More Outdoor Time

   Thank God for such beautiful weather during this quarantine!  We had so many nice days and we are taking full advantage! 

She loves her swing

She picked out her outfit.  Can you tell? 

   One day, all the teachers at the elementary school did a drive-by parade.  Our street happened to be on the parade route.  The kids were so excited to see all of their teachers drive by.  It was a really neat moment and I am not sure who needed it more, the students or the teachers. 

Getting ready for the teachers to come by

Their messages

Emmy wanted to help

Many, many hours have been spent on the trampoline!  

She is still a maniac on her scooter!  

We are so blessed to have an amazing track literally right across the street.  It's a great place to get some exercise! 

Covid Projects

   Another big Covid project that Joey and I decided to tackle was redoing some furniture.  I hated the black furniture that we have had in the dining room for years and years.  I looked at buying a brand new set,  but I honestly couldn't really find anything that I loved and they were all so expensive.  The set we currently was from Pottery Barn and a nice set.  I decided to try my hand at chalk paint.  It took four coats to cover the black, but from a distance it looks pretty good.  I also found a new China cabinet for a great price.  I love the way it all came together. 

The new China cabinet.  I like it so much more than our old one.  

The "new furniture"

Joey tackled our dresser.  It now matches the rest of our bedroom.  I like they way it turned out.  

Cookies

    Katy purchased another cookie kit to keep the kids busy.  They always love decorating cookies and love eating them even more! 

Grace Learns to Ride a Bike

    Grace has been wanting to learn to ride her bike without training wheels for quite some time.  The weather has been nice, so Joey decided it was time once and for all.  He also decided to teach our neighbor, Julianna at the same time.  It took the a couple hours of practicing, but they both got it in one day!   Joey said his back was killing him later from all that bending over, but they got it!  Grace was so proud of her accomplishment and we are so proud of her as well!!!!

Boredom Busters

   Having never lived during a pandemic before, we have had to find lots of ways to keep us busy.  The kids have daily schoolwork, but it doesn't take but a few hours, so we have a lot of time on our hands.  We have been using this extra gift of time to work on some little projects that we have been wanting to do forever.  Here are some pictures of some things we have done to pass the time. 

Joey added a new cover over the door.  It was a little change, but it really made a big difference.  

Lots of movie watching and Easter candy eating was done

  A big project that I worked on was moving my tutoring office.  I used to tutor out of our main office.  It was a pain because it is on the main level and tough to keep the kids quiet while I tutor.  Joey also could never work on his work while I was tutoring.  We decided to convert the extra bedroom in the basement into a new tutoring room for me.  It was quite a bit of work, but I am so happy with it!  I love having my own space now and not having to worry about bothering everyone else. 

My new tutoring room

   Gracie had lots of fun playing with her favorite dog in the world.  Ruby is so good with kids and just goes along with it. 

    Much like the rest of the country, we discovered a love for puzzles.  We have always really enjoyed doing puzzles, but now we have a lot more time to work on them.  Here is just one of the many we did.  

  I have done a little baking.  I haven't baked as much as I like because with helping the kids do school work, teaching my own students at work, and private virtual tutoring, I don't have all that much free time.  I did find the time to make these banana bars with brown buttered frosting.  They were AMAZING!!!