Worst...Blog...Ever: Week 5

Monday - This is our new normal - Mia and James were up and working on school work right on time but Emma was still snoozing away. James is still working on weather for science and was excited to build a weather vane. He really enjoys science. He is also reading the book Hatchet and liking that. I remember my Mom reading it to me at about his age and how I really liked it too. Emma is reading The Giver and since it's not about dragons she is just putting up with it. Mia is required to listen to a different book each day and they are read by actors with some animation of the pictures on the pages. All have to answers questions about the book after so they are forced to pay attention and really think about it. After school work, my workout and lunch we drove up to Great Grandma and Grandpa Zundel's house. Grandma Van Bibber was there and she brought the bouncy house for the kids to play on. We spent the afternoon social distancing in their backyard. It was so nice to be out of the house. Emma also tried to get the kite up in the arm but the wind was not consistent enough. After dinner and scriptures Mia and I had a dance party. She thought it was funny when I started to copy all her dance moves. We ended our evening with playing our new game.

Quinn's office is just a bit messy.

Emma still in bed.

James testing his weather vane.

Mia moved from the table to under a blanket for her school work.

Tuesday the kids made me pretend to welcome them to our school and show them all the rooms and give them name tags to wear as if they just started at a new school. So we did our usual of school work in the morning. I also try to have them play the piano everyday but they can play for fun. Whatever they want. They been learning some of the simplified primary songs. That afternoon the kids played with play-dough before being allowed back on electronics or t.v. That night we had some fun though. I borrowed a fire pit and we had a fire in the backyard. It was a bit chilly in the beginning but after a bit was quiet nice. We read scriptures around the fire and then roasted marshmallows and made s'mores. Later our backdoor neighbors who have a son named Ben that is James best friend invited us to join an activity. Ben came out and stood on his swing set. He had a crown on, a microphone and a spotlight. He read some of King Benjamin's speech. His family got chairs and sat in a row listening. We peeked over the fence and listen too.

Mia's unicorn

Mia was upset because she wanted to sit in the wagon (I only made James move for the picture).

Wednesday - I felt like this was an emotionally hard day for me. Monday evening we found out that the kids would not be going back to school but would finish out the year at home. I though I had prepared myself for that but it was still hard to hear. I was also hoping we could just cancel the last month of school all together but nope. We also received the news that Grandpa Moore was starting to decline rapidly and that we should come say goodbye. The kids had a rough morning of not wanting to do their school work properly and Quinn had to come up stairs and help. Thank goodness he was working from home that day because we needed it. Every time I thought I could step away from the kids for a few minutes to get myself cleaned up, make my bed or get dressed one of them was knocking on the door asking for something.

I went to my friends house to do our workout. We got one minute into and I turned to her and said I'm not feeling it today. I just feel like crying and she said oh good because I'm not either so we went for a walk even though it was a bit cold and it rained a bit. This helped so much! So that afternoon Emma and James watched a movie. I visited with my friends on zoom about our week and what we are studying in Come Follow Me. This always helps to know I'm not alone in my struggles with my kids and that all of us are finding it harder to study on our own with our kids home full time now.

Mia had been reading books on the couch but then fell asleep which is very unusual for her. I thought it was just too many nights staying later that normal catching up to her but when she woke up her face was all red. Turns out she was running a fever - 104! She said nothing hurt and that she was just a bit tired. So we gave her some Tylenol and just watched her for the next few days. Needless to say I did not take very many pictures today. But enjoy the video of Toby freaking out when Quinn covered up his face.

Mia asleep on the couch under her blanket.

Everyone reading their e-books.

Watching the finale of Lego Masters!

Thursday Quinn went into the office for work and school. The kids did school work. Mia was still running a fever but feeling fine otherwise. That afternoon I called and talked to Grandma Moore letting her know I would not be able to visit and say goodbye to Grandpa in person because of Mia's fever. I didn't want to take a chance and spread anything especially if it was Covid-19. She seemed to be in good spirits but I was having a hard time with it.

I called Mia's doctor's office too and was told no need to bring her in or get her tested yet unless she starts presenting other symptoms. I am now doing my workouts alone just in case and it is not fun and so much harder to push though but hopefully can go back after Mia's fever is gone. We also did a little painting and then had fun trying to catch popcorn in our mouths. That night we watched the movie A Little Princess. Quinn took his final that night for school and is very happy the semester is over. He has gone 5 semester straight and is very ready for a break this summer. That night Carly held a video chat and announced she is having identical twin girls! So exciting!!

Mia taking a break from school work to build a giant kingdom.

Quinn with his well earned treat after taking his final exam.

Friday - Mia still had a fever all day but it was not as high. School work was lighter today and the sun was out, yeah! James had to sing all of his songs about Utah as part of his school work today. This is one of my favorite program so I'm so sad we don't get to watch him do it with all of the 4th grade. But it was fun to hear him sing along with all the songs. Then James and I made zucchini bread. After lunch the kids begged to play outside instead of going on a walk with me. I agreed because I needed some alone time! That night we watched a stage version of Phantom of the Opera. It was free on YouTube for 48 hours. Emma really wanted to stay up late and watch the whole thing. I agreed but it back fired as she woke me up around 12:30 am (just after I fell asleep) freaking out saying she kept thinking about the way the phantom looked at the end. Quinn decided it would be easier to just trade her places and he went down to her bed. Emma climbed in bed with me and thankfully fell asleep pretty fast.

Mia had a zoom call with her teacher and classmates.

Playing and singing at the piano with Mia.

Toby waiting for dropped popcorn.

Saturday I got morning snuggles on the couch with Mia and James while we watched Onward. Emma and Quinn got to sleep in. Mia's temperature was finally almost back to normal but I noticed her tonsils were big and white so we headed to the doctor's office that morning. It was nice and quiet there. You stay in your car till they are ready to bring you to a room. They tested her for strep. The 5 minute test came back negative but will let us know how the 24 hour one goes. (It came back positive so she is now on antibiotics, and it's nice to know that it's not covid-19)

We worked in the yard that afternoon. Quinn mowed and then put down some kind of bug poison around all of our trees. The kids and I cleaned out all 5 window wells and cleaned the windows. Now Quinn will be able to see out his new office windows in the basement. Then we got out the bounce house we brought home and let Grandma Lavender come over to watch the kids play. We sat in the backyard in the sun 6 feet away and chatted. It was hard for sweet Mia to remember not to get too close. Hopefully we can do this more if the weather would just stay warm.