Day 3 (really ..... later)

Day 2 (Really Day 5) of Social Distancing! March 17, 2020 (by Sophia)

 

Sassy Look!!! Chiara is very protective of the play-do.

 Say Cheese! Daddy after a work conference. Hi?!

Monica is the best! She lets Gus make a dinosaur with her light-up pegs! 

 We didn't forget you, Chiara!!

 Too much cheese!!! Cheese WILL disappear if it's left out!!!

By Maureen:  This was a dark day.  Yesterday Public Masses were canceled, and today, due to Gov. Laura Kelly's direction, we learned that Sophia and Monica wouldn't be returning to school for the rest of the year.  They had just finished the third quarter, so they will be missing 1/4 of the year.  Admin is working hard to figure out what the next few months will look like with digital schooling etc.  I'm very thankful that my kids are still young and roll with everything we throw at them.  We will continue to have a schedule at home, and once we have more info/materials, we will add that in.  Mostly though, we will focus on our family. 

For many months we have been praying for an increase in family intimacy, and boy do we have an amazing opportunity before us.  We are all so thankful for jobs that allow for enough flexibility to mostly work from home, and an amazing family and community.  Not to mention, the internet is incredible at keeping people connected to each other and the church community.  I'm so thankful for Fr. Strobl's streaming of the Mass, Rosary and other prayers, as well as the greater community.  God Willing more parish priests will jump on this opportunity.  

There is great sorrow and anxiety in the world right now.  Many families, students, parents, adults, elderly have much to mourn.  And it should be.  We are entering a new normal, a new life.  It is okay to cry, weep and mourn the life we have left behind.  Fr. Strobl hit it on the head in his homily (tomorrow) about creating a new rule of life.  Everything is different now, and we have to be very intentional about our time; when we wake up, when we pray, when we eat.  Priorities will be made, and they have to be chosen with great intentionality.   

The next goal - how to we help those in need around us?  Those in our community not prepared for this change?  Those that are greatly suffering or quietly falling away?   Hopefully, God will provide a path.  

Day One (really 4) Social Distancing March 16, 2020

Day One of Social Distancing!

Okay, well we took this very seriously.  Coronavirus 2020 is a big deal.  We started Social Distancing on Friday, keeping out kiddos home from school. The day before, Thursday is when the government started closing things down in certain cities. But to keep things consistent, we will call this Day one, but keep in mind that mentally, we are DAYS in this already!

Luckily, Shaw is a prepper.  We did not go crazy, we are not hoarding.  We have reasonable supplies to get us through a few weeks.  We are blessed with kids who thrive in adventure, and jobs that allow the flexibility of working from home. 

My dear sister and her family JUST moved into town (the answer to so many prayers) and we have been unable to be any help at all.  Nothing.  Not. A  Thing.  Super lame sister for realz!  Luckily, family is on board, keeping grandparents home, and no crazy gatherings.

So this is meant to keep our activities and adventures for posterity. I'm great at taking pictures of things, but terrible at recording and remembering!  Hopefully, the sweet kiddos will add their own thoughts and opinions!

Shaw, Maureen, Sophia (9), Monica (7), Gus (5) and Chiara (2)

We stayed fairly close to schedule with Shaw was at work prepping for work-from-home-arama. 

Kids still very peppy!

Sophia prepared our prayer time,  Monica set up. 

Sophia doing Maker Crates (THANK YOU NANA!) beads by Gus and Monica crafting with magazine and How-To-Color animals.

Wii time is a favorite!  We busted out the the Kitchen Cooking game from years and years ago. Hilarious!

Our one decoraation Gus made! 

Daddy brings all the fun!  Our legit tent set up in the girl's room for a big kids sleepover!

We learned at the end of the day that restaurants/bars will close for 14 days, schools will close until April 6th, and the President suggests no gatherings over 10 people.  

End of Day 1!

Arkansas day 4, the return

All the kids woke up early today, so we were up and packing.  Even though check out time wasn't until 1, we wanted to get rolling. 

Breakfast and lots of packing! We were off at about 9:30.  We drove the hour to Bentenville to hit the Amazeum again, which Monica has declared, is where she wants to go for her birthday.  She means both the Amazeum and our Arkansas farm!

We brought sandwiches and chicken nuggets to eat at the Amazeum before we left then started the last 3 hours home! Lovely green tree covered bluffs! Arkansas is beautiful!

Arkansas day 3

Woke up, delicious omletes and bacon.  Plus the ever present fruit loops with marshmallows.

Got ready to go on a hike. We went and hikes around Lake Sequoyah. We tried out our new backpack carrying things for Gus. He is big. Monica found a stick in a Rock. Then we came back home for a snack and potty break. At 11 we had an appointment with the farmers to come by and see the chicken coop. We got to see turkeys and chickens and Sofia and Monica got to pick up the beautiful eggs. Great story because our farmer lady used to be a vegan in San Francisco. Now she sells meat in Arkansas.

Home for lunch and nap time. After nap time we went on a little hike around our farm where the girls "taught" me how to rock climb.  Then we got ready and headed to Fayetteville again.

In Fayetteville we grabbed coffee, drove around, found a super cool park.  Played and played.  Then we hit the Mellow Mushroom pizza place, a great favorite of ours.  Shaw had an Arkansas beer, but I couldn't stray from tank 7.  Buffalo chicken pizza and cheese/pep with lots leftover.

Home for bedtime and lots of reading time!