More Covid Activities April 29, 2020

The two favorite activities for a very long time was drawing with chalk and riding bike.  I loved both of them because it kept the kids outside and active.

Here is a lovely picture of a panda and a monkey that remained on our driveway for quite some time.

And here Grace is with her battle scars of a bike wreck that she had.  Bandages on her elbow, stomach, and her knee.  I guess all fun things have down sides too.

 

The Playroom April 25, 2020

Just a picture of our playroom at the house on Sparrow Court.  Mainly so that we can look back and always remember.
 

School At Home April 15, 2020

The Covid 19 pandemic has swept through our world, country, state, town, and schools.  So the schools went to lessons in packets and also some lessons online.

As I mentioned before, I kept the kids working through old textbooks that I got from Eamon, Shannon, Austin, and Adam.  We also did all of the activities in Glen's Cub Scout handbook and started in on Grace's.  We also did all of the work packets that the teachers sent (even those that were just extra work).

 But even with all of that work, there was a lot of time to go out and have fun.  We had many bike rides around the neighborhood and also at the elementary school parking lots.  It was nice to get out and have some way to get our energy out.

It was not how I wanted Grace's 4th grade and Glen's 2nd grade year to end, but it was nice to see the kids more and to work with them.

At Home Learning March 23, 2020

 It was quite a shock to all of us when we were told that we would not be going back into the schools and we had to start teaching either through packets or on the computer.  So I was at home doing what I could with my students in middle school while also teaching or trying to continue the learning of Grace and Glen.

One of the activities we did a lot of was we went through Glen's cub scout book and did the activities in there.  It was everything from making your own kite, doing paper airplane contests, taking a walk to see what kinds of rock you can find.  And this activity, the kids made up their own dinosaur and also the environment that they would live in.  Glen finished every activity in his book that year, and we had fun doing them all.

In addition to the cub scout book I was glad that I kept all of the old, partially used text books from Eamon, Shannon, Austin and Adam.  I was able to have a workbook for math, English, social studies, science, and handwriting for the appropriate grades for Glen and Grace.  We kept busy and we kept learning.

It was not easy, but we did it and it turned out well.

Driveway Drawings March 21, 2020

 

We were at home and not seeing many people during the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic.  It was a beautiful surprise to see that one of Grace's friends (Andrew) while on a walk stopped by our house to draw pictures for her since he could not see her in person.  It was nice to see how people showed that they cared, even if you could not see that person face to face.

Covid 19 Pandemic

 Today is Tuesday, April 28, 2020.

- In Virginia, we are on day 42 of social isolation/quarantine. In the US alone, there are just under 1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases with 55,000+ deaths as of this morning.

- Schools have been closed here since March 17th and we are teaching remotely, “Distance Learning.” Schools will not reopen for the 2019-2020 school year.

- Only “essential” retail stores are open such as grocery stores, hardware stores, and pharmacies. Amazon delivery windows average 3 - 4 weeks on certain items, when they used to be max, 2 days. No gyms are open, and it’s almost impossible to find weights, exercise equipment, bikes, etc.

- All extra curricular/volunteer/business  meeting and other gatherings are now on virtual meeting platforms i.e.(Google Meet, Zoom, House Party, Go to Meeting, Whatsap, Webex, Google Duo) the list goes on. Hang in there, life will continue and eventually, all together, we will get to a new normal!

- There are lines / tape inside the stores on the floors to keep people 6 feet apart.

- Bars and restaurants are open only for takeout, home delivery & drive through.

- Playgrounds and sports fields are closed. Most beaches, parks and cemeteries are closed to the public. No visitors are allowed in hospitals.

- All major and minor league sports competitions have been canceled as well as kids' sports. The NFL draft was done virtually this week. It was special.

- American Idol was done virtually this week.

- All festivals and entertainment events have been banned.

- Weddings, family celebrations, and graduations have been canceled. Funerals limited to 10 people graveside.

- People are doing drive-by parades to celebrate birthdays.

- Young kids can’t understand why they can only see grandparents & other extended family and friends on a screen or thru a window if someone visits in person or on Facetime online.

- Visitors are prohibited at nursing homes and assisted living residences. But Hot Spots are popping up all over in these places.

- Hugs and kisses are not exchanged.

- Places of worship are closed or online.

- We have to stay away from each other more than six feet.

- Shortage of disposable masks and gloves in hospitals.

- People are wearing masks, some places REQUIRE that you wear them to enter! People are even sewing their own cloth masks for sale or donation to medical facilities. Illinois announced that as of May 1st, face coverings are required in public over the age of 2 where social distancing cannot be maintained.

- Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, bleach, antibacterial wipes, and anything Lysol or Clorox is in short supply and limited per person.... IF you can even find them! (This goes the same for flour and yeast).

- Stores are closing early to disinfect everything. (24 hour stores are even closing by 8 or 9pm)

- Store check outs, pharmacies, and even fast food drive thru windows have added plexiglass between the employee and the customer. Have to reach around or under to pay!

- You can't find isopropyl alcohol easily. .. the supply per person is limited.

- Australia, USA, Canada, and Europe have closed their borders.

- Western Australia has been divided into 9 territories & an instant $1,500 fine issued for crossing the border without a valid reason. (Transport workers, Essential services etc)

- No one is traveling for leisure. Airports empty. Tourism has the worst crisis in history.

- Wi-Fi and cell phone providers have extended their limits to provide connection to the Internet for people to continue to work from home and for students to learn from their teachers.

- Many public pool access, concerts, and summer activities will not be allowed/take place.

- We don't know if baseball seasons will start, hockey season will continue/end, or any summer camps, etc. will run. Lots of teen/college summer jobs are up in the air.

- Colleges have not made definite decisions about whether to take their classes online, in person, or open at all for the fall.

- K-12 has ended their in-person school year and plans to open for the fall have so many unknowns, social distancing, new guidelines for keeping everyone safe. How will it be scheduled? Can sports and activities continue as they have?

- Society appears to be divided about whether or not we should continue to isolate or open back up and get the economy going. It's an election year and politics are messy and complicating this issue.

Why do I post this?

Next year & then every year after, this status will appear in my Facebook memories feed. And it will be an annual reminder that life is precious & that nothing should be taken for granted. We are where we are with what we have. Let's be grateful.

Spring of 2020

Grace had the honor of displaying items again for the Highland Retreat Auction.  Glen had the chance, but he did not want to hold things up for people to see.  I am glad that Grace enjoys this type of thing and has the chances to do it.

Here is just a cute picture of Grace reading a book to Carol's dog.

 

March 5, 2020 School Performance

In March the 4th graders had their music performance.  Grace and her good friend Andrew were some of the student announcers who introduced the music and told a little about each song.

Grace sang with her class, she also played a song on her recorder.

In addition to all of that she also played rhythm with drum sticks on the floor for a song.  It seemed like she was all over the place, doing everything during this performance.  But she was enjoying it all!
 

1/30/2020 Tea Party

Grace is in girl's club at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church.  And one of the special events that they do each year is that they hold a tea party for the girls and some of the women in their lives.  So this year Grace took me (mom) and Grandma Sue. 

We took our tea pot, special tea cups, hats, and scarves.  There were snacks and tea for us to enjoy.

It was a really fun event to participate in and share with Grandma Sue, I think we will have many more special events with her now that she is living close to us.

 

1/25/2020 Pinewood Derby

 We had another pinewood derby with the Boy Scouts.  Grace made an arrow and Glen made a flaming race car.  We won a few heats, but we did not place in the derby as a whole.  However the kids had a great time making their cars and decorating.  Each time we do the pinewood derby we learn some new things, maybe next time we will do better.