I saw a post on Instagram calling this time "The Great Pause". A time to (mandatorily) stop almost every typical routine and evaluate, reflect, and choose what we want to put back into lives. From the beginning, I have thought, "What do I want to get out of this experience?" It has been fun to reflect on this and see all the positive and not so easy experiences. It is so neat to how the world have a pause and recenter ourselves with what matters in our live.
I really enjoyed running, roller blading, and biking as a family. This is one of our favorite spots to pick flowers.
Of course we have done A LOT of swimming!
We have created a few new games Sharks and Corners and the Name Ball Toss.
Baking and we made a fruit pizza- YUMMY
They loaded it with fruit... ha ha.
MOVIES
We have watched a lot of movies- Frozen 2 (many times because this is Emmett's favorite: His first crush is Elsa), Star Wars (I have never ever seen them and it has been so much fun to watch with A&B), and then we are reading books and watching the movie.
Mommy School
I am so grateful that I have always done Mommy School with the kids because they are used to working with me. The transition hasn't been that hard and the girls actually enjoy it! It can definitely be stressful at moments because it is hard to teach 4 girls because everyone needs your help at the same time and then a toddler that needs attention. We got a subscription to a math and reading program on line that assists the kids learning in a game setting. It is called Reading Eggs and the girls love it!
A and B are given packets that haven't been that bad. I feel like their work load isn't that much compared to other school districts. It has given us a lot of flexibility and freedom.
Quarantine has worked wonders with Desi's learning. At the beginning she couldn't get her alphabet (we have been working on it for over a year and it was not getting into her head- I was so frustrated) and today she knows all her letters and sounds up to the letter Q. It really has been amazing and she is loving it. She is always begging me to do mommy school throughout the day, each day including the weekends because she loves it so much.
Claire is always working hard at reading. She is probably my most prepared child for kindergarten. I have done this homeschooling program with her since Pre-K and she completed it and we have continued on with Kindergarten material. It is called the Good and the Beautiful.
Rollerblading fun and not getting ready for 2 weeks straight. That is a record for me. After 2 weeks of not getting ready, I started to actually wear make-up again and get normal clothes on (not just workout clothes) and everyone would ask, "Where are you going?" (including Derek).
It is nice to feel like a normal person again and not a zombie.
More swimming
I have been so amazed at the community of support throughout the world and the generosity of others. I saw that a lady that does Hand Lettering was doing a free course about faux calligraphy (which is something that I have been wanting to learn how to do). The kids joined me with the class and it was so much fun! I actually bought her course and I am really enjoying it and I love the way that she teaches. I have learned so much!
The kids like to do a challenge at the beginning of summer where they earn money by deep cleaning every room in the house. Well summer came early and we did a Spring Cleaning and they earn this jump house. We surprised them with it. They were all so excited!
Grandma and Grandpa Martinson got one for the grandkids to use at their house. Claire kept saying, "This is so nice of Grandma and Grandpa to let us borrow this" ha ha.
Derek and I bought roller blades for our birthdays and Ashlyn bought her own roller blades. So we have spent a lot of time in the church parking lot roller blading and having a great time.
The other girls have mentioned that they want to get roller blades and we told them they could earn money to buy them themselves. My favorite was Brinley's response, "No I rather wait to get them for my birthday." which was 5 weeks from that time aka an eternity for a kid. ha ha.
When we went on our RV trip, we saw lots of families have this fire pit. It was so neat that Derek got one for us. (Quarantine is causing Derek to go on a shopping spree).
It has been so much fun, especially with the weather how it was cooler at the beginning of quarantine. We have used it a lot after we have put the kids to bed (Brinley sneaking out to get extra hugs and kisses and some parent time alone).
I am so impressed with Derek. He is always learning and pushing his limits. I admire that drive in him. Because he hasn't been working so he challenged himself to do a few physical goals. He is doing the Murph with Trevor and a few of his dental friends. The murph is 1 mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats, and another mile 1. Every week his time has improved.
Derek is also preparing himself to run a marathon. He read a booked called the Iron Cowboy which is about a guy from Utah who ran 50 iron mans, in 50 states in 50 days. It inspired Derek to run a marathon. He is still in training, but the max he has ran is 18 miles.
So inspiring!
Lots of painting and crafts
Derek brought home this picnic table from his work and we have really enjoyed eating outside!
Camping in the Great backyard!
Derek created a way for the kids to watch a movie in the tent.
For my birthday each year we go to Nac and walk the gardens there. It is so beautiful and fun with this group!
I told Derek for my birthday, all I wanted was to not cook any meals ha ha. At this point in quarantine I was cooking 3 meals a day and I got burned out.
Derek made breakfast and ordered out the other 2 meals...ha ha. Derek doesn't enjoy cooking.
We had a picnic at the college. It was a spot that we have never been to before. It was a lot of fun and just so peaceful. There was no one around and we had the place to ourselves.
Derek told me that he loves this social distancing because he doesn't have to talk to anyone and we definitely are experiencing it.
We found a turtle by our door.
Drawing on balloons
We have been exploring some new places to hike. The state park is beautiful!
This kid starts grabbing a stick and pretends to shoot at me or playing Harry Potter. He is definitely a boy!
I started to use my wand or gun back at him and he got a kick out of it.
Love watching them play and imagine together.
Made Easter treats for my young women and there were a few extra so we made some for our neighbors.
A question I am often asked by friends is what about date night? IT IS A MUST, it just looks a little different. Friday Night lives on with us getting take out and making the tv/movie our babysitter and we get to have dinner together and then we go outside to chat and be together. I love this guy and I am so glad that we value our time together because even COVID can't stop Date Night.
We are excited to go back to our regular Date night because we don't like being interrupted by little ones and putting the kids to bed during this precious time. he he
My sister did this with her kids and we wanted to try it.
It turned out so cool.
Sadly it rained the next day.
These dollar store balloons last forever! These are from Ashlyn and Desi's birthdays
I have been doing some organization projects that have been on my to do for awhile now and now is the time where I actually have lots of time.
Deep cleaned all the carpets in the entire house.
Derek watched me do this and he said that it is a lot of work.
He was surprised when I told him that I do it twice a year. The things that you notice when you are around more and not at work.
I have realized that I do a lot of stuff while Derek is at work, so we can do a lot of family stuff and be together. This quarantine has been difficult in that way where I don't get a lot of me time and my productive time.
Tuesdays have become a favorite day of ours. We drive to the girls' schools and get their school packets for the week and then they give us free breakfast and lunch for the week! Hallelujah! I was getting worn out making 3 big meals a day.
We also found a new podcast called Rebel Girls and it is about women in history or present who have made an impact in the world. It has brought up a lot of family discussions.
Derek went golfing with another dentist in Lufkin and he was in heaven!
I saw on instagram a girl that was doing a weeks course on cooking and we followed along. We learned about microwave safety. They girls were taking a pretest and organizing items that can go into a microwave and things that can't.
These girls are learning to microwave popcorn.
Another hike
Another skill to learn: Cutting
These girls made our dinner for the night and they did a fabulous job
Learning to cook eggs
This girls is jumping leaps with learning her alphabet and sounds!
Salt art!
More turtle friends
I am really enjoying my faux calligraphy course! I also have some great classmates!
Another buy of Derek's, this tent. I was a little apprehensive but it has been very useful and fun. We have had a lot of dinners in there, fire pit time, and even a family sleepover. It is a big size because we fit Derek and I 's blowup mattress, one twin bed, and 3 toddler beds.
Movie!
Date Night in tent
Painting our salt art
Another organization project: Game closet.
I saw someone on instagram take all her games and put them into zip bags and she talked about how much room it saves. Well It is only 1 bag out of 3 that I show in the picture. I can't believe I didn't know about this earlier!
All the games and puzzles
Isn't it amazing!
The Williams family had a skype call where we were to dress up. Ashlyn had the idea of Star Wars because we have been watching it together.
She did my hair and made her mask.
Family sleepover in the tent
I am so proud of Claire, she finished her workbook in just a few weeks. She has been working so hard!
Finders Keepers
Brinley finished this reading book. It is something that we only do in the summer and she only had a few lessons left and we finally made the time to finish.
Brinley zoom call with her class
I completed my drills course with faux calligraphy! It was so much fun! I am excited to continue to the next one of lowercase letters.
Derek working on TLP and letting the kids swim.
The girls love to swim all the time.
Ashlyn left Derek and I a note on the dishwasher saying that she will do the dishes tonight.
She is so sweet!
Claire is doing her dance class on demand. It has been fun for her (and Emmett)!
We made raspberry cinnamon rolls and they were delicious.
Happy Easter!
For Easter the kids always get a new swimming suit, but this year they got it early to go on our RV trip for spring break. So I got a few things and they kids love it!
The kids trying to find their Easter eggs that Derek hid. He doesn't play easy either.
He is fully enjoying this.
Dying Eggs and painting
Bubble time
Emmett has really bad eczema and we put on the lotion cream a few times a day. He loves the taste of it and I had to take a picture to remember it.
Made new chore charts for the kids.
I feel like our family traditions have been on the back burner because we have had to create a new normal. So Easter sunday we did all the activities that we do in a week, all combined into our sunday lesson.
Palm Sunday-
We all take a turn to be Jesus and ride on the donkey into Jerusalem.
Mad Money
Teaching Tuesday- We watched a parable
We made resurrection rolls
Ashlyn made deviled eggs all by herself.
Storytime and puppet show.
Sable's mom gave us a puppet show that she made when Sable was a little girl.
Claire has learned a new skill: doing her own hair.
She is getting really good at it. She probably has an average of 10 different hairdos throughout the day. I will not be surprised if this girl works in a salon. She has always loved hair and brushing and playing with my hair.
Brinley's birthday door.
Happy Birthdya Brinley
Brinley was so in love with the dress Aunt Maren got her.
She got a night stand that she wanted and she built it herself.
Who is putting who to bed?
Derek has been skating fast and furiously and he has had a few crashes, but this one got him really good.
Brinley chose Aladdin for her birthday movie and she was videoing with her new camera recording the whole time. She loved it so much!
Can't believe she is 7
Training in progress
Ashlyn bought glasses with her own money. It is so funny because I remember hating my glasses that I got when I was in 1st grade. Her eyes are perfect and she is wanting to wear glasses.
Ashlyn is learning to french braid. Isn't it great! I should learn too.
Brinley picked McDonalds for her birthday dinner.
The balloon finally came down from Desi's birthday (at the end of April).
I wanted to read something to the girls that I enjoyed when I was a little girl. I also love reading books that have been made into a movie. Matilda was so much fun!
Brinley got the roller blades for her birthday and Derek and I didn't think she would enjoy it because it is hard at the beginning and their is a learning curve. Well she stuck with it and has been skating so well. It is all she wants to do all day, everyday.
I like to spend mommy time with the kids for 10 minutes (yes, I put on a timer). At least once a week. I try to be very present and in the moment. Brinley wants to roller blade with her time!
She is becoming a pro
Derek bought a weight vest for running
We made notes and texas sheet cake for some friends and to drop them off.
It was so nice to get out of the house and socialize (at a friendly distance).
Ashlyn finished Harry Potter book 5 with Grandpa and we had a special date to watch it together. AShlyn had to fun idea to wear our Harry Potter shirts.
Ashlyn looks forward to reading with Grandpa everyday!
Look at the joy in her face.
Thank you Grandpa for all the time and connection you are making with Ashlyn!
We went on a drive to go strawberry picking! It was so much fun to be in nature and pick strawberries. It was absolutely beautiful!
Then we had a picnic with a beautiful view of Lake Rayburn.
New running shoes for this guy
What our mommy school looks like in action
We had our sidewalks and driveway cleaned. It looks so great!
Movie TIme
Strawberry Cobbler with the strawberries we picked.
I taught Desi how to play ladder ball and man she is really good at it.
Her eyes would light up when she would get it on the bar!
Derek woke up and had the idea that we should spend the day in the woods. We brought our tent and spend the day coloring, reading, hiking, laughing, and enjoying nature. It was so much fun to get out.
Derek and Ashlyn working out.
Derek found out that he could open up on Monday so we decided to take a quick trip to Crystal Beach to end this quarantine with a BIG BANG!
We rented a beachhouse that was a beachfront and it was so much fun to be together, the sun, hear the waves, play in the sand, and enjoy the moment before a new normal life beginnings again.
This was the view from the balcony. BEAUTIFUL!
Our beachhouse was the orange one in the middle.
We saw little fish
I am excited and sad that this great pause is coming to a close. I have enjoyed all the quality time that we have had as a family and many memories that we will always remember.
Now is a time that I get to decide how I want to move forward and continue to add great memories and experiences as a family.
