Day 32: CoVid-19 including Easter

Here we are....at day 32 of staying at home thanks to the coronavirus. It still seems so surreal to be going through this, but we are making it through just fine. Our house has never been more organized, Mellany is doing really well with remote learning, the boys are finally getting the hang of "school" with mom, the art projects are a hit and we've been tackling outdoor projects as soon as we get a day warm enough to do so! 

While it does seem so weird to be going through this, I secretly love that my family is at home all together, all day, every day. :) 

Mellany remote learning

Virtual dance class

Tulips were in stock at the grocery store a couple weeks ago and they were just too pretty to pass up! 

One HUGE bonus of CoVid-19 and restaurants being closed is that many of them are offering free delivery and even delivering to our house! (We are typically too far out for anyone to deliver!)  We took full advantage one Saturday night and ordered Olive Garden! It was fantastic! 

Church Book Club...We are currently reading through "Giddy up Eunice" and it is so good! 

Gammy got the kids and Eggmatic decorating machine for Easter and it was put to good use! We decorated 50 wooden eggs! 

When I go to the store, I try to get as many groceries as possible. This haul was for 2+ weeks....at this point experts were saying it was best to wipe down your groceries before bringing them into the house; so that is just what we did. John wiped them down and I carried them inside. All the plastic bags went to the trash can.  

Charlie on FaceTime with his friend Adelaide :)

Piling on dad!

Clay Creatures art project

Giving Winston a bath....the kids like to watch but don't like getting wet when he shakes, so they grabbed their umbrellas :) 

One of our outdoor projects....pulling out posts from an area that was sectioned off in our pasture...

One of the reasons I am loving "quarantine": naps! 

Finished up mowing one Saturday....the sunsets are stunning out here! 

Another project crossed off the list: Cleaning my makeup brushes

Watching morning announcements 

Spirit Week for Virtual Learning: Furry Friend Day

Using up those toilet paper rolls and making butterflies

Sidewalk chalk has been a big hit around here too

Crazy Hair Day and Mellany's first day getting to Zoom with her class....she was so excited! 

Our family picture with song lyrics for Easter Sunday church service 

The view during my exercise.....our Charlie is always up to something crazy

Working on another craft: Tissue paper crosses and eggs

Winston watching the sunrise

Good Friday Church Zoom Service

We had a friend rent an Easter bunny costume and drive around to the house of everyone in our small group. The bunny took pictures with the kids and dropped eggs in the yard. Charlie initially hid under the table but warmed up once he realized there was candy in the eggs. 

Easter Sunday!

Definitely an Easter like no other. We watched church service online, ate "bunny" cinnamon rolls, had an indoor egg hunt because the weather was pretty chilly and rainy in the morning and then spent the rest of the day playing outside, doing yard work and then enjoying hot dogs and hamburgers for dinner. 

Not my best work, but will try again next year. These were supposed to be bunnies :) 

Setting up Easter presents from Papa & Teresa

Dying our wooden eggs

Winston watching the sunrise again....he really seems to love this spot. Doesn't look comfortable to me! haha!

Another zoom call for Mellany: Class Scavenger Hunt 

Zoom call for Johnny....they had the class sing a song and not gonna lie, I teared up! 

Reading a book with Mellany's teacher

Charlie felt left out with the calls Mellany and Johnny were having so we called his bestie Griffin.

I'm pretty sure we are wearing Winston out during the day. 

Charlie got to stay up late one night and he helped John with Winston's bath and combing. 

(We've been rotating through each of the kids and allowing them to stay up late one night during the week just as something special during this time. This is something that the kids have really enjoyed so I think we will continue this even once the shelter in place is over. )

That's all I've got for now!

Here's to hoping that my next post talks about how we are slowly getting out of our "shelter in place" orders!! 

Day 19: Covid-19/Social Distancing/Self Quarantine/"Shelter in Place"

We are currently on day 19 of all of the above and I still can't even believe this is what life looks like for us right now! It seems so surreal! And while it would be easy for me to look at all the negatives, we really are thankful for so many things: John being able to work from home, all 5 of us continuing to be healthy, all the family time, our 10 acres and spacious neighborhood....just to name a few! The kids are doing a great job with our new routines and understanding why we can't be at school, play with friends, etc. I'm getting out about once or twice a week to grab groceries and pick something up to bring home from a local small business (I cannot imagine being a small business owner right now!) and it looks like the weather is on a warming trend so we will be able to be out much more than we currently are. Our days mostly consist of a little school type work in the morning and some exercise, lunch, alone time in the afternoon to rest, play in rooms, read, draw/color/etc and then some art projects and free play before dinner. After dinner we've gotten to play outside some more when weather allowed, had movie nights, played games, etc. I have taken on the project of organizing every nook and cranny of the house and John has began yard work and barn cleanup. We honestly can't say that we are really THAT mad about not being able to go anywhere, because we have kept plenty busy!

Mellany started remote learning today! I was a little apprehensive about it at first (mostly because I was just unsure of what it was going to look like--just like everyone else) but she is going to do just fine and her teacher is amazing! She was so excited this morning to see her teacher's face and to be on a video chat with her gym teacher and some friends; I think it was really refreshing for her!

For now, we are hanging in there and doing well. When the time comes that we can "get out" again, the Barretts will be (cautiously) ready!

Some exercise time....we love GoNoodle!

A really pretty sunset I caught one night

At Menards...I thought the kids would get the biggest kick out of this guy riding the floor cleaner :) 

School Activity: Parking Lot. Each kid had cars that needed to be placed. into the correct parking space. 

More school activities 

"Riding" the rides at Disney

Taking a drive to Rural King to pick up supplies....

Working on fixing the yard from the geothermal loops that were placed last fall. 

Wooden people art activity. I'm pretty sure John had the most fun! :) 

Exercising with mama

Meeting our new niece Emberly!!! 

Small group "Chat".....we can't get together physically, so this is definitely the next best option. 

Winston sure does love having John home during the day.

On my recent trip to Walmart, I thought I'd try to grab a few more hand weights....this is what the racks looked like! Everyone must have had the same idea! 

More school activities...(I think this was the day Mellany had decided she needed to work in her room.)

The vet is closed except for emergencies, so Winston go a haircut courtesy of John. 

Mellany does bodypump with me every Tuesday and Thursday...the entire hour workout, including using actual weights....she's amazing! 

Marshmallow and Toothpick construction activity....another one where I'm not sure who loved it more...John or the kids...

Johnny decided to help me clean and organize! 

The kids have been playing "school" a lot....they pack lunches, carry their backpacks to the basement, have recess and specials and Mellany teaches them certain things on the art easel. It's the cutest thing and makes my heart so happy to watch! 

Working on sticker books

Another Art Lesson: We watched a video on sloths and then painted a sloth. Charlie didn't want to paint, but Mellany, Johnny and I really enjoyed it! 

Remote learning....Google Hangout with her gym teacher and some friends. This social girl was in heaven! 

FaceTime with Simon....Charlie's face cracks me up!

Dumpster getting delivered to finish yard/barn cleanup....The boys didn't miss a single part of it.