Current Vocabulary

These are some of the words our family has started using in the last week.

Social distancing – keeping at last 6 feet between each other when in public

Quarantine – keeping away from others while we are well (as far as we know) so as not to expose ourselves to getting sick

Distance learning – going to school remotely using online tools and completing all work at home

My kids haven’t left the house since Sunday morning 3/15. (We attended what we now know was the last mass we’ll be allowed to attend for an unknown amount of time.) Jake works 100% remote, so working from home isn’t a new thing for him. The Shecklets are on spring break this week, but we were told over the weekend that they will now be home (without school instruction) for another week and then they will likely be learning remotely.

The stores are empty of fresh meat, bread, rice, and in some cases, eggs. There has been a run on TP (pun intended) for over a week. Thankfully, we did have our regular stash – and it’s POM, so it’s single ply and has many sheets per roll, so it should hopefully last for at least a little while. We’re using sanitizing wipes sparingly and Jake scored a bottle of 409 disinfectant at Menards before that was also in short supply. I always keep a bottle of sanitizer in the vehicle, so again, we have some for now at least.

The news and my social media feed are filled with coronavirus news.

HBD #7 to #4! 🥳

Hard to believe this ambulance baby has been making us smile and laugh for 7 years! She brings such joy to our house.  I love her creativity, her confidence, and her love for others.

We enjoyed celebrating twice with her – once the weekend before her birthday (with family and friends) and on her actual birthday.

Overnight guests

My cousin and three of his boys stayed with us last night on their way to Green Bay for the Packers/Seahawks football game today. The fact that our kids haven’t seen each other in years didn’t phase them – they had fun playing video games and having nerf battles. Hope we can connect with them again, soon.

Christmas Day 2019

We started the day by attending Christmas Day mass. One of our friends was able to capture a great photo of us (she’s our go-to Easter picture taker, too.)

After we returned home (and changed into comfy clothes) we opened gifts.  The kids each opened their “read” gift first, then their “need” gift.

Followed by their “want” gift.

There were a few extra special gifts from Great Aunt Deb & Uncle Steve as well as Shecklet #1’s tutor, and Shecklet #2 & #4’s godparents.  Then the kids opened their “shared” gifts – things to do together or share with each other.

Lego set building lasted throughout the day.

Shecklet #4 worked on one of her craft projects from Grandma & Grandpa.

Christmas “dinner” wasn’t anything fancy.  We decided to keep it simple and just to heavy appetizers.  The kids didn’t seem to mind.  After dinner, we opened the Shecklets’ new game, Dixit, and played and laughed together.  We ended the evening by finishing the newer animated version of the Grinch.  It was a perfectly peaceful Christmas Day!

Game day times three plus a birthday

Basketball is in full swing in our house. And the games must go on (even when it’s mom’s birthday!)

Jake is took Shecklet #2 to Duluth for a tournament and we called in reinforcements (my amazing in-laws) to help shuttle the girls. My friend, Michelle came with me and my FIL to Shecklet #4’s game while my MIL and Shecklet #1 went to #3’s game.  Then afterwards, my MIL gave me the amazing gift of time to spend with Michelle going out to lunch – while she and my FIL hung out with the kids.  It was the best birthday gift a mom could receive during this stage of life!

Shecklet #2 had a cheering section of family while in Duluth – Jake’s cousin and her family for one game and my aunt and uncle for another.  It was so nice of them to take time to support Shecklet #2!

BTW- since Jake & #2 had to leave Saturday morning, we celebrated my birthday on Friday night. Chinese take-out and cake.

Generations

Back before kids, the cousins on my maternal side of the family had a string of weddings. I think we had four or five consecutive years where there was a wedding. (And there are only seven of us.) At the wedding of my cousin Troy, my aunt Alice loaned me a necklace that was my Great Aunt Frances’s. The next day I returned it to my aunt and mentioned how much I loved the piece.

She later gave it to me to keep and I now wear it often.

I’m not much for selfies (unless I am capturing one with my kids) but I sent this to my aunt today to let her know I think of her and Frances every time I wear it 💗

Together

Jake and I don’t get to capture many photos of just the two of us. We needed a recent one for our Family Formation kick-off event (so our new class knows who we are.) Shecklet #4 offered to take one of us this afternoon ❤️

Last hurrah of summer

I took three of the Shecklets things Nissedalen today while Jake stayed home and worked on the truck with the help of Shecklet #2. Between spotting tubing kids and listening to giggles as they swung in hammocks, I did get to do a little reading – not much, but a little. This place is so relaxing. I’m grateful we got to spend so many Saturdays up here during our brief summer break from school and schedules.

Summer vestibular therapy

I took the Shecklets on a bike ride (a.k.a. vestibular therapy) on this beautiful summer Saturday. (Next time we will take Jake with us. He went to his parents’ cabin to help with cleaning up from last week’s storm.)

Baby shower

My SIL, (Jake’s youngest sister,) is having her first baby. She is due in September with a little boy. The Shecklets are excited to have a new cousin 💙

I found a photo from the baby shower that Jake’s sisters threw me a little over 13 years ago…amazing how much happens in a little over a decade.