No Paper Towels

So apparently the two things that people are hoarding during this pandemic are: paper towels and toilet paper.  We had literally just stocked up on TP right before this all went down, so we are good there.....BUT we were not stocked up on paper towels.  I've tried to get them everywhere with no luck, so we had to resort to Mike "borrowing" some from work.  I didn't ask him where he actually got them from.....maybe the bathroom???  We fancy!!

A day after I sent this picture to my friend, she must've felt sorry, cause I had two rolls sitting on my front porch.....

The only place still open.....WCC Golf...

Well, as of last weekend, all the public parks are closed.  This includes playgrounds, tennis courts, hiking trails, etc.  Pretty much everything except golf.  So last Friday night (I think), we hit the course.  We made it 7 holes I think.  It was pretty chilly, but not too bad.
We never got close to anyone but our family, didn't even go in the clubhouse to check in, they had someone outside checking us in.  We carried our bags, so that we didn't have to ride or touch a cart.  We didn't pull out the flag poles, and they had foam noodles (like pool noodles) in all of the cups so that your ball wouldn't roll down into the cup.  So honestly, it was completely safe, we didn't have to touch a single thing that wasn't ours.
Mike and Jack went back out the next night and played a few holes again.

The dogs have had it!!!!

These dogs might have thought it was pretty fun having all the humans home 24/7 at first, but now I'm not sure how fun they think it is.  They are TIRED!!!!!  They get walked and played with non-stop, and it's also kind of hard to sleep all day (like they are use to), when there are five humans home 24/7.
The other night we took the dogs for their one last walk of the day, and it was late and getting dark so nobody was really out anymore, so we let both dogs walk beside us without their leashes.  Our walk route that we usually take has us walking past our house 3 times.  On the first time past our house, Gus went ahead and took the turn into the driveway and did not come back out.  He had called it quits, he was NOT walking anymore!!!!  He sat in the front yard and watched and waited for us until our walk was finished!!!  HA!

Shelter In Place: Kirkwood

I'd say everyone in Kirkwood is doing a pretty good job with the Shelter In Place.  This was last Saturday night, we ordered out Chinese and I went to pick it up.  So this was a Saturday night at 6:30 on Big Bend.....pretty impressive, if I do say so myself.

Blast from the Past

Well, we've been locked in this house, just the five of us for almost three weeks now.  One of the big kids had to idea to bust out the old Wii.....I don't think we've had it out in about 3 or 4 years.  It's been a big hit.  EVERYONE has been playing, all five of us.  In fact, Jack, Peyton, and I all had sore biceps from playing too much Wii sports....ha!  Maddie has liked the Wii sports and Mario Kart as well.  It's been a fun addition for our Rona survival.

COVID Social Life

Well COVID sure does put a damper on the old social life.  I've been trying to keep my sanity as much as possible with my Zoom happy hours and parking lot coffee talks.  It works out perfectly, you just have to talk really loud when you're out in the wide open and really far away....not usually a problem with me and my friends.....

Week Two Distant Learning, In the BOOKS......

Two weeks down.  Phew!!!  The big kids have had a TON of homework!!!!  The school has been hitting them hard, all the way down to music class.  I think the principal started receiving lots of emails regarding the 10+ hours of homework a day for the middle schoolers, so by the end of the week he sent an email saying things will be scaled back going forward.  The kids (especially Jack, who has by far had the MOST work!!) were happy to hear this.

Maddie and I have been spending some time helping her teacher with some stuff.  Trying to help her figure out some things online, as the student's end of things looks different than on her end, so it is hard to give directions when she doesn't know what it looks like.

I also had my first Zoom with my pre-schoolers.  That was interesting.....trying to manage a bunch of 4/5 year olds all wanting to talk at the same time.....ha!  But they were all happy to see each other!!

The big kids have been going to bed late and sleeping in, daily!  Even Jack has been sleeping until 10:00, crazy!!!  But I don't think they are ever going to be before midnight.....our schedules have went to heck around here!!  

Peyton finally came out of her room!!!  The entire first week she stayed in there the entire time.  By the second week I guess she needed some change of scenery.  She came down and joined us for a little bit.

Jack's work station has been in the office.  Mark had set this computer up for us a few months ago.  When he set it up we weren't sure how much the kids would use it and such, but holy moly has it been a LIFE SAVER!!!!!  I don't know how Peyton and Jack could be doing all this work at home if we didn't have it!!!

10:00 PM, still going strong on his homework.  He's been a good sport!

Look at this work station!!!  MESS!!!!!!  Super, super bright kid, but not super tidy......can't have it all, i guess!  

I will say, through these first two weeks, the thing that I am most surprised with is how well these kids know the computer.  The way they navigate through different things is pretty impressive, and skills that I didn't realize they were currently learning at school.  For example, Jack was having to make a chart with various locations and the temperatures that the places have every month.  So I told him, "I don't know how to make the 'degree' sign on the computer, I guess you'll just have to write the word out."  He quickly showed me that he knew how to do it, and he sure did!!!!  He also had to make a chart on one of his study guides and he knew how to make and insert the chart into Microsoft Word.  I was pleasantly surprised.

Peyton still says she can handle it all and needs no assistance on work or organization, so I'm just letting her do her thing and hoping she's not missing anything......I guess we will find out once we get report cards.....ha!