The Corona Virus - A Global Pandemic - Our Family's Journal - Week 7 of Quarantine (Friends - GOBROMO Established, Home Projects Non-stop, School down to 2-3 Days a Week.)

Week 7 of Our New World: April 25 - May 1, including including Days 43 - 49 of Family Quarantine. Focusing this week on: Friends, Home Projects Non-stop, School down to 2-3 Days a Week.

The Saturday morning after an impromptu fun Friday night, brought Blake and I's 12 mile run. We were pumped when Alan and Liberty joined us for the second half of the run. I was so proud of us, having a night like we did and getting up bright and early to take on a 2 hour and 10 minute run. I'm not going to lie, the last 2 miles was tough and having the Gonzales there to chat the entire way, made such a big difference.

The kids have been getting along so good the last couple of weeks, they are getting their school work done ridiculously fast, with Addison done by Wednesday and Carter finishing by Thursday, I think they are both trending to be done by Wednesday this week. Delaney has consistently been finishing 100% of her school work by Tuesday and we concentrate on adding curriculum to her week's reading, writing and science topics and spend at least 30 minutes each, on top of their school work doing Khan Academy, istation Spanish reading and Prodigy Wednesday, Thursday & Friday. Over the past 4 weeks, I feel confident with the learning they are having, both out of books and online and equally as important, life lessons. Carter asked for a daily Bible reading plan that he started this week.

The new way of life is becoming more normal.

On a daily basis, we are pausing to see how much good has come to us over the past 7 weeks. As an example, tonight, Blake and I spent an hour planting Bluebonnet Seeds in a large section of our yard that had never had bluebonnets and had fun joking that in 9 months, instead of a bundle of joy, we will hopefully have a giant new area of Bluebonnets that are only there because of the time allotted us due to Corona. The special moments were abundant this week.

The house projects are non-stop. Starting, in week 5, Blake and I had to come together and decided on the 4-8 outdoor projects and the 2-3 indoor projects that we would focus on each week, so not to get distracted starting a dozen other things. It has helped us tremendously.

One of my very favorite we started this week was a multi week neighborhood clean up. With spending so much time running in our neighborhood, I was saddened by how much trash there is along the roads. So we started picking up trash section by section.

We found ALL of this on a short 1 mile stretch.

For the non-stop cooking that we have been doing for 45 days, we refocused our meal plan this week on ingredients and items that have been in our pantry for a long time and for what ever reason, have gone un-sued. We focused on creating our menu around, Champagne Gravy that make us think of our old beloved neighbors, Corky and Evelyn Salinas, tuna fish out of can that Blake always buys and yet, never eats, Au Ju Juice, Corn bread, spicy noodles, egg drop noodles and more. It was fun to use them up. Our HEB bill has tippled to quadrupled in April, but the good news is NOTHING is being thrown out or going to waste. Carter is making his amazing guacamole at least 2 times a week. The kids choose to pick up food from Olive Garden for our eat out meal, this week!

There were so many special moments due to our quarantined time together this week.

Closet dance parties.

This was the perfect time to slow down and teach Carter how to shave.

Last Friday, I realized that I had gone 44 days without leaving our neighborhood gates alone. So, I made a point on Monday, to run a couple of errands to the Pet Store for dog food and to the Post Office to drop off some returns.

This Friday night, we held our first official GOBROMO meeting. It was seriously one of the most fun nights we have had in all of COVID-19!