It's a dog's life

The kids, Dave, and I might be getting a little sick of all this time spent at home, 

but the dogs love having us all around..

Her ball...

We even had an extra dog stop by for some love.

Decorating windows

There's a Facebook Page called Heart Hunters. People all over the country (and some of the rest of the world) are hanging hearts in their windows for others to see and brighten people's days during the lock down.

On April 5, Anna and I made this rainbow out of hearts.

We took down our Easter stained glass window and put up a puppy made of little hearts on April 21. Riley was an excellent model for Kate, Ally, and me.

Later that day, for Earth Day, Ally painted a globe that I outlined and the next day, Luke helped her add some coronavirus attacking the world while the hearts protected it.

Then Monday, Kate, Luke, and Ally painted this.

Although it didn't have hearts, I also made this sign I thought was funny.

Junkfood quarantine

We've been eating more sweets during this quarantine than usual. Sometimes because people have brought us treats, sometimes because we're baking for something to do, sometimes because a bike ride for reduced price Easter candy was something to do, and sometimes just because a treat is something to add a special element to a mundane day.

Yesterday, Ally, after having another day of multiple treats, asked me, "Mommy, can you not let me have any treats tomorrow?"

I smiled, "I think you're asking that because you know all the treats aren't very good for you, right?"

She agreed, but then started to backpedal, "But, it is Corona time, so..."

Ally helping get some onions planted

A run to the grocery store... very exciting.

Nefarious Home Depot plot

Dave took Luke along with him Home Depot to get something.

When they got there, they tried to go in a set of doors, but were told that those doors were only an exit now. After they turned around to go in the other set of doors, Luke joked with Dave. "You were trying to sneak in, weren't you?"

Dave laughed and said Luke figured out his scam.

Luke continued, "I can help you. Let's go back. I'll distract the guard. I'll say, 'So, have you tried the new Coke?'"

Drive-By Hellos

Kate and Anna were feeling really down last night. Their friends dropped off some library books they'd borrowed before the quarantine, but didn't even wave from the car. The girls were saying how they really wanted to just see their friends, even if they couldn't hug them or even go near them, just see them in person.

I made up a kind of silly plan.

This morning, I went and bought some candy. Then, after they finished their schooling, the kids made some signs.

We packed up the candy, signs, and some streamers and tape. Then we drove over to each of their friends' houses, parked a block away, taped their friend's favorite color streamers to the car, and drove back and forth in front of their house until their friends would see us. Then the kids held up the signs, shouted, waved, and tossed candy. (And Ally also tossed toilet paper, since she loved doing that for Opa).

I thought it was kind of a flop, but the kids all said it was the amazing! It was nice to let them do a little something fun "with" their friends!

Scientists at work

Luke got a package dropped off at the door. It was very secretive so we weren't supposed to know, but he finally let me see. It was from his friend Ben and it contained a small jar labeled "Covid 19 antidte" along with a letter giving instructions. It made Luke's day. He began to try to replicate it for mass production and texted his friend to let him know he was close to the solution.

You can see the original jar that was delivered on the bottom left

Opa's quarantine birthday

Poor Opa. He and Oma can't go anywhere, even for groceries, since they're high risk. Opa has diabetes, Oma has asthma, and they're both over 65.

Opa had his birthday on April 12, Easter Sunday, so I texted J.J., picked up Opa's favorite treat at Dairy Queen (which was surprisingly open during the quarantine and on Easter) and we did a mini-birthday-parade! Ally even tossed out some precious toilet paper!

Unhappy client

Luke's hair wasn't that terribly shaggy yet, but with who-know-how-long to go, I figured I'd be proactive and at least trim his sides.

He was very skeptical asking me to please wait until he can go back to his stylist Ritchie.

And, he was right to be skeptical.

Ally's plan for the future

Ally told me this morning, "Do you want to hear my plan for my future? I’m not going to marry anyone, because I hate mushy-mushy love. I’m going to have one son or daughter, and I’m going to have millions of dogs. But, I’m going to be a scientist, so I’ll have a maid to pick up their poop."

The family who...

The family who 

takes their temperatures to report to the health department 

together 

stays together.

We had to monitor our temperatures
and any possible symptoms of Coronavirus
for 14 days after Dave's positive test.

Dave started feeling a little sick when we were at the cottage on Saturday, March 21. We thought he was coming down with a cold. Sunday, he seemed worse, and we assumed he'd caught RSV from a patient. We came home from the cottage early because he figured with the pandemic he'd have to alert his hospital system he had some cold-like symptoms. That afternoon he took a nap. I called a friend and told her I was worried because Dave never naps, so he was either really sick or he was depressed.  Dave had to stay home from work and get a coronavirus test to rule that out. He could return once the test came back.

I started feeling sick on Wednesday, and figured I'd caught Dave's RSV. That night we learned that a friend of ours was hospitalized with Coronavirus. I offered to bring her family dinner the next day.

The next morning, I was in the kitchen with the kids when Dave texted from the basement. "My coronavirus test was positive." I thought he was joking until he told me he was on the phone with the health department.

Dave and I were both run down for about 12 days. I had one of the worst headaches of my life, some body aches, and my lungs got pretty weak. But, overall, we both made it through a lot better than many people.

I'm exhausted

Remote schooling today.

2 for 4.

Two working. 

One having to lay all his work out to dry after he left it on the porch last night. 

The last one expressing her emotions in dominoes. 

Remote schooling case of the Mondays

The morning started out rough. A few of the kids were sad that Dave was going back to work. A few were mad that they had more school work to do. A few were intensely missing friends. (A couple were all three.) 

We whipped up some sidewalk paint and went to work thinking of all that we have to be thankful for. And it's a lot. 

Between the good thoughts and the sunshine, the day seems to be turning around.