April 20 - April 26

   Week #6 of online home school! 6 weeks ago the kids went to school on Monday morning not realizing it would  be their last day there for the 2019-2020 school year. They did not know that they would not have a school field trip this year, they did not know that there would be no awards for reading, there would me no last spelling test. 6 weeks ago we enter into a new type of living, a new day to day! I will have to say this week was the hardest for me. We all cried tears during this week at one point or another.
   Monday we got up and I started the kids on their work before I headed to Hershey to present the volunteer of the year award. Each year during our AR banquet we give out the volunteer of the year award, this year we had plans to give it to the HELP club president and her husband. Since there was and will be no awards day, we surprised them at their home with the award. We stayed 6 ft away and presented in their front yard. After I got home we had lunch and finished school work and went for a walk. We then cleaned up the house from the weekend and after dinner Alec wanted to play cards, so Mike, Alec, and I played pitch while the girls chose to read.

Marie and Artie Parker

   Tuesday we did home work and went out for a walk. After school work was done Alec and I went to town to get Jessie a shot and pick up the dogs heart and tick meds for the summer. We stopped by Lisa's house to say hi. Alec has been missing Lisa so much during this time. Rachel went over to play with Elly after dinner. They then wanted to sleep in the tent but it still gets too cold at night so I convinced them to sleep in the camper instead. They stayed up way to late and lesson learned that sleepover's while home schooling is not a good idea!

Just Dance for PE class

   Wednesday the kids didn't want to do any work and just wanted to play. I let Becca and Alec play while Rachel and Elly slept in a little. Big mistake, Wednesday I finally just went out to mow and the kids finished their work alone as we could not get it done together. I told them that while I mowed they had to be outside so they spent most the afternoon on the deck finishing school work instead of playing which in turn took them twice as long. I spent all afternoon mowing and trimming the yard! I love how my yard looks after mowing and it is one of my favorite things to do, turn on some music, and just spend the time in the sun!

   Thursday we did school work in the morning and then I ran to town and got Qudoba for lunch. Rachel has been begging for it for a couple weeks and I didn't have anything better at home so Alec and I ran to town and picked it up while the girls finished their work. After lunch we planted radishes, carrots, and herbs then I started cleaning the garage. Mike was home early and was able to get a long run in. Since I was cleaning the garage I had Rachel make the meatballs for dinner. She did an amazing job. Becca and Alec helped me haul some stuff out of the garage and then found lots of stuff to play with. I enjoy getting the garage clean but was frustrated with the time it was taking, not having help, and then the fact that the kids can only do one task and then I have to give them something else. Not sure if my parenting skills are to blame or their age but I get really frustrated that they can sit at a dirt table that they know we are going to eat at and just ignore the fact that it will need cleaned, until I tell them to do it. I ended  up getting mad at Rachel for this and then went and talked with her before bed and asked that she tries this summer to take on more projects and help around the house more without being asked. I ended Thursday with a zoom call with my Kohle aunts and uncles, which is always a good laugh!

  

   Friday the kids really did not want to work. We are just all  over this whole social isolation and home school/online learning stuff. Mike didn't have to work so he took each of the kids out to work for awhile so I could focus on the other two. Becca and I ended up so frustrated that I ended up walking out and going to town to get lunch and pick up some groceries. Rachel and Mike and then Mike and Alec worked on finishing up the water line and starting the fence across the road. It then rained part of the day and I found slime in my carpet downstairs to really make the day seem endless. 

We finally made it to the end of Friday and Mike decided that Saturday afternoon he would take the kids and go to Aaron's. Saturday morning Rachel and Becca did some art while waiting for Mike to finish some projects and get ready to go. Mike and the kids went to Aaron's and the kids got to ride horses, and Rachel and Ashlyn put together a Harry Potter themed feast for dinner. Pat and Wanda were able to attend dinner and Rachel had so much fun and loved being able to kind of celebrate her birthday! I went to Marie's Saturday afternoon for a HELP club meeting to discuss what next year will look like. Sunday Dad called and I took him some coffee and apples as he dropped off bulls at the neighbors. I then came home and cleaned the house and finished the garage. Mike helped Aaron around the house then the headed south and stopped to fish on the way home. They didn't end up catching anything but the kids got to swim so they had fun. Sunday night we all showered and watched some TV before bed.

Rachel's Art

Harry Potter Dinner in the Great Hall!