Weekend

We actually did something!

Saturday we decided to get out of the house for the day... we headed to Grandma Janis' farm, and it was wonderful.  We so needed it. 

We got down there mid-morning, and just enjoyed the perfect weather, fresh air and seeing Grandma.  Mike and JeanAnn joined us too, which was nice to see them.  We grilled for lunch, and the kids rode the 4-wheeler off and on for hours!  Kayson is a little pro at that thing.  Ryan and Mike mowed, which I know Ryan enjoyed.  It was just a great little day. 

Once we were ready to go, we stopped into Creston and saw Joni, Colby and Jenna...  again, great to see them for a little bit.  Joni is moving into a townhome soon, which is good for her (won't have to take care of that ginormous yard!!), but is sad that she's moving on from the home her and Bill shared.  It's just not the same without him. 

Anyway, it was a late night getting home, but that's ok...  we all needed to get away and have some normalcy.  Good for the soul.

Friday afternoon, Brittlyn came over and spent an hour or so with Cora doing some dance stuff... just 'playing' around a little - making up a dance and just giving me some time away from Cora!  It was great.  :)

Ready for the ride!

They liked each other all day.  It was amazing.

Drove by Great Great Grandma Ann's house

It was a perfect day, and a perfect place for us.

Work from Home/No School/COVID-19 - Week 4

I've officially lost count of how many days we've been doing this (and I think we are on week 4!?)...  it's been a long time in my eyes, and I'm tired!

This week we tried something different.  We put the kids in the basement.  I was finding that it just wasn't working to have them both at the dining room table WITH me...  attempting to work, hearing them bicker at each other and them asking me 1,000 questions.

Monday - the basement went well.  They did pretty good.  Kayson didn't have a ton to do, but he knew I was irritated with Cora, so he did well for me.  Cora got frustrated right away (as she typically does).  She gets irritated with one of the apps, and cries and completely gives up.  So I had to sit with her a little... then it was ok.  I'm finding they both just are not motivated.  And that's hard to force them... but I also need them to understand that they are still in school, just at home.  It's hard.

Tuesday was ok too...  they needed more from me, but honestly - it was interesting stuff, so I didn't mind. However, my work stuff got behind, so I had to work super hard that afternoon to get caught up.

We took a long lunch one day too - picnic lunch in the back of the car!  We went to the school park, and ate, and the kids ran with Boomer, which was great. 

Love this!

Weekend

Our weekend was just another weekend!  ha. 
The weather was half decent, starting to warm up a little... so I feel we were outside a lot, which was good. 

Sunday afternoon we actually had Showalter's over...  hung in the garage, talked (6 feet apart), and just hung out. We totally needed some normalcy.

Boomer ALWAYS grabs a stick when we walk!

New lights outside!

We did our makeup and hair on Sunday.  :)

Still practicing and praying we get to play soon!

It's official - School is cancelled for the rest of the year

The Governor of Iowa announced this morning that school will not resume this Spring.  

We will continue with online learning through the end of May/early June. 
My 5th grader will miss all the amazing fun things of his last elementary year. 
The kids will continue to miss their friend and teachers... and miss out on amazing opportunities and field trips and memories that ONLY school can provide.  (and no, I can't provide amazing memories for them!!)

I'm an emotional roller coaster.  I'm exhausted. I am not a teacher.  I'm not a stay home mom. I'm not a teacher, stay home mom AND a working mom too.  It's hard.  It's been hard for 3+ weeks... and it will continue to be difficult.  Yes, we'll have good days, but I'm being realistic and it's going to continue to be hard on all of us. 

I asked the kids how they felt - they were sad.  Kayson was mad.  (He's been mad for a week now - as it's all catching up to him).  Cora misses her friends. 

Some things will have to change on how we handle our days going forward.  Starting next week, I have to have a better routine - I have to have kids listen to me the first time, so they can get their stuff done first, then fun.  I have to work too.  I have phone calls.  The kids have to learn to do stuff on their own (my bad, I've always done stuff for them... and I have to stop). 

Lots of prayers happening today...  lots of deep breaths too. 

Boomer - Ear Infections

Well, Boomer officially costs a lot of money.  :(
So, at his grooming appointment - the groomer removed a TON of hair and gunk from his ears.  Understandable, but stinks too.  She suggested getting into the vet.

So...  we went to the vet.
And results are two ear infections... full of bacteria and yeast.  Poor guy.

So... we have meds, and hope to see improvement in a few days.  Unfortunately, with a cocker spaniel/poodle mix, he will probably have bad ears.  Makes me sad, and just know that we have to really keep on top of taking care of his ears and getting him into the groomer.

Boomer's 1st Haircut!

Boomer's hair has been LONG, in his eyes, messy...  just not looking good.  We had an appointment with Stylin' Paws up the street, but they have been closed due to the coronavirus.  So our next option was spending a fortune on a mobile pet groomer to come to house.  So we did... 

It was an interesting experience.  
So the lady came and took Boomer to their 'truck', and about an hour and a half later, she came back with him and explained that he was scared and she didn't cut his hair.  :(  She had done his ears, face, tummy and bottom (along with a good bath, etc.), but no cut around his body.  I said 'ok' and she was off...  but shortly after, I felt that I shouldn't have paid the full amount.  So I called the owner and talked with her.  I just didn't feel comfortable with it...

The owner was going to send the gal back in a couple hours to see if she could try it again...  
And she did and was able to cut Boomer.  And it's short!  I'm not 100% thrilled with it, but he smells better, he's SUPER soft and he's still cute... but I think we like the 'longer' look.  

Regardless, it's done, and we will continue with some sort of hair trim going forward...  but this was a good start. 

Some before... during... and after pics.

BEFORE - super shaggy, couldn't see his eyes

After just getting his eyes/face done...  body still shaggy, but blown out, which was super soft!

AFTER - better, but he doesn't look like the same dog!!!

Here's another pic...  just showing the difference.  He looks skinny now!!

Easter 2020

Another weekend has passed... with nothing planned, and unfortunately not able to see our families for Easter.  I woke just fine Easter Sunday, but as the morning went by - Kayson was 'off' and I shortly became a mess.  I cried and cried... nothing seemed to be going right, and I was just missing my family, missing being at church (instead of listening to it over the computer) and just sad.  I felt deflated... just like I couldn't make anything go correctly.  I was bummed. 

We did have a very nice lunch, so that was good...  and then we did a small Easter egg hung inside (because it was about 28 degrees outside and windy, snowy, thunderstorms... mess!!) 

We tried to stay busy, but it didn't work all that well... again, just an off day.  I felt bad, and felt tired.

It was a fun day for camo!

Kayson met with his classmates Friday - he smiled and smiled!

Puzzles!

Cora made us matching bracelets for Easter

Super fun and cute Tie-Dye pjs!!