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Saturday, May 9, 2020

April 26-May 3 We Will Remember

The boys got up early (after a coooold night!),
boarded the boat and headed out to catch fish.
What a beautiful morning!



Poor Huds,
he has missed a few groomings,
so we gave it a shot at home.
He actually loved it and tried to sleep while we were 
trimming his hair.
Nail trimming....thats another story!
Seans teacher helped us out!
Flat Ms. Danielson was with us for the week.


So I can remember ....
Today is Tuesday, April 28, 2020.
- We are (at average) at 43 days of social isolation. In the US alone, there are just under 1 million confirmed covid19 cases with 55,000+ deaths as of this morning.
- Schools have been closed since March 13th and are teaching remotely on-line. Schools will not reopen for the 2019-2020 school year.
- Only “essential” retail stores are open such as grocery stores, hardware stores, and pharmacies. Amazon delivery windows average 3 - 4 weeks when they used to be max. 2 days. No gyms are open, and it’s almost impossible to find weights, exercise equipment, bikes, etc.
- All extra curricular/ volunteer/business meeting and other gatherings are now on virtual meeting platforms i.e.(Zoom, House Party, Go to Meeting, Whatsap, Webex, Google Duo) the list goes on. Hang in there, life will continue and eventually, all together, we will get to a new normal!
- There are lines / tape inside the stores on the floors to keep people 6 feet apart.
- Bars and restaurants are open only for takeout, home delivery & drive through.
- Playgrounds and sports fields are closed. Most beaches, parks and cemeteries are closed to the public. No visitors are allowed in hospitals.
- All major and minor league sports competitions have been canceled as well as kids' sports. The NFL draft was done virtually this week. It was special.
-American Idol was done virtually this week.
- All festivals and entertainment events have been banned.
- Weddings, family celebrations, and graduations have been canceled. Funerals limited to 10 people graveside.
- People are doing drive-by parades to celebrate birthdays.
- Young kids can’t understand why they can only see grandparents & other extended family and friends on a screen or thru a window if someone visits in person or on Facetime online.
-Visitors are prohibited at nursing homes and assisted living residences.
- Hugs and kisses are not exchanged.
- Places of worship are closed or online.
- We have to stay away from each other more than six feet.
- Shortage of disposable masks and gloves in hospitals.
- People are wearing masks, some places REQUIRE that you wear them to enter! People are even sewing their own cloth masks for sale or donation to medical facilities. Illinois announced that as of May 1st, face coverings are required in public over the age of 2 where social distancing cannot be maintained.
- Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, bleach, antibacterial wipes and anything Lysol or Clorox is in short supply and limited per person.... IF you can even find them! (This goes the same for flour and yeast).
- Stores are closing early to disinfect everything. (24 hour stores are even closing by 6,8 or 9pm)
- Store check outs, pharmacies and even fast food drive thru windows have added plexiglass between the employee and the customer. Have to reach around or under to pay!
- You can't find isopropyl alcohol easily. .. the supply per person is limited.
- Australia, USA, Canada and Europe have closed their borders.
- Western Australia has been divided into 9 territories & an instant $1,500 fine issued for crossing the border without a valid reason. (Transport workers, Essential services etc)
- No one is traveling for leisure. Airports empty. Tourism has the worst crisis in history.
- Wi-Fi and cell phone providers have extended their limits to provide connection to the Internet for people to continue to work from home and for students to learn from their teachers.
- Many public pool access, concerts and summer activities will not be allowed/take place.
- We don't know if baseball seasons will start, hockey season will continue/end or any summer camps, etc. will run. Lots of teen/college summer jobs are up in the air.
-Colleges have not made definite decisions about whether to take their classes online, in person, or open at all for the fall.
-K-12 has ended their school year and plans to open for the fall have so many unknowns, social distancing, new guidelines for keeping everyone safe. How will it be scheduled? Can sports and activities continue as they have?
- Society appears to be divided about whether or not we should continue to isolate or open back up and get the economy going. It's an election year and politics are messy and complicating this issue.
Why do I post this?
Next year & then every year after, this status will appear in my Facebook memories feed. And it will be an annual reminder that life is precious & that nothing should be taken for granted. We are where we are with what we have. Let's be grateful.

She also helped Sean with some trapping!


He caught himself a 
Waskaly Wabbit!



Lots of time on the tramp these days!




Work is calming down,
as new guidelines become more clear
the next phase has begun.
This week, still doing only emergency or emergent cases,
but all patients are first COVID tested.
That way, we are saving the extra PPE
that would be needed for the positive cases.
This has given me a since of safety 
and calmed my nerves.

Life goes on,
into a more normal existence,
the new normal anyway.
love, the rockinryans


Tuesday, April 28, 2020

April 19-25 Real life?

Good advice!


Our baby bunnies,
Thumper and FooFoo,
getting bigger!


T the baker!




Lunch with Teacher!


Mr. Sean reading to Zach!
(I think was a getting a hang of this new life)....



A successful day on the boat with Dad!
Happy place!



One good thing coming out of all this is 
we are doing many things on our
"we should" and "some day" list.
We haven't tent camped in years.
Well, a great weekend of no bugs, not too hot
couldn't pass us by again!
So, here we are,
unfortunately the wind didn't stay away.
But, it was still nice to get out
and feel normal.


Hudson wasn't so sure,
our camp site had a lot of stickers,
so he kept having tons in his poor paws.
Sean cleared a path for him, and he was some what happier!







Trent built his best fire pit ever!
On the beach!
Once the sun set,
the wind went down and we did have  a great
fire night with smores, story telling and a REAL alien sighting! 👽👾















Found a Killdeer nest in the middle of the beach!
Mama didn't go far, but didn't attack either.




It was a real good life weekend!
love, the rockinryans

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

April 12-18th Finding Peace

Hoppy Easter!
Easter Bunny left an egg hunt!
Because it was freeeeezing outside,
it was fun in the house!







We ordered our Easter meal from
a local BBQ truck.
It was super yummy
(the pics don't do it justice!)



Trying our hand at baking,
we have had some
"NAILED it"!
moments! lol



This is the first time EVER
that we have put a puzzle together.
Mostly Sean and I, but everyone helped.
It was nice having something to do besides 
staring at the tv.



Spent the day building a fort,
reading in it
and even slept in it!



Zoom with his class,
his teacher loved his rabbit.
She told stories about all the animals she and her cousin
would win and take home when they were his age.
A bunny, and a duck named "Lucky". 🦆
I thought that was hilarious! 



Mr. Jake, PE
bought new equipment.
They loved it!



We FINALLY dyed Easter Eggs!



Finally get a peak at school pics!
Purely handsome. 💙💙



Experiment kitchen-
dehydrated apples.
I have found that they both love dehydrated fruit.
Well,
we just happen to have a dehydrator,
lets try!



They made our house smell amazing all day!
Turned out not too shabby,
next time we will make a few changes.
We all agreed it was amazing how much water is in a apple!


"Why is this huuuman on my nap couch?"
 Operation
"read to a pet" day!

He liked it....


OK, maybe bribed with a flashlight a bit!!


The boys both gave me numerous gift cards for my birthday.
One of Trents was to clean out my car.
I cashed it in,
what a great gift!




So proud of Trent!
He is an amazing person,
proved with a bag of treats and a new Bible left on our doorstep
by his HFL teacher.


Fire pit night!
He needs no assistance for this!


How is home schooling you ask.....🤣



After working so many hours, (felt like I was working full time this last year!)
I had only a few days left to fulfill in April,
a blessing in disguise to have this week off!
Falling into a routine and feeling safe at home
gave me a sort of peace.
Hopefully this time to re-group will give me strength and perspective
to move on in the future months.
keep movin' forward!
love, the rockinryans