It started with our being super busy in school with tons of activities. HG had play practice, riding lessons, and softball practice; Cress had started gymnastics at school. We were worn out from the third term of the school year, were looking forward to getting out of town for spring break, and had sent out invites to Cressey's 4th birthday party at the zoo the first weekend in April.
Things started to unravel over spring break when the Coronavirus landed in the US and started picking up steam. While we were in California, we got the news that we'd be out of school for a few additional weeks and would be starting online learning the following Wednesday.
Within the following week, Tennessee was put under a 'stay home' advisory and we could only leave home for 'essentials.' Return to school was indefinitely postponed. Our world has shrunk- both in people and in locales. It's simultaneously incredibly lonely and incredibly freeing. We've had such great quality time together, and I find that Helen Grace talks a lot more. During this weird time, we've let her start texting her classmates on her iPad, and while she was SO EXCITED, she doesn't use it as much as we expected. She likes to play Uno, ride her bike, watch tv shows with me, and help Cressey find worms. Such nice togetherness and no more stress of getting up on time, to school on time, dinner done, uniforms washed, homework done, to bed on time, etc. But we so miss our family and friends! Gosh, it's so weird to not SEE them in person anymore, although we are trying to make the best of it with FaceTime and occasional driveway visits. We dream of which restaurant we will go eat in when we are able to leave the house. And the anxiety over germs- ugh- and sadness over the loss of people in our community is so tough.
Here are some tidbits from our March, before and during our quarantine...
Cressey loved playing as
a callapitter, resting in her 'raccoon' (wrapped up in a blanket on the couch),
waiting to become a butterfly.
Cress and Spif are
playing at the barn. Cress tells Spiffer to get up on top of the hay stack.
Spiffer asks, "What if I fall?" Cress says, "Just get up there
and give it your best shot!"
"I said the right
word!" - Cress when she remembers a big word
"You helped me with
my magnet. That was very sweet of you, but you almost left Mommy!" Cress'
nice way to give a back handed compliment
March 28th- Cress was in
tears at bedtime, wanting to see her friends. "The world's all
changing"
I was wearing a black
and white striped shirt. Cress told me, "You look like a villain in that
striped shirt. I'll save you from the policemen. I really like you,
mommy."
Hugs for Addie
"Read Across America" week at school; Happy Birthday to Dr. Suess!
Ella shared her Thing 1 costume with Cressey
Lunch date with Bubba
After school fun while we wait on sissy at play practice
Grandma helped me with bedtime that night while John was out of town
HG has done lots of cross rail jumps (in an X) but not one with a straight top rail. (I'm sure there is an official name, but I dunno it.) While HG was cantering around the ring, her teacher, Erica, changed the jump so that it was a straight top rail without HG seeing it. She didn't notice until she was right on top of the jump and didn't have time to think about it. And of course, she did just fine but was SO SURPRISED! The look on her face was priceless!
Favorite Book Character Day: Cress decided at 7:20 a.m. that she wanted to be a unicorn instead of the princess she had picked out (of course, I had no unicorn book, but her sweet teacher found one for her and her school friend brought her an extra headband), and HG is Ellie from Roll With It
One day's assignment for Cressey was a pic of your family reading together, but John was in California for work. We FaceTimed him and let him be a part of the pic. Spiffer and GD took the pic.
Kisses for Daddy
"Mermaid crate" with Spiffer
GD stepped in for Cressey's bedtime piggyback ride
Brandy's cat has baby kittens!!
Why are boo boos always on her middle finger?
We went to the zoo one day when the weather was beautiful, but the whole town of Memphis was there too. We had to park in the park next door and walk over.
Ran into Margaret Grace!
She liked the new dinosaur exhibit, especially the digging part
It's hard to get HG to agree to a pic these days
The following week was the start of spring break, and we met the Coats girls at the zoo. Much colder day- enough that we had to buy HG a sweatshirt because she didn't listen to her smart mother who looked at the weather- but we had a great time visiting with them!
We had a dentist appointment that afternoon, and while Cress was very nervous, with a little pep talk, she let them clean her teeth and even laid down for Dr. B to have a look. No cavities for either girl!
Cress started singing this song while we were playing. So sweet and innocent.
Waddle like a penguin!
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