This Will All Make Sense When I Am Older

Another day of isolation in the books for the Bonnetts. 

I didn't have us go back to our usual homeschool schedule because, to be honest, I needed one more day to process this new reality. I needed another day to let it really sink in. Honestly, my kids have been really great about all of this. They've been accepting of us being strict with restrictions and not getting to do things. It's actually been Thomas who asks almost daily, "Where are we going today?" When I answer, "Nowhere", he's just kind of nods and goes about his way to find something in the house to destroy.

It was absolutely gorgeous today. The kind of spring day we wait for all winter long. I told the kids we could go for a walk, which they were thrilled about. Elisabeth went for a run on her own, Julia rode her bike with us for a bit and then rode around the neighborhood by herself, so the three younger ones and I were left to meander on our own. Every person we ran into crossed the street and waved at my kids; same with older kids on bikes and scooters. 

We saw signs of spring! Birds were singing! Trees were budding! Green grass is growing!

Where the Sidewalk Ends.

As were walking back home, I noticed this:

 I have no idea, but my kids thought it was amazing and suggested we get one.

Junior highers practicing social distancing.

Actually, today was kind of hard with friends. It was a beautiful day, my kids wanted to be outside, but so did the neighborhood kids. I can tell Julia to stay 6ft away from friends and have her understand what I mean, but it's hard with the younger three. Vivian played soccer in our cul-de-sac with her best friend, which they stayed far apart from each other pretty well for the most part, but then they went to play with chalk and were shoulder to shoulder. They don't even think about it, because why should they?!

I ended up calling the kids in (and making them scrub themselves) and telling them that we probably should only play in the backyard, especially the boys. I think I can trust the girls to play within social distancing standards by being more specific, but I can't with the boys. But, maybe I should just make the girls stay in the backyard, too. Ugh. I feel like it's just such a hard thing for them and today was so lovely and I desperately wanted to be like, "Yes!! Go play!!".

This all is just scary. And it sucks.

Tomorrow we're going back to our regular schedule. Every one up by 8:30 (which is really just Julia and Elisabeth because the younger three are always up before 7), everyone breakfasted and dressed by 9. Do some school work, holler at the boys for trying to break all of our possessions, keep trying to do school work. Break for lunch, do some arts and crafts and/or play while Julia finishes anything she has left on her schedule for the day. Then it's a free for all till dinner.

Something we are adding is scheduled break times for me, Elisabeth, Julia, and Vivian. The older two and I get an hour each where we get to go to our rooms and do whatever we want with no interruptions. We started it today, and it was exactly what I needed. I read in my bed and was shocked how fast an hour can go by when not constantly interrupted. Vivian gets to take a break from having to play with the boys and can either go play in her room for 30 minutes alone or gets to play on the Wii by herself for 30 minutes. (Elisabeth got the Wiii working again! 10 years old and still kicking!!!)

One thing that is a concern for us is the our next grocery shopping trip. We did a huge grocery run on this past Friday, but since then it sounds like the stores are all short on supplies. I am planning on going this weekend to restock on perishables, but I am kind of dreading seeing what the stores look like. It gives me some anxiety and it's something that we can't control and are just going to have to do the best we can with what the stores have to offer. Honestly, thanks to my mother-in-law and her mad cooking skills that she taught me, I am confident I can make a lot of things from scratch if I have to (like bread) and can make meals from those odd cuts of meat that seem to still be in stores. I told the kids the other day that I could make pasta if the stores didn't have any and they all looked at me like I had lost my mind. Jana had bought me a pasta roller ages ago and I haven't used it in years, but she had me make it with her enough times I know I could if needed. But, as Evan pointed out, I can't make toilet paper, so I'm going to need people to quit hoarding it (and the soap and the paper towels and the loaves of bread and the chicken because, honestly, hoarding it is just not neighborly).

Here's to another day of making it through! I'm so thankful for smart phones and social media right now for being means of communication with loved ones. Despite their many flaws (I sometimes have to put my phone down for hours to stop myself from constantly trying to refresh the news), their redeeming qualities are much appreciated during these days of quarantine.

Into The Unknown

This might be a bit harder than I thought.

Not necessarily the homeschooling part, we're at a good place with that aspect. It took a while (which is why those of you with kids suddenly off of school should *not* panic!), because we basically had to find our rhythm and figure out how to get everyone's needs met while having babies and toddlers underfoot. It still gets sticky at times, but we've kind of found a groove.

What's going to be hard is not having our outside activities to break up our day. Vivian usually has piano lessons on Monday, which means school and things need to be done and picked up by 4:30. Elisabeth has to be at her high school by 11:15 to get to her first class of the day on time, which means that now our morning routine doesn't have a definitive time to be done.

No play practices, no times that neighborhood friends come home from school, no kids asking if our kids can play that gives us all a much needed break from each other (sibling bickering is strong with my crew).

It kind of dawned on me today that our new routine during these weeks of quarantine is going to be a lot like how it was first starting out with full time homeschooling--a big learning curve. We're going to  have to figure out how to live together-together. Like the Ingalls. We're like full up Little House on the Prairie-ing it up now, just with occasional trips to Walmart's pick up lane.

I think there's going to be a lot of fighting and crabbiness while we learn to carve out alone time in this house and how to always be around each other in a way we've never really had to be before. It isn't like a few snow days where we're all cooped up with movies and hot cocoa and a few days off of our normal routines. We're being forced to actually change our routine.

One thing that I am trying to be mature about is that I will not be getting any alone/away time for a loooooooooooong time. I have a sitter that comes each Wednesday for a couple of hours to watch the younger four kids while I get away and read a book at my favorite coffee shop. I usually go and run errands or grocery shop solo on weekends or after Elisabeth gets home from school. Evan and I try to go out for dinner alone every month or so. I think I am going to to have figure out how I can institute some alone time in my room. I'm sure no one will mind my disappearing regularly...

So, we're going to be doing learning as usual, but I'm going to try to implement more down time. I've never really had a designated quiet time, but I think we're going to all really need to add this to our schedule. I also would like to set up some goals, both domestic (all the cleaning and organizing!!) and personal (I'm looking at you TBR pile).

I'm thankful this is happening in as the weather is getting warmer all the time and I can kick kids outside. I'm thankful for the ability to still be able to connect with others through social medias and phones. I'm thankful for this space as somewhere where I can dump my thoughts and try to process this all. I'm also thankful to Disney+ for releasing Frozen II early because it truly was such a treat for them and they have watched it a million times already!

Vivian in head to toe leopard print! Her fav.

All of my kids are really into coloring and painting right now. It's actually a perfect activity right now.

Quarantined Times

Over four years is a long time to go between blog posts. I'm not even sure I remember how to write anymore!

I have been toying with the idea of blogging again for a few months. I wasn't sure if I should just start a brand new blog, if I should resurrect Elisablog, or just scrap the whole idea. But, my lovely friend Sarah suggested that those mommy-bloggers of ol' should chronicle our lives during this weird, frightening time of coronavirus and quarantine, and I thought that she might be right.

I remember messaging my friends on February 29th about what this coronavirus deal was and if I should be worried about it.  That seems like a really long time ago, but it was only a little over two weeks...which is so bizarre to really think about for too long.

Anyway, Evan (who loves the news and keeps up on it religiously) told me that it was something that was going to get serious and it wouldn't hurt to make sure that we weren't going to run out of things from the store anytime soon. I believe he suggested we make a small stock pile.

Usually, I am not someone who follows the news, but I really felt led to find out more about this virus and to take it seriously. I started following the fabulous Jenna Lee over at SmartHer News (if you are not following her, do it! She's on Instagram and she is such a levelheaded, honest news source). Evan and I started talking about what quarantine would look like for us after seeing Italy shut down and decided to make a big grocery run and start talking to the kids about coronavirus in an age appropriate manner for each of them.

Fast forward to Friday, March 13, when every school in Illinois was told they needed to be shut down by March 16th; all extracurricular events like sports, theater, and anything that would have more than 25 people was to be cancelled; to Sunday when they declared that all restaurants and bars in Illinois would be closed as of Monday (excluding drive thru and delivery). That is a lot of information to try to take in and I have no doubt that Monday morning will bring more changes.

We're holing up. We homeschool now anyway (besides Elisabeth, who is homeschooled half the day and attends the Catholic high school for the other half of the day), so our academic routine won't change too much, but all of our social and extra curriculars are done. No play practice (both girls were to have performances next weekend), no piano lessons, no youth groups, no science classes at the forest preserves or Discovery Center. We decided to not have anyone come into our house anymore and that the kids could play outside with the two families of neighborhood kids that make up our cul-de-sac crew, but after tonight, we're saying no to that, too.

I really feel wound up about this whole thing. I'm struggling with this being so epic and new and not having background knowledge to lean on besides what information China, Italy, and South Korea have given us just a few weeks ahead of our crisis.  I know plenty of people that think this is all being blown out of proportion, but I am following my gut. This is going to be huge and it is going to be like nothing we have experienced before. New things are hard to wrap our brains around, especially things that ask us as a culture to sacrifice in such a big way. We're being asked to think of others that we don't know, to trust medical professionals going through things in other countries that we can't see or witness. It would be so simple to just assume that the powers that be directing our country, state, county, city are talking to everyone else but *us*.

So, I am going to take the suggestion of Sarah and record this time in history with my family--what we're doing, how it's going for us. If anything, it will be cathartic for me and a journal for my kids one day about the crazy year in 2020 when the world shut down.

It's been a long time, but it is so nice to be back blogging. I started this blog eleven years ago to help Evan (who had just started training for the Air Force) keep up to date on me and our girls (little kindergarten Elisabeth and baby Julia!) and so that when we moved to our first base as an Air Force family, our families back in Illinois could keep tabs on our daily ins and outs (we didn't have smartphones yet!!!) with pictures and a play-by-play of our little family's moments.

Now we have five kiddos, we're settled back in Illinois after six years of moving to two different states with the Air Force, and I am rebooting this blog to chronicle a pandemic sweeping the world.

Crazy.

Books I read in 2015

My goal for the year was 65 books and I did not make that number. I ended the year with 39. Sigh.

To be honest, being pregnant and having a new born for all of 2015, 65 books was a lofty goal. Nonetheless, here's what I read:

1. The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (so good!)

2. A Dance With Dragons: Book Five of A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin  (so much better than book four!)

3. The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd (great book! definitely recommend!)

4. The Ear of the Heart: An Actress' Journey From Hollywood to Holy Vows by Mother Dolores Hart, O.S.B. and Richard DeNeut (!!)

5. Coraline by Neil Giaman (very good!)

6. The World's First Love: Mary, Mother of God by Fulton Sheen (I always learn from Fulton Sheen, great book!)

7. This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathon Trooper (meh)

8. The Story of A Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux

9. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty (I loved this book!)

10. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion (ok)

11. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (good book!)

12. The Temperament God Gave Your Kids by Art & Laraine Bennett (dude, these books are game changers)

13. The Temperament God Gave You by Art & Laraine Bennett

14. Half the Sky by Nicholas D Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn (very thought provoking. important read)

15. Five Children and It by Edith Nesbit (classic children's literature! must read!)

16. Fighter Pilot: The Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds by Robin Olds (with Christina Olds and Rd Rasimus) (one of the best memoirs and books I have ever read)

17. Revolution by Deborah Wiles (young adult book, good)

18. Trigger Warning by Neil Giaman (!!)

19. Far From The Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy (fantastic!!)

20. Yes Please by Amy Poehler (pretty good)

21. Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver (good!)

22. The Road to Character by David Brooks (great book! one I highly recommend!!)

23. Euphoria by Lily King (pretty good)

24. Lord Have Mercy: The Healing Power of Confession by Scott Hahn (!!)

25. Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol by Ann Dowsett Johnston (interesting)

26. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (Dude!!! Read this!!! Thank me later)

27. Rosaries Aren't {Just} For Teething edited by Michele E. Chronister (quick but good read!)

28. Surprised by Joy by C. S. Lewis (I do so love C. S. Lewis)

29. The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie (good)

30. One Plus One by Jojo Moyes (good!)

31. Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout by Lauren Redniss

32. The Paradise by Emile Zola (!!)

33. Lean In: Women, Work, and The Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg (great read, great book club discussion!!)

34. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (ok)

35. Slade House by David Mitchell (ok)

36. The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood (great!)

37. Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson (hilarious! I laugh-cried!)

38. A Christmas Story by Jean Shepherd (!!)

39. A Wild Swan by Michael Cunningham (ok)


My goal this year is to read 45 books. What are your reading goals? What was your favorite book last year?

Last weekend of the summer

Next week the school year officially begins for us. Julia is starting second grade at Holy Family on Wednesday and, a week from this Monday, Elisabeth will be starting at her new school Marshall Middle School (more about that later).

So, we decided to take a day trip and do something fun yesterday-- go to Lake Michigan!!

Before we got to the lake we made a stop in Libertyville, IL at Marytown where the National Shrine of St. Maximillian Kolbe is located. St. Maximillian's feast day was on Friday and he is Elisabeth's favorite saint. Since it was on our way, we decided to swing by and check out the museum, the chapel and the gardens.

What we didn't take into account is that Marytown would be very busy because, you know, his feast day was the day before, so there was no one available to give us a tour because it was also the feast day of the Assumption of Mary. Plus we got there right as Mass had started and we probably should have just gone to Mass, but we were dressed like beach bums and the kids were borderline hangry.

So we just decided to check out the gift shop (so many books!!!) and tour one garden since the humidity was so thick we choked on it everytime we stepped outside.

We've decided to go back in the fall when the weather is nicer and definitely plan on attending Mass. Then we'll also be able to tour the gardens a little more thoroughly without sweating ourselves into puddles.

We decided to try out the beaches at Illinois Beach State Park in Zion, IL. It was all free and only about 2 hours from Rockford. Turns out we (and a bunch of other people) picked a perfect day to spend at the lake. It was hot but the humidity vanished as soon as we got to the water. We had packed a picnic lunch to keep the younger two girls quiet about how hungry they are all the time (I am officially a snack time referee which is a thankless job).

We were kind of surprised at how short the beach was from the parking lot. But, it fit us and all our gear so no complaints. Plus, the girls just loved it sooooo much. 

This is how David and I spent our beach time-- under our giant umbrella in the shade napping and reading, respectively.

Of course, Vivian brought her trusty dump truck.

The girls found this guy with the metal detector fascinating and got really close to him to watch. 

And now it is back to the school year grind. My calendar is already filling up super fast. It's like a sharpie pen has bled all over the end of August. In a good way, of course.

When Vivian Goes On A Bike Ride...

She supervises the loading of the bikes. 

 She stops to exercise.

Tries to wake up the ducks.

 Watches the trolley go by.

Digs in the dirt.

Throws sticks into the river.

Rides way ahead of Mommy and Elisabeth.

Crosses the train tracks.

Skeptically looks at the swan.

Says hi to her statue friend.

Leads David.

Gets passed by Julia.

Gets so excited when Daddy rides next to her!

What I've been reading (Jan-May 2015)

I realize that I have not been keeping you current on what I've been reading this year and for that I truly apologize. I've been reading at a snail's pace and am not anywhere on track with keeping up with my reading goals for the year.

In fact, I had to refresh myself on what my reading goals even were for the year!

They are:

1. Read 60 books in 2015.  Dude, I will be lucky if I get to that number. Seriously. Pregnancy and newborn babies make it hard to read books quickly.

2. Participate in Modern Mrs. Darcy's 2015 Reading Challenge.  I have been kind of keeping track of that and need to see which categories I've completed and what's left.

3. No purchasing books in 2015.  The one goal I have faithfully stuck to! And, my word, it is hard. I'd really been thinking about making this a goal a few months before 2015 came around. Did I have the willpower as a book obsessed bibliophile to NOT buy books for an entire year?! Not even one little dime?!?!  So far, the answer is, Yes I can! I have only borrowed books from the library or friends. Now, this has been frustrating when the books I need to read for book club are not available. Oh man, it was sooooo tempting to just buy them off amazon. But, it's really only happened twice and, guess what?!, I survived! I still plan on reading the books, especially after hearing the ladies from book club rant and rave and have a great discussion about them, but I did not self implode because I didn't get the book in time.

Now that I've refreshed you all about my reading goals (you are welcome), here's what I have read so far this year:

JANUARY:

1. The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling)

Usually, I am not a huge murder mystery book fan, but I could not put this book down. I truly was not 100% sure who the murderer was and kept going back and forth between a few characters, which I attribute entirely to Rowling's writing. I loved the main character, Coromon Strike, flaws and all! I'll be definitely seeking out the other books in this series. (Also, J.K. Rowling fan FOR LIFE, peoples!)

2. A Dance with Dragons: Book 5 of A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin

Man, talking about authors I love, I just can not get enough of Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. In fact, I had been putting off reading this book because he is not done writing book six and I hated the idea of waiting forever to read another book from this series. But, Evan finished it and needed someone to talk about it with, so I caved. Now I'm one of the many Martin junkies waiting for my next fix.

3. The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

I had never read a book by Kidd and this was a great book to be my first introduction to her writing. I had no clue until I was reading the author's notes at the end of the book that the main character, Sarah Grimke, was a real person! Made the book even better! An amazing story of breaking cultural norms we often grow up with, I found this book spellbinding and could not put it down. I loved discussing it at our book club!

4. The Ear of the Heart: An Actress' Journey From Hollywood to Holy Vows by Mother Dolores Hart, O.S.B. and Richard DeNeut

This book is written in a back and forth narrative between Mother Dolores and DeNeut on Mother Dolores' journey from being an actress to following a calling she couldn't ignore of becoming a nun. I love hearing stories about how people lived in the 1940s and 50s because it reminds me of how my Grandma tells stories from her life at that time--more freedom to roam, neighbors being like family. This book was well written and I loved not only hearing about how being an actress in Hollywood was during this time, but also what living a life in a monastery is like as well. A great book!

FEBRUARY

5. Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Dude, I am a die hard Gaiman fan now. Elisabeth and I both read this book and were completely captivated. A children's book, it is not one I would read to very young children, but would be pushing on older elementary students for sure. Gaiman's storytelling is so compelling with enough of a dark side to give you chills but not keep you up all night. Ugh, I just love his writing!

6. The World's First Love: Mary, Mother of God by Fulton Sheen

This was one of the books I read during Lent. I love Fulton Sheen's writing style. He has a way of taking complex ideas and concepts and putting them in terms where you find yourself saying, "Oh! That makes a lot of sense!". I learned a lot about Mary and had a ton of my questions as a Catholic convert answered. It's a book I put on my To Buy list (you know, since I had to borrow this one from the library).

MARCH

7. This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper

I had mixed feelings about this book. It was well written, quick paced, but so negative and depressing. There were no redeeming characters, no one to relate or connect with in the story. The people were so toxic that I didn't find it entertaining and it felt too fabricated. I'm not sure if the movie would be better, but I do love me some Tina Fey, so maybe I'll try watching the movie. 

8. The Story of a Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux

Another book I wanted to read for Lent, this book has been on my shelf for ages. This'll probably be a book I pick up again and again over the years because I know it is full of things about the Catholic faith that I won't absorb with just one (or ever three or four!) readings. To be honest, I had a hard time relating to St. Therese. Despite not being able to connect with her seemingly unfaltering faith (I would probably relate better to those saints who struggled with their faith for a while), I still found her writings fruitful.

APRIL

9. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

Oh my goodness, I loved loved loved this book! It's been on my shelf for over a year now and I could kick myself for not picking it up ages ago! It was book that I had to have a break after because the characters and story were still hanging around in my brain and I didn't have room for new characters and books until I had mulled over this book for a day or so. I just really loved how full Moriarty's characters were and how well she pieced back Alice's life for us (and for Alice) with humor and raw emotions. Definitely one I recommend!

10. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

This book was a simple, fun, amusing read. Not one I'll be keeping on my forever bookshelf, but one that would be good for summer beach reading or for those suffering from pregnancy brain (like yours truly). 

11. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

This book was superb--I couldn't put it down! Rowell tapped into that first love experience perfectly. I was smitten by both main characters equally and loved getting both of their perspectives on their relationship. Rowell's writing is inviting and engaging. I will be seeking out more of her books!

12. The Temperament God Gave Your Kids by Art & Laraine Bennett

13. The Temperament God Gave You by Art & Laraine Bennett

Oh my word, I could talk about these books and the four temperaments until your ears bled! I borrowed these books from a friend (Hi, Kara!) who was so passionately enthusiastic about the power of understanding your temperament and the temperament of those around you that I had to see for myself what she was talking about. Obviously these books have a lot about how your temperament can shape your faith life (they do have God in the titles), but I ended up seeking out the sources they cited and looking deeper into the temperaments. Seriously, totally life changing and such a great tool in not only learning about yourself but your loved ones and what makes them tick/react to the world around them. The Bennetts have another book, The Temperament God Gave Your Spouse, and I'm totally going to read that one too. 

14. Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn

My friend Rachel recommended this book to me and she rarely steers me wrong. This was no exception. A non fiction book about how to help change women's lives all over the world who are being oppressed, this book was hard to read. I often had to put it down and walk away because a lot of what they talk about and the stories of women that they share are heavy. Kristof and WuDunn have been actively participating in grassroot groups to help women globally for years now and you can tell in their writing that this is not just a job or a story for them. A powerful read and one I would recommend.

15. Five Children and It by Edith Nesbit

Wonderful children's book! Written in 1902, Nesbit was a contemporary to JM Barrie, Beatrice Potter, Lewis Carroll, and others from that time period. I can not wait to share this book with my kids, especially Julia who loves classic children's literature. I'll be seeking out more of Nesbit's work to add to my library.

MAY

16. Fighter Pilot: The Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds by Robin Olds (with Christine Olds and Ed Rasimus)

Evan read this book last year and told me I would really like it. When he found it at a thrift store he grabbed it for me. (Honestly, how freaking awesome is it to have your husband buy you books to read because he liked the book so much?) I only knew of Robin Olds from bits and pieces Evan had told me over the years (ex: he's why there is a Mustache March). This book was fantastic. Olds voice is conversational and easy to follow, even with all the technical Air Force pilot jabber. What an amazing man! I would love to read/see more about him (he did lots of History Channel stuff about being a pilot in WWII and Vietnam). The ending of the book had me sobbing. A great memoir!

17. Revolution by Deborah Wiles

This is a YA book we read for book club and I really enjoyed it. It's technically the second in a series about the 1960s, but it can totally be read as a stand alone book. Based on the Freedom Summer in Greenwood, Mississippi in 1964, it's told from 3 different points of view of kids living in that town. I really liked how Wiles incorporated real pictures, facts, quotes, news stories and testimonies of things from that summer, both political and personal. An excellent read for middle schoolers and one I'm encouraging Elisabeth to read.

18. Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman

I told you I love him! I usually am not a fan of a book of short stories, but this one was wonderful. How Gaiman can make your hair stand up from one short story that is maybe four pages long is why I love his writing. I'd say out of the dozen stories there were maybe 2 or 3 that I only felt "meh" about. I also appreciated that he had a small summary for the what and why of each story in his introduction. So, I would read a story and then go back to the front and find out why he had written it. I finished it Sunday and then peer pressured Evan to start reading it before the library demands it back.

You all are so sweet to have read this all! I promise to not do 5 months worth of books in one post again. Scouts honor. 

Now it's your turn. Whatcha been reading? Let me know so I can put it on hold from the library!!!