder than our nightly calls! This sucks. Dad made Rote Gruetze for the boys today. They seemed to like it! It was something his grandmother used to make.


(4/5) Dad had to work in the office (solo) today for part of his shift, and I slept in. The boys again played a ton of screen time, and this afternoon set about augmenting all the forts we have. Even Jimmy has one! I had a family call with all the sibs for Craig's bday this evening. I was mean and made the children put on clothes for their brief appearances. Dad made homemade ramen tonight and it was very tasty.


(4/6) The boys are on break this week, and Dad and I are still working like normal. Sarah and I postponed our normal dark-thirty walk for an afternoon one so we got to enjoy the sunshine.  Dad even broke out the grill for dinner tonight. Nanan got the birthday cards we sent and was delighted. The boys did such a nice job. Today is her actual birthday, and we sang to her on our video chat this evening.

(4/7) Today was a work day for Dad and me. I managed to squeeze in a lunchtime walk with Sarah and got out in the sunshine between meetings. The grands texted this afternoon that there was a package on our front porch. They gave us a Nixplay smart frame, which is super cool!  It interfaces with social media which makes adding photos a cinch. You can also send pictures to other people's frames, and now all of us big kids have one and can stay connected during this time apart.


(4/8) I had the day off so slept in & then sat in the sun to read my book. Dad worked today, and went on a produce run after he was off. He scored some new berries for another stab at Rote Gruetze. I asked J if I could attempt giving him a haircut tonight. It turned out okay ~ he kept telling me that he thought I was done, and I kept telling him I had no real idea what I was doing. He likes it, and that's what counts.


(4/9) I worked today, and Dad had the day off. Today's excitement was someone hijacking my PayPal and bombing my cell phone. I turned my phone off in frustration and went out for a walk with Sarah. It eventually stopped, but ugh, so irritating. Dad grilled tonight and we opened the last bottle of wine from our favorite winery. The owner is planning to retire this summer, and I can't imagine we'll get back again before they've gone out of business.  I told the kiddos tonight that Easter was going to be a bit different, and J burst into tears. We usually do a big get together and egg hunt at the grands', and this year it will be at home without the coveted stuffed eggs. This is the first they've really gotten upset about being home.

(4/10) I ended up going to the bank to deal with yesterday's PayPal fiasco. They got me all fixed up and on my way. So annoying. Especially since I've been collecting donations for my work's charitable efforts. Other than that, my day was pretty low-key. I walked with Sarah at lunch, worked, and found the end of the internet. I'm glad the weekend is almost here!


(4/11) I slept in this morning and took a Zumba class online. I met Nanan again and we exchanged Easter baskets. I put some of the eggs that the kids colored, tulips, and Cheetos in hers. She got the whole family a big basket of treats! We had a nice visit, parked a stall apart, and then I headed on home. I read my book, and we had a quiet evening.


(4/12) Happy Easter! I told the boys I'd make them spicy eggs (deviled eggs) as soon as they had found all the eggs. We were stuck on the last two, so I had to consult the bunny (who had to work this morning). We did a virtual egg hunt over Zoom with the grands. The boys tried yelling over each other, so I sat with each one periodically to help chill them out. I made more spicy eggs and potato salad for dinner, and Dad cooked a ham. Dinner was delish!


(4/13) Quarantine day 32. The kids are back in school, which means prodding them to get their school work done and saying "yes, both reading AND math!" over and over again. Sarah and I went for a walk this morning and I took a Zumba class online, which made my day go fairly quickly. We caught up with the grands, and J immediately asked when the stuffed eggs would arrive. You know, seeing as they'd not had *any* candy. The grands had unstuffed them, but J was wanting the candy in the eggs because "they're so fun to play with."  Goofballs.


(4/14) Meeting Tuesday! Everybody had meetings on Zoom today. D was so excited to have his own meeting and be able to participate. LOL!  After dinner, I went out to use the treadmill, and the rest of the fam went for a walk with the doggos. Once they were back and engrossed in a program, I took the opportunity to go in and clean D's room. They boys have been sleeping in J's room, and D's had clothes/toys/blankets everywhere. It's so nice to go in and not step on any Legos!


(4/15) Today was a pretty quiet day. I had the day off, and Dad worked from home. The kiddos did their school work, and then were off to play screens for a bit. Nanan had a doctor's appointment, and I was able to attend via Zoom. Yay, technology!  A package arrived for the boys today: all their stuffed eggs. They ate a ton of candy, and had a great time hiding the eggs for each other. Thanks, grands!!


(4/16) I worked today and Dad had the day off. All the excitement of having a meeting on Tuesday has definitely worn off for D, and he is now lamenting all the Zooms he's going to have.  He had a class Zoom today, and J will have one tomorrow. I caught an evening Zumba class online, and that was a lot of fun. It's good to move especially after a day of sitting for work!


(4/17) Work day for me and Dad had the day off. J had a Zoom meeting with his class this afternoon and the other boys did the minimum of work so they could get to video games. Dad barbecued chicken for dinner tonight, and we ate outside. Tonight was the Great Washington Camp-In, so we had a campfire complete with s'mores, and called all the grands to virtually join us at the fire. The twins slept in their blanket fort as has been the norm this month.


(4/18) I took a couple of Zumba classes this morning, and then ventured out to the store to pick up my work's Mothers' Day donation to the YWCA. We elected to get Fred Meyer gift cards for the 13 moms. We raised a ton, and I'm excited to help make the day special! After I got back, we headed out to pick up our wine order. They had us drive up and then loaded it curbside. We also saw a moving sale sign outside of one of the distilleries we like, so we purchased from them as well. And then we got take-out. It was a fun day of supporting local biz! We played Catan tonight, and C narrowly beat Dad and took the win.


(4/19) Today was pretty much a lazy day. I saw Zumba was happening, so I tuned in for that, and then lounged around and read my book. The kiddos played a lot of screens and were bananas this evening. But they got their Sunday chores and routines done with the usual amount of craziness.


(4/20) Monday again. The boys had school, and Dad and I worked. The twins were supposed to start having Zooms with their specialists today, but neither could get in, so we'll try again tomorrow.


(4/21) I saw a painted rock out on my walk today, and after showing the twins a picture, they immediately wanted to paint their own. So they were painting away before 8am. Dad and I both had to work today, and all the boys had Zooms with their classes/specialists. Specialists went smoothly today, and we only had a hiccup with one classroom Zoom.

(4/22) Day 41.  I have the day off today, and kicked it off with a soggy walk. Nanan had an appointment this morning and there were lots of technological glitches, but we got through and got it done. Shew! The boys have done their school work and are off playing video games, and my plan for the rest of the day is to read my book. Exciting, no?

Quarantine Diaries

(3/19) Sarah and I met for our properly distanced walk this morning, and when I got back, the kiddos were up and getting started on their school work. That lasts them maybe an hour, and then they're on to video games for the day. Since I have to work, I wave goodbye as I go upstairs. Other than brief interruptions, they've been really good about this whole thing. J upgraded his blanket fort and invited D (as well as all of us) to sleep in his room. The dog got the entire bed.

(3/20) Sarah and I met for our morning walk, and I came home to boys doing their school work. They like to get it out of the way early. My office had a rather somber happy hour with all of us in our own video square on GoToMeeting. It was cool seeing everyone, not just the person speaking!  Dad still had to work in his building. He went grocery shopping and said it wasn't too horrible. He made a delish dinner of shrimp Alfredo tonight. And we had family game night with Catan.

(3/21) Ahh, the weekend. I slept in, and then met Sarah for a 3-mi walk. Once we got home, we packed up the car to go social distance somewhere else! We went out to Concrete and checked out Park Creek for some cool rocks. Cass LOVED the snow! He rolled around every chance he got. We then went to O'Toole Creek. We brought along some big garbage bags and picked up that site a bit while we were at it. The boys found some huge quartz! Dad ordered a new tumbler so now we can do three times as much. I went in and abducted the office plants from work since I don't know how much longer we're going to be remote. I filled up the entire back of my car.


(3/22) We planned a lazy Sunday. Reality? The twins were up and raring to go at 7am, and J was at the park by 7:30. I got up with the twins and cozied up with a book and my coffee until a more reasonable hour. I went for a walk in the sunshine this afternoon, and took a Zumba class in my bedroom on Zoom. That was really fun! I've been missing it!


(3/23) Monday-Monday. Sarah and I went for a walk this morning, and then I settled in to work for the day. The kids are getting their stuff done pretty early in the morning, and then are on to video games so they stay out of my hair. We watched Onward tonight, and it was very cute. The boys and I Zoomed with Nanan tonight and decided to make it a regular thing. We haven't seen her in a month and that's hard on all of us.


(3/24) Work day for Dad and me, and another day remote for the boys. They are doing about an hour of school stuff before they head off to play video games. D has been entertaining his class with pictures of our pets and keeping up the dialogue with his teachers. At work we video-conferenced briefly to see how playing games off of jackbox.tv would work for the whole team. That was really fun! We played Drawful. I took a Zumba class online after work today. Dad picked up pizza for our normal Tuesday night dinner, and it turned out that today was "The Great American Takeout," so we did our part.


(3/25) Day off for me today. Dad began working remote from the living room. It went pretty well. D got frustrated early in the day and lost his tablet, so was more than happy to come help make cookies this afternoon. He earned some time back by doing some school work, and later went out to use the treadmill to burn off some energy. We had video chats and calls with all the grandparents today, and that was fun!


(3/26) Work day for Dad and me. We worked on separate floors, and the kiddos did their thing, so we didn't see a ton of each other today. Or at least I didn't, until it was time to turn everything off. I got to Zumba at lunchtime in my bedroom, which was the perfect break to my day. There was a medical response across the street today. They were wearing full PPE gear, and took away a woman living there. Sometimes it feels like we're in a bubble and the horrible stuff is happening far away... but that certainly brought it back front and center.  We had a lot of technical issues with Zoom tonight, and got Nanan and Opa to download Duo instead. Hopefully tomorrow's chats will be smoother!


(3/27) What is it now, day 15? Sounds about right. I worked upstairs, the kiddos did their school work (and asked WHHHHHY they had to do both math & reading about a million times), and Dad had the day off. His schedule is changing, and he's going back to four tens beginning Sunday. He ventured out shopping today, and made us a ravioli feast for dinner. He said the stores are empty of people, especially for a Friday.  Though an employee mentioned that was because most of their shoppers had run out of money. Guh. I planted seeds in my hanging baskets today, and hope they grow quickly. I'm missing having spring flowers. Chatting with the grands went super smooth tonight. It was great to talk to everyone!


(3/28) This morning almost (?) felt like a normal Saturday. I got my iced coffee and did Zumba in my bedroom. I did my normal Saturday chores and checked on all the yard plants. I spread bee and butterfly mix some weeks back and the beds are full of tiny plants. The blueberries are budding up, the tulips are almost in, and the irises I planted are poking up. I went walking with Sarah this afternoon and the trees down my street are in bloom too. They're so pretty! We watched Real Steel tonight as a family movie. The twins only made it through candy and popcorn, and then they ran off to make noise upstairs.


(3/29) Dad went in to work this morning for part of his shift, and then came home to work the rest remotely. I slept in and had a lazy day of reading and not doing a whole lot. I planted some more seeds that I got in, as well as some new strawberry plants. I've probably over-planted my hanging baskets, so it's gonna be survival of the fittest. I Zoomed with my fam this afternoon and we got all the sibs together for a group chat. Everyone looks well and is hanging in there! We're going to do it again next week.



(3/30) Work day for Dad and me, and the kids logged in for school. I was pretty busy all day, but still managed to squeeze in part of a Zumba class during lunch. That and morning walks are keeping me more or less sane.


(3/31) Work and school for us all today. J had his first Zoom session with his class today. It was pretty chaotic with 16 second graders all trying to talk at once, but they figured it out. He was on visiting with his class for over an hour. D gets to Zoom with his class tomorrow. It hailed like crazy this afternoon, sending March out like a lion. It looked like it had snowed for hours afterward. I made some banana bread this evening. I put it in to bake shortly before bedtime and was mean and made everyone wait til breakfast tomorrow to eat it.


(4/1) D wished me a happy April Fools' Day many times today, but never did anything to trick me. I'll take it! Today was my day off, so I slept later and went for a walk with Sarah in the sunshine. The boys did their assignments, and D had his first Zoom sesh with his class this afternoon. They had about half of the kids on there, and are going to do another on Friday. I did an online Zumba class this morning and finally got around to clearing out the front beds this afternoon. Then I sat out in the sun and read my book.


(4/2) Day 20. Work day for me, day off for Dad, and school for the kiddos. D worked on the above poster ~ his favorite things include video games, Dutch Babies, and the color orange. He also gave me the glitter glue note on the right, which I have taped to the fridge.