Day 1902 | Happy [Belated] Mother's Day

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Yesterday was a tough day. Mother's Day is supposed to be about celebrating all of the inspiring and supportive moms in our lives. I missed seeing my mom and offering her a hug. I missed a weekend away visiting Chris's mom. I missed socializing with my mom-friends that continue to get me through this incredibly-hard, but beyond-rewarding time in our lives. 

I was thinking of you all yesterday and sending lots of love your way. I continue to think of the day when we'll be together again–and not in the six-feet-apart kind of way. 

I was looking for a motherhood-inspired quote that spoke to how I’m feeling these days. Perhaps this is a bit deep (or dark) for you today. If so, just don’t read this part. Ha! Throughout these months of social distancing, the words below feel even more true. These tiny beings can be the source of my greatest joy and deepest frustration—sometimes within minutes of each other. And, at the end of the day, my only job is to keep them safe and loved even in this world of uncertainty.

“Through the blur, I wondered if I was alone or if other parents felt the same way I did – that everything involving our children was painful in some way. The emotions, whether they were joy, sorrow, love or pride, were so deep and sharp that in the end they left you raw, exposed and yes, in pain. The human heart was not designed to beat outside the human body and yet, each child represented just that – a parent’s heart bared, beating forever outside its chest.”  -Debra Ginsberg

To all the moms, you’re doing the best you can. Now, more than ever, that has to be enough.

Day 1900 | 1900!

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This round of team updates is going to look a bit different. Instead of listing “dreams for the future” and “biggest hurdles”, I opted for a COVID theme for the last two items under each of our names. It seems that all of us have very similar “dreams for the future” these days—wanting the ability to see friends and family again—and hurdles involve the universal theme of navigating this new existence and our roles within it.

Sara

FAVORITES: the friendly whistle pig (aka ground hog) that visits our yard, having a home office (I'm SO glad we put that together in January), being outside more, spring blooms, fancy cocktails, watching our seedlings grow, the accomplishment I feel while homeschooling (at least most of the time!), reading more (the only me time I squeeze in), the slower pace of life
BEST THING ABOUT COVID QUARANTINE: A greater appreciation for the love + support from the family I'm surrounded by (all day, every day) as well as the close friends and family who are supporting me from afar
WORST THING ABOUT COVID QUARANTINE (aside from the obvious “missing everyone” answer): Grocery planning and shopping

Chris

FAVORITES: being outside with the boys, yard games (he just added beanbag toss to the mix), honing his mixology skills, bike rides over bridges, bird-spotting, feeling handy around the house
BEST THING ABOUT COVID QUARANTINE: knowing more about what the boys are learning in school everyday (oftentimes he comes home to quizzes based on our material)
WORST THING ABOUT COVID QUARANTINE (aside from the obvious “missing everyone” answer): raw hands from the extra hand-washing

Chase

AGE: 8
FAVORITES: Harry Potter, reading just about anything, playing video games (Minecraft, Lego Harry Potter, and Mario Kart are the current favorites), sudoku, LEGOs, sweets, Chris's jokes, snuggles from mom, wrestling with Robbe, Lunchtime Literature (the part of our day when I read a chapter book–of my choice–to the boys during lunch)
*The following as answered by Chase:*
BEST THING ABOUT COVID QUARANTINE: Playing with Robbe more
WORST THING ABOUT COVID QUARANTINE: Missing his bestie, Jack

Robbe

AGE: 6
FAVORITES: All of the birds that have been attracted to our new bird feeders, going on bird walks, identifying bird calls...basically anything bird-related, practicing reading, being silly, talking (and talking and talking), fishing, being outside, swinging, playing football, just about anything having to do with Chase, playing nonstop
*The following as answered by Robbe:*
BEST THING ABOUT COVID QUARANTINE: Getting to play longer
WORST THING ABOUT COVID QUARANTINE: Can't see friends

Looking back at 1900 posts…

Day 1890 | Back on the Bikes

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It’s so great to have kids old enough to bike on their own. We’ve been fully enjoying the outdoor activity together as a family. We pushed ourselves out of our normal routes (and distance-limits) for a lovely bike along the Chippewa River Trail today with a stop for lunch at this sweet little stream. It seems as though spring has finally arrived (after a bit of a tease earlier) and we couldn’t be happier.

On an unrelated note, the boys recorded their 4-H demonstration speeches today. They were supposed to do them in-person at this month’s meeting, but [obviously] that’s not happening. We found some fun topics to teach and hopefully inspire some friends to try the projects on their own.

Robbe’s Demonstration Speech (6 years old):


Chase’s Demonstration Speech (8 years old):

Day 1884 | Covid Crafting

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You might be surprised to hear that I haven’t managed to scrape together much time for myself during the recent health crisis. Chris is still working his normal hours and the boys and I are slowly but surely figuring out how our homeschooling schedule.

After I crafted the masks last week, though, I took advantage of my sewing machine being warmed up and made this bag that I’m in love with. I just leave it hanging on the door knob to brighten my spirits when I walk by. Maybe someday it’ll get to see the great outdoors.

I’d share a pattern but the bag strayed so far from where it started that it’s not worth linking. Ha! I won’t win any awards on this one, but I finished it. That’s all that matters (to me, anyway).

Day 1883 | Our Home

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The boys and I have been doing some pretty great work for the past few weeks. I try not to share too much of that because I don’t think it helps the psyche of everyone else right now. I constantly feel like I’m not doing enough when I look at other people’s posts and I don’t want to make anyone feel that way (not that anyone else is doing it intentionally).

Having said that, I will share bits and pieces along the way when I come across a project I really [truly] love. This is one of them.

I decided to do a geography theme this week…talking about the places around us. Monday’s activity was rooting the boys in how we fit into the bigger world. I got the idea from this blog. I was worried our eight year old would find this too “young” for him but I was surprised that he couldn’t actually answer all of these questions either. Interesting, right?

Both boys enjoyed putting these together and it was a great cutting and printing activity besides (needed for both my kindergartener and second grader). Plus, I really like the visual of how our little life fits into the bigger world.