Day 1870 | Homemade Oreos

I’ve been on a bit of a baking kick during our time in social isolation—and no one around here is complaining about it. Last week the boys and I decided on a new recipe: Homemade Oreos. They were AMAZING. I really love Oreos. Honestly, we all do in this house. The homemade version isn’t exactly the same (obviously), but, man, they do the job of filling that Oreo-shaped hole in my life (which seems to constantly need refilling).

Almost just as amazing…can you believe I had ALL of the ingredients on hand? Sometimes I really impress myself.

Recipe for Homemade Oreos

Day 1869 | Virtual Piano Lessons

So this happened today. I set up a crazy apparatus as an iPad stand so the boys could participate in virtual piano lessons. Just another social isolation first to add to the list.

The lessons went well. The boys were good sports and their teacher is so talented and sweet. Another new normal.

Day 1868 | Stick Fire

I spent a chunk of yesterday picking up sticks around our yard. That’s what you do when you’re quarantined, right? After a lovely (but slightly cold) bike ride this morning, we came home and started a backyard campfire to take care of some of the sticks. Also, there were s’mores.

I wouldn’t say this is a normal 11am-on-a-Saturday activity for us, but what’s “normal” anymore anyway?

Day 1867 | Springtime Stroll

It got up to 60 degrees today and we busted out for a nice (and appropriately isolated) springtime stroll around the neighborhood. I’d say we were walking for about 30-40 minutes and the boys held hands the entire time (with no encouragement from me, mind you). It was incredibly adorable.

Day 1866 | Chalk

I don’t love chalk. I actually really really don’t like it. It’s such a mess, you know?

The sun was shining. We had just returned from a bike ride. I was feeling generous. We got out the chalk and tried out the new taping mosaic chalk trend that’s been going around. The results were pretty fantastic, actually. And then we watched a lot of people walk by our house and admire all of our hard work. It was totally worth the mess (and it was a total mess). But I still really don’t like chalk.

Day 1865 | Reading

Quiet time has become a very important part of our days as we navigate in this new isolated world. Thank goodness the boys seem to need the down time as much as I do. And the sunshine even kept us company today. That was a really lovely surprise.

Day 1864 | Homeschooling Update

Day five of homeschooling was another success. I have to admit [quietly] that I am enjoying this little experiment (most of the time). I think the boys are at the perfect age for this crazy, chaotic situation. As I said to a friend today, the boys are little enough that school doesn’t have to be super intense and overwhelming (for me as well as them). They remain each others’ best friends and can play happily for long periods of time. But they’re also old enough that they can function independently a lot and I can still work/get a breather in the midst of all the anxiety and stress that comes with trying to keep our lives moving along.

And truly, the boys have been total champs. They seem to really like our homeschooling schedule and are troopers for whatever I come up with for the day. Of course, they’re missing their friends and would probably pick regular school in a second, but we’re really hanging in there just fine.

I totally recognize how lucky I am.

*The photos above are from today’s science lesson about friction. This little Climbing Creature was super fun to make and both boys enjoyed the whole process. I think they even learned a little something!*

Day 1863 | Double Coconut Muffins

I posted a coconut muffin recipe on the blog awhile back (almost 1000 days ago, actually), and that one still holds up if you want a sugar-free option. This new recipe, is just so so good, though. It totally makes up for the added sugar. They’re like having cupcakes for breakfast. :)

Double Coconut Muffins

*Side note: I follow this recipe exactly but I do add one teaspoon of almond extract. I love almond extract.

Day 1862 | Puzzling

We completed quarantine puzzle #1 tonight. Stay tuned for how many we knock out through all of this.

Day 1861 | Bob & Joe

The boys decided to shoot this video today. Technically, I held the camera but the concept is entirely theirs and they wrote “the script”. Get excited…this is just the beginning for this duo. They’ve promised additional seasons.

Day 1860 | Dinosaur Work

The boy have been working hard around here. I taught them about bar graphs. They’ll definitely thank me for this.

Day 1859 | And so it begins

Our first day of non-normalcy went pretty well. Chase was a bit down all day. Robbe was the most helpful version of himself. We all express distress differently, don’t we?

Overall, the boys were super patient and kind. We brainstormed some details of our new home school arrangement (see photo above). And they even learned a thing or two: Robbe is super excited he can subtract now and I taught the boys kick ball. That should get me through the rest of the week, right?

Day 1858 | Homeschooling Begins

Robbe decided to immediately dive into his new math work when he got home from school (which was meant for the three-week quarantine break). I can’t imagine the enthusiasm will wear off or anything…

Day 1857 | Springtime Swing

We’ll be trying to find lots of outdoor activities to keep us entertained and sane over the next few weeks. Fingers crossed we get some decent weather.

Day 1856 | Piano Selfie

This week has been crazy. I’m sure it has been for you, too. Whew.

I’ve been running around like a maniac and, at the same time, have managed to take exactly zero photos. So, please accept this bonus photo from the piano recital last week. That works, right?

Day 1855 | Snug as a Bug

Snug as three bugs, actually. I really love these tiny humans.

Day 1854 | Trampoline Park Party

The dream birthday party for our new six year old?!? Obviously a trampoline park. We hosted 11 kids (only six were kindergarteners) for three hours. It was exhausting and super fun. Robbe was living his best life and I loved seeing him in that environment. Also, FYI, kids get really sweaty when they are sprinting and jumping for 2+ hours.

Day 1853 | Spring Piano Recital

Both boys are now performing pianists (see videos below)! It was so much fun watching them walk up on stage all confident and proud (and slightly nervous). Robbe played his song about twice as fast as he practiced it—it was adorable. And Chase managed to rock his piece after worrying me all week that he wasn’t going to pull it together.

All the hard work was worth it (or at least I think so!).

Day 1852 | A Fresh Cut

I feel like most people love the feeling of walking out of a hair salon with a new cut. I am not one of those people. I’m not picky about my hair—it’s not about that. It’s just that whenever I get my hair cut, they can’t style it wavy. I mean, they can add wave back in with an iron (or some other crazy contraption), but they can’t get my natural wave back. Something about all the combing it out for the cut itself. I usually end up loving the cut and have found a stylist I really like and will continue to go back to, but walking out of the salon with blow-dried, curled-under, straight hair always leaves me feeling like an imposter.

I look forward to tomorrow when I can see what my new do actually looks like. Stay tuned!

Day 1851 | Film Festival

These two hard-working second graders are making a movie! The boys’ school hosts a film festival every year and students can submit their own films—the biggest rule is no help from parents! Chase hosted his friend and film partner this afternoon to make some progress. It’s such a fun project.