Week 6: Lethargy

The rain is back after a couple sunny days.  It's in the low 50s and we spent most of the week and weekend inside.  On Sunday, in between rainy weather, I cut both boys' and Marty's hair.

I left the house only once, to pick up groceries and takeout char siu (Chinese BBQ) for us, Ixi's family and the Parkers.  It was fortunate I left on Wednesday, because I got to see this sign in our front yard! Hayden's 5th grade teachers stopped by every house to leave us a "We miss you" sign.

One Tuesday, I tried to make dalgona for the 3rd time.  This time, I managed to get pretty close to the photos on NYT.  I dropped off a coffee break to the Zoecklers (no photos, doorstep drop off).

This weekend, we squeezed in a couple workouts.  Saturday, we stopped at Carriage House Farm, took a brief walk and got Chloe's Eatery.  We also taught the boys a new game, Settlers of Catan.  It took a little while to get through the rules and a little grumbling, but then the boys were hooked.  We played one game Saturday night and then Sunday afternoon.

We also joined in a Zoom birthday celebration for Oliver Oxley.  They rented a place in Florida for 4 weeks to get out of the day to day of being cooped up at home.  While it was 50 here, it was 80 there.

Other things we ate: gnocchi with pancetta and a pesto sauce; Dutch baby pancake made in an iron skillet and topped with powdered sugar and a side of peach jam from the farm; bacon jalapeno cheese sandwich from sourdough and microgreens also picked up at the farm.

Week Five: Blah

Week five was just plain DREARY!  We continue to have cold weather and gloomy skies.  Even the boys did not want to go outside during their recess time.  It wasn't until late in the week on
Friday, that we were able to take a walk and get outside for the first time.

This week felt a little overwhelming.  Just as we figured out the work from home and school from home routine AND the extra curriculars of daily Karate, and Soccer training and assignments, piano and Chinese AND not having a nanny helping, all the teachers added office hours this week.  For Hayden, this meant 8 additional zoom meetings and for Beckham, this meant two more meetings and also two additional apps with separate log in and passwords.  It's been hard to keep every day, every link, every password straight for both of them, not to mention our own scheduled meetings which are ALL on video conference as well.  Survival was the primary goal for this week, for me.

On Friday, I planned homemeade pizza night on the grill.  I ordered the pans, which these days takes more than a week to arrive.  I made the dough, letting it rise during the day.  The boys rolled, tossed and topped their pizzas.  We put the savory ones on the grill.  I made the sweet one with Speculoos, caramel and fresh fruit. 

Here's what else we tried this week: dalgona the latest craze in coffee, scallion pancakes as a side with our dinner, veggie burgers, and vegetarian shepherd's pie and shrimp.  Dinner is usually 2-3 variations that I have to come up with so everyone is happy.  The shepherd's pie and shrimp were the first meals in a while, when we all ate the same meal!

Saturday, we had to run to the house to check on some things and make paint color decisions.  Because many people are in the house all week, we put masks and gloves on.

 This weekend, we socialized a bit with friends.  We stopped at the Frys' house to wish Austin a happy 11th birthday.  The boys juggled their soccer balls for a bit.  Hayden had a chess playdate with his friend Deniz. They used real boards and moved both sides. It worked surprisingly well! Our friend Max and his parents (who play in the Cincinnati Symphony), held a recital on zoom.

We are also trying to stay active, knowing that staying at home is extra bad for us from a movement and basic step count.  My Dr. cousin posted how much impact total steps and movement have on lifespan. Even on a normal working in office day, we get more than HALF the steps that we should.  

We might have to break out the fit bits again if this keeps up.  

The good news is there are plenty of youtube videos with simple, easy to do exercises which don't require any exercise equipment and I have eager workout partners. :)

Week Four: Easter, Quarantine Style

The official word for me this, week 4, was ANTSY.  I was desperately missing seeing people.  Thankfully, we had a few moments throughout the week, which helped.  

On Monday we went over to the Zoecklers and played charades across the street.  It was a ton of fun, and we got one good game in, before Bella fell off their swing and landed on her knees.  Thankfully, it was mostly scrapes and bruises.

On Tuesday afternoon, we participated in a drive by Birthday celebration for Beckham's friend, Carter.  His family organized an indoor activity, they did a hike, they had the police and fire department swing by along with a great parade of cars!

On Thursday, we celebrated our first Seder, a celebration and remembrance of Jesus' last supper with his disciples.  We did this with my huddle group and it was such a great experience for the whole family.  While it was our first, it won't be our last!

On Friday, we hid Easter Eggs along Miami and Kenwood, filled with an encouraging message, written by the boys.  We cleaned them, wore masks and gloves, and tucked them around town.

On Friday, I organized a little Happy Hour for our street.  Everyone came out to say hello, at 5:30.  It was nice to see our neighbors, who we really don't see often because few spend time in their front yards.

On Saturday, the Easter Bunny drove through Madeira.  Actually, two different Easter Bunnies, escorted by a firetruck and police car, split up their jobs.  Our friends, the Martins, made it to our street (Ryan was the Easter bunny).

On Sunday, we started with Easter baskets, church service.  We watched Andrea Bocelli sing from Milan's empty Duomo.  Wow, his last song of Amazing Grace was really wonderful!  We then had Easter dinner.  

Hayden and I continued our weekly new recipe.  We made bread and a new dessert.  The Bernickes had brought over a whipped cream and oreo mixture when they came for dinner.  We made it a little healthier with our own homemade whipped cream and organic low sugar oreos.

Other things we made and ate this week: fresh salads, Hayden made lunch one day when we were really busy, tacos and taco salad, smoothies and fruit everyday.

Despite the quarantine style, we have learned more this Easter.  I am thankful we can use this time to teach the boys what it means to serve and encourage others and for us to have prepared our hearts differently with Seder and with other families.  We are truly blessed!

PS. Here is a great meme that was going around this year.