Quarantine Life

A snapshot of how we spent our days at home, and finished out the school year, during Minnesota's Stay At Home Order for the COVID-19 pandemic.

 Or as Dominic would say, "Because of the Cor-o-NA-vi-RUS!" 

(With one eye squinted and half his lip raised up)

 The week before all the chaos began, the kids were off of school for spring break.  We had a sense things were starting to get a little more serious with the Coronavirus, but still had NO CLUE how crazy things would actually get. We decided to forgo a day trip we were hoping to take that week and, instead, spent a couple days that week out and about in Winona.  Little did we know, that would be the last time, to date, that we ate in a restaurant, went to a thrift store, and spent time at the local library.  Simple pleasures we took completely for granted.

 One of the first major changes that took hold, as the seriousness of the pandemic unfolded in those first few weeks, was the daunting task and overwhelming responsibility Andy had at work to ensure the safety of his employees and the patients they cared for. He spent countless hours reading the latest information about the virus and searching for safety equipment for his staff.  He was ready to go into work, any day or any time, if needed.  Most of all, he felt a strong desire to place all his work and care, and all the things he couldn't control, into God's hands. It was a time of great personal growth for him.

    As our school days came to an abrupt end, the kids and I sought enjoyment outdoors as much as the weather allowed.  The girls had fun creating a seesaw.

The improved version Grandpa Thompson challenged them to.  

They used the balance beam as a fulcrum, instead of a pile of stones.

 Since school's Father-Daughter Dance was cancelled, the girls created their own dance in the basement

    Our first attempt at Mass at home!  Notice how well everyone was sitting in the first picture and then by the end, notice the boys... they were doing construction work during Mass.  Before Mass ended, Ella also noticed that the candles we lit on our "Sick Call" crucifix started burning the cross and melting Jesus! Our first attempt at home needed some getting use to!

 Showing our love and support... Hearts in our front window and bears holding little signs that said, "We love our paramedic!" and "Praying for all!"

Making dinner, hanging out together, and going for walks in the neighborhood... family time at it's fullest!

 Creative play indoors and dad's first attempt at cutting the boys' hair (instead of grandpa!)

The kids' strange new friends;)

 Neighborhood friendships that endure!  

Adapting to playing and hanging out, social distance style.

Praying the Stations of the Cross

 Palm Sunday 

Our neighbor gave us some real palms... the kids had fun using them to help decorate for our live streamed Mass at home.

The kids also enjoyed role playing parts of the Mass as well. 

(A bit of an improvement from our first attempt;)

Holy Thursday dinner.

Nathan's creation of Jesus carrying His cross and being laid in the guarded tomb.

 Creating static electricity in the backyard tent.

 Ella talking strategy with the boys as they engaged in one imaginary game or another.

A neighborhood Mother's Day Parade

Complete with roses!

Gianna woke up bright and early to decorate for me for Mother's Day. She patiently waited for me to wake up so she could show me all her sweet decorations.  Later that day, we drove to La Crosse to deliver Mother's Day gifts and made a stop at the Historic Pickwick Mill.  

 I was also entertained in both song and dance!

Working... playing... reflecting... praying.  

I tried to listen to the broadcast of the Mass at noon each day to help create structure and purpose to our days at home. (And quite frankly, some days, just to keep my sanity;)

Enjoying some campfires in the backyard on chilly nights...

and some water filled fun on hot days!

The boys had fun, one evening, talking to Kolbe and Casey via video chat... it was debatable how much they actually "talked," however, as they both found it very entertaining to wrestle their brother while the other pair did the same.

Lead by Nathan, the boys found other ways to entertain themselves as well...

They played "hotel manager,"

Yodeled,

even as Darth Vader,

and brought order to the court.

Amidst the extended time at home, we tried to keep the learning going as much as possible.  With the completely unexpected turn of events, our school really stepped up big time to engage the kids as much as possible with distance learning.  Ella and Nathan had fun doing activities with their teachers, Mini Mrs. Ratz and Flat Ms. Homan.

Nathan greatly enjoyed creating videos for his ABC countdown and getting into character for the story time book his teacher read, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Ella had a daily Zoom meetings with her teacher, and her class, and had some fun creating a Shopkins themed roller coaster for one of her assignments.  Nathan got to include one of his favorite past times into his learning, and Dominic tired to mimic some of the learning he was seeing as well.

 Gianna had Zoom meetings a couple of times a week and was kept busy with the continuation of her studies.  Here she is doing a couple of science experiments.

We tired to show our teachers how much we appreciated them, and their efforts, despite the distance that was continued for the remainder of the school year.

We finished off the school year with a "goodbye" drive by at both St. Stan's and St. Mary's, and thus concluded, our quite unusual school year!

To close out the Stay at Home Order, we started preparations on our garden for the summer growing season that lied ahead. We divided the garden into four sections so each kid could plant and grow their own vegetables, fruits and flowers of their choosing. 

All in all, we tried to make the most of our days and thrived on those days we could spend playing and working outside. Through it all, we tried to include all the simple activities we still could do, as a family. 

Dorothy's words from the Wizard of Oz, "There's no place like home," took on a whole new meaning!