Quarantine Spring Break

We started out Spring Break with a wee bit of snow. It didn't last, but it was fun to watch. The rest has been rain...so much rain.

 Zane's ATA classes have moved to a Zoom format and so far it's going well. There are, of course, adjustments to be made by everyone, but we're all doing the best we can. We rearranged the guest room so he'd have more space and he's got a private Zoom scheduled to work out some kinks in his form.

 My wipers messed this pic up, but it's a sign for drive thru testing near the university. COVID-19 cases are up to 54 in Boone county.

 Social time has moved online too! The kids both have the Messenger Kids app, Zoom has been great, and Zane also talks to his buddies through the PS4 while they play games together. It's really blurring the line for acceptable screen time!

 Over the weekend I cleaned the garage and got rid of so much stuff! It felt great. I made a pile in the driveway and then put out a notice on our neighborhood FaceBook page for people to just come pick it up. We didn't have to interact with anyone and we have so much more space. Win - win! Afterward, I discovered my van was dead and we couldn't jump it so I resorted to reading and relaxing in the sun instead.

 Hannah's class held a trial run of Zoom meetings. She was excited that Ozzy got to meet her classmates.

 I had a Zoom happy hour with my friend too!!

 Zane beat me at chess.

 I know there are differing opinions about the effectiveness of handmade masks. Our opinion is that something is better than nothing and we wanted something for when we have to go to the grocery store. Then the kids wanted some (even though they won't be going to the grocery store with us). Then I thought I should make 2 for each person in case we needed time to disinfect one of them...so it turned into a bit of a project. I had to stop on the first day so I wouldn't scream and yell and break my sewing machine...then I took a bath to calm down and regroup. The day after I didn't even think about the project. The day after that I put my big girl pants on and got it done. It would have been a lot easier if I had the right size elastic but since I had to make the ties it was way more of a time investment. Alas, here they are!

 Hannah likes her new accessory. We told her she doesn't need to wear it around the house, or to walk Ozzy, or to ride her bike...but she likes to anyway. I used the pattern that has a hole in the back to put filtration material inside to better block droplets from getting through. We'll be using coffee filters when we go to the store.

Day 13 of quarantine: Spring break is over now and today we got back to homeschooling. I think these teachers are geniuses for a seemingly seamless transition into distance learning. Here is part of Hannah's morning lesson. 

Mason helps Zane out with fractions in between conference calls. 

 And if it all seems like too much to handle....this is why we do it (Zane's room is too dark to sneak a pic.). We as in all of us. We're staying home right now and uprooting our lives and changing and adapting for THEM. Love to you all. Stay safe.

Quarantine Schedule

Today is day 5 of our self-qaurantine due to COVID-19. The schools closed on March 18th, but the kids and I weren't there because Zane had tummy bug hit on the 17th, so I took them both home and we all called in the next day. I wasn't going to send them anyway but it was extremely nice of Z to get sick and give me an excuse to stay home too! We have been homeschooling since then. Thankfully, there are a lot of creative, organized people out there and I was able to find this schedule that's been working great for us. The kids wake up WAY before 9 (Zane as early as 5:15 sometimes, so they use that time for reading and screens). The caveat that they have to follow the schedule and get along to stay up later has been fantastic!

 On St. Paddy's day we took a neighborhood walk to look for Shamrocks in people's windows. Our neighborhood has a Facebook group and has really come together to support each other. One of the things they're doing is little organized things for the kids. Houses made Shamrocks and hung them in their windows for people to walk around and count. We counted 20 (including the 2 on Hannah's headband).

 For quiet time Zane and I made cookies while Hannah took a nap (!!!). He made 80% of them all by himself. I'm so happy that he's taking an interest in cooking...I'm sure he's enjoying the final products as well!

 Decorating was a group project.

 Someone else in Columbia set up a 30 Day LEGO challenge and posts a new building challenge every day. The kids are really into it and ask every morning what they're making today! This one was to make a mosaic.

 Hannah made us a bathroom pass for our home school.

 One day we couldn't take our morning walk due to rain, so we went in the afternoon instead. There were quite a few people out but every one was really curious and obeying the 6 foot rule by walking in the grass when passing others, but still saying hello. There were so many little snail buddies on the path!

 Hannah helped them out, so they wouldn't get squished by walkers or bikers, and moved them to the other side in the direction they were going.

 LEGO challenge: build for 5 minutes...blind folded! They were both disappointed with their creations, but it was a fun process.

 This is one of the projects that the art teacher sent home for Hannah. I think it turned out really great!

 Of course we are doing regular school work too!

 We saw this one on Facebook too. We had all the stuff so we thought we'd brighten up the neighborhood a little bit.

 Zane was back in the kitchen, this time making chocolate chip cookies. I barely helped at all this time! It's really hard to stick to my diet when there's all these handmade cookies around!

 "Tallest tower" LEGO challenge. The top brick is a mailbox that has a tiny LEGO monkey in it...because why not.

 Today was chilly, but sunny, so we ventured out to walk the MKT trail in Rocheport for a change of scenery. The river was really high!

 This little hut usually has several feet of clearance above the river.

Boone County (where we are) has an official count of 10 cases. Most likely, it's much higher because of all the hoops people are having to jump through to get tested. The doctors are scared and are calling on people to stay home. Do your part and STAY HOME.

Egg Geodes + COVID-19 in MO

Hannah checked out a library book from school about how to do a few scientific experiments at home. We tried Egg Geodes, and while the end product wasn't the same as the photo in the book, it was still a cool result. First, you painted egg shells with glue and sprinkled Alum Powder on them.

 After dry, let sit for 15 hours in water that is also mixed with alum powder.

 The book showed crystals on the interior of the eggs that made them look like mini geodes. We got these metallic flower designs on the exterior of the eggs. Maybe because we used brown egg shells instead of white? The wrong glue? We're not sure, but it was still a fun process.

Currently there are NO CONFIRMED CASES of COVID-19 in Columbia...but a few unconfirmed through social media. Plus the lack of available tests leads me to believe that it's here, we just don't know about it yet. As of now school is still open. We have one more week until Spring Break and the schools are doing everything they can to keep kids safe. There is no touching allowed, the lunchroom has switched from a self-serve salad bar to everything being handed out in single serving packets, so much sanitizer, several field trips have been cancelled, and there are several families who are choosing to keep their kids home. I will honestly be surprised if they don't close schools before break.

MU and Stephen's College have moved to online classes until the beginning of April. I know high schoolers were asked if they have access to a device and internet at home in case of closures. One of the biggest concerns of closing schools is the kids who really rely on breakfast and lunch not being able to get it, so closing is not a decision they are taking lightly. My friend's dad is in a nursing home and they're not allowing anyone in or out. She has them bring him to the lobby so they can wave at him through the door :( It seems extreme, but we need to do these things to protect the most vulnerable.

I went to the grocery store this morning because I needed soy butter and a few other things to make Oaty Balls (a favorite kid snack). Shelves with toilet paper and children's fever medicine were empty. There was also no ground beef. We've got all of our gluten free staples and some fun snacks to pull out in case this thing drags on.

The Rippeys are ready. We've got all of Hannah's meds up to date and on hand and have stocked up on groceries for everyone (luckily, the allergy friendly foods aren't as popular as everything else!). Our weekend has been really low-key because Zane's last basketball game and team gathering was cancelled, Hannah's dance class was cancelled, and we're not venturing out in search of crowds. The wedding reception we were looking forward to in Virginia at the beginning of April has been postponed. For now, the kids are still playing with neighbors, but as the virus effects Columbia more we will most likely self-quarantine. I know younger people are not the target demographic but we've got 2 in this house with asthma, one of whom is 7 who's asthmatic trigger is respiratory issues. No thanks. It's not worth it. I would rather read, watch movies, play games, take naps, and be told I'm overreacting than take that chance!

Stay safe everyone!

March March + BLACK Belt

Hannah and I needed a break so we went to Belize. Ha! I wish. We went and got smoothies while brother was at Lego Robotics club and pretended we were in Belize.

This was the gorgeous sunset the other night while we were exercising the pooch at the dog park.

On Monday, Hannah was told by one of the art teachers that she could hold the banner for the school in the March March parade. Awesome! The only problem was that Zane's belt test was the same night  so I quick made some phone calls and found someone to take her along with them. We're so thankful for our community here! The theme this year was Foresight 20/20...so we made some eyeball hats out of some playground balls that needed a new life.

On Friday there was a much needed happy hour at a teacher friend's house after school. We killed two birds with one stone and got Hannah ready at her house and went straight to the parade from there. Everyone wins!

Hannah with her buddy.

Zane was a knotted mess of nerves and attitude all week ahead of his black belt test. We tried not to take anything personally and we all made it through. The most nerve wracking part of the test (even when it's not your kid, but 10x more when it is!) is that even if they do well on their forms, if they don't break their boards they don't get their new belt. They get three tries on each kick/hit and after that they have to wait until the next belt test. Since Zane is 10 he was only required to break the green boards for his back elbow and front jump kick. Master Hockman asked him to try the harder blue boards during testing because of his size and because he'd broken them in class before. Below are stills from the video I took of him busting through it on the first try!! 

He kicks with his left but is right handed. Interesting.

 The back elbow strike was trickier for him. He tried twice on the blue board and was SUPER close, but close doesn't cut it. On the last try, they swapped the blue board for the green and he got it! Go Zane!! We all breathed a huge sigh of relief after that.

 For the belt presentation, each new black belt goes up front to receive his/her new belt and Master Hockman gives a little speech about the student. It's fun to listen to what he has to say about each kid. With Zane he talked about how he was proud of him for trying to break a harder board than he was supposed to and having a positive, confident attitude about it. When it was Zane's turn to speak, he thanked his friends for supporting him, Mason and I for driving him to class all the time, and everyone present for cheering for him during the board breaks :)

Proud new black belt!!

 Zane picked the word on his belt.

 With Ms. Henson and Master Hockman, who have both been with him every step of the way for the past 3.5 years.

 We are SO PROUD of this kid!!!

Meanwhile, Hannah was parading through the streets of downtown Columbia. The bats that the 4th graders made at the beginning of the year flew above the crowd. Zane really wanted to go to the parade to fly a bat but decided the belt test was more important (he didn't really have a choice).

The banner holders.

The next night Mason was DJing at Uprise Bakery during the True False Festival. T/F is a movie festival where independent film makers debut their works at several venues around town. There is always lots of food, art, and tons of people so it was awesome that Mason got this opportunity. The kids and I ventured down there to cheer him on even though it was well past our bedtimes. Unfortunately, his start time got pushed back and we didn't get to hear him spin before we left, but we did have fun hanging out and taking in the scene. Mason said it went really well...and he definitely stayed up past his bedtime!