The year of the pandemic.

COVID-19

The reason why it's taken me months and months to update this thing (despite being at home and nowhere to go).  A global pandemic... something I didn't ever think we'd live through.  Honestly, the thought never crossed my mind - something that would keep us at our homes for months on end.

So I'll set the scene for you.  In the beginning of March, we heard about this "coronavirus".  It was over in China, no big deal.  And then each day it was magnified.  Until we were talking about some temporary working from home.  On a Tuesday, we had a "work from home" test day, to make sure systems could handle it and we had what we needed.  By that Friday the 13th, we were sent home for "two weeks".  Same thing with Daniel's work and the daycare.  Two weeks turned into a month.  One month turned into another, and that turned into the summer which turned into the fall, and here we are... nearly 10 months later, working from home "indefinitely".  We thought we were going home for TWO WEEKS.  It still blows my mind, to be honest.  But anyway, I'll back up to March...

When we were first sent home, and daycare quickly followed, we thought "this is temporary, we'll be fine!".  We were trying to do our part and strictly quarantine from everyone, even our go-to babysitter, my mom, since she would need to go see my Granma whenever they allowed her to (she was in rehab from her hip replacement/fall).  I went to the store and stocked up on groceries, since the news was talking about everything being sold out (especially toilet paper).  Swung by the Dollar Store for some random "things to do" for the girls, and then we hunkered down.

Day 1 of working from home, while parenting from home.  Okay... we've got this.  Open up my laptop and sit at the kitchen table.  Get interrupted eleventy-billion times, cut on the TV when I need it quiet, crack open something from the Dollar Store, take a walk to get a break.  Switch spots with Daniel when I need some quiet.

Rinse and repeat, but with each passing day, slowly losing more sanity, patience, and whatever's left of me being a working mom.  Ya'll... the absolute hardest 10 weeks of my life.  Being a working mom is hard... you always carry a sense of guilt over not being there for everything.  But in the same vein, working keeps me happy and sane, and you just do the best you can.  But trying to work while also being a mom simultaneously is simply impossible.  Daniel and I did the best we could.  I sat at the kitchen table and he was upstairs in his already-established office space. We would chat each morning about what parts of our days we needed quiet for a meeting, and then we just fit the pieces together of the puzzle.  When we were both tied up, we would pull out the tv or tablets, with absolute zero shame.  They watched so much TV, and it was simply out of survival.  As the weather got warmer, I would send them out back - praising sweet baby J for a fenced-in back yard.  I would crack open a window and listen for screams in pain (screams in anger no longer phased me).  I would set their lunches out on the back steps, and just hope they ate at some point in the day.  There were lots of days that we all had lunch and a break as a family, and I will say that those were definitely some happy times, a bright spot in the day.  And going on walks and enjoying little simple pleasures.  There were definitely silver linings :)

We had no breaks, no time to ourselves.  Before, we had quiet time in the car, adult conversations at work, meals out when we didn't feel like cooking, daycare to feed our kids, and plenty of time to refresh.  But now... nothing.  And with staying quarantined, we didn't even have our parents to help us.  An impossible situation.  And one of the absolute hardest times for me mentally, juggling too many balls and dropping them all.  It wasn't fair to me, to Daniel, to our sweet babies, our jobs, or our marriage.

So after 10 weeks with daycare still closed and no end in sight, I broke.  I simply couldn't do it anymore. I contacted Trina - someone who watched all Sink kiddos (and Farleys and Ponders) when they were little, and have also watched Sink grandkids.  Her and her daughter run a daycare out of her house (only 7 mins away!).  I asked if she could help us out some, knowing that her numbers were low with several of her kiddos at home.  Even if it was a few days a week or a few hours a day - we needed some relief.  She agreed, and we had an understanding that as soon as her regular kiddos came back, we would stop coming, but we would take ANYTHING to help us.  And... by some miracle, she kept us full time all summer long.  She lifted a burden that we so desperately needed and that Ella and Sydney deserved.

So let's get through the summer.... I'm finally in a place mentally that I can do something normal like updating this little corner of the internet.  One day, we can look back at this pandemic and think "wow, can you believe that crazy year!?", but for now, we will continue to stay at home, wear masks, and do our part to keep ourselves and those around us healthy.

Day 1... we got this.  Me working with them sweetly coloring as my backdrop :)

sweet girls

they helped me with laundry

and we went on lots of walks, and enjoyed simple things, like blowing dandelions

and picking flowers

"Here sissy, let me help you with that"

they had to do better about cleaning up after themselves

lunchtime + a puzzle

I was too exhausted and mentally drained to celebrate St Patrick's Day on March 17th, but I picked myself up and did it a day later.

Cosmic Kids Yoga on Youtube

thankful for warm weather :)

Daniel and Jeff made the girls a road out in the culdesac, Kim joined in on the bike riding fun!

our quarantine crew... so thankful for such good neighbors

I heard lots of giggling and stopped to peek out the blinds

on one of our daily walks, we found rocks!

cozy coupe car wash

Ella's sloth around her neck was cracking me up

we were dressed by E&S

another cute "they're being too quiet" moment

"I wish I was a baller
I wish I was a little bit taller"

"We are going to work on our computer, just like you"
And apparently they prefer not to have any personal space.

washing rocks so we can paint them

painting rocks before 8am...

"We made lunch for you!"

and sometimes you just have to walk away from your computer to dress up and have "lunch"

And right as we were stuck at home, we had to celebrate Daniel's birthday!  Mario decorations and a Doordashed Chipotle lunch for the birthday boy!

complete with homemade cards and wrapping paper (they desperately have wanted to get him Star Wars shoes... so voila!)

in front of the beautiful Phlox

getting creative with our daily rest time... sweet girls in their swan sleeping bags

Finally... after a month, and with my mom not able to go see my Granma, we decided to have an outside, socially distant Wendy's lunch and spring flower shopping at the local nursery shop.  And I finally got to hug my momma, which was much, much needed.

Papa got new ear accessories with freshly picked dandelions

they dressed themselves and also posed for me

And then we celebrated two sweet girls turning FIVE!

Another day... another view from the top of my laptop

Peeked out to find this sweet picnic lunch for the PJ Masks Owlette and Gecko

The girls got this cute Belle blanket, and Daddy decided to join in on the fun with a good laugh!

Another day, another walk to the pond

Took the nighthawks for a ride down the street

Momma needed an afternoon happy hour

We had a virtual game night with our friends :)

The girls decided that now that they're five, they know how to make their own cereal!  They made us stay in bed one Saturday morning for a "surprise".  Well.... our surprise was honey bunches of oats mixed in with colorful goldfish.  We had to balance letting them know how grateful and surprised we were with kindly letting them know that things don't get mixed in with cereal other than milk.  Apparently we didn't do a very good job because the next day they mixed in peanuts with cereal, ha!

Snuggles for Daddy and Owlette

We spent three weeks creating our own joy, and this particular day meant a blue bath bomb, bathing suits, sunnies, and pretending we were poolside.

So things were starting to stay chaotic, and it was clear we were going to be home for the foreseeable future. We needed some sort of structure. We have Phillips Hue Lights throughout our house. They are super helpful in their bedroom - for example, when their light turns pink, it’s time to wake up! We always change the kitchen colors just to have fun. It’s controlled by an app on your phone. I decided to make a color chart for our days at home while we are working. I wrote up the color chart, but added pictures and put stars for the colors since they obviously can’t read. Underneath is a list of activities they can pick from, and for the most part, can do without parent help.

The light is green which means they should be happily playing outside

We really needed to bring some cheer to my Granma, who was still in a rehab facility.  We made some signs and asked my mom to go for a "window visit".

The girls played out in the grassy area next to her window, I really do think it brought her some cheer!

dot painting

scrubbie pets

Day 2643138, we no longer care about our appearance.

Kiddo charcuterie board picnic - aka - please just eat 

sweet kiddos attached to their momma

And in the middle of everything.... it was Easter!

The Easter Bunny came! And yes... they are wearing Christmas dinosaur pajamas...

an Easter outside lunch

with Kim :)

sweet, sweet bunnies

We obviously decided it was best not to celebrate Easter with our families, so we had a really nice Easter dinner with our neighbors!  Though it looked different than most Easters, it was a nice day :)

painting birdhouses

I looked up and found them coloring like this

Another day, another view out of the window

When in doubt, throw them in the bathtub and work

they planted and decorated a fairy garden!

13 years living for 32 Today’s 3.2 for 32 Run in Remembrance was done with my two sidekicks - 1 mile for Syd and 2.2 for Ella. It took us a solid 84 minutes thanks to scooters, piggy back rides, stopping to pick flowers, and regular five year old detours.

It’s a tough time of year for Hokies, made tougher by being in the midst of a pandemic. So.... “I ask each of you to take the time to be a Hokie this week. Appreciate life a little more, take in every moment around you, count your blessings, tell the people around you that you love them, slow down, remember what's truly important in life. And live for those 32 that do not have that chance anymore.”

Sydney did a mile with me on her scooter

Ella was going to do a mile with me, but this BA girl ended up doing 2.2 with me... and ran the majority of it!  I was so proud of her.

Ended the day smothered in babes

Fake hair, dress up dresses, tights, clogs, and an entire living room but they're smooshed up on top of each other

watching TV in a power wheels in the garage

And then when you're just losing it.... you decided to pack some food, load up bikes, and go for a drive.  We ended up at my parents house to go for a walk in their neighborhood for a change of scenery.

smoothies

and snacks to go!

Nana made us a fun table fort! Isn't it adorable

special tea time with a dressed-up Stormtrooper

Daniel and I decided to split up the girls for a change of pace.  Sydney picked Wendy's and a back-of-the-van picnic, and Ella and Daddy had Chipotle and a movie at home.

Trying to soak up some peacefulness and the sweetness of Sydney, but man this is a really hard time.

I removed the bottom bunk mattress and made them a fun fort, so I could have an afternoon of quiet to work

It's been a tough month, sweet girls, but you're resilient and amazing and such a happy part of a dark time.  This was around the same time we had a RIF at work, and it was Momma's first time laying people off.  Truly a dark time for me.

I had to go into work to get my charger I had left there, so we loaded up and packed a picnic lunch and went for a mindless afternoon adventure.

visiting Papa's new office space that's under construction

we had the whole James Center courtyard area to ourselves!

pretending the pandemic is a family vacation hahah

mmm... a preview of summertime... grilling and eating s'mores

Another day, another view from my "office space"

Cinco de Quarantino

five year old check-ups!

same.

I want to bottle her up

Ella failed her eye exam at her check-up, so we had to mask up and go visit the Ophthalmologist (all is well!) 

she made herself right at home!

It had been months, and we decided it was time to have a fun night at Grandma Georgia's since we missed everyone so much!

So close to summertime and enjoying the nice weather... grilling with our neighbors :)

Sydney loves corn on the cob!

ready for water balloons

going for a walk with ring pops to give Daddy a break.... here sissy, try mine!

"Take our picture!"

🌈🌈

Aunt Annabeth brought Blakely and Kinley over for an afternoon of fun.  Ella was upstairs for a while and came down and said "I made a bed for Kinley!"  It was soooo cute.

Since we basically stayed home and everything was shut down..... Daniel needed a haircut BADLY.  The girls loved "doing his hair" after he took a shower.  

sweet watermelons!

Ever since the girls have been in daycare, they haven't ever been able to wear open-toed shoes.  Well, since there's no daycare opening in sight, I decided to buy them the sweetest glittered sandals... and we celebrated with painted piggies and a picture!

Finally... some cousin time!

Red, White, and Cuties for Memorial Day weekend

It's our very first day at Trina's!

After being together for 10 weeks, we all very much needed a break.  On the way to Trina's house, Sydney said "you mean she won't have any phone calls today???" Oh my heart, bless it. Though we enjoyed our days so much, I couldn't wait to hear all about the girls' days.  Ella had a really fantastic day, but decided that she had really big feelings and needed some snuggle time with momma.  We had to stop what we were doing mid-bike rides outside and sit on the driveway to just hug.  Such big feelings she held in all day.  It got much better after that :)

look at Sydney's sweet and perfect curls!

another quarantine day.... we broke out the cornhole boards and tailgated

Best Friends

salon day with Daddy

Evelyn and Amelia came over for some fun! We've SO missed them!

And my oh my we've missed their parents!

thankful for Grandma Georgia's waterslide... we used it all weekend!

And then it was summertime!  Still at home.  Still quarantining, but with the girls going to Trina's, we had loosened up a little.  We were all in a much better headspace mentally since Trina opened up her home to us.  We also decided that our vacation to the beach with the Sink family was still on, we all desperately needed a break and change of scenery.