COVID-19, Week 3

Hanging in a tent in the basement (they changed their minds about sleeping there)

Another week into our quarantine, and there are now 827 confirmed coronavirus cases in Alabama and 4 deaths.  It is hard to believe it is only two weeks after the state announced its first known case. As the numbers continue to climb, the schools made the difficult decision to cancel school as we know it through the end of the year (to make it easier to social distance).  Even though children aren't really at risk, there are teachers and caregivers of our children that are. 

Schools were supposed to be taking a 3 week hiatus, and were set to reopen on April 6th.  However, the number of cases are surging, with no sign of a peak.  Therefore Gov. Ivey decided that all schools should close for the remainder of the school year, finishing their curriculum online.  It was a tough thing to hear, thinking they might be jumping the gun a bit.  So teachers started creating online classwork for the kids, and Walker's teacher scheduled two calls per week to talk with the kids and do dictation.

Snickers getting spoiled!

Week three was a tough week....Steve and I are still trying to work, the children are being forced to do school work online (Walker needing help with all of his), no one can hang out with anyone else, the weather is gorgeous, and NOTHING is open!  To say it is hard to get things done easily and happily is an understatement.  We have all been stressed!

Except maybe our VERY spoiled pets!  Beck has never had so many walks and so much attention.  And we all know that our separation anxiety ridden dog is much happier with his favorite peeps around.  And then there is Snickers....who had primarily lived in the basement throughout the day prior to this mess.  With all of the kids home, and so much noise upstairs, she wants to be where the excitement is!  She loves to be cuddled, she loves hanging on the porch, she loves to play fetch (yes we have a cat who fetches small nerf balls and returns them to us), and just lying around.  She has spent a little more time outside (with supervision), but we all know she doesn't prefer it (insert my eye roll and frustration at having an indoor kitty).

Snuggled in our bed watching TV

Our evenings are spent outside playing (like summer), catching up on new series on Netflix, doing puzzles, playing on electronics and snuggling.  We are having much later nights than normal, but slower mornings (one of the better things about this time).  We are trying to not to spend extra money on stupid things, but our spring break was cancelled....

Cold, but it is novelty!

So fun Dad bought the kids a pool (and spent more on all of the accessories to keep in clean than the pool itself)!  The kids got in it right away, but the water was COLD!  Time will tell how long this quarantine lasts, and how much the pool gets used.  Bring it week 4!