Well.....life in the pandemic

I had almost forgotten about my blog, but I am not going to quit!  As everyone knows, this past week the whole country shut down over fears from the coronavirus.  It is a surreal and fascinating experience to have all our neighbors home, all the restaurants closed, all the children's events cancelled, even Mass is cancelled!   Marc is working from home, and that has worked out fine.  We are using our home gym again- we almost got rid of it a few years ago, but now I am glad we kept it.  Marc and the boys work out down there every day.  We are cooking every meal, walking as a family every day- in many ways I have LOVED this time.  :)

On to the pictures- let's see- before the virus hit- best big brother taking care of his baby sister at Chuy's.  :) 

Tucker was sick for 8 days last week.  He finally got better when the world was quarantined!

 Daddy was out of town for a lot of it.  He had a conference in Orlando, but went down a day early got to see Zaza and Big Grandpa!

Tucker made a hula dancer with his pinky and strawberry leaves-  :) 

It rained for weeks a few weeks ago, and now we are even more grateful for the mild weather to take walks in!

 

 

21 months old.  Angel baby!

 

 

We have learned Anastasia loves our food.  She is over baby food- she wants to eat whatever we are having.  She loved lasagna. 

 

Julia did a watercolor of Anastasia's favorite bunny, Brendan Bunny.  I love it!

We went on a wonderful field trip to the art museum last week.  The docent said she had been leading this tour for eight years and never had children know the answers to the symbolism and meaning of art like our group!  :)  Charlie surprised us all with his understanding.

 

We did a studio class and used magnifying glasses to look at things close up and then draw them. 

On Thursday, we went to see Romeo and Juliet at the ballet- it was wonderful!

 On Saturday we made a quick trip to Lowe's and got ferns, flowers, chairs and play sand so our yard would be ready for spring.  I am so glad we did- we are enjoying it so much as we are stuck at home.

We used some netting to block off the deck stairs.  Now Anastasia has the run of the place.  She is out there all day long.   We got her a water table today and she loves her sandbox. 

We put her swing back up and she is swinging every day. 

 

 

On Sunday we wore green for St. Patrick's Day!  :)

 

 

 

 

 

We decided to celebrate St. Patrick's Day on Sunday because we give up sweets for Lent and St. Patrick's feast isn't enough to cancel our Lenten obligations.  But Sundays are the Lord's day and we feast when the Bridegroom is present.  :)  All the children helped us make Pioneer Woman's potato soup as well as corned beef and a homemade cake with homemade icing!  Such a fun day!

 

We added some green food coloring to our vanilla cake-

 

Tucker made us a construction paper stencil of a shamrock for the sprinkles. 

 

 

Marc is so bored.   We also gave up video games for Lent so we are having to be creative to pass the time.  He actually ASKED US if he could power wash the front walk.  :)  He also power washed the deck. 

On the actual St. Patrick's day the children and I made Irish Soda Bread.  I found out that you could add vinegar to milk if you didn't have buttermilk so we were good to go!

 

We read our stories, and watched "Secret of the Kells," and the CCC St. Patrick movie. 

It was so delicious drizzled in butter.  :)

I am so glad that we live in the woods.  We have plenty of fresh air and places to roam in this hard time.  We are praying for God to find a way to put our country back together again. 

And Julia has still been able to ride her horse-