It feels a little weird to have two currently posts back to back on the blog, but I haven't felt much like writing these past few months. There is so much division and fear in our world right now and it's been hard to process and even harder to share publicly. I've been very candid on Instagram, where it's easy to share important posts and give short Instagram stories, but writing anything at length hasn't sounded fun at all. I'm taking baby steps today and sharing how I'm feeling about a few unimportant things. It's good to be back. cooking | If there is one thing we've improved upon during the pandemic, it's how we handle meal times. Coming in from the office after a stressful commute and having to juggle three kids, homework, and meal prep was my least favorite thing -- and ...
Currently | June 2020
I've written today's post ten different times and nothing sounds -- or feels -- right. My life seems so insulated and suffocating this week and I desperately want to say and do all the right things. feeling | The biggest feeling this week is that Black Lives Matter -- they matter so much. Not just the ones who think the same way as me. Not just the ones who share my faith. Not just the ones on the right side of the law. ALL OF THEM. I'm trying so hard not to center myself in this conversation, but I feel heartbroken and overwhelmed and motivated to be and do better. wearing | I'm wearing my emotions on my sleeve. I fell apart trying to watch a television show with Josh the other night and then cried while watching a morning show the next day. I'm struggling to be a normal person ...
Quarantine Diary | Week 11
I will be documenting our experiences, during the COVID-19 pandemic, to preserve this time at home together. Although the world is a very scare place at the moment, I want to be intentional about our days at home together and provide my children with the story of what it was we lived through. Day One for us was Monday, March 16th (I’m counting down starting with the first day our regular schedules were disrupted) — the first day the girls didn’t report to school. I had this idea that I would spend so much of my "free time" during this time of sheltering in place, blogging and returning to the kind of editorial schedule I had before Polly was born. Boy, was I wrong. When I really think about it, I've added so many wonderful things to our days, but there are just as many things that I ...
“Day in the Life” Meet “Shelter in Place”
It's been almost seventy-five days since our normal lives were suspended and, to be honest, they're starting to run together a bit. I documented a day in our life for the Birmingham Mom's Blog last week and rather than rewriting it here, I thought I'd share all of the photos I took throughout the day. You can head over to the post to read all about how we spent our day, but here is a glimpse -- via photos -- of what a typical "shelter in place" day looks like for us. Polly's up and we're ready to start the day! I'm loving this mirror on our landing and can't wait until the rest of this space is decorated and pretty -- especially those stairs and carpet runner! Polly typically eats two breakfasts -- a quick yogurt squeezie and a glass of water when she first wakes up and a ...
Currently | May 2020
This last month has gone by in a blur. We established really good routines and rhythms to keep us going while we're all at home together and before I knew it a month had vanished -- no blog posts and very few photos, but lots of memories and movies and takeout adventures. I'm still working from home and there has been no mention of when I should return to the office. The girls are ready to be out in the world and we're still debating whether our annual camping trip will actually take place. It has been such a blessing to be at home together, despite the world around us. making | We are making so much progress on the girls' rooms, now that we're all at home together! I don't know how we would have ever gotten so much time if we weren't confined to our homes. They each have a single ...
Currently | April 2020
For what seems like the millionth month in a row, I'm late joining Anne for this month's link up (by a month!), but I would still encourage you to visit her blog and see the others who participated. I'm not doing so great when it comes to keeping up with blogs, but hers is one of my favorite, and I'm trying to keep up with a few while I'm at home these many weeks. We're kind of in survival mode over here and I haven't talked much about what is going on with us, beyond our Coronivirus Diary entries. This Currently series is one of my favorites and always such a fun way to catch you up on very specific areas in our lives. sharing | One of the only reasons I'm surviving this bizarre season of life is that I'm still sharing so many stories with my closest friends. Jennifer and I have ...
Sophie’s Fourth Grade Interview
Our first day of distance learning went pretty well yesterday. I made a super early run to the grocery store, ran by the elementary school to pick up Sophie's supplies, and answered 100 questions from the girls. Ella was pretty self-sufficient, but required a little direction when it came to research. Sophie had a few technical difficulties, but we were able to get her back on track in a few minutes. By lunch, they were exhausted and we spent the rest of the afternoon outside. I'm trying to work while they work and then take advantage of our time together. So far, it's working pretty well, but I'm praying the novelty doesn't wear off. For the most part, Ella will be able to finish her entire week's worth of assignments in a half day. Sophie has daily reading assignments, but aside from ...
Ella’s Seventh Grade Interview
I took these photographs on the very first day of school -- August 8, 2019. I had them inserted into blog posts, with blank first day of school interview questions, but never managed to sit down with the girls. We've talked off and on about my failed interviews (the first year we've missed since Ella went to kindergarten) and when to squeeze them in, but it never happened. I'm not calling anything related to COVID-19 a "happy accident," but when the first day of distance learning rolled around, I thought it was high time I got answers to my questions. And even though I'm sure my girls would like to pretend they looked this cute today, I couldn't help but share a photo from our first day of remote school, as well. As weird as this season is, I'm trying to be really good about preserving ...