Weeks 9-10 School Wrap Up

Well, we made it!  We hobbled across the finish, with forgotten zoom meetings while we tried to balance all our work calls and both boys' schedules.  It mostly worked, and we gave ourselves a little grace when it didn't.  

Hayden learned how to make pancakes and build a fire.

Ohio opened up salons and we all got haircuts on the first day of opening.

The boys discovered the incline down Coachlite and rode their bikes.

We did morning devotional when Marty and I weren't starting our day with meetings.

The boys lost 3 teeth between them.  B on 5/10 bottom right lateral incisor.  H lost top right and bottom left first molars on 5/17 and 5/22, respectively. 

The boys' official last day was on Thursday, May 21st.  We only managed to get photos on Friday.

Next task is to figure out summer plans!! EEEK!!

Here's the Madeira Class of 2020 Graduation Video.  Not what they expected, but quite special, just the same.

Week 8: Ohio Opening Up

Cincinnati weather continues to be overcast and mostly cold.  We had a day and a half of sunshine.  We are nearing the end of the school year.  This coming week is the final week of assignments and then the final week will be fun "wrap up" activities, including picking up the boys' items at school.

Silliness may be setting in...

We are challenging the boys to learn some new things.  Beckham tuned the ukelele and learned a couple chords.

Hayden made grilled cheese a couple days this week.

We spent time listening for God to share us words and verses.  Beckham hears from God very clearly, with visuals of the choice between God and sin.  He saw a tree and a snake with a big cross over the picture.  He saw two paths splitting with a cross on one side and a snake on the other.  He also heard the verse Micah 7:18.  I was surprised that he even knew about Micah and found nearly the very last verse: Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance?  You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy."

I am not working out nearly enough, but Friday night Hayden and Marty joined me in a 20 minute workout right before dinner.  Beckham was happy to be the photographer.

Friday night, the boys took care of dinner, raising pizza dough and topping it.  I bought pans which we have been putting on the grill. The crust has been really good.

Other things I have been cooking, many new dishes to keep things interesting.  Roasted pork.

Tartiflette with side of French bread, brats and broccoli.  The recipe is at the bottom of the red baking dish, but similar to this one.

The boys made me pancakes for Mother's Day breakfast today.  Hayden woke up about 7:30 to prepare.

We had a simple lunch of bread, cheese and fruit.

I made barbecue pork buns for the first time.  It was a good amount of work to prepare the dough, raise it for an hour, chop and prepare the meat sauce.  It turned out really well.  And thankfully, the boys liked it, because the recipe made quite a bit.

I also made meatballs for penne with meatballs and then a cacio e pepe mixed with the remainder of the lemon creme sauce from Pepp and Delores.

On Saturday and Sunday, we heard a ton of horn honking.  The first came with a Madeira caravan.  The Superintendent came to hand deliver cap and gowns to senior students.  They had a professional photographer also come to take photos.  It was so heartwarming to see how special they were making the seniors' experience even while we are all housebound.  This was at about 8am and we saw they were still out around 5pm.

It happened to also be Steve's 50th birthday.  So there was another set of honking on Sunday as a caravan of friends came down the street.  Ralphie has been some Madeira joke and has wandered all around Madeira.  The Madeira police even lassoed him in to check that he was up to date on his shots.  Ralphie went to visit Steve for his birthday.  

On Thursday, all the healthcare workers were honored with jets flying over all our major hospitals.  We popped outside for 15 min to try and catch a glimpse.  We heard them and I saw just one but it was really far away.  But the sun came out, which was a treat since Monday.  Friday, it was "droopy," as Beckham called it.

We hit a fun milestone this week.  I took the boys Monday night to MES and encouraged Beckham to try and ride his bike down the grassy hill.  Today, we went back and he went down the paved hill and then...started riding!

This weekend flew by as usual these days.  

Week 7: Rollercoaster

We certainly had a Rollercoaster week.  We prayed hard for Sharon, as she was taken by ambulance to the hospital on Monday.  After some testing and a heart cath, she was released on Wednesday and seems to be feeling much better.  It was a little scary to know she was headed to the hospital and with that also came risking exposure to covid-19.  We are thankful they ruled out serious concerns and she is back home.

I moved from the kitchen table to my new office in the guest room.  I needed a door for all my conference calls.  It sometimes works.  Other times, they still just come in.

Marty and I both had busy weeks and important meetings at the end of the week.  It was a bit dreary in the middle of the week, but then the sun peeked out Friday and Saturday.

The school held Spirit Week.  Hayden participated Days 1-3 and then we got busy.  PJ day, Sunglasses Day and CrazySock day.  Somehow, it felt a little like Christmas too. 

The boys were complaining about dinner.  So I challenged them to make a productive suggestion AND also take responsibility of a meal.  They made us pancakes.  Looked up the recipe and made them.  It was delicious!

This weekend, we enjoyed takeout from various favorites: Mazunte (Mexican) Friday, Pepp and Delores (House made Italian pasta) and wine from Liberty (Jon Powell partially owns).  It was nice to get out a little bit and the food was delicious.

Beckham and I went to Isabella Lake to enjoy the brief sunshine on Saturday. We walked around a little bit and played a game of Uno in the trunk.

Hayden and I were part of Crossroads' introduction to the new series about managing our emotions.  We're only in it for a few frames but you can check it out Here and the service recording