Monday – another rainy Monday!!!

Mondays are heavy workdays – I TRY to stay off my computer over the weekends to the best of my ability (which has been tough with cancelations and postponements of travel) so I have a lot to catch up on!

Observations….

1.  My Pinterest account is getting a lot of action!  I am pinning recipes that sound yummy for odd things I have in my pantry, bread recipes, garden designs (we took down our chicken coup last year and Char would like a garden there this year) and fun things for Char’s She Shed.  She wants a coastal design so I am having fun with that, too!!!
2. My hair grows SO slow!!!!  Seriously – I have been “growing it out” for two+ years and I swear it is the same length as it was last year!  UGH!

In other news, at the beginning of the month of March, before social distancing was a thing, Kelton participated in the Maine SkillsUSA challenge at USM and earned a GOLD medal standing!!!!!  There were a few of the categories that took place before the main event (scheduled for the 20^th but canceled) because they needed special equipment – his was CNC Milling Specialist.  He would be going to Nationals in Kentucky in June, but I am guessing those will be cancelled.

 

 

Also, Char has lost it and is making friends out of old lemons and some limes…..we might need some help here😊

As for me, I VOW to tackle my ridiculous laundry situation and STAY ON TOP OF IT!!!!  I’ll let you know how that goes!

Day 15 and counting….

Friday – School in the morning, Denise worked and Kelly did some recording.

Kelton, Char and I headed to the barn to do stalls and Char rode 2 new horses and of course, check out the kittens!

The weather was amazing!  And you know the best part…. Kelton made dinner!!!!!  Bacon and mac and cheese – a 17-year old’s dream!!!!

Saturday and Sunday were like last weekend – Kelton and Kelly worked on filming our church service to play on Sunday, in the afternoon on Saturday we all went to the barn and finished stalls and played with cats!

Sunday we watched church together from our couch, watched too many NCIS episodes (Charlotte loves this show) and we started repainting our large room (hall, living room, dining room and kitchen are all one in our house) – photos to follow when we are done!

I THINK the pets enjoy having us home – they are getting more snuggles and time with the kids – but the cold rain Sunday kept us in all day so Cooper didn’t get his long walk in the woods – but he did enjoy (not) the thunderstorm last night – that was a crazy one!!

The most stress I have had during these last two weeks (aside from mitigating travel issues for clients) is allowing the 13 and 17-year old paint!  I am very Type A….so learning to let go a bit is a process for me – but everyone worked together, and it looks great!

We are all growing through this experience.  We are in it together and making the best of it!

Days 12, 13 and 14 and counting….

Wednesday and Thursday – Well – yesterday was so pretty out I played hooky from posting and did some outside chores and honestly, the days are kinda running together!

Wednesday was boring – Let’s face it – most days are going to be like Groundhog Day!!!  Wednesday was a Groundhog Day for us.  Char and I took Cooper for a long walk (Char rode the 4 wheeler) and while it was a bit brisk, we enjoyed a little outside time.

Thursday, on the other hand, was SO nice!!!!!  I had a virtual BNI meeting (the first of many, I fear). Cooper and I sat outside and I did some training with Ponant (if you do not know about the fabulous luxury yacht options presented by Ponant – you are missing out – they even have a repositioning cruise from Boston to the Yucatan area every October at a GREAT price that I am DYING to take!!!) and updated my Royal Caribbean Training.  It was a productive day for me!

Cooper got to play with his friend Pippa – and they found a mud hole out back!  Luckily, they rinsed off nicely and could sit in the sun to dry! Char got some special snuggles with Elivs!

Kelly, Kelton, Char and I started our big area beautification jobs for the year – we are clearing out our woods behind our yard area – mostly to make it look nicer – but also to open it up out there maybe to ride the 4 wheeler and so I can see the dog when he runs away:)

I am wondering when the clothes folding fairies are showing up!

Days 10 & 11 and counting….

It snowed last night.  We knew it was coming and it was pretty, but it is always a shock to wake up in spring and see snow.  The nice thing about a spring snow is that is melts quickly and it has.

Having two kids has been advantageous for us for lots of reasons – we can divide and conquer; everyone has a hand to hold; and we have done life in an EVEN and ODD day system for as long as I can remember.  What is this, you ask?  Well, Kelton has EVEN days of the year, Char has ODD days of the year – this is for good things and for “bad” things.  Let me explain…if it is your DAY (odd or even) you get to unload the dishwasher, pick what is on TV (with limitations), perhaps do an extra chore that may be needed or get a bonus activity depending on what is going on.  We have used this method for taking out the trash, picking the next ride at Disney and where we go to dinner (if mom and dad do not already have a plan).  This “system” has been a lifesaver for us and it has really cut down on the bickering that is natural between siblings.  If there is a question about who does what or when or how, the answer is almost always – is it an odd or even day?

So today, we are starting an enrichment plan with the kids.   We find we have a lot of free time on many days (which will diminish when the weather gets nicer and we move to outside chores as a family) and we don’t want the kids squandering this opportunity to try new things….and we don’t want to miss out on this opportunity to do new things with the kids as well!  When it is your day (odd or even) you have to pick an “enrichment” activity.  Ideas for enrichments so far: wood working, painting, metal working, cooking/meal planning, learning a language or enhancing language skills, sewing, a geography game, workout/yoga/dance class online, and survival skills.  I am absolutely open to more ideas!!!!!

In the news….I still have only been to the barn in 12 days and I dropped my phone in the toilet!  I retrieved it quickly and washed it and thankfully, all is well!

Day 9 and counting….

Mondays are….well, Mondays!

School started in earnest today – the kids had assignments posted on their online classrooms and did school between 8:30 and 11ish.  I worked and Kelly did his staff check in.

I have to say that we are really taking this laying low thing pretty well.  Maybe we are just boring people, but doing home projects (starting to paint our big room this week and been slowly doing some outside projects as the weather allows), playing games, watching family movies, having everyone pitch in a bit more with chores and generally chilling out seems to be our jam!  Yesterday was a good day with the kids not being too disgruntled by not seeing their friends and it actually snowed!

Char went to the barn to exercise Syllabus and I got some barn kitty snuggles.  There are always animal snuggles at home happening, too – I think the animals like it that we are all home – at least the dog does!

Kelly and I checked in on a few folks from church that we are buddying with during these days of isolation – it’s tough to be alone on a good day and for many, these aren’t good days.  Please remember to check in with your neighbors, friends and family members.  Not everyone is OK, and that is OK.  We need to be there for each other!!!!

Also, my 17 year old is bored.  He would love to make some rings for people.  He is wonderful at it and even started his own ETSY store.  Check it out! https://www.etsy.com/shop/NobleDesignsRings?fbclid=IwAR0GEWLJdqGsko_xwFKxNqF05qTJo3f8iqm-PmJ5JH63dkL2Ev2eGQ1ghvY  

Day 8 and counting….

This weekend was relaxed.  We enjoyed the sun, took walks, painted, decided which movie series we were going to start watching when we get bored, and ordered out from one of our local restaurants (Johnson’s in North Berwick).

We’ve had some social meltdowns (the kids still struggle with not being in proximity with their friends) and we continue to try to make the best of what is on our plate.  We are thankful for the time that we have to spend together!  Char was bored this weekend and started making note of how long each toe was!!

We played our first family game of Sorry in a while – I won!!!  Hahahaha – that almost never happens!

Our movie list includes…the Jurassic Park/World Series, Twilight, the Pirates of the Caribbean, Hunger Games, Divergent Series, Maze Runner Series, the Bourne Series, Mission Impossible Series, the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Series, Oceans Series, Narnia Series, Star Trek (all of them), X-Men Series, Marvel Universe and DC Universe movies, Matrix Series, Fast and Furious Series, Shrek Series, Star Wars (all of them), Ice Age Series, Planet of the Apes Series, Indian Jones Series, Harry Potter Series, Back to the Future Series, Night at the Museum Series, Madagascar Series, Toy Story Series – we do NOT own all these movies so we will have to see what is on Netflix and such!  But this should keep us busy for a while!!  And with the snow coming tomorrow night…….can we cancel homeschool????

Our first weekend and counting….

 

Day 5…another cooler day at the start and rainy.  Cooper was driving us nuts wanting to go out.  Now that the weather is getting “nicer”, all he wants is to be outside – which is great BUT he wants us out there with him – and when it is drizzly and 38 degrees, that is a no-go!

The kids are starting to get schedules for virtual school starting again Monday – thank goodness!!!

We finished doing the stalls at the barn, Char had a riding lesson and Cooper got to go for a walk in the woods (with 1 tick found and removed).

Here is a picture diary of our day (I think I will do this when I am writing on the weekends if the weather is nice – like today – need to get outside!!!)

 

 

Day 5 and counting….

Day 4…rainy days in the late winter and early spring are hard.  We rejoice in the sun this time of year and yesterday, it was dreary and cold.

Cooper was restless being cooped up inside as were we all…so we tried to shake things up a bit for him.

Cooper got his first bath.

Char worked on puzzles.

I worked on rebooking clients and doing quotes for fall 2020 and 2021 (people are looking forward to traveling soon and it is a great time to book).

Kelly worked on church stuff and finished Char’s she shed supply list (say that 5 times fast).

We watched Survivor together and the kids had some great burgers for dinner and Kelly and I had some collard greens, potatoes and bacon (Misfits Market collard greens – what else would I use them for?  BACON!!!)!!!  I can’t believe I have been watching Survivor for 20 years off and on.  Now my kids love the show.  Time is a strange thing!

I am wondering now if I can wear the SAME sweatpants for 8 weeks and no one will know.  And I need to find that motivation to hit the basement gym – although if we keep going to the barn to do stalls, I think that will count as my workout!!!

Ended the day with Coopie snuggles!  This isn’t so bad!

Day 4 and counting….

Day 3…it was kinda boring.  We did our work in the morning then we all went as a family to help out at the barn where Char rides.  We spent 3 hours doing stalls, moving horses and bedding pellets and played with the barn cats.  We were tired and sore when we got home and my strategizing men are coming up with ways to make doing stalls easier (this involved using the 4-wheeler and cart, building a transitional poop pile closer to the barn to cut done on travel time to the big pile, and hot wiring a tractor with a big bucket).

When we got home, I sat on the porch with Cooper – he LOVES chillin’ on the porch and waiting for someone to come around so he can bound off the porch and greet them – including the mail person!  We have had to add a tie-up to the porch because at his old home he had a fence, so without physical boundaries, he thinks the world is a free for all!

The hubby and I watched The Curse of Oak Island (still waiting for some of the cast of LOST to come out of one of the holes) and are still suckers hoping they find treasure!  Char had a group hangout with a few friends and their laughter and antics made us laugh a lot!  We got to “see” Kelton’s girlfriend on his phone, and everyone enjoyed the day as much as we could.

This is hard for our teenagers – they are social beings – and do not understand the potential for harmful spreading of this virus to our loved ones who are at great risk.  Kelton’s girlfriend is a senior in HS and I feel for those kiddos especially – they will miss out on a “traditional” senior end of the year experience – prom, senior ball, senior skip day, senior pranks, graduation practice and graduation.  These are BIG EVENTS in these kids’ lives – ones that many have fought for 12+ years, and they are all but canceled.  Of course, they will get though it, but it makes them sad; it makes me sad for them.  It challenges their resolve to do what the adults are saying is the right thing.  It stresses their relationships and makes them uncomfortable.  I will be the first one to say that getting out of our comfort zone is what promotes growth, but tell that to a 17 year old who looked forward to being the kings and queens of the world.  My heart breaks for them.

Day 3 and counting….

We survived Day 2 with ease and even some laughs!  It was a rainy day, so we did not get outside much but everyone got to work early (Kelton doing his OSHA training, Char with music, Denise with travel and Kelly on conference calls with church staff).

Kelton is always conniving ways to spend money.  The kid needs a well-paying job to fuel his imagination!  He has been trying to convince Kelly that he should lift the back end of his truck.  It is really our truck that we use for camping, but Kelton drives it a lot.  Anyway, he decided to build a Lego model to prove that lifting the truck wouldn’t cause it to be unstable.  Well, at 10:42am the 17year old came up the stairs and said, “Dad, you were right.”  Documented!!!

Char did some baking (made a Hawaiian birthday cake mix sent to me from my sister Becky, who lives in Hawaii!!) and we decided to order out for pick up to support one of our local restaurants in this tough time (Roger’s in Dover – it was yummy!!).  Kelly wanted to run to church to pick up his comfy desk chair (he tried to steal Kelton’s that he got for his birthday, but that didn’t go over well😊) so he got the take out and brought it home.

Meanwhile, some wonderful ladies from church lent Char some books for the weeks we will be home.  I remember some of these books myself (ahem…Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret) My neighbor was going for a food run and picked us up a few things and we got down to planning a She Shed for Char up on our play platform in the yard.

We watched a movie together last night (A Quiet Place…..not for little kids😊) and all went to bed early.  We are trying to devise a way to play Exploding Kittens online with friends!

Today was pretty low key.  That is not a complaint!  I still question the rational of our government.  I guess that is my nature – I can’t balance the potential sacrifice of our elderly and at-risk population for our economy.  Is there a happy medium?  I just don’t know!!!!!  Are we overreacting?  Can we afford to under react?  I know our economy is going to tank after this – all the government bailout situations amassing will cost us in the end.  But I have to rely on God in this and lean into Him more.  I need to focus on treasuring my time with my family and modeling a positive outlook to my kids.

Day 2 and counting….