Today was a better day.

Distance learning was a much smoother experience with Chris.  We had a talk last night about how he did and he realized he hadn’t done a very good job and he put the effort in today.  I think the drawing time did help and I’ll continue to work that in every day.  He also says his noise canceling headphones work..even when he has to use his other headphones.

Lillie had a number of zoom calls, and then google hangouts (apparently her teacher found out they weren’t supposed to use zoom) to make sure everyone was set up.  Her teacher even had a parent meeting and it was reassuring to hear the plans for the year.  While I don’t worry about Lillie doing all the necessary work (and then some), I did feel better knowing that there was a method to the madness.

Speaking of madness, we did something for the very first time ever.  We cut Alice’s nails.  Alice does NOT like having her nails clipped–and when I say she doesn’t like it, I mean:

1 – I took her to Petco once to get them clipped and they managed to do one paw before banning her from the store.

2 – I have the vet clip her nails when I take her in and they have to put her under general anesthesia to do it.

Now, she wasn’t happy about me doing it and some blood was shed (mine), but we still got it done.  And she seemed to forgive me.  It had to be done–she was getting her paws stuck on everything and who knows when we’ll be able to get to the vet.  And I do think she’s happier now that it is done, but she was not happy.  And still she let me do it.  This is a big step forward for us!

The kids also had a zoom call with the other kids from church.  We try to make some sort of plan but, mostly, the kids just want to be silly together.  And I’m fine with that…they need as much contact with others as they can get right now!

I slightly dreading my trip to the grocery store tomorrow morning, but I am doing all I can do to protect myself.  I’ll wear gloves and a mask–I have part of a box of gloves leftover from a Girl Scout project to make first aid kits and an old, expired box of masks that will do the job.  I also have a pretty detailed list so I’m hoping I can get in, get what I need, and get out.

I did just speak to my dad and I’m not happy with all the shopping he’s been doing.  Arizona is in worse shape than Oregon when it comes to virus but he still is running out to Walmart and the Commissary and Costco and whatnot.  He doesn’t seem particularly worried about himself because, as he says, he’s “at the end of the line” anyway.  I tried to explain to him that it would be devastating to all of us kids if he were to get sick with this and none of us could be with him.  So, I don’t know.  What I do know is that I can order groceries to be delivered to him and I may start doing that in an effort to keep him home more.

My kids are trying to sneak a second Guardians of the Galaxy movie in on me.  No sirree…it is off to bed with those two!