Remote learning with a kindergartner

I am so thankful for kindergarten teachers. They are truly an amazing group of people who have tons of patience, speak in a calm and beautiful voice and could quite possibly be superheroes.

During our seven weeks of remote learning I have become fully aware that I am not a kindergarten teacher. I appreciate the choice board that we receive each week and try to give Caroline two choices each day on what she can accomplish for each subject (for a total of 5 activities). It is fun to do these learning activities when Caroline is having fun.

A rainbow nature scavenger hunt

Drawing as many shapes as she can think of

Using play doh to spell out some of her sight words

Drawing a favorite scene in her book

For instance, today in math we walked around the house and discovered things that are taller than Caroline (refrigerator, door) and things that are shorter than Caroline (the toilet, the sink). And then we cruised right into looking at a book together and she was supposed to point out all the sight words that she knew. Except that Caroline decided that instead of pointing out words that she knew she wanted to try to read the entire book. Ok, great! Finding excitement to read for Caroline doesn't happen all of the time, so I went with it. And she did great! For the first 15 pages. I then realized how many more pages were left until the end of the book and told her we were no longer trying to read the whole thing and would now just be doing the original assignment of finding the sight words. But I had lost her. Because I don't have the magic of a kindergarten teacher. Because her sister was being ridiculously distracting by trying to "do school" with us. Because she's not in a classroom setting with a trained teacher who knows how to get her excited again. Because her peers aren't next to her trying to do the exact same thing as her which brings a thought of, I don't know, work ethic or peer pressure to keep going. Instead she's with her mom who is losing her patience and then feeling terrible for losing her patience.

So we took a break. I let her play with her sister. I breathed and allowed myself grace in that moment. I thought about how amazing her teacher is and how much I miss our "normal." I thought about how much I miss my job and the satisfaction I get from it. I also know that this is just a short moment of time in our lives. She will not remember (hopefully) her mom losing patience with schoolwork. I hope she will remember us running around the house, laughing and finding all of the things that she is already too tall for. It's what I want to remember the most too.

A special assignment

Sometimes remote learning with Caroline is totally worth it. This assignment in her social category had her going around to each family member and telling them why she loves them, why they are so special to her and thanking them for doing something kind for her.

Get ready for some sweet and funny thoughts:

I love you because you're my dad. You are special to me because you work all day. Thank you for reaching stuff that I can't get.

I love you because you're my dog. You are special because you are my dog. Thank you for being my dog.

I love you because you're my sister. You are special because you try to be like me. Thank you for cheering me up when I cry.

I love you because you're my brother. You are special because you try to kill me now and then. Thank you for helping me with my puzzle.

I love you because you're my mom. You are special because you wanted a dog and got him for me. Thank you for making me food and naming me Caroline because its the prettiest name.

Lost in the Woods

At the beginning of Quarantine life I had to get the kids out of the house. So we decided to go hiking right outside of town. We had a great time together. We managed to make it back to our car and the kids thought it was hilarious that they had to pee in the woods since all the bathrooms were closed.

Three weeks later we decided to go hiking again. Same trail but this time we had Evan join us for our family adventure. We decided to let the kids pick a slightly new path from the one we had done prior as I was sure that there would be some sort of markings to guide us back to our starting point.

An hour later I had 3 kids who were complaining of being tired and a husband who was more than annoyed that we were "lost". I have no pictures of Lucy really on this hike due to the fact she insisted Evan carry her the entire time.


What do we do in a time of crisis? Cut through a field to get to the highway and then walk back to our car along the road. Fun times (or were they) and I hope a memory that we don't soon forget (or do I).

Let's just say we haven't been hiking since.

An interview with Liam

What's your favorite thing to do?
-sports, baseball, basketball, football, jump roping and reading

Things that sound fun but are not a good idea?
-wrestle a gator, go on a waterslide that goes straight down, climb Big Ben on the outside, jump out of an airplane

A few weeks ago we had Adriane stay with us for two weeks during this Quarantine (due to a broken foot). She and Liam had this conversation one afternoon.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
-policeman, swim with sharks, video game creator, life guard, baseball player for the White Sox

Where do you want to go when you can drive?
-Chicago and Florida

What is your favorite color?
-Blue

What class would you take?
-football and baseball class

If you could take books to a deserted island, which ones would you take?
-Diary of a Wimpy Kid, I survived..., How to survive a desert island, How to escape a desert island, How to make a phone in a desert island

If you could eat one food all three meals for the rest of your life what would it be?
-Banana bread, Peanut butter and jelly, chicken legs

If Archie could do three tricks what would they be?
-do a double back flip, clean up his own poop, learn a secret handshake, learn how to play sports

If there was a new movie what would you want it to be?
-the whole Bible

If you could invite people to your dinner who would they be?
-Frank Thomas, Eloy Jemenez, Derek Jeter, Joe Mauer, Chris Sale, Michael Jordan, Dick Van Dyke, Aaron Rodgers

If you could invite dead people to your dinner who would they be?
-Babe Ruth, Kobe Bryant, Roger Maris, Butters

I'll allow it

Life in Quarantine is interesting. While we still try to have a set schedule and our usual rules, there have been times where I just have to say....

I'll allow it.

Making a mud pit and then covering yourselves with it? I'll allow it.

Finding the birthday streamers, tying each other up and then decorating the dogs kennel? I'll allow it.

Braiding the girls hair so its crimpy the next day even if it takes me past their bedtime. I'll allow it. 

Going on a walk with Moana and her stroller with blue bear, even when I know she will ditch the stroller half way through the walk and I'll be carrying it and possibly her? I'll allow it. 

Multiple wardrobe changes a day with fancy dresses? While it means more laundry for me. I'll allow it. (I also cannot win this war)

Lunch picnics in our backyard? I'll definitely allow that. 

Donuts from Do-Rite in Chicago on a weekday? I'll definitely allow that one too. 

Life in quarantine is all about taking it easy. Being present with each other and thank goodness the outdoors. Some days are rough. Some days we do better. We try to remember to go with the flow. 

Lucy at 3 1/2

Lucy at 3 1/2 years old is something else. I want to share some of her funny sayings and behaviors.

Lucy says...
"That's terrible!" when she doesn't get her way
"Oh my GOSH!" when she is frustrated
"Just five minutes" in regards to anything time related
"Honey" when playing mom
"No thank you" very passively when she doesn't want to do something you suggested.
"OK!" very passively when she refuses to eat her food and the loss of dessert is impending.

Lucy is a light eater during meal times. She is a frequent snacker. She is the main reason as to why I have implemented the kitchen closed rule at certain times of the day.

Lucy has a terrible time going to bed at night. We start the process at 8 pm and the girls are usually in bed by 8:30 but Lucy likes to stay up until 9:30. She will sing to herself, play with her animals in her bed, get out of bed numerous times all with the goal to extend her day. Life is just so good when you're three, why make the day come to an end. Looking back, Caroline had this same issue when she was this age.

She loves to sit, for a few minutes anyway, when "school" begins for the big kids. She becomes more of a distraction though to Caroline and Liam as she doesn't quite understand how focused they need to be.

Lucy is a mover and shaker. She does not like to sit still and prefers to be constantly doing something. She will however sit for books and prefers to sit on your lap still. She still is in scribble mode while coloring but knows her ABC song very well. She can count up to 16 with no help but likes to throw in 45, 46, 47, 48 randomly.

She prefers to yell over speaking at a normal volume.

She still needs her naptime. She will go without one if we are busy and out of the house but will be cranky later. She usually sleeps for an hour and a half to two hours every day. She has recently transitioned into not needing a pull up for her nap.

Lucy loves to play with her siblings. She likes to play Mom with Caroline and also school. She loves her baby dolls and her stuffed animals taking care of them all. She really enjoys puzzles and also her small princess figurines. She loves Liam and when he makes forts for them to play in. She enjoys watching Spiderman, Boss Baby, Teen Titans Go and Daniel Tiger.

Her favorite color is green. Her favorite stuffed animal is blue bear.

Lucy now rides a two wheeler with training wheels. She loves to ride this bike on the sidewalks but still enjoys riding her tricycle with Caroline on the patio in our backyard as well.

She has about 4 wardrobe changes in a day. She usually will start in her Belle dress, switching over to a leotard, one of her sisters (very fancy) dresses and then ends up with  pants and a shirt when we need to get outside to play. I recently switched the girls dresser drawers so Lucy now has the bottom drawer and we got out the extra clothes rod for the closet so Lucy would stop climbing the dresser to access her clothes that were hung up high.

Lucy is a very funny girl. She likes to make silly faces and shake her booty to get you to laugh at her. She is such a joy to be around and makes life very interesting.