Reunited with Cousins

Georgia is slowly starting to open back up after the peak of the Coronavirus. We are still hesitant to dive fully back into all our normal activities, but we have decided to start spending limited time with family. Today Aunt Peach and I surprised the cousins with an adventure to Pettit Creek Farms in Cartersville.

The farm has remained open during the pandemic because the animal tour is done completely from your own car. We arrived right when the gates opened, so the animals would be hungry for the snacks we bought to share.

My crew spent the entire ride on top of my Enclave while Holland and Piper played it safer inside. I am shocked no one even came close to falling off, especially Jacob who monkeyed all over the car.

The farm was filled with tons of animals, but the highlight was feeding the camels. As soon as the herd saw us approach, they were ready for food and had no problem sticking their heads right through the open windows.

We also loved watching the kangaroos, zebras, George the Giraffe, and all the sweet typical farm animals including pigs, goats, llamas, sheep, and cows. Tuttle's favorite animal was the tiniest black lamb.

We did not want the day to end so quickly, so we found an empty spot in town for lunch. It was our first time in a restaurant in two months, and we were ready to avoid dishes for one meal.

Everyone is figuring out a new normal, and I am so happy that we can start hugging our family again.

Ten.

I cannot believe we have a TEN YEAR OLD. I swear he was just born yesterday. We celebrated during this crazy time in a very unique way.

Tuttle started his birthday with doughnuts delivered from his best buddies. They were left at the front door due to social distancing, but we quickly pounced on them.

I told all three kids that we would not do any school work all day. Tuttle could do exactly as he wanted all day which I know would include hours of video games.

Maggie convinced him to play soccer outside which worked perfectly for our secret car parade. I sent out the word that we would love friends and family to drive by between 11:30-12:00 to recognize the birthday boy. They could honk, make signs, and yell from their cars. Over 20 cars showed up, and Tuttle was absolutely thrilled to see so many special people that he had not seen in months. This is definitely a birthday he will never forget!

Grandmommy and Grandaddy visited in the front yard six feet away from us for the parade, and they brought his gift to open in person. I think their gift was the biggest hit of the day: a hooverboard!

Tuttle also received a new bike from Gram and Grumps a day early. He is set to spend more time outside!

Maggie made Tuttle a homemade pinata out of an Amazon box (to support Daddy!) to look like a Nintendo Switch. It was completely her idea. They might fight constantly, but Maggie sure loves her big brother.

The birthday also included Tuttle's favorite meals: tacos and Bubba Burgers with fries. Tuttle rated his birthday a 10/10. He is so resilient during this quarantine. 

I swear he looks bigger now that he crossed into double digits. Happy birthday to our boy! We are so lucky to have you as ours.

Life Lately

Another week in quarantine has come and gone. We still remain smiling. 

We are really able to see the kids' creativity come out without being rushed to more practices or complete another homework assignment.

Only one child has attempted to run away since social distancing. I call that a win.

Rosie planned a playdate with her neighbor buddies. I think all the Thorne humans were a little jealous.

Tuttle is counting down the days until his birthday on Tuesday. I am trying to forget that I am going to have a TEN YEAR OLD. Some of his presents have started to arrive, and we could not wait to try them out. I do not know who is more excited about the Nerf guns from Ms. Jenna.

Everyone is just relieved after four full weeks together at home that we actually like each other! :)

Happy Easter 2020

Easter weekend certainly was unique this year with the COVID-19 affecting the world, but we still made some special memories. I know it will be an Easter we will never forget.

We decorated even more cookies from our sweet friend's local business. We are practicing all the quarantine guidelines, but we are definitely not social distancing from the food.

I introduced resurrection rolls to the family, too. Everyone rolled up marshmallows (Jesus's body) inside the linen used to wrap his body (crescent rolls). After we placed the rolls into the oven (the tomb), the marshmallows melted and represented Jesus rising from death to Heaven. The kids were AMAZED, and the rolls were SO delicious.

Jay and I decided to start a new tradition this year with the Easter Bunny hopping by on Saturday, so Jesus could be the focus on Sunday. The kids were all for their baskets arriving a day early. Luckily Jacob forgot that he saw most of the surprises under my bed this week during naptime. :)

We were expecting bad weather on Sunday, so we dressed up on Saturday in our Easter finest. I insisted we take pictures at the park, so my family appeased my wish. Jay is always positive during my photo sessions, but Tuttle would rather be anywhere else.

We did not want to waste such a beautiful day, so we surprised Gram and Grumps with a social distanced Easter egg hunt in their huge backyard. They cheered the kids on from the patio while our bunnies tramped all over the yard and woods collecting over 100 eggs that I hid. I filled the eggs with candy, cash, and coupons for activities they enjoy. 

Maggie already cashed in two coupons: "Pick the Family Movie", and "Sleepover in Mommy and Daddy's Bed" (even though she winds up there anyways 75% of the time!). Tuttle used his one coupon for 30 extra minutes of screen time tonight in bed. I will definitely use the coupon idea again- it was a hit!

Our Easter Sunday was much more low key than normal. I made a brunch right before the service started on tv. The church did a combination of footage from last year to experience the special music and a live recording of our minister giving his sermon and prayer. We actually were in many shots of the 2019 video. The kids stayed focused trying to find us each time the camera spanned over the crowd.

This pandemic has brought us closer as a family, and although Easter was different this year, I feel that God sent this time for everyone to refocus and connect. He is Risen!

Spring Break

Spring break looks much different than how we planned. We were hoping to be relaxing by a private pool in Santa Rosa Beach. Instead we are on Day 45678 of social distancing. The kids and I have tried to make the best of it, and Daddy is still hard at work in the office.

I set up the sprinkler and bounce house on Monday, and Jay upped the game with bubbles in the bounce house. Maggie and Jacob absolutely loved it, and it also served as their bath!

I required the kids to wear real clothes one day, so I had to document it.

We also baked Easter cookies from scratch and they were absolutely delicious. It seems like all we are doing is eating....

Tuttle does actually live in our house despite the lack of photos. He is typically designing something or planning a new business venture. His current obsession is Fortnite. We limit his time on the game and who he can communicate with as a disclaimer. He does take the video game one step further and integrates it into his play including creating costumes.

Life is so crazy right now. I never imagined that going to the grocery store for essentials would be such an escape, and I never imagined wearing a mask and distancing myself from other shoppers.

Our spring break has been much more relaxing this year. We are hoping to plan a new trip as soon as this craziness is over.

Family Time

We made it through yet another week of social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the news only seems to be getting worse. School has been cancelled for the remainder of the year, and the entire state of Georgia has been put on a "shelter in place" restriction which includes only leaving your house for essentials. Nothing has changed specifically at our home because we have been quarantining for three weeks, but the news makes everything scarier. Jay and I do not expect to return to any sense of normalcy until at least the end of May.

While both Jay and I have experienced days of depression, overall our family is handling this crazy time very well. We definitely miss our friends and extended family, but we are trying to be productive and creative with our time at home. We will never have this much time all together again, so everyday is full of making memories.

School assignments are sometimes altered to spice up the hours sitting in front of a screen for virtual learning. Daddy participated in PE yoga this week, and the big kids created egg drops to release off the roof for STEM. Tuttle and Maggie also recreated famous paintings and picked two of my favorites!

Jacob has picked up two new skills during quarantine. He can ride a big boy bike now (no training wheels were ever used thanks to the balance bike), and he can proudly write his own name!

We are spending every possible second outside. We never had time to just relax at home before the mandatory social distancing, and I just love it. The kids are running around playing make believe games in the yard, Rosie goes on multiple walks a day, the kids are riding bikes and scooters, and I even took a nap on a quilt in the front yard today!

We prioritized some Easter fun today with more cookie decorating and egg dying. Initially I was really sad that we would miss all our traditional Easter activities, but our time at home has allowed us to really take our time and soak up spring and the Easter season. We do not feel like we are rushing to go to the next party or event!

Since social media can paint everything with rose colored glasses, the kids do have their fair share of bickering. It is easy to show all the good shots and avoid recognizing that not every moment is happy! I just want to record the truth for future reading. :)

The three babies planned a camp out in the front yard for tonight, and they were all committed until the movie they were watching on the iPad ended around 9:30. Maggie and Jacob decided that inside was the better option, but Tuttle is still out in the wilderness!

Our lives are much different than they were a month ago, and we are taking all the precautions necessary to make sure we stay healthy. I hope when my family looks back on the Coronavirus crisis years from now that each person will remember the positive. In the end....