This blog spot is primarily a photo/memory album for our family. It also serves as a way for us to share what is going on in our lives with our friends and family that don't see us on a regular basis. Ashley, Worth, Ellie, Emma, and Mack
We are officially through week 2 of our national quarantine. At this point, there is no school until April 27th (tentatively), restaurants are closed for dine in, it's carry out or delivery only, non essential stores and establishments had to close their doors, and other essential stores have limited hours. I went to Publix because we were in desperate need of some food staples, and most of the shelves were empty. It was the craziest thing I have ever seen. Even in the worst hurricane predictions, I've never seen grocery store shelves that empty. For Worth's anesthesia group, all elective surgeries have been cancelled, which is about 80% of their business. Where I work, we've cancelled all patients that aren't immediate post ops and anyone that walks in the door gets their temperature taken right away.
It has been the strangest situation over the past several days. I have times in which I'm so frustrated and anxious that I feel like I just need to sit down and cry, and then there are times where I'm truly enjoying the slower pace. I worry constantly about the what ifs and the people that are losing so much more than I am during this quarantine. I'm thankful that Worth and I continue to have jobs. I'm also thankful that the kids can learn so much through so many resources online that the school has provided. I hope all of the small business owners can make it, and our country doesn't hit an all time low economically. I hope that no member of our family or our friends contract this crazy virus that has wreaked havoc in our world. My prayer daily is just for this virus to end. I know everyone else feels the way I do, we are all in this together, but hopefully for not too much longer.
The kids are doing great despite not leaving our house and neighborhood (other than 2 trips to the golf course) for the past 2 weeks. I'm not the greatest homeschool teacher, but I'm trying to make it work. If this continues they could potentially be done with school for the year, and I can't let their brains go to complete Netflix mush over the next 5 months. Monday through Friday they are up by 8 and we cover 2 hours of school work in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon with plenty of outside time and exercise. (Thankfully, so far, we've been blessed with the most beautiful weather!)
In addition to homeschool, we've celebrated St. Patty's Day, played with neighbors (until recently when Worth is spending more time at the hospital, and we don't want to infect the neighbors if he brings it home.) We've had nature walks, scavenger hunts, and Worth and the kids even made a ninja course in the backyard. It has yet to get boring, but I'm sure by the end of April, I may be singing a different tune.
Here are some pictures of our sometimes exciting sometimes mundane moments:
Unfortunately, COVID did NOT keep the leprechaun away. He did his annual drop in our laundry room toilet.
He also made a huge mess in the kitchen in some supplies that I had originally bought for Mack's class for St. Patty's Day, He opened everything in the hobby lobby bag.
He even found Elle's avocado and dressed her up.
A little rain St. Patty's afternoon didn't keep us from having fun. Go noodle entertained these 3 for a solid hour.
The dance moves were very entertaining.
Mack had the first jump in the pool for the year.
You would have never known it from this picture, but this fun-loving looking little girl had a complete come apart prior to swimming this particular afternoon. Worth and I were "the worst parents ever" because I made her do a small amount of narrative writing for her ELA work for the day.
Our kids and the neighbors enjoying a beautiful March afternoon.
Homeschool is a challenge, but thankfully there are tons of online resources and the teachers are starting to send more stuff daily for them to engage in.
Mack loves the Epic website because they have "read to me" books.
Ellie works hard on Study Island in ELA.
We can still go golfing, so that was another outing last weekend.
I let Emma drive the golf cart for a bit.
They competed to see who could get the ball across the water near the hole. Ellie won.
This was the grocery store when I went last week.
Completely empty shelves. Thankfully, the produce was in plenty.
We've done several scavenger hunts in the neighborhood. This was a nature hunt to get us out of the house so the maid could clean. They insisted on riding/scooting/hover boarding while I followed in the golf cart.
We ended up at the playground and the kids enjoyed the (almost) completely empty playground in our neighborhood.
The maid had the house to herself while these kiddos did scavenger hunts and school work. They loved having school outside and have begged everyday to sit out there to work.
I think it's so cool that the technology is so good, that the girls were able to take their tumbling classes online. Thankfully, we have a trampoline, so Ellie was able to work on her backhand springs while being coached by her teacher.
Emma worked hard on her front and back walk overs as well as her hand stands while she listened to and watched her coach on my iPad.
The baking is definitely happening in our house. Ellie even turns it into her own cooking show.
Church is now livestreamed online, so we watch in the living room every Sunday morning. This morning the minister challenged the kids to draw a picture about he scripture in Exodus that he was discussing - God parting the Red Sea for the Israelites. This is Emma's drawing.
This is Mack's version. I couldn't get Ellie to participate. It was hard enough getting her up and downstairs for church by 9:00am.
These 3 completely lost their minds today. They made "buttcheeks with Mack's mini basketballs.
They are so silly.
Finally, I have videos of the kids doing the backyard Ninja Warrior course that Mack and Worth put together. Worth's commentary is the best!
The country has gone absolutely insane. Schools ended last Friday for at least 2 weeks to prevent the spread of coronavirus that has entered our country. It seems like there is some scary virus that circulates and causes pandemonium every election year. All church services, social gatherings, and sports have been cancelled indefinitely. It's scary and laughable all at the same time. I'm all about being cautious, but at the current time, flu has killed more people that Coronovirus this year and yet schools weren't shut down for that? I really do hope and pray no one gets it, but I think the mass pandemonium is a little overboard. I have been thoroughly confused as to why people are hoard buying toilet paper, paper towels, and bottled water. COVID-19 is not a stomach virus, and I'm pretty sure the virus will not interfere with our water supply. After seeing the grocery store during my weekly trip this past Friday, I was convinced there was a hurricane coming that I wasn't informed about.
Either way, we are officially on Bowers homeschool mode for the next couple of weeks, and we certainly haven't let this virus scare keep us away from doing fun stuff.
Basketball is over and that means end of season parties and trophies. Mack didn't care much for the party cupcakes, but he was thrilled for the trophy.
Baseball practice was going strong until this week. We are now on a 2 week hold.
It was q week at school last week and Mack insisted on taking Granny Rae's quilt that is on the bed in his room. He was so proud to tell his friends about it and his great grandmother who made it. I guess he never paid attention to the date that Granny Rae put on there when she made it. He got in the car after school and said, "MOM, did you know that this quilt was made in 1981? That was soooo long ago!"
Next up was Emma's basketball party at the Mill.
Emma getting her trophy from her coach.
His comment was, "the next trophy goes to the girl that may be the smallest one the team, but boy, she can get after it!"
Her sweet team and coaches minus 2 girls L-R from top: Coach Tommy Watson, Lilee Watson, Coach Jennifer Watson, Sayla Kierce, Madeline Veal, Emma, and Claire (never knew Claire's last name)
Saturday, Mack had a bowling party to attend. we decided to stay and bowl ourselves.
Emma didn't do that great at first, and she was VERY upset about it, but she began to improve the more we played. She is so competitive it's hard for her if she isn't performing well at something.
Ellie enjoyed being our game commentator.
After bowling, we headed out to VCC to play some golf. I was there mainly to drive a golf cart so all 3 kids could play with Worth.
Mack has improved so much since the last time I watched him.
Ellie hadn't played in a while, so she needed some tips from Daddy.
Emma got some advice too.
It was such a beautiful day!
I snapped this picture and when I went back and looked at it, I fell in love with it. I'm so glad I caught it.
Ellie was working hard on her swing.
Today "Bowers Homeschool" commenced. I had to work this morning, so I left the kids with the babysitter and a handful of chores each. Once I got home though, it was game on. They were not thrilled at first but they knocked out today's assignments in about an hour or so.
In the past 2 weeks we have finished up basketball, begun baseball and softball, celebrated Dr. Seuss, and taken part in an awesome/exhausting glow festival.
The basketball season ended with Mack and Emma's teams losing their first game in the playoff. Mack was not as bothered by it as Emma. I snapped some pictures at Mack's game, but accidentally left my phone at home during Emma's game. Thankfully, Mia was there and took some pictures and even got a quick video of Emma's free throw attempt.
Mack learned so much this season despite their coach stepping down after the first game.
Sweet kindergarten and 1st grade boys. Go Flying Tigers!
I posted Mack's free throw last week (actually, I posted the wrong video, but I have since corrected it.) This week, I have footage of Emma making her free throw:
Last Sunday, Emma had her first softball practice. She wanted to give softball a try this season. She was a little nervous but did great! I'm looking forward to watching her play.
She did so well at practice and had fun!
I'm getting terrible about remembering to get a picture, especially in the mornings when we have to leave SOOOO early for Ellie to do safety patrol. I snapped this on Wednesday for Wacky Wednesday during Dr. Seuss week. Thankfully, all 3 of my kids enjoy dressing up. Mack was beyond excited to have his mohawk on Wednesday.
I got 2 pictures at the glow festival. This is one of them. I was in charge of Emma AND Ellie's class this year. I had one mom (the one in the picture) show up to help me, but otherwise I was in the music room running the corn hole booth and the "Prize Pong" booth. for the full 3 hours of the festival. I came up with the prize pong game because I was assigned Elle's class at the last minute and all of the easy games were taken. I thought this version of beer pong would be fun. They had to bounce the ball into a cup and they got whatever prize was in the cup. The kids seemed to love it, and I had a couple of parents giving me their kids tickets to play.
It's hard to tell in this picture, but it was glowing all over. I scored the music room for both of my booths so I could handle both together. We had lights, music, and it stayed packed most of the night. Corn hole is always a hit with everyone.
We got home late, but these 2 were still smiles after all of their prize winning and fun.
3 days later we are STILL trying to get the glow hair chalk out of their hair.
This video is long, but it is one Emma took at the Glow Festival of Ellie climbing to the top of the rock wall. She saved most of her tickets and did the rock wall 8 times!!
Yesterday, I was going through the kids' folders and book bags and found this. I just thought it was too funny not to share!
