Days 3 & 4 – Rhythms

Yesterday was a little rough. It started off with stories and math and snuggles, but by the afternoon, Hazel’s little extrovert self was just sad. I can tell she misses her friends. Every day she asks me “where we go today?” and I tell her we can go to the park or beach, and she asks if her friends can come. She has virtual circle time with her school friends tomorrow, so I think that will brighten her day.

Ben got sent home from work yesterday, so we’re all sheltering-in-place in our cozy home together. He brought home most of his school books yesterday so he can keep preparing for his comprehensive exams next month. You know, with two small children asking for attention all day long. Should be easy.

Today was our first time co-parenting and co-working and co-schooling together. I think we did ok. I took the kids for a run and beach lunch while Ben studied, then I worked while Hazel napped and Max lego’d. We are starting to develop our daily rhythms. It is challenging, but not bad. I am enjoying our extra time together and out of the car, even if it does cost me some productivity.

We’ve learned some of our favorite restaurants are now doing take-out, so we’re going to support a local business for dinner tonight! Tomorrow, my goal is to edit/upload a few pictures I’ve taken with the “big” camera.

Day 2 – Shelter-in-Place

We men and women are all in the same boat, upon a stormy sea. We owe to each other a terrible and tragic loyalty.

G.K. Chesterton, Volume 28 of The Collected Works of G.K. Chesterton

Yesterday was a quiet Saint Patrick’s day at home. We did some crafts, read stories, played legos, went for a walk with friends (with plenty of distance!) and checked on all our older neighbors out gardening and walking about.

I’d like to say we played dress up, but nope. This is just how she dressed for the day, walk and all. We did add green sweatpants, and one red and one pink rain boot to complete the ensemble before heading outside.
This is a house co-located at a water treatment facility. There is a sink with a faucet and soap pump, and a toilet with sewer pipes and a flusher. Not pictured: all the piping surrounding the house, and the water treatment facility.

Max is on a Boxcar Children reading / listening run, so I got him a new audiobook today so I could get some work done while Hazel napped. He likes to put on his headphones and build legos, or just sit by me and listen. After work, we all went for a run / bike ride to the playground to move. We saw friends from church there and it was nice to catch up (from a distance)!

Around 3 in the afternoon, we were placed under shelter-in-place orders, which basically means no non-essential errands. We can still go for walks though, so I am still so grateful there are plenty of beautiful places to walk here, and that we have a large backyard! I spent much of the day overwhelmed with gratitude that this situation is nothing more than inconvenient for us (and even has perks – like no commuting and spending more time together!). My heart breaks for those experiencing real loss and pain right now, as businesses close and people become sick or even just isolated. My prayer is that we reach out to others during this time and share their pain, that no one feels like they are in this alone.

Homeschooling Day 1

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you. – Isaiah 26:3

A little recap of our mandatory (but welcome) homeschooling-while-working adventure:

Ben made breakfast for Max and Hazel before leaving for campus, so I could work uninterrupted for about an hour. Then we read stories, played legos, and watched the rain. We read through our Jesus Storybook Bible every year, lining up the stories of Jesus’ birth at Christmastime and his death and resurrection at Easter. We are in the middle of the Lenten season now. We read the story of the woman who washes Jesus’ feet with her tears and perfume on this morning, and it served to root our present day situation in the long history of our faith.

Hazel played a letter matching game with homemade cards, blocks, and bananagram tiles while Max played legos. I feel very fortunate to have “homeschooled” through preschool and breaks, so we are well-prepared for this. While my heart goes out to those experiencing loneliness, financial insecurity, or worse during this time, I am truly enjoying the opportunity to keep these little people close these days.

After the rain cleared up, we packed a lunch and ran/biked to the beach. Once again, we felt super grateful for this amazing place to live. We had this amazing beach, truly one of the most beautiful places in the world to me, all to ourselves. The river was low, so Max and Hazel had fun stomping around and splashing. We ate lunch, played, and practiced reading (Max) and letters (Hazel) drawing words in the sand with sticks.

It was too nice to go inside right away after our beach adventure, so we walked around saying hello to all the worms, flowers, beetles, and bees in our yard.

Hazel took a nap and I did some more work while Max got back to his legos. I wrapped up work and Max and I had tea time and memorized our verse for the week, Isaiah 26:3. We did a little writing practice, a little reading, and played bananagrams.

Ben came home and Hazel woke up and we took a little walk around the neighborhood before dinner. It was a simple, sweet day. I can see how this could easily lead to tedium if this stretches into long weeks (especially once Max and Hazel start to feel it and fight more!), but as long as we can get outside everyday, I think we are ok in our little bubble. We look forward to picking up our in-person relationships soon, but until then this is how we’ll be spending most of our days!

Cousins

Our last day in Texas was very full, between a little bit of work in the morning for me, a drive out to Arlington to squeeze in one last (too short) play time with the Sicking cousins, lunch on the run, an afternoon at Mema’s playing games with Ben’s fam, packing, and dinner with my fam. Full day, full hearts.