We're Sick of This!: Coronvavirus Week 2

Another week of "Social Distancing" has come and gone, thanks to the Coronavirus (Covid 19).  We have now gone 3 Sundays without going to church and have been away from friends and family for just as long, or longer.  This new way of life, being at home away from others, is becoming a new, but highly despised norm for us.  The kids all want to see their friends, as do we want to see ours!  No MOPS, no church, no usual Friday nights or fun outings, grocery shopping is being pushed until absolutely necessary, everything that can be is being purchased on Amazon (with a crazy long wait for a lot of things, like months for cleaners, sanitizers, Lysol, etc.)  We've entered this state of hyper-attention to anything coming into the house, things like mail and packages no longer are welcome until they have been stripped of packaging, disinfected and left to sit for some time.  Hands are sore from so much washing. 

Fortunately, business is still going for us here, despite the state wide Shelter In Home order from our governor.  We are a home business, but also doing work on some parts that fall under the "Essential" category.  It is all so strange!  We stay 6 feet away from any contact with others, if it occurs (like when Alex has to deliver parts or a delivery driver comes our way).  Our communication with family has turned to a weekly Sunday afternoon Zoom meeting with Opa, Oma, Aunt Becky, Christine, Francesca and Uncle Michael.   We Facetime with Grandpa & Grandma, and also Zoom with our friends the Sebrights and Poldermans on Friday nights.  We have had a Netflix Party for the kids so they could watch a movie together.  With President Trump telling us on Sunday the Social Distancing needs to continue to at least the end of April, we are now considering a new look for Easter as well.

It does get very overwhelming and discouraging.  The rainy spring weather that has settled upon us is not helping either.  Only God knows what will come of all of this, so we just try to remain focused on the fact that He is in control.  And on the blessings we have!  One day at a time...

Last week, we ended/started the week on Sunday with church at home in the morning and a video chat on Zoom with the Westrates.

 We continue to do school, keeping our usual going as much as possible.  Tuesday night, for a bit of fun and change of pace, the kids all piled into our whirlpool tub for a bubble bath!

Wednesday was a beautiful spring day, with warm temperatures in the mid 50's and sun all day long!  I worked outside cleaning out the flower beds around the yard for a while.  Then, Tierney made her first big attempt at riding her bike without training wheels!

 The kids also enjoyed decorating the driveway and sidewalk with chalk art, which definitely brightened our day!  They chatted with their neighbor friend Jamesen from the driveway while they drew, bummed that they could not play together on such a perfect day.

Rain has since come several times and washed away the artwork, but it was pretty great while it lasted!  Each school day we had a different theme.  Monday was Wacky Day, Tuesday was Color Day, Wednesday was Dress Up Day, Thursday was Animal Day and Friday was Pajama Day.  Friday  morning, we hustled through some school and then Mommy chatted with her MOPS friends for a bit on Zoom, which was good!

 Friday afternoon, I set the Alora, Tierney and Elam up with a movie, then Ezri and I went upstairs to watch The Wizard of Oz together - something I had promised her we would do when she turned 10.  We had fun hanging out together and enjoying a classic movie, which she also loved.

 Friday night, Alex headed to his parents' house to get some grapevines for me to plant here (they are selling their home and moving) as well as a garden box.  While he was gone, the kids and I watched a movie and then I got them settled in.  When all was calm, we set up a Zoom meeting with our friends, the first since all this began, and boy was it good to see their faces and hear their voices again!  We stayed up way too late and laughed together and it was wonderful!

 Saturday, we had a lazy day.  Daddy worked in the shop while we did some things in the house.  Lucky and Barb snuggled...

 while the girls and I made rice filled eye masks.  Following a video a friend of mine posted, we each cut and sewed our own (some with a little more help than others), then filled them with scented rice.  It was a fun time for us all, and will serve as a great 4H project for the girls to exhibit as well.

 Saturday afternoon, between rain, I tackled tearing out the rotted split rail fence by my garden and planted the grapevines.  I sure am looking forward to them blooming this year!

Settling in for another week of making it all work at home and making the best of it!

History In The Making: Coronavirus Week 1

Well, things have turned crazy and surreal in our world awful quick!  By the end of last week, all restaurants were closed to in building dining, many non-essential businesses were closed, gatherings of greater than 50 were no longer an option, Las Vegas had closed all casinos for a month and several states had enacted stay-home orders (not Michigan - yet...).  Each day it seemed more un-real than the day before as Coronavirus cases increased across the US, and in Michigan as well.  At week's end, we had just over 1000 cases and 15 related deaths.  I keep telling the girls, we are living a very historic time right now that they will be telling their kids about some day, a moment of time that will make it into the history books!

However, in our home, things largely continued as usual, thankfully!

 We did go to visit Great Grandma on last Tuesday, before things really started to set in.  We helped her finish putting away her winter decorations, enjoyed some time together, had lunch and then even saw Aunt Nancy, who took the kids for a ride on the golf cart.  It was a fun day!

 Around home, things continued as usual.  Weather is spring-like, but chilly and I continue to use my phototherapy light in the mornings to chase off the winter blues.  My little buddy often joins me as I sit by my light, always with his sunglasses!

 The girls kids have had plenty of opportunity to play, though some days the play turns a bit chaotic...

 They have spent a bunch of time playing outside too.  A couple of days, they were joined by a neighbor friend.

 Evenings are their usual chaos, with wound up kids who need to wind down...

School continues as usual, our usual anyway...

 And there are plenty of sweet moments to keep us remembering how precious life and our family is.

Saturday, to fight some of the craziness setting in as the time of being home stretches on, I got out a box full of my old Barbies, something my girls had never seen before.  They were so excited to add their Barbie dolls to what I had and soon set to playing and creating houses and all sorts of fun!

It was fun to just sit back and watch them enjoy the dolls and sets I had enjoyed for so many years as a child. To re-discover what I had forgotten and to remember how much I loved certain dolls and sets more than others.  Mommy had some fun playing too!

We remain healthy and strong here, thankfully.  The kids are full of energy, and we are all growing weary of not going anywhere or doing things with our friends as has been our usual, but we are trying to make it fun and making the best of every day.  Sometimes this means later bedtimes and tired kids who end up taking up space in our bed at night, but its worth it!

 Especially when it results in moments like these!

 Sunday, we woke, had a lazy start and checked in to church via Facebook.  Then, we checked in with our friends the Sebrights via a video chat, had some lunch, had a video chat with Opa, Oma, Aunt Becky, Francesca, Christine and Uncle Michael.  We also got to talk to Grandpa & Grandma through Facetime as well as Jay & Becci.  It was good to connect with our friends and family and to see familiar faces, to feel a little connected to the rest of the world again, if only for a few moments.

While there is much uncertainty ahead and no doubt more to come as a result of this virus, we continue to trust God has this in control, and talking to the girls about trusting Him through all of this.  

Giving Up on Winter

This week, the kids wore me down and we officially gave up on winter.  Out came the trampoline instead!  They were busy little bees helping me get the poles down from the garage, carrying them to the front yard, helping set up the frame, springs, etc.  They even helped me tighten bolts!  Once it was largely assembled, aside from the net, they couldn't stand waiting anymore!

 We've enjoyed being outside most days, everyone here is ready for spring!  There has even been some yard cleaning happening as well as some cleaning up and clearing out inside.  Elam is all about the washing, he loves the bubbles!

School continues as usual...

 As does the fun and the chaos that goes with it!

This week's big news is the Coronavirus and it's beginning spread throughout the US.  With all schools being closed as of Friday, churches being closed, events like sports and concerts being canceled, stores being emptied of toilet paper, hand sanitizer and disinfectant cleaners, and a large amount of groceries all together, it seems like our world will be changing for a bit around here.  Recommendations are to maintain distance from public areas and large groups. 

While the world around us is changing, the life of the Westrates will be largely the same since school already happens here and we don't do too much away from the house.  We won't be able to attend church or MOPS, 4H has been canceled as well, but we are stocked up and prepared to weather this as best we can, trusting God will carry us through.