Keeping track through pictures

It is amazing how fast the days are flying by as we live in this bubble of ours. I am really loving it and find myself getting more anxious about going back to the way things used to be than I am about them staying the same...

We continue to keep ourselves busy and I can't even remember what we do until I look back at all of the pictures I take. Thank God I take so many! So here goes...

For Mother's Day we took our favorite hike. 

How is she growing up SO FAST?!

My little people - they are my everything

Our neighbors down the street set out a few boxes so we grabbed one. I feel like I need to send them a thank you note for the HOURS of fun and entertainment!

Owen's face in this is AMAZING. Ha!

School. They are following the rules if they both are on their computers with ear phones on. How weird is this?!

Digging in his PJs was a daily routine for about a week.

All while I worked outside with Sadie by my side (you can see Owen in the bushes). Not too shabby!

Skateboard dudes

No one claimed the other boxes so....

They multiplied!

Another day, another zoom conference call with this guy on my lap. 

He got these PJ pants for XMAS! He's like a Giant!

These two have become quite the surfers. Ryan goes with Josh more than Emmy does but they both love it. The other Day Ryan told me it helps him clear his mind. Pretty profound for a 7 year old - especially Ryan who isn't great at describing his feelings! So naturally we rented the 80s movie north shore this weekend :) 

We actually cleared the ping pong table one day long enough to play!

Emmy and Ryan binge watched HGTVs tiny houses one weekend so I suggested they build their own. The garage was a DISASTER but they had a blast! Emmy told us she wants to move into a tiny house one day with her husband who will have a man bun (this has been a wish of hers for a while). She went on a kick to explain she will brush it during happy hour and really loves the thought of it because it must mean a man doesn't care what others think and must be really confident to sport one. Ohhh Emmy! Hahahah

Pretty impressive loft and bed Ryan built

Emmy really focused on the details :) 

Impromptu social distance happy hour with Peter and Angie and kids from next door

It was Jill's 60th so we surprised her with a 60th birthday zoom call with about 30 people!

We started a color-coded schedule - its actually been really helpful!

New tricks for all

Play hard - crash hard 

Last week we went strawberry picking! It brought back so many memories from when we used to go when I was little. Not as cool as the place I remember going but the kids had a blast!

He told me he was ready for school :( 

Owen's best buddy Danny lives in our neighborhood and Emmy saw them at the park to raced home to tell us. We cruised over and the boys played (in their masks) and it was the sweetest thing ever! We met him and his parents again today :)

I guess that is the last few weeks in a nutshell - more to come!

Keeping it real

It's Sunday night and I am absolutely dreading the week ahead. I am tired, overwhelmed and can't even fathom juggling work, kids and school another week.

I wake up every day reminding myself of all I have to be thankful for and to embrace every moment I have at home with my kids but my energy is fizzling. Every bright idea I have requires time, art supplies and hours of clean up. Every time I see a kid on an iPad or watching TV I feel this overwhelming amount of guilt. I feel like I've been given the opportunity to be the stay-at-home mom I've always wanted to be, full of great ideas, activities, recipes and smiles but - oh yea, I am still working 5 days a week. And so is Josh.

I am constantly finding ways to deal with stress which includes a lot of exercise, followed by a lot of wine. I tackle each week with a fresh perspective trying catching up at work late at night or early in the morning to take pressure off during the day but its getting hard.

I am biting my tongue more than ever when people who are bored at home are coming up with all kinds of new projects at work, while I am struggling to keep up the front that I am on top of it all at home. I am trying to be understanding of friends who are normally stay-at-home moms and are now at home with their kids all day - complaining because now they actually realize how much free time they had and how much easier it was to clean all of the bathrooms without any kids around (welcome to a working mom's world). I can't even imagine how life would be like if I only had to worry about my kids being happy and fed.

Josh and I just wrote out our schedule for the week. Its color coded and notes which calls are more important than others because we literally have to almost rock paper scissors who gets the office and a few moments of privacy for a conference call. And even if my call trumps his and I get the office I can hear Owen screaming in the kitchen as Josh has to hold him back as he tries to run in. I've gotten really good at unmuting when I need to speak and immediately muting again so no one can hear him screaming or Sadie barking. Its stressful enough to tackle the damn zoom calls all day but then we actually have to do the follow-up work. When are we supposed to do that? I've been working until 11p each night which means I am tried and then its more difficult to have a positive attitude.

The expectations from those who are bored at home with no kids, from those who are struggling to work from home with kids - is absolutely ridiculous. I have spent my entire career as a mom proving I didn't need any special treatment or help but this is the first time I just want to cry for special treatment and help - this is an impossible task. I used to go to work and put my work hat on and then take it off at the end of the day but right now I am wearing both - all day long - and it is really challenging to thinking strategically, be proactive or really do anything besides respond to the email that is in front of you.

Now that I am on a tangent, why does everyone feel the need to introduce new ways to message people? I already have 2 phones - one personal and one for work. I get emails and texts on both all day and now I am supposed to keep up with Slack messages?! OMG. Its too much. And the kids school's PTA still needs to fundraise money? For what?! Sorry I can't even think about logging into a virtual silent auction right now to bid on tickets to places we can't go right now. Am I a terrible parent if I just offer to write another check? And if I am asked to upload one more photo for the 5th grade celebration that isn't happening or to follow a series of daily ways to recognize teacher during teacher appreciation week... I am seriously going to lose it. Oh yea and I am turning FORTY in a few weeks. Ugh!

Deep breath. We are healthy, happy, , have paying jobs, live in a large home with a yard and great neighbors and the sun is shining. Life is good. Exhale.

Quarantine - week ??

I don't even know what week it is anymore. I have successfully been able to keep track of what day it is and the date so I consider that to be pretty successful! Each day and each week is different, despite the fact that we are living ground hogs day everyday - is that weird? Some days are sunny, some cloudy, some days are crazy at work - full of zoom calls - others are more mellow. I've started taking some pressure of myself throughout the day and working once the kids go to bed. That worked last week anyway. We are bursting with crafts and, our bikes have never been ridden so often and we are meeting a lot of neighbors. Its actually really nice. As much as this new normal is strange and sometimes frustrating, I am starting to love it and actually dread going "back". Is that weird?

As always, I continue to document our days through pictures :)

School :)

Last week we decorated the neighborhood with signs!

The ping pong table has turned into our craft table. 

DJ - O-man. He LOVES playing music from his iPad.

Another trip to the beach!

Our zoom background for Papa's virtual happy hour.

She's learned how to ride her bike with no hands (insert terrified sigh). Videos to come. She can even turn corners!

This week's project - painting flower pots! Emmy even painted one for Gail and Carlton across the street. Her own idea. Between my finger in the garage door and my dads terrible fall - we owe them more than a flower pot...

Emmy's new hobby - editing picture!

Pots, pot and more pots!

Apparently McDonalds (or old McDonalds as Owen calls it) does not let you ride your bike through the drive through. Nice try though!

Every time they take a bath together I assume it'll be their last. Until they hop in again....

 More chalk messages. 

And then we planted flowers in the pots!

Finished products!

Today - Owen washed his cars and I put together a PPT presentation while sitting in a beach chair. See, our new norm isn't that bad! ;)