This week we started off Monday with school assignments for both and a juicy farmers market carrot a snack. For Art, I designed and created a negative space mural with tape and the kids colored it in. It turned out pretty cool! Tuesday Alex had his class Google Meet while Brooke did her coursework. Everyone practiced handwriting as a resource and afterwards we went on a walk and I found a four leaf clover. For Ballet class Brooke had to come with crazy hair so she picked many ponytails. Alex helped me make dinner and we enjoyed tacos for Cinco de Mayo. Wednesday we had brunch for dinner, yum! Thursday the kids dressed themselves up (they dress themselves everyday), and we played soccer for PE. When AJ got home they all had a pillow fight! Friday I made another fun plan for PE. Three games for 10 minutes a piece: dodge ball, hide-and-seek, and tag.  After that, we completed coursework outside and AJ joined us on his work call. Saturday was mid-fifties and sunny so I took the kids to First Landing State Park for some much needed hiking!  We enjoyed finding a new path and getting lost trekking through the woods before we had a picnic lunch on the creek’s sandy bank. After finishing our hike, we went to the bay side to see the Chesapeake Bay.  It was really windy and there were even some small waves. AJ finished the deck while we were gone and it is amazing!  He did such a great job with the whole thing! We ended the evening with a fire and s’mores of course! Today (Sunday and also the 58th day of our quarantine) is mother’s day and after receiving my cards and gifts, I relaxed while AJ and the kiddos picked up Taste for lunch. We had a delicious picnic followed by a nice long walk around the neighborhood. AJ got me beautiful mother’s day flowers. I read in the hammock, and then made a delicious afternoon snack.  AJ kept the kids busy by building boats and they we went to water test them. Afterwards he grilled me a delicious salmon dinner! Happy Mother’s Day to me!

This week started off with the kids being creative while I ate breakfast; Alex building and Brooke painting. They had PE with Daddy playing some basketball. For Resource we did baking and made homemade cinnamon rolls. Alex accidentally put the mixer too high and I was the main recipient of the flung flour. I had ‘tea’ with my friend, Chelsea, from a very safe distance, sitting in our respective hatches. AJ made the kids balloon shapes while I was gone and since dinner wasn’t working, we ordered pizza (for the first time in seven weeks!). Tuesday I finished making a few masks for those who needed them. Brooke and Alex played on Brooke’s ‘zip-line’ that I helped her assemble during Recess and she invited us to ‘roast’ marshmallows over her fire. She had her ballet Zoom class that afternoon, and her instructor had very specific instructions on their wardrobe for class. After dinner, AJ made us a real fire and we all ate s’mores. Wednesday was warm enough to have class and lunch outside.  That night the kids wanted to do puzzles. Thursday rained all day- so no pictures. Friday we went on a hike before it rained again, and made some teacher appreciations pictures to email to their teachers. When it finally stopped pouring, we did some puddle jumping and Brooke choreographed a dance for me to do with her and then we videoed it from the curb. Saturday Alex wanted Panera and since we loosed the self imposed band on takeout, we all enjoyed it for lunch. Sunday was gorgeous and we had a picnic lunch in the backyard before heading to the beach for a late afternoon walk.

We started off the week getting some wiggles out with GoNoodle because it was a rainy dreary Monday. Brooke wanted to do Frozen yoga, but Alex wanted to lift weights for PE. After Math we did Art outside drawing on our front porch. Tuesday I voted by absentee ballot then we had class. We went on a 4.75 bike ride for PE. After school the kids made a house on the front porch. Wednesday Brooke completed her daily online assignments for school and Alex had his weekly reading session with Ms. Soles. He completed his online writing assignment too. PE was taught by Coach Daddy and was soccer. Before he went to work, I cut AJ’s hair and I have to say I did a pretty good job. Cutting Alex’s hair twice already gave me lots of practice. We had Music outside and then relaxed in our beautiful backyard as it was the perfect spring day. Alex got up close and personal with our baby bunny and Brooke did my hair. Thursday for PE we did tabata before going on a long family walk. The kids did a science class on the computer learning about animal behaviors and got to play along. For Friday’s PE I set up a field day with races, an egg walk, three legged race, and tug-o-war. AJ joined in and made it even more fun. That afternoon we went on a hike to get out of the house. Saturday Brooke made brunch in the playroom fort and we ate that before I made second brunch of waffles and fruit. Sunday we went on another long bike ride after cleaning the entire house and AJ came home from his second 12-hour shift just in time for bedtime snuggles.

This week was supposed to be our spring break and so I took the week off homeschooling the kids. Monday was my birthday and we spent it at home. AJ made me delicious donuts for breakfast and then I opened my presents. My friend, April, brought flowers to my door and I got to shout/talk to her from 15 feet away for a little bit. Then AJ and the kids washed my car while I relaxed. AJ made me Chinese food and lava cake since we couldn’t go to Dim Sum; it was perfect. I read the kids to sleep, and AJ and I relaxed with each other. Wednesday we had mulch delivered and went on a hike. A woman on the trail told us about a back portion we hadn’t been on, and we explored it until it dead ended.  Thursday was mulch day and we spent it making our yard look beautiful. Afterwards we relaxed next to the fire with s’mores while the kids did horse races. Everyone took a shower to clean off the smoke smell. Friday Alex got up early with me and we did the dishes before working on some trial assignments from Ms. Soles in preparation for online lessons next week. The kids played in the playhouse and I put my hammock up. I made strawberry daiquiris and pulled AJ away from work for ten minutes to drink them and listen to steel drum music. After dinner we all played a family game of croquet. Saturday we went on a 4.9 mile bike ride to see horses and then back home to complete Alex’s homework from school. Since he read enough with his class for the read-a-thon they did before the school closure, she assigned that each of her students watch a movie with their family since they couldn’t do it in class.  We watched Annie and had popcorn. Sunday the new tank for Ollie arrived and he seems to be enjoying his new space. I asked if anyone wanted to walk along the beach with me (still open for exercising) and everyone said “no”.  While I walked 3.6 miles along the coast, they played in the playhouse and had a pretend fire.