Happy 1st day of spring! It definitely does not feel like spring in Iowa right now, but it’s nice knowing that spring is on it’s way. Hopefully. I feel like you just never know what could happen these days…
Our spring break was this week, so our school board just met yesterday to finalize their decisions for the coming weeks. We don’t return to school until April 13th (at the earliest😬). We don’t have to make up any of these missed days, and standardized state testing is postponed. They are not requiring online schooling, but the teachers will be sending materials, resources, and everything we need in order to teach our kids at home. I will be dusting off my old teaching supplies and setting up a few things for us to start homeschooling on Monday. But let’s be clear: just because I used to be a teacher does not qualify me to be an awesome teacher to my own kids. My mom sent this meme to me and it’s completely accurate:
I’m so thankful for all the resources that people have shared already, and all the learning apps/websites that are offering free memberships right now. I love when our nation comes together in times of crisis, and I really hope it lasts even after Covid-19 leaves town. I am planning to share some of the things we do for school on here, in the hopes that it can give others ideas to use in their homes as well. Because I think we’ll all be in need of ideas/inspiration/hope/hail mary’s during this time.
And, just for fun…here’s a few pictures from our super laid back St. Patrick’s Day. 💚🍀
Max had a *slight* case of hat hair after being outside. 
Our little artist, Grace, drew pictures for her and Tess to color. She also wrote “chocolate yum good” on Tessa’s picture and wanted me to read it. I got yum and good, but chocolate was a little tricky to decipher. 🤦🏽♀️
When Tessa saw the shamrocks everywhere, she ran upstairs and grabbed a book that was given to her from the Cloves Syndrome Community. Oh my heart. She absolutely loves this book, even though she doesn’t quite understand it’s true meaning yet. But we talk about she’s just like the little girl in the book who has lumps and bumps on her body that sometimes hurt. And how she’s brave like the little boy who has to go to the doctor a lot. 💚 This book is perfect. 
Claire made us a special St. Paddy’s day cake. Vanilla cake, vanilla icing, and lucky charms? Yeah, I’m in. 
The girls did a simple little craft as well. I used the tops of pizza boxes and taped a picture of a shamrock to the bottom. I added two small piles of green paint on either side of the picture as well as a marble. The girls moved the box back and forth, rolling the marble in the paint and across the picture so it “painted” the picture. They loved it, and there’s absolutely no mess. 👌🏼 
Cute glasses, rainbow napkins, and shamrock cookies also helped make the day fun. Our days all kinda look the same right now, so anything slightly out of the ordinary is exciting! 
I’m sure a little home schooling structure will be really good for everyone! Maybe my sister-in-law can web cam some spanish lessons 😛 Still loving the small ways to celebrate even in the midst of the chaos. And for posting blogs, because I don’t have much else going on…haha.