Pandemic Life Be Like...

Travis said the pandemic life hit me harder than anyone he knows. I think he's probably wrong. There's people that hide that they've had covid, or had people they know that have passed away in their life because of covid. For some reason it's like a secret illness. People don't want to confess that they've had it because that may show their thoughts on not getting the vaccine. It's so odd. I can't even process how separated we all are. 

Travis is right that there's been frustrations for me with jobs, starting menopause, our car's check engine light went off right when covid started up and we can't get the light off. I hardly blog because don't go anywhere, and now I'm at a job where I'm on the computer all day. I really don't want to be on all the more.  

I've started and stopped so many jobs it's crazy. BUT my older sister said that I just need to land that one where I feel a part of the team. 

This is about how I feel about the pandemic: 

We had a friend we've known for 20 years pass away last week. His wife said he had pneumonia to everyone online. It was covid. He was in the hospital for months. He got put on an ECMO machine to recycle his blood. In the end there were lacerations all over his lungs, and they just had to say goodbye. He left behind a wife, a 14 year old and a 17 year old. His wife is still against getting vaccinated, and masking up. All I can think of is those poor boys that didn't get a chance to make a decision about any of it. Now they won't have a dad. I know their family isn't alone. There are many like theirs. It's sad. I wish I could magically bring him back for his kids. 

An illness apparently brought out secrecy, people feeling that their rights are being taken away, and a whole lot of "I do my own research." I see our freedom, and with that freedom comes a cost. The cost of lives lost. 

Times are a Changin'

I feel bad because online learning hasn't been Isaak's jam for awhile. He used to be an A, B student, but his 5th grade teacher was all kinds of difficult. I've never encountered a teacher that isn't a good teacher throughout my boy's education except for her. In 6th grade he was new to middle school. Lots of emotions went with that. He only struggled grade wise at the quarter marks. 7th grade hit, emotions were better, but the pandemic is here to stay for awhile. He followed in Mica's footsteps, and stayed home. The poor boy struggled big time with online learning. He was sad because he doesn't have any friendships, and he was confused on different levels with each teacher. I felt bad for him. His report card came in and he had 1 C, 1 F and all the rest D's. 

Off to school he went. I really wanted to get vaccinated before this happened, but what choice do I have? It's depression and a child that isn't exceeding in school, or more success in his academic endeavors with the possibility of picking up this asshole of a virus.  

Isaak went back to school on Monday. Schedules had to change. I am worried about picking up covid. Isaak has managed to pull up his grades just in 3 days. He now has 1 B, 1 F, 2 C's, and one D. 

I wish parenting came with a direct handbook, for your specific child. Like - Oh you have an empath artistic child much like yourself, this is what you should do... Except I did my homework always. I didn't test well, so I did all my homework to compensate for that. He must get his lack of wanting to do his homework from his father. 

Here I thought less distractions from other kids would help him to focus. No chance of getting into middle school drama when a child is at home. Skip over that awkward voice changing time. Teachers and school rule. 

He went to school on his first day back with this hoodie on. It says, "You Can"! I do believe he can.

WW: Table Runner {Linky}

I'm putting this up here early. Mainly because I start teaching my Advertising and Design course tonight. I'm nervous about getting there - It's not in Omaha, where I'm from, and getting set up. I'm a very visual person, and struggle with certain types of directions. Especially when I'm told to go down this road that changes into this highway name. Insert WTF! into my brain. Please just tell me to turn at the McDonalds, go left when I pass the gas station that has the green M. Seriously this part of me is not 44. I'm 14 trapped inside a 44 year old's body all the sudden! I'm totally ready for the class. I figured out Canvas, which I didn't know at all before. It was a struggle getting my documents to load! It kept erroring out on me. Finally I started uploading documents to their google documents, copied and pasted links to do it that way. All my documents are on there, ready to go. I even have a welcome video up.

As some of you know I've been working on a table runner. It's made out of toilet paper rolls. I did this to cling on to something beautiful during this time of uncertainty and madness.

My husband bought me this fabric:

I just thought it looks to Kindergarten blue. Plus we don't have that blue anywhere in our living room. It was gecko approved, but not approved by me. Desperate to not have to go out, I tried painting a scrap the color I wanted. It soaked in and looked lame. 

I tried red that we had laying around, but it blended into the orange that's the boarder around all the weavings. That didn't work. 

So I waited like a good girl should, until I had over $100 worth of groceries to get, and went to Walmart to get the fabric. 

Get this... I waited and waited! I called Walmart twice to get help. The second time they were just like, "Mam we can't help you. We called it in. You just have to wait until someone comes." What the *!#! I probably waited 45 minutes, for this fabric, when I was supposed to be at work. Thank gawd I had no meetings. Typically I begin work way earlier than I need to. 

I did find the fabric color I wanted. It became a double sided one; incase the one side got messed up. I started to sew them all into the fabric. The fabric was slippery, and the toilet paper weavings are thick. I squirted Elmers glue on the back sides, threw some encyclopedias on them, let them dry. Boom! Done! 

Mica got an unwanted sewing lesson. I want him to make a pouf, for his room. If you are like me, you may not know what a pouf even is. It's a pillow like foot stool. I think he'd be more apt to use his chair if he had one. PLUS it would be a great way to use up all the plastic bags we've acquired during this pandemic. He has zero interest, so we'll see. 

Do you have any pandemic projects that you've done? 

Remember to enter my low entry giveaway! 

WW: Toilet Paper Rolls {Linky}

I decided when the pandemic happened that I wouldn't hoard toilet paper. I in fact bought a lot before the pandemic went down. 

Instead of hoarding toilet paper, I hoarded the toilet paper rolls. 

I decided to cut them, paint them, and cut them into 1/4" strips. 

Then it was weaving time! At first I didn't like how the process went. Weaving with thin cardboard isn't quite the same at weaving with fabric. I eventually got the hang of it. Clothes pins work great as clamps. 

The table runner is coming out pretty good. The sections will be painted with varnish. I have to decide if I want to sew them together, or sew them to a fabric backing. 

What crazy projects have you worked on lately?

Closure and Depression :(

Many of you know I've been looking for jobs off and on, for a few years. I had opportunities that were close to happening. I had opportunities I had to pass up because I was under a contract.

I only had a few months to look for work during the summer time. Even then, the school I work for had me sign that contract, for the fall almost as soon as the summertime hit.

It was really hard to move in any direction, but straight.

We were told that we could work from home late March. Online classes were hard. I think I could get used to them, but it was different from what I developed before. I stayed up until 10 almost every night during finals time; working on tests.

Yesterday we had a staff meeting. It was just a few of us. My boss said that enrollment was already low, and got impossible when COVID-19 hit. They decided to close the school down, for this incoming class. Along with that went the full time instructors.

Was I surprised? Not really.

Was I sad? Yes. I mean I've been there, since 2002. Before I even had kids.

Was I panicked? Certainly! I had a bite of a job before COVID-19 hit. Well I emailed them again, and they picked someone else. I felt so good about that interview. To be honest I was more mad at them, than getting laid off. I really wanted that job. The person that interviewed me said she'd let me know as soon as a decision was made. They majorly dragged their feet in deciding. Now I'm stabbing at anything trying to get something. During a pandemic it's not really the time to be picky.

I just paid a $1,000 bill for Travis' endoscopy, Travis needs a crown, and I paid our mortgage bill.

I have tons of stuff on my work computer, because I've had it for ages. I don't have any of the Adobe Suit on my home laptop. Scrabble time!

Even though I'm sad, I'm most concerned about Isaak. There's days now where he just wants to lay in bed. Granted he's been going to bed late, but he seems depressed. I don't know what to do. It's not like I can drop everything to spend time with him. I'm applying to places.

If you don't see me much, it's because I'm on the hunt. The job hunt. Who knows maybe I will have to let off steam, and blog. Then you have to listen to me rant. Ha! Please be safe! Our hospitals here are filling up fast, since things have opened up. I love my blogger friends. I don't want to kiss you, but I love your comments, and friendship!

Peace and Love 

5 Boys!

A few weeks ago I watched 3 of my nephews along with my own kids.

A House Full of Boys!

I had Edison (age 4 1/2), Isaak (age 10 1/2), Elijah (age 10 1/2), Mica (age 13), and Evan (age 13 1/2). A house full of boys! My sister and brother in law went to St Louis  to a conference for Emerson (age 6) who has Trisomy 18.

I wasn't very on top of my picture taking game. It's hard when most of the boys don't want their photos taken. I'm also just bad about taking pictures when it winter time, for the most part. It's dark out, and difficult to get good lighting.

Nap Time

I took that Friday off. We ran errands and washed the car before my nephews got there.

The nephews came, they played outside, then came in. Travis got home from work. He asked me to have them keep it down, so he could take a nap. I said, "Ya right! You really think you're going to get a nap in the living room with 5 boys in the house?"

Nap time never really happened for him.

Game Time

The boys like this game called Pandemic. It's a survival game. Different wide spread illnesses occur, and you have to try and keep them under control. The game is team based. Everyone has to work together to win or loose.

They lost. It still was fun!

Sleep Time:

The youngest one - Edison goes to bed at 7! It kind of dampened the fun we could have had. Our house isn't big enough to put him in one wing of the house, while the rest of us hung out. We have 3 bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen with a kitchenet, and a bathroom. Downstairs is an art studio, a laundry area, and a storage room. 

Edison was excited to sleep over! 

Isaak read to him. I always did say that Isaak would be a better big brother than Mica. He's empathetic, and will stand up for people.  He also is a people person. Mica is more independent, bookworm, and goes with the flow - to not piss people off.

Edison said, "Aunt Wissy (Lissy) I have my Whitening (Lightening) McQueen sweeping (sleeping) bag. I’m spending the night for 2 nights here with my brothers." I said, "Yes you are! I think we’ll put the bigger boys outside under the stars though." He looked at me so odd.

We watched Incredibles 2 before bed. Thankfully I won that movie, and it went in Isaak's stocking.

Everything went great as long as Elijah and Isaak were together (10 year olds), and Mica and Evan were together (13 year olds). When they all get mixed up Isaak sometimes gets picked on because he's the younger one in the big kid group. Then he gets sensitive. It helped that the boys had their new and old Kindles. They could share them.

Breakfast:

I made snowman pancakes for breakfast. I knew Edison would appreciate my creativeness. I wanted to do more, but Travis was breathing down my back about spending too long on something we were going to eat anyway.

Basketball Games:

Elijah was supposed to have 2 games, and Isaak 1 on Saturday! I felt a bit like we were going to live at basketball games that day. How do people do it will lots of kids?! My parents were going to help. Then the schedule got switched to just Isaak having a game on Saturday, and Elijah having his games on Sunday. 

We did find out Isaak's team was in too high of a league, for just coming from the Y. We're now lower, and winning games! It's so good to not have that negativity in our lives. The balance of winning some, and losing others is important. 

13 Year Olds:

I am so glad that we could leave the 13 year olds home alone. They got to hang out. We couldn't fit them all in our Subaru. 

What do you like to do if/when you have a house full of kids?

Camp Aim for the Stars

I have to go backwards a bit. A few weeks ago the boys went to Aim for the Stars | Science and Math Camp at University of Nebraska Omaha.

I like that the camp is so parent friendly. What I mean by that is, is that they have a before and after care program, they have a self pick-up for kids that have been to the camp for more than a year - you just drive up to pick your kid(s) up and they get in, their registration is simple and online, you can pay for all of the camp or installments, and the family event is in the evening.

They've been going to this camp for years now. What I like is that they offer different camps within the camp. Examples: Isaak was in Stack it Up! and Mica was in Get Your Game On! The year before the camp names and content was different for the boys.

Family Night was the night before we went on vacation. There are options, so we do things different each year. You can go into the classrooms to check things out. There's also a choice of going into the planetarium for a slightly cheesy movie, or C.A.P.O.W. - Chemistry and Physics on Wheels. C.A.P.O.W. almost seems like a magic show, but it's science. They have their gift shop open. For the camp the kids get a $5 off coupon for anything in the gift shop. We always have gotten something small for the boys there.

Here's their camp t-shirts they got this year:

We actually opted to skip the big fancy presentations, and spent our time in the boy's classrooms this year.

Isaak was so excited to be in Stack it Up! with his cousin Elijah. They built a city with Legos. Isaak had a theater. He had a container where he was collecting fake tickets from people. 

Isaak was really happy that Mr. Miller was his teacher for the camp. He has worked at the elementary school when Mica still went there. He has a boy that's Mica's age and a girl that's Isaak's age. We've had their other oldest child babysit a long while back. We've hung out with them at different times. 

Besides stacking things up with Legos, they also played Jenga and were supposed to have a paper airplane contest, but it rained all day so that got canned. 

Mica wouldn't shut up about Get Your Game On! He was a little bummed that his cousin Evan wasn't with his. My sister Terra signed him up for a different camp. 

Mica's never really gotten into bored games as much as Isaak or I. With his birthday coming up he has been going on and on about games he wants. A few are $45 games! Yikes! He's talked about all these survival games: Risk, Pandemic, Settlers of Catan, and Stratego. 

I bought Risk on vacation to keep them occupied at Travis' Aunt and Uncle's house. 

I got Settlers of Catan on Amazon with a GC I won. 

I've contacted Z-Man in hopes that they'd give me Pandemic to review. I even laid out what kind of a post I'd like it to be. Where I'd go over board games for older kids, and ways they benefit them. I haven't heard back, so I'm betting that's a no go. I kind of wish they'd just email me saying, "Nope", so I'd know to just buy it. I thought with reviewing for ThinkFun, Goliath Games and Tenzi they'd be all over that. My life feels a bit full of rejection these days. Oh well. 

Mica even taught me Othello; saying it would now be my favorite game. It was good he was thinking of me. I did like it.

We spent most of our time in the game room battling it out. 

Isaak got a bit bummed the teacher kicked his butt in Chess. Ha!

What board games do you like the most? Are there any that you've played that we should try out?

Disclaimer: None of these products were given to me to review. I'm only sharing an experience.