We held our breath all summer.  I planned and gathered all the information I could possibly need in case school didn't start back.  I am thankful for virtual learning for many students who need it, but I really was not interested in my kids sitting in front of technology all day every day.  So I visited my sister-in-law to get all her homeschooling advice, I did my own research, I took notes, and I set up a semi-homeschool area in our house.

But thankfully, school did resume!!  Our public schools delayed a few days, so Smith actually went back to school first.  I am so thankful for our precious preschool.  They have gone above and beyond to get our kids back safely.

 

 

Smith started KINDERGARTEN this year!! I can't believe how quickly these five years have gone by!  Smith is the most cheerful, expressive, playful, and energetic little person I know.  I am so happy to send him to these sweet teachers who I know will love every bit of that in him. 

 

Meet the teacher was a little odd at first.  But it's our new normal.  We all wore our masks.  We all had temperature checks when we arrived at our appointed time.  For a minute, I thought we weren't going to make it as Smith's temperature came up as 106 at the door! Haha!  A new thermometer did the trick and we were good to go!  

 

Mrs. Kathy Ferris

Mrs. Kathy Wallace

Ms. Lauren

Smith was so quiet and taking it all in.  None of us are used to him being shy.  But it had been a long five months since he had been in school, so it was a lot to get used to with masks and temp checks and new rules about where you can go and with how many.  But he was excited and so ready to be a big kindergartner!

A sign of the times

It was surreal.  But we were all so excited to get back to a routine with friends and schedules and a love of learning!

Last Days of School 2020

One of the hard parts of quarantine was schooling.  Although I enjoyed being able to channel my teacher side, I was so sad for Millie Janalee and Smith.  They missed their teachers and their friends.  They weren't able to finish out the year.  For Smith, this meant no spring program...and he had been singing around the house for weeks.  For Millie Janalee, it meant she will never step foot back into her school as a student.  Next year, she will move to another school building.  And we had just enjoyed her teachers so much this year, I wasn't ready for it to end.  I shed some tears over the whole thing.

The schools have worked so hard to make these kids feel special, and all the parents are so grateful!  This has been an opportunity to see how the teachers connect with our kids.  I have seen Millie Janalee's teacher read Charlotte's Web through her Google Classroom.  Her class had a couple "math nights" on Zoom with their teachers playing fun games.  Her Challenge teacher called regularly to check in.  Smith's teachers sent videos of the Letter of the Week and science experiments.  Millie Janalee and Smith's faces lit up when they got to see their teachers' faces.  And I loved feeling like a part of that!

As May drew near, and we realized going back to school just was not going to happen...the schools started working on fun plans. 

Our sweet preschool hosted a precious drive thru end of the year parade!  All the teachers from all the classes stood out and handed out treats as we stopped at each station.  They greeted the kids with smiles and excitement, and these littles were just beside themselves to see everyone! 

 

Smith was hanging out of the window talking to his classmates in the cars through the line.  It was the funniest thing to hear their conversations. Big sister even got treats! 

By the time we reached the end of the line and saw those kindergarten teachers doing their "Good job!  Good job!" cheer, I had tears streaming down my face.  It was just such a precious time.  I was heartbroken for the kindergartners who didn't get to finish out such a special year with those fabulous teachers, but I was also touched by these precious memories made.  Just love all around!

Millie Janalee's teachers did something special too.  They planned a drive by!  They took an afternoon and drove by all 42+ houses around town.  Our house isn't even in the district, much less on the same side of town as the rest of the students.

So we tried to make them feel as special as we knew how when they finally made their way out to us!  Millie Janalee was so excited as we waited on them to round that corner.

They rounded the corner honking and hanging out their windows.  They had painted their cars and had huge smiles across their faces.  I knew they were tired, but they didn't show it.  If you want to earn a mama's heart...love her babies!

And that is what I have felt this school year...love.  I knew my wild man Smith was loved no matter what.  They looked for the good in him and saw the same sweet Smith I see.  Millie Janalee's teachers communicated with us all year.  They were grateful.  I was grateful.  And Millie Janalee loved school!  She formed new close friendships, and that was fun to watch as well. 

So the last days of school were sad.  But they were also filled with gratitude.  We took it all for granted.  Never again.  If this whole pandemic has taught us anything, it's that it can all be taken away quick.  Love on those who love your babies.  I know I plan to! 

I am thankful for the teachers all over who have shared their heart and kept loving their students.  What a difference that has made for us!

Mother's Day Weekend

 For Mother's Day this year I asked for a family day.  So the Saturday before, Russ and I decided to take the kids to Dismals Canyon for a little day hike experience.  Before we left, Russ and the kids went ahead and gave me some Mother's Day treats - some homemade cards and a priceless video Russ had worked so hard to put together!  It was the PERFECT gift!  Russ and I typically don't do big gifts for each other.  We may, on occasion, go overboard.  But overall, a homemade gift is as good as a diamond necklace.

Because of quarantine, the cafe and bathrooms were closed.  So I wasn't sure how this would end up. But we took our lunches and made sure everyone took a bathroom break before we left town.

Russ called to find out about registration (you are supposed to fill out the form at home, but we were out of ink in the printer), the lady told him that they have been over double capacity since quarantine started.  When their numbers are usually around 300...they had been at 1000 the previous count.  We parked down the road because the parking lot was full.  But once we got signed in, it didn't seem crowded at all!

There were plenty of side climbs and distractions for us all to get off the trail and find our own fun.  Of course, Smith wanted to explore every single dangerous looking nook and cranny.  So we let him.  Ha!

We took our shoes off and waded in the freezing water, climbed rocks, and squeezed between logs.  We saw families of all ages.  One grandfather even brought his own tailgate chair to set up when he needed to rest every once in a while.  While he rested, the grandkids played and climbed wherever they stopped.

After a couple hours or so, we decided to head back toward the entrance.  Except we weren't real sure where that was.  We had ventured a little too far from the path.  After climbing over and under and across logs, water, and rocks...we eventually found our way back to the trail.  

It was a gorgeous day for a day at Dismals Canyon!  My heart was full, and I think the whole family enjoyed the day.  Smith was certainly in his element.  Millie Janalee was a trooper and made it at least halfway before complaining.

Sunday morning, we enjoyed watching church online and taking the morning slow.  Kristin and Lee hosted the family for the afternoon, and Kristin prepared a delicious dinner for us all to enjoy.  I think this may have been the first time the whole family had eaten together since the pandemic began.  And it was delicious! Lots of laughs and lots of talking...which probably meant lots of interruptions and half conversations. 

It was a Happy Mother's Day filled with family!  Exactly what I asked for!

Quarantine Reading Time

The last few months, I have gotten back into reading for pleasure.  I have found many fantastic books I love, and it puts me in such a good headspace when I can escape into someone else's world.  There were some days I looked at Russ after dealing with something outside our home and said, "I just need to escape into a book for a little while."  I have found it refreshing.  I also love to hold a book in my hand.  I'm not someone who can read on my phone or iPad or Kindle.  I want to fold the corner of the page to hold my place and see how far I have to go or how far I've come in the book.  So I have frequented Barnes and Noble, made several Amazon orders, and borrowed some from friends.

Over spring break, I finished 3 books, and when quarantine began I just knew I would be reading through my others so fast.  But that was wrong.  As it turns out, when your kids are home 24/7...there isn't really any extra time.  Schooling, tidying up, fixing lunches, and trying to make this time a positive memory to look back on takes more time than I expected.  Occasionally, I was able to steal some time to work on whatever book I was reading at the time.

I joined Goodreads at the suggestion of a friend, and I decided I was going to read 2 books a month. I know that's a joke for some of you who read 2 books a week. Ha! So far, I have finished 12 since January, so I'd say I'm on track!  I also love browsing other friends' book reviews and get ideas for future reads.

The weather during this pandemic has been amazing overall!!  So many days to sit outside and enjoy a good book!  Russ and my brother satisfied my request for a firepit in our back yard, so I finished my last book out there, and it was so peaceful!  If it feels too good outside, I station my kids on the porch for school while I read.

 

Let me think of some of my recent favorites...

1. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is one of my favorites.  It is a heavy one.  It takes place during WWII.  It follows two sisters in France trying to resist the German occupation of France.  If you love historical fiction...pick this up ASAP!!
2.  Firefly Lane and Fly Away by Kristin Hannah is another good story!  Fly Away is the sequel to Firefly Lane.  Firefly Lane begins in the 70's and works it's way to present day as it follows the friendship of two women.  By the time I finished Firefly Lane I was bawling.  So, of course, I needed to find out what happened next...and I picked up Fly Away.  
3. Get Out of Your Head by Jennie Allen is a book I recommend every woman read!  There is a small group of five of us who meet for Bible study once a week.  We had just started this new book when the Coronavirus hit.  Talk about timing!  There have been tears, laughs, and lots of deep discussions surrounding these chapters.  I recommend downloading her free book club kit on her website and listening to the podcasts that go along with each week.  I almost feel like I need a refresher once a year. 

 Right now, I have a couple books going.  One of them is on Audible.  I have started Mrs. Kennedy and Me, and I am enjoying it so far.  I am so intrigued by Jackie O.  It is written by her former secret service agent.  Right now, it is following the timeline of his service beginning with his assignment, the birth of John, their travels, and interesting insight behind the scenes.  I'm only just starting, so the verdict is still out.  But I have heard it's a good one!

I am looking forward to the rest of my book picks too!  I have a stack of books to read, but I keep buying more and pushing the ones I have to the side.  It's becoming a problem.

Quarantine Easter 2020

It was wonderful to have something to look forward to on our calendar!  Easter wasn't cancelled.  The Easter Bunny still found the kids, and there was a small bit of normalcy for a little while Easter morning. 

On a typical Easter morning, we would be rushing around getting fed, dressed, and loaded for a trip to Corinth for church at my home church.  However, since churches are still closed...we were able to spend a little time playing with toys from the Easter Bunny, enjoy cinnamon rolls as a family, and I was able to continue the preparations for Easter lunch.

There are a few things southern mamas take seriously.  One of those is Easter frocks and family photos.  So, we did get everyone cleaned up and dressed in the Easter clothes I ordered specifically for Easter.  Thankfully, there weren't too many complaints and the kids looks precious all dressed up!  It was a nice change from the pajamas and play clothes we wear every day these days.

Even Russ cooperated.  Easter Sunday was filled with the threat of tornadoes.  The weather was yucky, but there was a break in the rain!  And I saw a chance to snap that ever so important Easter family photo.  What you should know is that Russ is the only one with shoes on!  Ha!  I managed to keep my slippers on and the kids had on flip flops.  We call it business on the top and party on the bottom.

After our photo, we gathered together in the living room for our Easter service - a VERY different Easter service than we have ever had.  Snuggled together on the couch.

After church, we joined the rest of the family on a Zoom call!  Susu wanted a family Easter photo, so we got dressed up for it.  The second the picture was over, people started shedding clothes. Haha!  Happy Easter...quarantine style!

Then it was time for the big event - the big Easter lunch!  The moment I realized the big family Easter wasn't going to happen, I panicked.  All of a sudden, I was in charge of Easter!  I started gathering the recipes I needed and making the menu, trying to make this a special memory for Russ and me...and the kids. 

Our Easter menu included my mom's roast with potatoes and carrots, smothered green beans, cauliflower rice, cream corn, rolls, and strawberry pretzel salad.  I burned the roast.  But aside from that, it was a delicious meal!  Thankfully there were plenty of sides to make up for it.

We spent the rest of our Easter Sunday napping, laying around watching Matt Lauban and the weather expecting a tornado.  Thankfully, it was a false warning for us. 

Happy Easter, Covid-19!

Pre-Easter Fun

Easter proved to be a problem for this family.  If you've been around long enough, you know that Easter is our holiday. Here are some of the highlights from previous years.

So many of us mamas were disappointed to miss sweet Easter egg hunts and parties, the frilly Easter frocks, and church photos.

Smith's preschool teachers did a great job providing fun Easter activities that we all were able to enjoy together! Easter egg numbers match, alphabet carrots to feed the bunny, and more!  We also decorated eggs together.  Easter has always been such a busy time, and there were some perks of slowing down and really remembering the reason we celebrate.

We had some fun surprises pop up!  Buck and She She surprised the kids with a fun egg hunt.  They stopped by and hid 10 eggs filled with messages for the kids to find.  We had "been egged!"  The kids loved it and thought the notes were the best thing ever.  Not one question about candy!  We decided it was such a fun idea that we egged some of our favorite friends too!

Kay Kay called to let us know the Easter Bunny may be riding through her neighborhood.  So we ventured off to our very first social gathering since the quarantine began.  The kids weren't really sure what to do.  They just looked at each other for a little while.  I brought an egg hunt exercise activity and had them hunt one egg at a time so no one was touching.  Ha!  Then we sectioned off parts of the driveway for sidewalk chalk drawings.

The Saturday before Easter, Buck and She She told us the Easter Bunny was coming down their street too!  As it turned out, this was the real deal!  The kids spread out and waved as the bunny drove past.  He even stopped for a photo opp.

We decided to hang around a while, so we moved to the back yard.  Then, Susu and Pawpaw surprised us!  The Annual Smith Egg Hunt is serious.  It was a near devastating blow to forego the hunt altogether.  I won't lie...I was pouting internally.  Haha!  Susu and Pawpaw had arranged for the egg hunt to continue...one couple at a time.  So that's what we did.  We hunted our eggs...3 different egg hunts in a row.  Russ FINALLY won after 15 years of trying.  We decided it was because I was his only competition.  But a win is a win!

We didn't completely neglect the children.  Kay Kay brought their own giant Easter egg hunt for each family of children to do.  And they also assisted Russ during our egg hunt.  So I have determined his win wasn't really fair.

Although it wasn't our typical Smith Easter Egg Hunt...it was a fun variation.  No hugging.  No touching.  Six feet apart social distancing.  But the face time was MUCH NEEDED!!  Big thanks to Susu and Pawpaw for making it happen!

 An Easter to remember for sure!