Day 15, Online Learning (School at home) and Day 16, 17, and 18

Expanded Version:

Quarantine Day 15:

Today we took an online water coloring class that Scarlett got for her birthday. It includes 15 lessons and we voted which one we were going to take today. "Sunbursts" was today's lesson. I absolutely LOVE them all. I especially love Mason and Juliet's. Something about how they bled and the colors they chose. But really, I love them all equally. Just like my kids. 🤓😎🤓😇😍 riiiiight.

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Most agreeable child: Scarlett who today has just been so complimentary and nice to everyone. She also teared up today about how much she misses her teacher, Mrs. Hart, and how she wished we had a first grader this year so she could see Mrs. Davis's video chat tomorrow because she KNOWS it is going to be good. 😂

Online Learning:

This has been very time consuming for me. I have had to assist teachers, set up how-to videos, get kids and parents logged in/on and work in the Library.  We have had many hours of meetings and it has been wonderfully hard.  This is new for everyone and I feel like I have been on my phone or at the school for the last 4-5 days 24-7. I feel like I'm "on call" much like Nathan is when he gets calls all hours of the night. I am happy to have been such a help. But, I'm tired. HAHA

Last Summer we built this desk in the basement. I had envisioned a different use for it, but excited to start home-centered school-supported learning. AKA school at home. But this is not homeschooling to me. My kids are still seeing their teachers, still doing schoolwork, just at home.

I'm grateful for everyone's efforts in getting this going and we can't wait to Google Meet our friends and teachers later today. Also, Lucas is on Nathans mega machine. He will be doing his schoolwork in the teacher room we set up. More on that later. 😂

Behind Lucas is our FS room. It is massive 6x15. It is so big we put in 2 doors.  We also have a chokey/cold storage room for our canned goods, and my kids love to call it the chokey because it is cement and has re bar. HAHA!  We designed and built this house with a lot of storage because we knew we would have it paid off relatively quickly and thought it would be great for resale.  Also, if we decide to rent it out to the kids while they are in college, everyone has a place to store things without it being in the main living areas. Crazy? Maybe.  I won't even talk about the cereal bench above this storage room.  The kids joke we should buy a cow so they can have fresh milk and cereal whenever they want. HAHA

Online School (April 1)

Lots of BIG virtual hugs today. Lucas said he would not be doing this tomorrow when he finally gets to see his teachers. We converted the guest room to the teacher room. It is a closed room with a TV in it so they can hear their teachers and friends in complete silence. Mason cried. He misses Mrs. Wood so much! Who are we kidding. They miss everything so much!

Mrs. Olson (her math teacher)  Mrs. Moretz and Mrs. Bolkcom were on the chat too.
Bridget was SO HAPPY to see her friends.

Juliet and Mr. Kennelly. He is a household favorite. :)
One of my good friends, too!

Scarlett and Mrs. Hart. I have grown really close to Mrs. Hart in the last two years. She is over 70 and from Texas. We just adore her.

Mason and Mrs. Wood. It isn't 2nd grade without Mrs. Wood.  Everyone (except Lucas because we were in Colorado) has had Mrs. Wood. She is one of my best teacher friends.

Quarantine Day 16
We celebrated our first day of online school with Chick-fil-a for lunch.
4 posts in a day is a lot, so I'll end it here: my kids have always loved school and their teachers, today was bittersweet for them. Excited to see their friends and teachers but sad they weren't close enough to talk.
They did pretty good getting on and doing their stuff. I was pleased. 👍🏻

ChickFilA messed up our order, so this is round one.
We had so much food left over Nathan cut everything up and made dinner leftover tacos that night.

Lucas has been asking to have a 30 piece nugget with all the sauces for a while, so we did it today. A dream come true. HAHAHA


Quarantine Day 17:
In a weird turn of events our fun activity was "Eat through the small freezer night." Corn and hashbrowns exploded in our small freezer and we pulled everything out, cleaned it out, and they got to have everything that was open. Juliet and Scarlett had waffles and sausage links, Bridget had a Chinese bowl, Mason and Lucas had Ravioli and a Chicken Pot Pie. And Nathan had some veggie, potato and kielbasa hash that he created with all the random veg bags. LOL.
MOST AGREEABLE : Everyone! So they all had ice cream with berry compote for dessert. *
What a day. I got to experience Middle school as it was Lucas's first day of online school. What a trip. I guess we really are living in "treasured times."

Lucas did great getting on and getting to work.
He also declared that he would never want to online school or home school because he likes people too much.  He loves sports and training and having connections to his teachers. 
He said how he could see how some people would like it, but it isn't for him. He likes the day-to-day break of passing friends in the hallways, and in class, and once he is done with a teacher, he goes to another.

Also it snowed. Dang it!

Bridget broke her arm last Friday. Today (April 3) was the last in school day for staff.

Look what the teachers left for me:

I brought Scarlett to help me. She is my best helper.

I got through all of this before noon and then had 5 more carts turned into me FULL of books.

Blessed, I guess.

Today, Friday April 3 Scarlett was complaining about her collarbone.

To quote my friend Alisha, "at this point, I'm starting to think my kids were more safe at school" 😂
We have no idea what happened. But she has been in so much pain we decided to take her in. Covid 19? What's that? We are here for ANOTHER broken bone. Scarlett's collarbone and muscles are in a world of pain. Still waiting for final results. *
2 in a sling, 3 to go.

Alyssa (our neighbor) had Scarlett lay in an awkward way while examining her she wanted to see her get up without using her bad side. Then we went for X-Rays.

They slinged her, and we went home.  Her little bestie Averie had something waiting for her when we got home!!

We have some really great people amongst us.

Quarantine Day 18:

Today's fun activity besides Scarlett 's clavicle incident and you know, Bridget's broken humerous...we had an awesome opportunity to talk to our missionaries who have just returned home briefly for the quarantine. The spirit was strong and we were so excited to hear from our favorite people, Elder Prince and Elder Weatherston. The kids are PUMPED for conference now!! 

Quarantine hasn't been too bad. Now if we can keep the breaking bones to a minimum that would be great.  Conference is tomorrow and I can't wait!

Days 8-14 expanded version

Quarantine Day 8:
Spring Break Day 2, we decided to do Thai take out for Hot Lunch to celebrate the Great American Take Out! We also worked hard on yard work and played games all day. *
My kids are starting to really miss "people." They are ready to do schoolwork again and waiting to hear what the school board decides is killing me. 😊
MAC : should be me. I need a treat today! 😂 all of the kids were good, but I think I'm treating myself today.

Quarantine Day 9:
Spring break day 3,
Sigh...under Governor's orders we are home bound for the next 21 days. Which means church will most likely be longer. Today's activity was sending SUNSHINE care packages to our church teachers/leaders who we miss so very much.
Most Agreeable Child: Lucas for happily handwriting 20 thank you notes without complaint. He abhors writing.

Princex2, Hedin, Hansenx2, Wright, Johnson, Bradshawx2, Austin, Bowen, Coon, Forsgren, Johnson, Petty, Lottx2, Burningham

Quarantine Day 10

Spring Break day 4

We ALWAYS try and hit a fun pizza place where ever we are during Spring Break. Unfortunately, we are home this year, so we decided to try something different. We did personal pizzas surprise style. We used our normal homemade dough and they had to create a combination for someone else.

There were some good ones! I was impressed.

Our MAC : Juliet. She worked hard and finished and tested on a book she thought would be too hard for her and she got 100%. She also hustled to get her chores done without complaint!

Quarantine Day 11
Spring break day 5,
I was just talking to my neighbor (6ft away of course) about how good and nice my kids have been to each other and then we had a really horrible afternoon. 😂 I jinxed myself, I guess. Nathan had a huge call with his biggest client and everyone was losing their dang mind. So, we loaded up the car, went to Sonic and grabbed a drink for everyone and went on a drive up the hill to look at the beautiful homes of our friends, wave to the people we saw and get a break from the house. *
I told them that I was not awarding Most Agreeable Child today. They knew why. They apologized. Then we came home and played loud music and cleaned up and made chimichangas for dinner. I still think we are doing pretty good at being home. Sometimes we just need a break from the mundane. 

Lucas's hair.  I need to stop and talk about this coif.  My dad had hair like this for most of my childhood.  Wild, untamed, thick and curly.  I loved it.  I never let Lucas leave the house like this. Ever. But, lately it has reminded me so much of my dad, that I have let it go.  Lucas has amazing hair. The color, the thickness, the curliness. I will sit on the couch and just pull on it. LOL

His hair seems to be identity right now (HAHA) so we let these things go because in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter. Well, on Sunday it does. 

Lucas is a lover. He loves to plop down RIGHT next to me (practically on top) and I just play with his hair and he just lets me.  Both of the boys are like this. Mason will walk up to me and tell me he needs love.  I have never been a touchy person. Bridget is this way too.  But now that I have children I crave it. I love when they just need a hug. 

Bridget's Arm:

Before this craziness we had to run to my Library to turn in some books and take down my RAA signage.  

Bridget was ripsticking and totally fell in the parking lot. I was having a bad mom moment and yelled at her to get up. We had a fight about her being overly dramatic and "always getting hurt" and how being injured is not a good way to get attention, etc.  Sometimes I think she acts like it is more serious than it is because she gets attention etc.  So anyway, Nathan took her in and yep. It is fractured.

Proximal Humerous

6 weeks. Sigh.

Quarantine Day 12:

Today we "real" decorated sugar cookies. Like professionals. Flooding, etc. They had a great time it was a great distraction from the snow and they impressed me with their skills

*MAC- Mason. He has been the best peacemaker today.

Fun Fact: I have always wanted to make cookies/bake professionally. 

We designed our kitchen to be able to have a business someday.

I love to bake and after taking our cookie class for our anniversary I have been wanting ot try it, but too many people around right now for me to be serious about it. LOL

You know who really loved this?  Lucas!

Our HT family brought this to Bridget. She also got something from Sister Coon.

Quarantine Day 13:

Today we got dressed, had a beautiful testimony meeting and then they hurried up and changed into lounge wear/PJs. Bridget is in a ton of pain (she broke her arm (humerous proximus) a few days ago) and realized breaking your dominant arm sucks!

The kids banded together and decided to have her only take out the dishes for the next six weeks. They made sure to let her know she wasn't off the hook for chores. 🤣

MAC: Bridget for not screaming when Lucas accidentally squeezing her good morning. That took real guts (he forgot).

Quarantine Day 14:

Today for our fun activity we played Play-Dough Pictonary. Since Bridget can't "play" she had to guess what they were molding. They loved this so much they played for over 2 hours. Look at her forehead, it has what they are building. Pumpkin pie, turtle, ice cream cone...

MAC : Lucas because he completely disassembled a bed frame with Mason with so much patience. 😍

So far things haven't been too bad.

We were talking the other day about things that make us happy and how we were doing at this "life" thing.  I feel like I am finally doing something that I love, being and Elementary School Librarian.  I loved teaching, but I get to see every single student, not just the 25 I had. I get to work with my friends.  I get to see my kids every day and I love working on special programs and with books.

I miss that the most right now.  

Being at home is fine. My kids are mostly getting along and are self motivated hard working (most of the time) kids. They are independent and each have their own strengths and weaknesses. They love the social side of school and of course, the education.  I feel confident that we have taught them how to be resilient and how to cope with all of this change, but they miss regular life. All of us do. 

Nathan has worked from home full time for 5 years. There are good and bad that come with that, but for the most part, he has loved it.  I have loved it. 

We feel like being here is where we need to be, and we are doing what we need to be doing. 

Not a lot of people can say that and mean it.

Days 3,4,5,6,7

Quarantine Day 3 :

Today we made a Thanksgiving Feast and had a concert for the most agreeable person...which was Daddy. He has had to go from complete silence to noise all day long. On top of his very stressful week of covid-19 chaos at work.

On the home learning front, everyone did a nice job getting their stuff done and enjoying the sunshine friend free. For our unusual activity they each got to showcase their talents on one of Scarlett's weird instruments and then they got to play for Dad while he ate. We played 20 questions of dad and my favorite answer was this : "what is dads favorite type of music?" Mason shouts Church! 😂😂

Day 4

Quarantine Day 4:
Today was the start of Spring Break for us. I didnt go to school, so we had a switch marathon, played games, and rearranged the furniture so we all had a couch spot. #bigfamilyproblemsLucas made dinner (Chinese chicken bowls), took all of the outdoor furniture out of the garage and we watched it snow for 37 minutes.Our most agreeable child was MASON and all he wanted was a protein milk and the extra egg roll, #youngestchildproblemsIt was a fun day of chillin' and relaxin'#wittecovidmemories


Quarantine Day 5:
The weather has been all over the place today, snow, rain and hail. So we did ever last piece of laundry, cleaned the basement "big room" and had a blindfolded pillow fight. The kids loved this so much. The prize was a bag of random ropes we found in the corner pantry! This game reminded them of baby baseball. (I'll have to find that for you)
They played in the back between weather and had a great day. We are ready to scarf down French dip sandwiches and announce "most agreeable child" but today--it will be 2 kids because the boys cleaned and hustled the most today. They even deep cleaned their bathroom without a single complaint. Their prize is a box of sprees to share (also found in the corner pantry)

Quarantine Day 6:
We enjoyed Marcopoloing with Witte cousins, we had church at home and Mason & Juliet really miss "wiggular church" it isn't the same, no. But we enjoyed the sweet spirit it brings into our home. We enjoyed the fresh baked bread from Lucas and Nathan, too.

After, we decided to head over to an open space park and run the square for some fresh air and some football tossing. The kids loved the sunshine. They loved that we were the only ones, they even loved running. Lucas is having a really hard time with the no track thing. He absolutely LOVES track, loves to run, loves the teammates. I know it could be worse (he could be a hs senior, a missionary, a kindergartner, etc) but to see my usually happy kid feeling down about missing his favorite thing breaks my heart. Bridget missing 6th grade fun is sad too, but, she seems to be taking it better. *sigh* 

Quarantine Day 7:
Spring Break Day 1, we were supposed to be headed out on Scarlett's birthday trip, but, it was canceled. We obv. stayed home like the rest of America. Lol.
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Scarlett is also upset that she can't play soccer with her team. Her Dad built her a soccer goal, football goal post, and volleyball net with random materials in the garage. So, for "recess" we all played outside and enjoyed the #idahome skies. *
Our MAC: Juliet was yesterday, and today it is Scarlett. Our prize is crispy M&Ms that she has to find the hidden pkg somewhere in the house. 😂 my guess is if she clean her room, she will find it.

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What a week. So far.