There will never be a better time to catch up on blogging than during this time home. As of today we have now been home full time for 29 days! Its flown by. At first I was nervous about missing a few weeks of work to be home while the girls schools were projected to be closed for 2 whole weeks, right before Spring Break. I was afraid my network wouldn't work and the time would just be wasted. How wrong was my perspective 4 weeks ago. At first I was determined to use the time to have the girls catch up on school, Awana, soccer, piano, softball, while Justin and I did all the house hold projects, de-cluttering and prepping to sell our house. the list never ended. Instead of slowing down, my first thought was to make the most of this time. Great, I have a few extra hours to get even more stuff in to my day.
The first week went as you can imagine. We fell flat on our faces. We did get a lot done. The checklists were getting smaller. We even had time to have a St. Patrick's Day last party with our close group of friends. However, my computer went down and it was the end of the world. We packed up and spent a few hours at my work. Instead of enjoying the last few hours with my co-workers before we would work remotely indefinitely, I crammed to do as much as I could from my desk. I brought stuff for the girls to do. Because they could not waste a few hours where they could otherwise check things off their lists. Even typing this, I am in shock.
Week 2 came and the girls had real school work to do. At this point, I had all the kinks in my work figured out. I was successfully getting a full 8+ hours in every single day, Yah me! The girls lists were huge... like 6 hours of school work if they maximized every "required" item and all the optional items as well. Great, they can now do their school, soccer, Awana, piano, add write letters to all distant relatives, Facetime with Grandparents and connect with their friends and get their daily bike rides in. Yup, that lasted one week.
Week 3.. We have found a balance of doing all the required school work and none of the optional. PE, yeah covered with our now every other day bike rides. Technology, come on, that's what school is now anyways. Music, piano lessons are sufficient. Science, go make lunch and use measuring cups. Problem solved... Something happened this week. Through it all, we have found so much peace in doing nothing. Family dinner, every single night and ending with games and movies. It's become my own slice of heaven.
Week 4 is Spring Break. School has now been closed indefinitely... a new common word around here. Kids are required to do their normal morning routines, 45 minutes of educational activities and then whatever they want the rest of the day. It was a break we all needed. We certainly have not found the most ideal balance, but we (as in me) have been flexible with going with the flow.
I hope looking back on this time, I remember what its like to watch the girls learn a new school concept. Family game night. Sharing new inside jokes and enjoying all the small things. I hope the girls friendship continues flourish. I hope they remember all the helpers. Looking for ways to help others, and identifying all the people who are making this such a wonderful time.
Saturday, April 11, 2020
Sunday, February 23, 2020
Costa Rica 2020
Costa Rica is a place I have wanted to visit for awhile. It was our first attempt at getting the girls out of the country (besides Mexico). We planned an 8 day trip over the girls "ski week."
We flew in to San Jose, Costa Rica. It's one of the two international airports in Costa Rica. Unfortunately, it's the further airport from the areas we were wanting to visit. However, do to costs and times, it was the better option. We arrived after midnight and took an uber to our hotel. The hotel had a Mediterranean feel. It was beautiful in every way. We slept a short night there and then drove to our first destination, Arenal Volcano. It was a few hour drive through the beautiful country. Once we arrived, it was very green, moist and cloudy (normal being at the top of a volcano). Our hotel had over 30 tropical springs. We played around in several of them. We had dinner at a local restaurant with views over the volcano. The next morning we went on a river raft ride. We saw tons of unique birds, sloths and monkeys. Later in the afternoon we drove to the coast.
Once we arrived in Guanacasta we saw some of our soccer friends. It was nice to see some familiar faces. We spent the week relaxing at the JW Marriott, zip lining and horse back riding. Horse backing ride was a highlight for the girls. We started in the trees and ended on the beach. We saw monkeys in the trees and even a random cow. Both girls did wonderful on the horses and want to do it again soon. Zip lining was quite the adventure. The girls were brave and we all had a great time. We visited a few local towns. In one we rented jet skis and went out to the ocean. Addy and I rode together with a modest speed. Addy had fun pushing the acceleration. Justin and Alexa had a more adventure approach. They had quite the speed. Although it ended with some blood and tears, they had a wonderful time. We are all wanting to do it again.
On the Marriott property there were a lot of wild, but fed horses. We took several trips out to see them. We brought them apples and enjoyed their company. One day they even got into the parking lot and we helped guide them back to the fields. The Marriott also offered a kids club. This was a first for us besides the cruises kids club. The girls enjoyed stopped in and doing a craft while we were having some quiet time.
Costa Rica is a fabulous country and we hope to go back in the future.
We flew in to San Jose, Costa Rica. It's one of the two international airports in Costa Rica. Unfortunately, it's the further airport from the areas we were wanting to visit. However, do to costs and times, it was the better option. We arrived after midnight and took an uber to our hotel. The hotel had a Mediterranean feel. It was beautiful in every way. We slept a short night there and then drove to our first destination, Arenal Volcano. It was a few hour drive through the beautiful country. Once we arrived, it was very green, moist and cloudy (normal being at the top of a volcano). Our hotel had over 30 tropical springs. We played around in several of them. We had dinner at a local restaurant with views over the volcano. The next morning we went on a river raft ride. We saw tons of unique birds, sloths and monkeys. Later in the afternoon we drove to the coast.
Once we arrived in Guanacasta we saw some of our soccer friends. It was nice to see some familiar faces. We spent the week relaxing at the JW Marriott, zip lining and horse back riding. Horse backing ride was a highlight for the girls. We started in the trees and ended on the beach. We saw monkeys in the trees and even a random cow. Both girls did wonderful on the horses and want to do it again soon. Zip lining was quite the adventure. The girls were brave and we all had a great time. We visited a few local towns. In one we rented jet skis and went out to the ocean. Addy and I rode together with a modest speed. Addy had fun pushing the acceleration. Justin and Alexa had a more adventure approach. They had quite the speed. Although it ended with some blood and tears, they had a wonderful time. We are all wanting to do it again.
On the Marriott property there were a lot of wild, but fed horses. We took several trips out to see them. We brought them apples and enjoyed their company. One day they even got into the parking lot and we helped guide them back to the fields. The Marriott also offered a kids club. This was a first for us besides the cruises kids club. The girls enjoyed stopped in and doing a craft while we were having some quiet time.
Costa Rica is a fabulous country and we hope to go back in the future.
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