If you'd like the read part 1 of this post click here. The beginning of that post has a covid disclaimer that might be helpful to read to understand my choices through this season. The second part of Spring 2020 was not quite as difficult as the first, but it was still tough to deal with the lockdown, the newness of having to wear a mask everywhere and all the polarizing opinions. We did start to find our groove through the covid quarantine days and still had a lot of fun and made some great memories.
Thank goodness Covid couldn't stop us from enjoying Easter in our backyard like always! We were still a little sad about our other Easter events being canceled like our Little Hearts Easter party and the Eggstravaganza at Bear Branch park. We didn't let it ruin the fun though! My mom had given us some confetti eggs. It was their first time experiencing them and they loved it! Perfect for extending our holiday a little longer since we couldn't go anywhere else. They had a blast hunting eggs, eating candy and pouring confetti on each other. It was a great holiday.
2 weeks to flatten the curve was the longest 2 weeks I've ever experienced... ;) maybe cuz it wasn't two weeks at all! But I knew that already. I have a very basic idea of how viruses work and from that I knew that two weeks wouldn't flatten anything. It'd have to be more like a year or more. Anyway, we made the most of it! We followed Rowland Ballard's gymnastics and work outs at home in our living room and any other at home online activities we could find. We had play dates switching off houses with our quarantine friends, The Combs. We did a lot of swimming at Marmee and Pappaw's house too. Anything to fill the time when we couldn't go almost anywhere. I thought I would get more organizing and cleaning done since we were home all the time but I think the house was in a worse state after the month lockdown because the house never had a break from us being in it. Haha!
One thing I did get done around the house during lockdown was start giving away the baby equipment that Flynn was already growing out of. I had made a plan to meet an old friend at Deussen park to give her my Moby wrap. I asked the Combs if they wanted to come along and go for a walk with us while we were there. My friend ended up not being able to make it but we were already on the way, so we still went to have something to do and have some time with our good friends. It was a nice walk and the kids loved making it to the water. I do remember finding out Flynn hates wind! He cried a good amount even though I was walking and wearing him in the carrier which usually soothes him. But we made it and had a great time.
If you know anything about homeschoolers you should know we don't really stay home much! We've got events almost everyday. That being said lockdown was a big change for us. We were getting stir crazy! So when the Combs invited us for the day to the beach house they were staying at we jumped all over it! I asked my mom if she could come with me since 4 kids at the beach is a lot and she said, "YES! Let's do it!" It was a great day! The kids had a blast playing with their friends and in the sand and waves. Flynn did even better than I expected since he didn't like the wind. Must be something about the beach that calms him enough to stand the windiness. So glad we went. It was good for the soul! Mental health is important too!
It always seems to be around the end of April that the kids beg for me to pull out the kiddie pool. The water is still a bit chilly but they love it anyway! I love those big smiles! Xan had been going to sleep voluntarily while still awake in her crib for months so I figured she was ready for the switch to a big kid bed. She did amazing!! Smoothest transfer of all the kids so far. Look at how proud she is of her new bed! I couldn't leave out that picture with Alexandria and her shadow. When she discovered her shadow she was in love! She would exclaim with joy, wave and talk to it every time she saw it. Even a year later she still is tickled by seeing her shadow sometimes. My own little Peter Pan. <3
The whole thing about cats and dogs not getting along easily apparently doesn't always apply to animals who live together. Of course most dogs are naturally overly friendly and cats are naturally suspicious of everything so that can create some issues sometimes. But not for these two. It only took a few days for them to get acclimated and then the cuddles began. So much sweetness! Yeah, I'd say Milo is working out.
We were very blessed to have two jobs that were unaffected by Covid by this point so when the first stimulus came in it was extra money for us. Even though saving it was the safer option, we wanted to use the stimulus as it was intended, to stimulate the economy instead of just saving it. We had needed a new A/C for years. In the summer our old A/C could not handle the Texas summer heat on a sunny day and could only cool to 81 degrees or so. We were so ready for a cool house in the summer! With the stimulus we were finally able to afford it. We have a local company we love and used them. If you need A/C help look up Kingwood Air Solutions. I usually have a hard time spending money on big purchases and can have regrets. But this one was an easy decision and I definitely do not regret this purchase!!
As soon as the calendar turned over to May and the super strict lockdown orders were lifted we went back to the park! A month with no park day was the longest break we've had from the park since we started going to park day when Jane was 2. It was sooooo nice to be back even though it was already starting to get hot. I'm still sore that they took my perfect April park days away from me. The first week in May we just went with the Combs to scope out the situation and see if anyone would bother us playing at the park. Thankfully there were other families there as well, so we weren't the only ones needing to get out with their kids. No one bothered us at all. Such a relief!
In May we also started to have playdates again with more than just our one set of quarantine friends. Our first get together was a swim date with our friends the McNairs. We had missed them! Goodness, we had missed everyone! ;) It was sooo good to get together. Look at the smile on Jane's face. My super social extravert had not enjoyed the lockdown one bit. She was so happy to see her friends again. Atlas and Xan were too but Jane was definitely the most overjoyed that we could start doing things and seeing people again. Me too girl, me too!
As a tribute to healthcare workers everywhere the Blue Angels were scheduled to fly over the Houston medical buildings. So we headed out and picked a spot to watch them next to the highway. One of the pilots grew up in Kingwood which was cool! It was a fast fly over but super fun to watch. I remember watching them from a beach in Florida when I was a kid and loved it. My kids were no different watching this fly over. They were all about it. Maybe one day I'll have to take them to a real air show! :)
Can I be real honest? I do NOT like Mother's day. It gets in my head. The American culture says "This is your day off. You shouldn't have to deal with anything for this day." I hate that if I'm not careful that feeling will come up in my head, "I should get to sleep in or have a break from the kids today." Don't get me wrong I love sleeping in and getting a break from time to time. But to say that it HAS to happen on this one day of the year is what I don't like. So I intentionally treat the day like any other day! The only thing I do on Mother's day is a little questionnaire with each kid. I love to see their answers. And that is the only gift I need! I appreciate the spontaneous breaks my mom gifts to me throughout the year just to help me out and spend time with the kids. Sweet notes and hugs that come out of the sincerity of my kids hearts are much more special than them feeling like they have to because the calendar says so.
Oh my goodness, look at that adorable little boy! Flynn is 5 months old here and had just learned to sit up and roll. He was my earliest steady sitter I think and my latest roller. He does things his own way! He became much less fussy once he could sit up and had a little bit of mobility. Look at how excited he is to be sitting! I still can't believe he's my last baby. But I'm also really excited that he's my last baby! :D
After a couple weeks of going to the park with just a couple of friends and not having any issues, I decided to move forward and officially get Heart Park Day back up and running. I talked to the Heart president and we got the Heart board's permission to put it back on the calendar. So we started group park day back in the middle of May. I was too scared to bring my park day sign for months because I was afraid people would call the HOA and complain about a group being at the park or something. I was paranoid because of how ugly people were acting on social media about others not strictly staying home. I guess no one was comfortable to say it to my face. Again I am all for everyone making their own decisions and respecting others. I really pray people will learn how to be kinder online.
After months of Jane practicing and practicing her hip circle skill on the bar she finally got it!! It was so rewarding for her. Once she got it she did it over and over and over. It was her favorite gymnastics skill for sure! I felt like I really got to be a part of her finally mastering the skill since she did it at home while classes were still not able to be held. I was so proud of her! Yay Jane!!
My friend Melody recommended a kids drawing channel on Youtube as a great introduction to drawing for Jane. I thought it would be perfect to add to our homeschool day as Art class. So I starting drawing along with her to help her figure out how to make the strokes to get her picture to look how she wanted. Well little did I know this was the beginning of a new passion/hobby for me!! Jane likes drawing well enough but gets frustrated very quickly if it doesn't end up looking just how she wants. I was the same way growing up and my brother was so much better than me without trying that I figured I'd never be any good and I gave up. But what I found out after drawing with Jane is that I'm not a lost cause! I finally have the patience and determination I need to truly learn to draw and really enjoy it! I drew Kirby on the game case because Atlas still couldn't read to figure out which game it was. It was one of my first drawings that I drew without following along with instructions. It's simple but it was a big deal for me! A childhood dream was coming true! I will add more drawings in future blog posts. :)
Jane is 6!! And yes, we had a birthday party for her! It wasn't big and no one got sick I promise. The weather tried to ruin the day though! The forecast was super unpredictable with spotty thunderstorms everywhere. I was determined to keep the party happening that day. It was on her actual birthday. We had a back up plan of a dress up dance party inside if the weather was too bad to swim. Thankfully we had a break in the weather just long enough to swim! The kids got to swim for about an hour before the rain started coming in. We moved everyone to the garage for cake and presents. Flynn made it through cake and one present before he started screaming. I tried to nurse him there in the garage but he wouldn't calm down. The noise echoing in there was too much for him. Eventually I had to move inside the house where it was quiet and he finally stopped screaming. But I missed all of the presents and saying goodbye to most of our guests since they ran through the pouring rain to their cars from the garage before the weather got any worse. BUT! The party happened! And Jane had an absolute blast, that's all that matters. Happy 6th Birthday Jane!!
Thank goodness spring 2020 was over! Little did I know covid would continue to disturb our lives for over a year. But at least the initial shock and crazy lockdown was over! Here's to brighter days.
Romans 8:25-28
But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
