Is it appropriate to be happy about a stay at home order?

Why come back to blogging now?

I wanted to document life, and I'd rather type that write in a journal.  Simple as that.

Probably no pictures though.  I think my account was deleted where I could upload from and my blogger memory was full.  Plus rather just journal for now.  (Huh I just added a test photo for fun and it actually loaded so who knows)

I have thoughts.  Being stuck at home is actually my dream.  I love having all my kids here all the time.  And if D didn't have to work still (end date is in MAY!!!) I would be in heaven.  The only thing that makes me sad is that my parents can't visit.

I've seen them two times.  I took them groceries and got their mail, but still felt like I was putting them in jeopardy. 

I don't think I've mentioned, but I'm a total germaphobe.  So you would think that I would be freaking out.  But its actually the opposite.  I am safe at home.  My family is safe at home.  And I've trained D well so he better be safe at work.  I am more freaked out every single time my kids get out of my car and walk into the school building. 

When they extended Spring Break and said we would not go back to face to face learning I was OVER THE MOON happy!  Make of that what you will.  Don't care.

And, being a germaphobe, if you don't think I had on hand when this hit a huge stock pile of disinfecting stuff you would be very mistaken.  I did not (and have not) bought any disinfecting stuff since before this started.  Nor (funnily enough) have we run out of toilet paper.  Again make of it what you will.  We are basically preppers I guess???

I'm even getting used to cooking every single meal.  We had one of our calves butchered earlier in the year so we are set for meat.  My sis in law had eggs should we run out AND I love beer bread.  Again we must be preppers because all this happened I had five loaves of bread in the freezer--it's just how we do it. 

We have finished day two of 'crisis' schooling and today----no tears!!  Little md is actually finished with all his work for the whole week except PE and specials (art/music) which must be done daily.

Little d and little m are mostly working on their own.  Easy for me.

I've sent ALL the pics of Little md's work to his teachers and barely forgot any attachments haha.

Wow....you can really danse....

I debated on what to title this post.  I mean "Quarantine day blah blah blah" sounded sooo done.  I went with my current ear worm.  Thanks to TikTok.

Today we started home school.  I recently read a post that called it 'crisis' schooling and I feel that is the perfect description.  Because it is of course a situation we are forced into not one we planned or chose. 

Little d--who is 15 by the way--yeah. When I started this blog she was three I think?  Anyway she is doing all online 'distance learning'.  She is sad because she actually liked school.  She loves learning and really loves the social interaction with her friends.  One of the last things we did 'out' was her One Act Play district UIL competition.  Her school didn't advance but it didn't matter because everything grinded to a halt right after. 

It was the start of our extended Spring Break.

Little m.  Ah my 12 going on 16 year old girl.  She is also doing online distance learning BUT she hated school so this is just an extension of her hate.  The only thing she liked about school was theatre.

Little md.  My baby boy, who is 9.  Who still says he will always live with me and never marry.  *heart emoji* *cry emoji*  He does his school work in the same way as his homework--bits of serious with intermittent crying.  So this should be a fun several weeks.

I'll end today with how we are spending our stay at home time (in no particular order):

• eating
• just dance 2020
• video games
• eating
• netflix
• eating
• sleeping in late
• eating
• laundry
• dishes
• cooking all our own meals
• eating
• trying to schedule grocery pickup orders to coincide with grocery availablity
• video chats with mimi and pawpaw
• eating
• swimming
• ping pong
• eating
• praying

Stay safe peeps!

Mere

THE Easter Story

No we are not going to church.  Because I can't decide about that.

But we pray every morning on the way to school. And every night before bed.  And plenty of other times too.

"Kids come pray with momma right now for so and so....."

"D can you pray with me for a minute...."

Or my favorite times:

Little md "Mom" (mouth full of afterschool snack) "Can we pray for Mrs. B?"  Sure why?  "She's having surgery.

This from a six year old who has been to a church maybe five times in his whole life.

So my view of what constitutes faith and Christianity maybe doesn't involved an organized religion yet.  Our religion is prayer.  And trying to be humble.

But I see the lacking.  They need to know about the bible and the stories.  And I don't know where to begin.  I think God did.  Because this weekend (Easter) I told the kids--you know Easter is about Jesus dying on the cross for our sins.  So we can go to heaven when we die.  And the blankish stares.  "We need to read the Easter story in the bible".  I said.

And tonight THEY held me to it.  And little md was the first to tear up.  Then me.  Then little m.

Because as she said "not because it is so sad--but because it is so beautiful".

God in Heaven thank you for the beauty of your Word that makes sense even to a child.

We have decided to read stories every night.  Or as often as we can.

My heart is full and blessed.

"I hate tonsils!"

This is one of the first coherent sentences little md uttered upon waking from his tonsilectomy this morning.

He had a bit of a freak out.
********
Later that week....

We are recovering well.  He is not sleeping great, but he's been off tylenol for most of the last two days and I took him to his first day of first grade this morning.  The doc said he did so well with the surgery.  I am hoping that we have seen the end of the sore throats!

First week of school

Little d is doing well in 6th.  She hates her theater arts teacher.  We'll see how that progresses.  She had a best boy friend ask her to be his 'girlfriend'.  That has somewhat blown over.

Little m missed day 2 and 3 due to fever and congestion and sore throat but bounced back fast on Friday.  She's back at school today.

Little md was not excited about today, but he was in a good mood overall.  Hoping for the best when D picks him up today.

I have to take little d to the chiropractor after she gets out.

August is here----aaaaaand-----we're-----off!!

Last Hooray (albeit low key)

We made a trip to POC to spend the last few bright moments of summer.  I am trying to get back to school schedule.  It's hard.  Current wake time for kids @8am.  Wake time for school 6:10am.  So we're close.  lol

The kids went Pokemon hunting this morning and we are being lazy this afternoon.  Hoping for a boat ride tomorrow morning.  Days are lazy here.  Just what I need before the chaos of school starting.

Little d going to middle school is like starting all over for me.  Added to that Little md's surgery makes the beginning of this year so stressful.

I'm going to hit the ground running when we get back home.  I'm going to whip the house into shape and get so organized that I can't help but be calm.

At least that's the best laid plans.....

Hustle and bustle and tonsils

For whatever reason the school district has decided to lengthen the school year.  Or in other words.  Summer is getting shorter....  So I am trying to get all the things ready.  All. the. things.

Today was school shopping for clothes with little d.  I hate shopping for clothes.  Well mostly I hate not finding what you need.  Just random shopping is fun.  But when you need a certain jean or short or capri and a certain color/style/bullshit to meet dress code it saps the ALL the fun out.

I also have to get all the school supplies.  I have about half of what I need so far.  My plan is to go early in the am to get the rest.  I'm sure the store will totally have the red yellow blue and green plastic folders with pockets and brads and not be picked over at all.

I ordered those pink erasers online.  At the store you can get 3 for about $4.  Online I got a case of 24 for $7.  How ridiculous is that?

Well not as ridiculous as needing 13 cases of pencils.  Each elementary kid needs 4.  And my middle schooler needs one for each subject.  You have got to be effing kidding.  I am for sure supplying pencils for the entire district.

Let's not talk about the paper goods.  8 boxes of kleenexes.  Roll of paper towels. Box of wet wipes.  2 boxes of ziplocs.  Does the school even have a janitorial budget?? Oh but let's not get started on school taxes please....

Ok onto other news.  Little md, like his sis, needs his tonsils out.  Long story short we will probably be scheduled for the day before the first day of school.  But good news is we can then enroll him in first grade the following Monday and he will have NO absences.  Still that one in your you know what school district.

I am anxious about it.  But praying.  And praying some more.

Face!

I've been wishing for a long time that my skin was lovely enough to go without makeup.  Well let's rephrase.  I go lots of time without makeup--dropping kids off in the am.  Running to walmart first thing in the morning.  I just wish I liked the way my skin looked without makeup to hide the unevenness and brown spots.

ANYway.  I started using a regimen this week.  Roden and Fields.  Hoping it works, everyone seems to love it.  We'll see.  This week it's every other morning.  Working up to twice a day in a few weeks.  I made little d take a before picture.....

If it works I'll have a side by side.  :)

peace out!

Swimmers Gonna Swim

As I mentioned we put in a pool this year.  After just a few weeks both little m and little d are swimming like pros.  Little d will jump off the deep end and the waterfall.  And both are going down the slide.  Little md is spending most of his time underwater.  He loves to dive under in the shallow end.  He's not swimming but his progress is just as amazing as the girls.

I could not be more proud of these kids.  I am also having fun swimming it should be noted.  Pool--good idea, no great idea!!

Summer 2016

The summer started out with a stormy pool party for the 5th grade graduates in our back yard.  I say stormy because the weather nearly ruined it.  But is was so fun!!  DJ, pool, splashing, rain, lifeguards, pizza, cookie cake, and lots of beach towels.

I should do a whole post on how the pool is not finished and how it has taken them since January to not finish.  AND how communication with the company is a joke.....but I'd rather talk about our Dr. Who obsession.

Amazon Prime is just awesome.  And dangerous :/   How easy to just order whatever you want.  BUT also the free stuff...shipping....movies.....tv series.....

That's how I binge watched Downton Abbey a while back.  And how I discovered Dr. Who.  Now the kids and I are in season 6 and watching together.  Where has this show been all my life? The BBC duh.  Incidentally I just ordered Dr. Who mugs from AmazonPrime......free shipping.....will be here Thursday.

So also---just after summer started we took in an orphan calf.  Kids named him Redwood.  His doing amazingly well and loves his summer home in POC.

Little md is having some issues.  I am not sure if it's from the chlorine or his throat.  But he's seeing the ENT tomorrow and we'll see what he says about his tonsils.

I have not gotten the house reorganized for a new school year.  Diplomas/awards still sit on the counter in the homework/folder spot.  And backpacks still hang on the hooks untouched since the last day of school.  I still have to shop for school supplies and Little d's clothes.  This year she has a different dress code.  Which is a whole other stupid topic!!

School starts early this year.  They've cut almost two weeks from summer and it feels like they cut a whole month out.  I don't know how I will get three kids to two different campuses in the mornings.  I don't know how I will survive the start of another school year.  By next summer I'll be a pro.  But this summer I'm dreading it.....all of it.

Almost forgot that yesterday we took in a grounded mockingbird, which is probably a crime.  But it appeared injured.  We've fed it cat food and egg as per the internet and are going to see if it's parents will take care of it today....

Oh did I mention I signed on for another year on the PTO.  This year as VP.  It's not as glamorous as it sounds.  But you do get a lot of inside scoop.  So there's that.

Registration for school on Friday....hopefully a boat ride this afternoon.

If the weather cooperates....

A year ago today

Just hanging out on my laptop and looked at my bookmarks bar.  I thought --huh--haven't checked into mere's lair in a while....

And it was exactly one year ago today that I typed in a post about those parakeets.  Of which we now have one.  The others having found a loving home.  I think I just did two back to back fragments.

I'm sad I didn't document this last year here.  I have a middle schooler, and a kinder graduate.  I have a pool in the backyard and a friend getting a divorce.  I have not lost a single pound.  In fact..the opposite.  I have a beautiful new eternity wedding band and a husband with a beard lol.  (Same guy, new look)  I had a great time attending a bible study class and a busy time on the PTO board.

I'm trying to think of all the highlights of the last year.  Overwhelmingly I'm proud of my children.

My little boy started kinder and did so wonderfully.  I watched him show compassion and have fun.  He learned so much!  And he is so smart! He graduated speech and learned to read.  His math skills are amazing.  And he started piano lessons.

Little m had a solid year in second.  She did great with her first year in GT.  Worked hard on her TPSP project and leaned to focus and complete work in time.  She earned the marvelous mustang award for her class and straight A's.  All the while doing her favorite thing--dance!

My little d.  So silly a name since she's nearly 12.  What an inspiration she is.  She is just the neatest person to be around.  So full of life and humor.  And she is so happy to finally have her phone!!  She also did great this year academically--earning the top three award!!  She is continuing with her piano but her passion is drawing.

D and I have had a wonderful year too.  I'm ever so thankful to have such a wonderful man to spend my life with.

I have GOT to keep up with this blogging!

Summer's Wrapping Up

I can't believe that we are already in August.  School is about two weeks away.  This weekend is our last in POC.  I'm so sad that school is starting soon.  I miss the kids so much when I'm away from them and this year ALL three are in school.

Yep.  My baby is going to kindergarten.  I can't tell you how much trauma this is causing me.  At least not right now.  I'll start crying.

All three completed a two week swim lesson course.  Little d did great!!  Little m did pretty well and is continuing to improve!!  Little md did well at first and then started hating it.  He did sit in the water on the last day so....   But now he is trying again here in mimi and pawpaw's pool.

I went school clothes shopping with little d.  She ended up sick that night possibly a motion sickness, headache, greasy food thing.  Not sure.  But she recovered.  I'm still a little shaky.  Summers are not for throwing up.  We are supposed to coast through summer without any illnesses.  Sigh.

As an official officer of the PTO (ahem.  Volunteer Coordinator is a real thing.)  I had to man the table at registration for a couple of hours.  I have to say I actually enjoyed meeting some new people there.  I think it's going to be fun to be part of the PTO.

Speaking of registration, the kids are.  Registered.  And I am thinking of having a address, a phone number, and a name stamp made.  Filling out my info thirty times gets a bit excessive.  If only there was a way for the school to run your stuff through a magic machine that could spit out multiple copies to file in different folders without you having to write it multiple times.....



Over the summer we all got a little more tan (despite copious amounts of sunblock).  Our hair is a little drier.  And our feet are a little rougher.



PUBLISHING this unfinished a year later lol

Baby birds!!

Times five.  Two or three were hatched when we arrived back home and now all five are here.  the oldest three have feathers on their wings and are getting large.  The smallest one looks so tiny beside them.

Today I may get brave enough to take the older ones out!!  We'll see.

Cleaning and organizing is going well.  I feel much calmer since two kids rooms and the kitchen are done.  Today little d wants to work on her room.

Also wanted to note that for what ever reason on the day we came back little m woke up.  Ate a few bites of breakfast, drank most of her hot chocolate and then threw up.  Once more later and then within minutes was eating and drinking all the rest of the day.  Literally can't figure it out!  All are fine though.

Dentist checkup went well with no cavities.  Little d had two teeth pulled Monday.  And in a month Little m will have to have two pulled then two more.  To make room and to help teeth drift into place.  She's missing four permanent teeth.

Little md will have his first check up in September for his teeth.  Hoping that goes well.  :)

Walked today on the treadmill for the first time since breaking my little toe!  And it didn't hurt much.  Yeah!!  Need to start working out so that's awesome!

Broke muh toe. Again.

Yes same one.

Yes hurt like a little bitch.

Yes it derailed my whole treadmill walking.

Fatty mcfatty pants here I come.

In a day or two we'll be heading back home to the big city.  I still have tons of organizing to do at home and the kids have some midsummer appts.   Dentist, hair, speech.

When last we left, the parakeets had five eggs.  Curious to see if there are any hatchlings....

Judge much?

Look I try not to judge other people too much.  I mean I'm just kidding I have a running commentary in my head all day about people.  Especially if I'm scrolling through FB.  But yesterday.  Yesterday I got REALLY judgy.

About moms who makes those cutesy lunches for their school kids.  (If you don't know what I'm talking about google easylunchboxes.)

Shudder.  Fruit shaped like hearts.  Hummus?  11 baby carrots?  What kid on the planet eats rolled up tortilla sandwiches PLUS heart shaped cheese PLUS blueberries and strawberries PLUS ELEVEN BABY CARROTS.

If you are trying to make a lunch look like something to post on a blog then you have big problems.  And also--TOO much time on your hands.

And the kids that are getting these lunches?  What do you think happens when they see a friend with a regular ole pb&j with a side of nacho doritos and two oreos?  Well.  I guess it makes me a bad mom but I think this whole easylunchbox trend is RE DICK U LUS.  And yes I know that's not how you spell it.

Maybe my kids are the weird ones.  I mean one daughter eats salami.  Another eats cereal.  But hey we all have bigger things to talk about.

Like how pleased I am that the White House is using my tax dollars and some rainbow lights to show how wonderful God's Promise was to never flood the earth again.

Smile.  Especially in light of all the rain we were getting for a while there....

POC finally!

Just in time for this....

Swimming in a toilet.  Yes.  Swimming in the gulf is apparently this wonderfully safe.  AND I saw this after we spent the morning at the beach.

Lovely.

Moving on.  The trailer is on it's way to being organized.  I am on my way to gaining another ten pounds iffin I don't stop eating and sleeping during the day.  So this morning I walked on my dad's treadmill.  And I am not at this very moment stuffing my face with tiny Mr. Goodbars.  Two pluses right there.

Tomorrow I may be going back home to work on cleaning and organizing that house.  Gah the amount to do is ginormous.

Little md defeated Plants v Zombies and Knack this weekend.  Look we all have our goals.

Little d had a thyroid blood workup and ultrasound related to the swollen glands (which I knew all along was the freaking sore throat) and all turned out fine.

I went to the doc and got a script for a new allergy med and it is working in conjunction with the others so blessed be I am feeling normal again!!

I am watching them play Candyland as I type.  None of them look particularly infected--so perhaps we avoided the toilet water.  Thank you baby Jesus!

Off to find something crafty to do.  Copic markers anyone?