Easter

What has helped a lot during quarantine time in the spring is to have nice weather. The boys played outside. Nathan bought, with his own money, an electric scooter that he would take out a few times a day for up to an hour around our neighborhood. It helped to break up boredom and screen time inside. I realize this now as we are in the depths of summer, and there is nowhere for us to go locally and now we can't play outside. We're limited to our own pool, for which I'm at least thankful we have. To think I ever thought summer was rough in past years -what a joke! At least then we were able to go to places and have summer camps. We will be so grateful for future, normal summers.

Back to the spring...Easter. It was the first holiday we didn't see our extended family. While that part was sad, we still had a nice day. 

Breakfast waffles courtesy of Waffle Luv

Mixed drinks courtesy of a bar tending company losing event business

We couldn't see family, so we put an egg hunt in their front yards instead. The one for my sister's house had dog treats in them for her pups.

Egg hunts at the park

It lasted a day. 

We used local businesses as part of their Easter baskets, such as a painting studio to do a canvas piece 

We had our annual night hunt the night before

March and April Quarantine

Sooooo much has happened since my last post. To think it's July and my last post was in April, it has been 3-4 months.I wish I could say normal has returned but it has been so far from it. In fact, as I write this post I'm currently in a cabin in the woods and it's the best place to be to feel at ease.

The latest....

The pandemic has only gotten worse. When our state re-opened for business in May, there were no set boundaries so it was left to everyone if they were close to each other, if they wore masks (all of these are ways to prohibit getting sick - keeping distance from people and wearing a mask). Unfortunately it has become such a political issue in wearing a mask. It was left to our mayor to mandate wearing a mask in our city, which he has done. Largely that has helped increase the amount of people wearing them. However, damage has been done and we have seen increasingly more people sick in the thousands each day. School was eventually closed for the year and we finished with kinda sorta some online school. Basically, the kids had 30 minutes of homework but without much interaction with their teachers or class. It felt like we tripped our way through the year. 

At this time, businesses that were open are closing some as we grapple with high cases. With school returning soon, it has been quite stressful in determining how it will come back (each district is different). Our choices are in person school (with a lot of new rules and now a delay in start), online model or online model with a possibility of return to in person school at the quarter or semester. There's no way we feel comfortable or want the kids retunring to school with so many changes, and what I feel will just turn into last spring where school is open and then closed. Having the kids do online will keep things consistent which I think is best ultimately for us. I miss the social interactions the kids aren't having, but ultimately keeping them safe and into a consistent routine I think suits our family better. 

We canceled Preston out of preschool for the same reason. This coming school year, I will be homeschooling Preston and monitoring virtual online school for the other two. I can only hope with the time the district has had that our online model will be a lot better than that of the spring. At the end of the day, we don't really have much choice. 

It has been a lot to deal with. Josh is working from home (and I hope will continue for months to come), there seems to be daily decisions on choices in regards to school, or even in regards to going to places that are open. We have not been able to see our families much if at all. It hurts to not see the friends who are our friends, but who we know have may not been taking things as cautiously as we have been. It feels lonely and isolating. 

I started a weight loss program which for a time worked out, until it didn't. I wasn't able to use their equipment as businesses began to close, which is half of the purpose of the program. I began to lose motivtation (after all, there were no bikinis to wear for trips that were not able to happen). I was also tiring of the reporting to another person about my loss and keeping on track. I think because of the mounting stress, it even then started to become that "one more thing" to worry about at a time when we're just trying to live each day as it comes. Literally things change on a weekly basis. I've gained what I've lost and hope I find a way back to control something good. I've definitely been letting the emotions of a stressful world get to me. 

Figuring that school would continue to be a roller coaster this year, I decided to quit my magazine writing job. During school breaks I've found ways to still get the work done, but it is becoming too much. We're reaching a time where we really need to give ourselves grace and have less things to stress about, and this is one way I've decided to do that. Other than the teaching I do for Chinese students early in the morning and evening, that is my only job. I just think I will need to be available for the mess that school will continue to be. I'd prefer not to use all my free time/evening time to do work. Self care has become even more important, especially when it's limited to at home for the large most part. 

Anyway...during this time I've been taking pictures to document our very interesting 2020. 

Preston's rainbow box

Even more important to talk to friends virtually. Aaron talked to his one friend, Cooper were they created projects together.

A time of new creations and keeping busy

New playdough kits are a hit

Nate loves his aviation theme boxes. Coaster, airline snacks, airplane cookie cutters, map of an airport, airplane DVD's. 

Especially at the start, Aaron loved creating our own school and routine at home. This was his area (or extension of his messy room). 

When this all started, I also wanted to get the boys each a monthly subscription box to look forward to. Aaron and Preston each receive boxes form KiwiCo - Aaron's is a world box where he learns about a different country each month with activities. Preston's is for his age where he does arts and crafts, builds things with a different theme each month ( bugs, farm, rainbow). Nathan has a bi-monthly avaiation box. They have helped.

Boo Hoo...

Today I'm using our blog to mark a bit of history and well, to vent about life circumstances. I hope one day I'll look back and remember how tough it was, but also that we made it through and in turn learned some life lessons. Like, learning that we can do hard things. Learning to be grateful (all of us) for small things. Maybe a lot of us will come out as better people. 

I saw posted on Facebook a list of all the things going on currently - posted permanently so that this person would remember in a year the hardships we are going through. I think I have generally gone over what is going on, but now I want to list exactly how this has affected us. 

---It begins with a canceled weekend to California, as a birthday gift to Nathan to visit Six Flags and Disneyland. They made the announcement literally 2 DAYS before they were to leave. If only we had gone the first weekend of Spring Break....

---Of course the biggest factor, no school for anyone. Preston is getting the longest break. Little did he know the school he enjoyed he would not be going back to ( he is going to a new preschool in the fall, hopefully). Aaron missed the last few days of school before Spring Break with illness. Little did Nathan know, the day before Spring Break would be his last in an elementary school. As long as they start school in July, they will have been off for 5 MONTHS. That's like summer on steroids. At least the weather is nice outside...but we aren't able to go any places to play, or eat, or vacation, or even visit with friends or family. 

---I won't be teaching Nate his last art masterpiece. I will not be helping at the art show. There is no Mother-Son event that I just got done planning. Nathan will have no band concerts to end his elementary year. I'm afraid he will lose a lot of playing memory between now and junior high, where he hopes to continue in band. So much time has been lost. Aaron barely had his grade's performance of Dr. Seuss before break. Nathan will not have a 6th grade promotion or graduation or last day of school clap out! This hurts me the most. Though, I'm hoping the 6th grade team comes up with an alternative somehow. Our poor teachers.

--No swim lessons for Preston, which we had just started again after the holiday and now of course I'm afraid he will lose so much practice between now and when it will warm in May for us to use the pool. He loved those, too. Aaron does not have any cub scout activities. In particular, the first weekend of May was to be a camping weekend. All of the boys were going to go, leaving me with my first weekend with no kids (since having Preston)....EVER. 

--I'm mourning all the self-care I no longer have, on that note. I was looking forward to having a weekend to myself, but even trails and camping sites are closed. I'm missing the few hours of peace a few times a week I would use to work. Now, evenings are my main working time.

--Even our poor doggie loses fun at doggie daycare. We picked April to be his birthday, we have ordered a cake and now he doesn't get to have it with his friends. 

--Our first holiday in town where we won't celebrate it with any family (Easter). 

--Very likely, Mother's Day will come and I will not be able to go out for any usual celebrations (picking peaches, getting nails done, massage, dinner out). Any of my favorite activities. But, I know my boys will find a way to celebrate regardless.

--Very likely, Aaron will not get to celebrate his birthday the way he would like. No party with friends at TopGolf. As soon as Easter is over, I will be having to figure out an alternative. 

--No graduation viewing for my sister. We think we might just combine graduation ceremonies for her and Nate. Thank goodness our person who we get to make cakes is still doing them! Bless her for it's one of the only parts to look forward to for those moments.

--No Memorial Day weekend trip to Mexico to celebrate these accomplishments. We were to have gone with my family and shared a penthouse on the  beach. No big deal....

June remains to be seen. We will basically be devastated if quarantine life enters into summer, especially as it warms up and we can't go for walks or rides outside. It is our 15th wedding anniversary. Most importantly, it is the month of our planned trip to Europe! The boys are so excited for their first overseas trip. I was looking forward to having this adventure with them and my family. I was looking forward to visiting some of my favorite places. I really hope I don't have to continue this list. 

Our days ebb and flow for sure. Some days are hard, some a bit easier. It's hard to not be able to control things. One thing I am working on and wanting to control is losing weight. Right before this mess, I started with a weight loss program to lose the 20-30 (!) pounds I have gained in the last year. Originally this began as a way I wanted to lose weight for our summer vacations and feel good, but now it's becoming deeply personal - I need something happy for myself. A goal to meet. Something to feel accomplished and feel good about. I have long not felt myself, and I miss it. Having this extra weight makes me feel the way I look - sloppy, tired, unmotivated. Not healthy. Exploding out of clothes. I lost 20 pounds a few years ago and I remember what that felt like - I felt happy, energized and that I could wear things I was too bashful to wear (I'm highly critical). I really need this for myself, especially during this crazy time but it's taking all my control to not want to drink wine and eat the cake! 

So okay. That's enough for one day, for now...

And March...Went to Sh**

Pardon my French. The rest of February was nice, Valentine's Day and such. Even the beginning of March the boys went to another NASCAR race and spent time with family in town. We just started Spring Break so the first week we had gone out to different places, including Aaron and Preston each getting their own Build-A-Bear! It was after that, things went downhill very fast.

For starters, I lost my craft job with Green Kid Crafts. That felt out of the blue and I didn't quite agree or appreciate how it went down. But, little did I know it was probably more of a blessing in disguise to have one less job to worry about, even if I was losing a bit of money. It was also at this time that I had met with my publisher of the magazine I write for, and also happened to turn in a column that I felt took a good chunk of time to do (gave it back). That also happened to work in my favor, even at the loss of money. 

Since January, I have been very, very busy with my teaching job. It was to be typically busy because of the Chinese New Year holiday. However, it was soon after the New Year that China came down with a sickly virus. It spread like wildfire which caused schools in China to close down to prevent spread.  Kids were stuck at home. Parents decided to throw their kids hard into lessons. I have been teaching morning and night classes since that time, most weeks and only just recently tapering off a bit. Kids are still not in school there. It was in the beginning of March that this sickly virus made its grand way into America. 

As of today, our schools are officially closed for the year. FOR.THE. YEAR. The rest of the school year. Our state went into lockdown mode. Restaurants have closed their dine in operations and adapted to take out, delivery and curbside. The flippin stores are out of toilet paper, hand sanitizer, paper towels, meat, pasta, eggs, milk. It's complete madness and it's predicted it will only grow worse. We are to stay in our homes for the most part unless it is essential. 

So now, as a result, we have no idea when life will return to normal but boy are we banking hard that it will return one day. The boys are bummed because we canceled a planned Spring Break getaway to theme parks -- just as they decided to close. We had plans to attend my sister's nursing graduation in another city and canceled those plans. We were to go on a trip to Mexico in May to celebrate, but the border is now closed. We are to go to Europe in June and now there is a high chance it will be canceled, too. Life is up in the air and it's scary and it's frustrating. I don't want to be home anymore than the kids do. 

The kids have started e-learning this week, doing assignments online. As the weeks go on, I imagine it will change how these assignments work. I'm just so sad for the kids missing the rest of the year, especially Nate as I had images of his graduation, ceremony, his last day of school clap out....all canceled. I hope the school figures something out, but regardless we will. This will be the first Easter (holiday) we will not be celebrating with our families. I miss the socialization A TON. I thought I was home a lot before...literally my saving graces are baths and walks, which thank goodness for mild weather and that we are allowed outside. China was not.

I have no idea how to teach for real, but here we go!

New activities for "centers"

Immediately I bought some new things for the boys, grasping onto anything that would make them happy. Since we can still receive delivery and takeout, I have been supporting and using local businesses as happy parts of our days. 

Have to support my favorite coffee shop. Local businesses are hurting :( 

PE time

Supporting local business with a fancy date night at home

Our new life - FaceTime

I love the honesty of kids. Aaron's note to his cousin,Autumn , who still had a birthday party...

So, for the coming months we will be balancing working from home (I'm very relieved Josh is working from home and not traveling), schoolwork, entertaining the kids...same as everyone right now into summer. We really hope the kids will go back to school on time in July, but that is far off and remains to be seen.

In the meantime, we will just keep thinking and wishing for the rainbow days to return. It really does make you appreciate all the small things, like just being able to catch up with a friend for coffee. I had just met up with friends right before spring break. 

I'm also very much wishing for the safety and health for our family and friends during this absolute crazy time. We will not forget 2020 and what it teaches us. 

Nathan is 12!

I officially have a tween. He is definitely a tween. In lieu of a party, Nate had a family get together with Josh's family where they went car racing and out to lunch. One of our presents to him was an airplane simulator experience, as the fact that he wants to be a pilot has not changed. Josh took him to lunch afterwards and he seemed to really enjoy it!

Some facts about Nate :

--His eating has expanded beyond kid food, hooray! It took 12 years...he's willing to try a variety of food (he even likes sea food) so that has been really fun. He hadn't even tried a burger before, but now that is one of his favorites. In N Out, please. 

--He got a phone for Christmas. He loves to listen to music and have the ability to communicate with family.

--He definitely remains our responsible and reliable child. Trustworthy. Understands the ability to make and save money, as he recently did to buy an electric scooter. He's at that age where he would rather have money and gift cards than toys or anything else. 

--We've started to give him an inch (and responsibility and trust) in beginning to go around our neighborhood on his own. We're taking those baby steps in that he will likely be taking himself to school next year either by walking or biking, so he is excited for the freedom of this. 

--Has a girl "friend". Will have to come back to this later. It's cute, they have professed their love. It's very down low. Nate would never want to draw attention to himself.

Generally, he just keeps evolving. It's fun that he is turning into more of an adult now, in ways. For his 6th grade graduation, or for it at some point, I wanted to just take him out for a "fancy adult dinner". How nice to enjoy conversation without having to worry about him acting up as a child , haha. And now that his eating has evolved, I'm excited to really open those doors to good food. 

Happy New Year! (or not...)

In typical fashion as we like to do, we went out NYE to dinner at a restaurant we have started to make tradition. It's nice because they decorate for the occasion, it feels fancy for adults but friendly enough for kids.

Noon Years Eve early. The boys had a playdate over noon time with their cousin so we did not do our traditional balloon drop this year. 

Of course, we discussed 2019 and our hopes for 2020. Wow has 2020 thrown some curve balls our way. To be continued...

Christmas and Birthday Celebrations

Besides the trip out of town with my sisters and mom, December was a great month. We celebrated with the Christmas spirit.

We went to the Phoenix Zoo for our annual trip to see lights. One night, I took the boys to a drive through light display which was fun for a change. Again, we spent time with our families over Christmas Eve and Day. My sister had her annual holiday party.

In love with our Christmas cookies we contributed from a local vendor

The boys had their annual Jingle Jog at school which my sister participated in with us! That made it more fun.

Nate's 6th grade teachers - his teacher is Santa!

The running gang

My birthday was great, too! I spent the day doing a lot of my favorite things. It began with a bath, a drink from my favorite coffee shop. 

We went out to breakfast following my bath. I had a massage that afternoon. 

I'm lucky these days to have 2-3 a year, so I really appreciate them.

That evening, I had dinner with my family out after Preson was down for bed. Just an adult dinner, which we have never done before since having kids (lucky for us, Nate is old and responsible enough to babysit now). The following day, I had games and cards with my family and they made me an incredible cake!

Candy!

My sister came over one day so Josh and I could have a date night in celebration of my birthday, just the two of us. We went to one of my all-time favorite date night spots.

December was a great month. During winter break, the boys played with their LEGOS they received (check out Nathan's below!), their new video game equipment...it's a great time for the kids to be entertained with what they received at Christmas and to have Josh home. 

It took him 3-4 straight days to build it. This is the beauty of LEGO!