In the times of the Rona

  As we are living thru this historic time, I have been thinking about documenting what my little corner of the world has been going through.   Just so my kids can look back on this and remember. We entered March thinking we were going to have a very busy spring, as most do with little kids. The end of the school year is always fast and filled with lots of projects and final concepts to learn. Cooper was going to play in two flag football leagues and Lauren working hard in her gymnastic classes to improve her skills. Cooper was also in the final weeks at his elementary school before entering middle school, with many of his classmates going elsewhere, so it was a very interesting transition time.  I also work at the school, so my job was also up in the air.

Crazy Hair day at school - Mr Cruger did a great job of keeping us connected

 

   School was sent into home learning on March 13. Sadly Cooper never got to go back to Superior Elementary.  The teachers made herculean efforts to complete the year as best as we could, but it was HARD. Lauren is not self-motivated in her school work, so my days were filled with "What are you doing?", "Have you finished that yet?", "Do you need any help?"(with NO, sometimes yelled, being the answer always). Cooper being the nerd, was always on task, but being an 11 year old boy, was always finding ways to cut corners."I already know that" being the response I got when I asked if he completed things.
   My job became mostly to keep my two students on task and learning, but I also did run several groups with the 1st and 2nd graders. Not lessons, but more just checking in, and allowing them to talk to friends, and keep in touch. I was able to help at the end of the year, by helping pack up and pass out the work that had been left at school that last day back in March.

  

 Lots of reading

 Thankfully once school was out, Cooper was able to go back to  Boulder Junior Cycling mountain biking and Lauren's swim team started training again. Sadly no races were allowed, but we were in the pool. Our local community pool opened on a limited capacity and mandatory reservation basis, and Joel has been diligent in signing up for times. Hiking and biking are still happening and we try to get out when we can. We also have been baking cookies and cakes, making summer clothes tighter.

     I must confess that I have not been the best at, as I tell my son "embracing the suck".  I have dealt with my issues, but I must say that I have been angry a lot. I feel as though I have lost so much of my life, and all that my kids lost is what makes me the most angry. I pray( and believe me I have prayed A LOT) that in a few more months this will all just be a memory and we can move forward to the full lives that I want for myself, but mostly my kids. Thankfully we are still blessed to live in a wonderful country and one of the most beautiful places. Here is the pictures of survival mode we have been in the last few months.

Cooper was supposed to sing the National Anthem at a Rockies Game -(note we had to finally order hair clippers from Amazon to get rid of that mop)

This was a school project - not quite sure what we were going for, but Lauren liked it,

Hiking helped keep us sane (or at least more sanity than we would have otherwise)

Obi was glad we were home, but not really happy to share the couch

On pretty days we would do our homework on the deck.

More of Obi helping

Still made time for last day of school pictures

I feel like I have aged 2 years in the last few months - and with lots of baking, maybe added lbs

Handsome Joel still looks the same

The 5th grade parade, which made me SO grateful for our amazing community. Tons of people came out to cheer on the kids as we drove through the neighborhood

  We are not out of the woods,  but I see glimmers of hope. School has not officially been called, but we keep praying and our hopes are up that we will be back together in the fall. We are headed out to Idaho next week, and hope to have a great time hiking, biking and playing in some mountain lakes.