Week 6 of Social Distancing

Dear kiddos, 

I can't believe how quickly this time has flown by. As our art gallery expands, I'm wondering how many walls we will cover before social distancing becomes a thing of the past for good. 

 I'm pretty sure that the weather has been the most incredible for spending outside. We've been taking advantage of the cooler mornings and spending as much time outside then before the sun gets too intense.

As I go through each day, it's surprising to me how many hats I get to wear.

1. Nature Guide
We are so lucky to have a forest behind our house with an interesting trail to explore. This one day we spent 3 hours outside. We went on a bike ride and then a nature hike with a scavenger hunt. We were able to find everything except a squirrel (which was what I did NOT expect)...but I guess if I was a squirrel and I heard you guys coming, I would run too.

2. Culinary Teacher 
Hannah, you've requested that we make some sort of dumpling once a week. So, last week we made Chinese BBQ pork buns. I made the filling and you guys rolled out the dough and wrapped the buns.

 They turned out very good!

3. Science/Math/Language Arts/Social Studies Teacher

One thing that has been saving my sanity is to try to come up with a theme that fits both of the big kids' school assignments. It's a bonus if I can include something for Hailey. Last week, both the big kids were learning about life cycles of different insects, so I had Hailey work on a lady bug craft. 

 You guys made and cut up props.

 Collected things from nature,

 While Hailey made multiple lady bugs on her own.

 Afterwards, you even played ladybug family with them for awhile.

 Nathan and Hannah, you both worked outside and created a stop motion video about the life cycle of a lady bug. You both worked independently for 3 hours!

 So Hailey and I even got a board game in.

4. Art / Music / PE Teacher 
The art assignment for the week was to decoupage something, so we painted rocks and decoupaged stamps from my dad's stamp collection onto a few rocks.

 5. Mom
When we finish early, sometimes we play board games.

 The past week, you big kids have been sleeping in a tent outside on the porch. We finally made you guys come in after 6 nights when we found mildew growing on the pillows and sleeping bags. I forgot about the few days of rain and humidity that we got...

So anyways, Hailey also wanted in on the fun, so I fitted a play tent that a neighbor gave us a few years ago onto the crib. Perfect!

6. Martial Arts Trainer
I've taken my very limited knowledge of marital arts from my kickboxing classes at the gym to help you guys with your MMA training. The Sensei and teachers have created awesome weekly videos for you guys to follow, and I simply have to break it down and make sure that your form isn't too crazy.

 Today, we came up with a crazy idea of "Bubble Sparring" or "Bubble Bad guys." Hailey would blow bubbles, and you guys would use your punches or kicks to pop the bubbles. It was super fun for everyone.

7. Dance Instructor
I've also used my skills from my Zumba classes to help coach you Hannah, with your hip hop class routines.

Your dance recital has been rescheduled for June. We received your recital outfit this weekend...I sure hope it will still fit you 3 months from now!

8. Chinese Language Teacher
Another good thing that has come out of social distancing is the amount of Chinese that you all are now exposed to. Hannah is even speaking Chinese! Out of the 3 of you Hailey is now speaking more Chinese than either both of the big kids were at this age. I hoping to continue this so that Chinese school will be easier. Nathan does decently with Native speakers, but I have a feeling that Hannah will have a tougher time. If I can get Hailey to be as fluent as Nathan, I can't ask for more.

9. House Maid
The house is actually more clean than it usually is. During my planned time alone each day, I will try to spend it listening to a podcast and doing some sort of cleaning task. I have figured out that I just need 2 sessions, 20-30 minutes, to myself to recharge.

10. Chef
Daddy is working basically from 8:40 to 5:20 every day. He takes a lunch break, but not an entire  hour. He basically finishes eating, helps with clean up sometimes and then goes back to work until 5:20. Somewhere between lessons, I find some time to prep dinner and then when he gets off, I put it all together and produce something that at least 2 out of 3 kids will enjoy eating.

Today we made granola bars and I let you two add whatever you want to the mix. Hannah, you decided to add dried mangos, coconut, dates, and chocolate chips.

 Nathan, you added cocoa powder, chocolate chips and mint extract.

 They turned out delicious! Hannah, you wanted to add frosting swirls on top (like on Z bars I guess), so we made up some icing and your bestie and you drizzled them on top.

The mantra that I use to get me through tough moments is they will not be this age forever. I love hearing the belly giggle laughs when Hailey, you and I do "su'girl" (supergirl). I always find myself watching in amazement as Hannah, you zoom off on your bike like a bird flying for the first time. And Nathan, I admire how thoughtful you are and how you do everything with so much gusto. 

This time will pass, so I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts. 

Until next week, 

Love, 

Mommy 

Week 5 of Social Distancing

Dear Nathan, Hannah and Hailey, 

Besides some of you coming along once a week to pick up some take-out, you guys have not left our neighborhood for 5 weeks and it looks like this is going to be the case for the next few weeks. I think this week, grief has finally set in a little for me. I grief for Hailey, who just wants to go and explore the world. I grief for Nathan, who just wants to play with friends. Hannah, I actually think you are taking this the best. You continue to get to have playdates with your "bestie," who lives right next door, everyday and you get to make and eat a lot of yummy foods that you love. 

Here are a few of our highlights of the week. 

Physical Activity 

I've been trying to incorporate lots of physical activity for you three during the day. This can take the form of garage hockey, which all three of you love to play.  

 This could also be a hike through our neighborhood's extensive hiking trails. We hiked for about an hour and a half the other day and explored trails that we have never been on.

We bike a lot. Like everyday. Sometimes it's just to ride around the neighborhood, sometimes it's to go catch Pokemon. 

Homeschool 

Sometimes Hannah's bestie comes over in the mornings and joins us for school. Most activities usually involve you guys watching a short video clip and then working on something written or drawn. You guys use an app called seesaw to submit your work and often the teacher asks for an audio explanation of your work. Hannah, I was actually a little embarrassed when you sneaked in a message to your teacher asking for less work. You seem to really like listening to yourself talk, so you will record a message with each lesson that you submit, which is about 4-5 a day. 

Imaginative Play 

Hailey, I am so impressed at the way you make connections in everyday life. You sometimes even crack jokes and will say, "fuh-nee!" One day after dinner I heard you sing "row, row, row your boat" and then suddenly I feel a tug on my shirt and you say, "mommy, come watch!" you grab a broom, sit down and start to sing the song as you scootch your but across the floor. I was flabbergasted. Where did you come up with that? 

 Camping. We set up the camp in the back. We actually don't have flat land in the back of our yard (I blame the landscapers who said that berms are better for the lawn and trees) so Daddy set the tent up on the porch...which turned out well because it rained the second night. Tonight is actually night 5 that you are sleeping outside. I slept outside with you guys for 2 nights. Daddy slept outside one, but came in during the middle of the night. Last night you slept on your own and you are doing it again tonight.

Crafting

We continue to make a lot of crafts. I've started a gallery wall in our dining area. Each night, I will catch Hailey, looking at the different pieces and identify who made it. I suspect that this wall will be covered before this is all over. 

Eat
We've been eating so good. With all this extra time from not having to rush around town, I've been able to plan and make lots of yummy food. One afternoon we had fancy pina coladas (Spiked with Kefir for you kids). I even broke out the fancy glasses and paper umbrellas!

 We've made all sorts of baos (chinese steamed meat filled bread), sweets, and other yummy things. My cookbooks have been well used lately!

On the second night of "camping" we made s'mores.

 And Hailey, you have fallen in love with mangos. You love to flip the mango yourself and gnaw off the flesh from the peel or the pit.

And overall, life is just crazy and loud. I create a rough plan for the next day at night after you all go to bed. That, has been the key to my sanity. If I know what to transition to next, you all do better. I do better. 

I found an extra carton of Cascarones and I had planned on you guys doing egg races with spoons and obstacle courses. Too quickly it turned into confetti throwing fun. 

 That is when I just sit back and tell myself, "they are having fun." It's ok to not stick to the plan.

Oh, and I leave you with one last photo. This is church. We have been watching our church's streamed services online. I had to snap a photo to show how crazy services can get. Church crowd surfing.

Well, that's about it for the week. We have one full week of April before May arrives. Wow, time is flying by too quickly.

Love,
Mommy