It’s been a few days since I’ve been able to post anything. Life has all of a sudden become a little busier! Lots of fun.

Thursday was just another quarantine day – work, home, walk, dinner (thank you Olivia for the million dollar spaghetti), and then a decision for an evening walk to Stocks Park.

Oh, and how could I forget…I brought home Gracie’s sign that had been on Academy Lane with those of her classmates. She and I placed it out front of our house for all to see. I’m still so sad for this Senior class and all the things they are missing. Still trying to do what we can to make them feel special.

While we were eating dinner, the kids and I decided we would go for a walk to Stocks Park. However, Noah said he had some stuff to finish before he could go anywhere. He will be finished with his last exam tomorrow so a few final study items tonight I guess.

Finally, around 9:00 we decided we better hurry up and get ready to go if we were going to walk to the park and take an photos. It was already starting to get dark. So everyone got around and we were finally on our way around 9:15 p.m.

As we approached the park, Grace decided she had to use the restroom. So, we headed to the port-a-johns in the middle of the park. Little did she know someone was in the park waiting for her! PERFECT she had to use the port-a-pots! Someone came running from the back of the park and stood behind the port-a-pot. When Grace came out, I told her, Noah, and Olivia to hurry up and go back over to the bench by the pond so I could still get some pictures before it was completely dark. They hurried over, got on the bench, put their arms around each other – I turned on my video… (it’s a little dark, but you can still see it.)

SURPRISE!! Victoria had come home for graduation weekend!! Ok, so we aren’t really having graduation but we thought it would be fun for her to come home for a few days and we will try to make the weekend special.

So much fun! Now we’ll see how tomorrow goes when we surprise Grandma!

Oh…total miles walked today…4.2

A busy Friday…since I was the first one up, I got to take Oliver for a walk. We walked around the block only 0.70 miles but it was good. I think it took forever to do because dogs think they have to stop at every tree! What the heck? He doesn’t really go that much!

We are helping Brendan with his campaign for District Judge so printed off the button logos, went to the chiropractor, stopped at Walmart, and ended up at Grandma’s house in Litchfield. She has had no clue about Victoria coming home.

Oh, I have to back up and say that Rowan really wanted to know how Grandma was going to react about Victoria being home. So, I told her to take something to Grandma’s house and pretend like she needed to show it to her and stay and visit for a little while as we would be there shortly. So, off she went to Grandma’s house.

We got there and I went in to see where she was in the house. Rowan and she were in the family room, she was talking, and wrapping some gifts. She noticed I was there and I told her we had to run to Litchfield to drop some stuff off at Brendan’s so we thought we’d stop and say hi. Grace came in and started talking to her. Then Oliver came in and was all over the family room, even tried jumping on Rowan on the couch! Grandma never saw a thing. Victoria and Olivia came in and stood behind the couch! It was great! I recorded it…

So much fun! We stayed for a little bit and visited and then we stopped at Brendan’s house. Talked to them for a few minutes and then Brendan, Victoria, and I ran out to the Galloway’s house so Victoria could meet Sara since they have been communicating quite a bit on campaign items.

We finally headed home. We were all exhausted, ate a very late lunch, listened to the Governor (say a lot of nothing), and then we took naps.

The girls then got up and made dinner – Olivia grilled chicken, Grace and Victoria cut up vegetables for grilled veggies. It was all very good.

Decided we should have dessert so off for a walk to the ice cream store. Such a nice evening for a walk.

Oliver was a bit confused when Noah went up a tree! He stood there for awhile trying to figure out where he went!

Finally made it to the ice cream store…

Oliver likes ice cream as much as everyone else 🙂

We walked home and watched TV for a little bit. Oliver was tired so he took a nap and the girls worked on making buttons for Uncle Brendan.

Fun and busy day…walked 3.7 miles today.

At work this morning and it was a bit depressing. I put the Senior diplomas into the diploma covers. Makes me sad to think about we don’t really know when Grace will get her diploma. Heard the Governor will be speaking at 10:00 a.m. makes me feel really anxious. What will she do now? Make us stay home until June 15??

Listening to the Governor this morning is just always so weird. She is opening up hospitals, car dealers (by appointment), retail (by appointment no more than 10 people in a store at a time), vet offices (her dog really needs a hair cut) (REALLY, I NEED A HAIRCUT – do I need to go to an animal office to have it done??), gatherings of 10 or less takes affect immediately.

Also, what does she mean by opening these things up but then says, Short-term temporary extension of the stay-at-home order will likely be necessary, you will hear more in about this in the coming days.

What about, in the coming days, I will tell Michiganders about what they can do to celebrate Memorial Day.

First of all, do you realize Memorial Day is Monday and this is Thursday and people usually leave on Friday afternoons to celebrate their weekends. What coming day is she talking about?

I’m sorry but listening to her just gets me more and more confused. Help me here…

We have always been able to go to Walmart (100s of people in a day) but we can’t go to a mom and pop shop that is lucky to see even 10 people in a day?

Retail by appointment? How does this work? Anytime I want to go to a shop I have to call them and tell them I’m coming? What if I’m not sure what time I will get there? 

We can go outside for recreation (boating, golfing, etc.) but stay home.

We can now go buy a new car. But people are not working and they are making more money than when they were working so we are able to use the government money to get a new car?

We can get a new car but we can’t get a driver’s license?

I am so absolutely confused…how can we do all of these things but yet we are still under a stay-at-home order? How do I shop, buy a car, get vet services, etc. if I’m at home? All of this is totally screwing with ones thinking capability – how do you decipher all of this???

How is it legal for one person to make all of these decisions? No legislature to approve anything because we are in a pandemic.

Now that we can gather in groups of ten or less, perhaps we will now be able to resume our 2020-2021 admissions? Hopeful that by June 1st we can get the rest of our prospective students in to take the necessary assessments. Enrollment is looking positive for next year.

Finalized end of year certificates since there is no Moving Up Ceremony. Again, I have to say that it is so sad to miss all the fun end of the school year events.

Finally heading home for the day.  Wonder if I will have to do school tonight? I’m kind of tired so I hope not…

Arrived home and talked to Grace and Olivia for a few minutes. Olivia and I ran to the store I had forgotten to pick up Pat’s medicine. We went in and bought a few things. Came out and ran into Mrs. Budd – I was sure to tell her there was more than 10 people in there – 39 to be exact. But hey what does that even matter? Any number of people could be together at the store before now but today you can no gather with no more than 10. Ok again, doesn’t make sense??

Before I could get to the car, I ran into an old friend, Liz. Her father just recently passed away and went right over to see her. I asked if I could hug her and she said, “Sure!” We hugged in the parking lot (I am sure people thought we were crazy not following social distancing.) but I am sorry. I know exactly what she is going through losing a parent. We talked for quite awhile and then another hug good-bye. It was so great to see her!!

Got home and then headed off for a walk while Grace was making dinner. Talked to my mom on the phone as I walked 1.56 miles. Got home dinner was ready (spaghetti) and then during dinner we decided we were going for a walk after we were done.

I asked if the kids wanted to go back to the park. I thought after the stress and sadness of the day it might be fun to just go play at the park. Noah said he had time for that and the girls were game so off we went once dinner was cleaned up.

We had fun taking photos, kids climbing trees and just wandering all over the park.

So much fun climbing trees, and just having fun. Walked back home and as soon as I arrived had a phone call from Rowan. We talked only for a few minutes because she had to go to bed. We had just enough time to take a few photos and have fun together.

Worked on a few projects and then heading to bed. Hope everyone had a nice day.

Total walking miles for today was 5.4.