Homeschool When You Literally Stay Home All the Time

I feel like I am learning so much from this pandemic. In our modern world we are all always saying how we're so busy. And now we've been given this amazing opportunity to slow down. To say no to everything. It's so interesting to see what life looks like when it is boiled down to my own little nuclear family and our house and about two square miles that include some trails and a grocery store. I'm really thinking about what adds value to our family and our education and what is just fluff or distraction or worse. I'm so grateful for this perspective. I'm sorry that it is coming at such a great cost to people's health and the economy. 

When we can't take it in our house anymore, we go on a drive. The price of gas is $1.29! But we haven't had to buy gas since March. Scotty suffered through the worst of his allergies inside. Usually, we are invited to the park everyday, and he really has a hard time. The picture below was a hard time. I think he had a cold on top of his allergies. But overall the quarantine was great for him because he could avoid the great outdoors.

Magnets with Dad.

This is what boredom looks like. 

We've been nature-watchers. We had some robins building a nest in the tree right by our back window. The male and female were both fluttering and chirping in the tree one day. We thought perhaps they were doing a mating dance. Then we saw a reptilian head near their nest. I thought, is that a lizard? Then I saw a tongue flick out. There was a snake in their nest!! It was crazy and dramatic and heart-wrenching to watch. 

We've been on lots of walks. The wildflowers are out. I've been especially enjoying the poppies this year. Annie and I walk together and listen to our audiobooks. 

Annie made a goal to be able to do the splits this year. This is what success looks like. 

This bib from Uncle Andrew makes an appearance every few years. I keep it in the towel drawer. 

So many walks! We're grateful to live so close to some beautiful trails. 

This year with Easter, we didn't have any candy. We went to the store in the middle of March and were trying not to go again for a month. We made it! But Easter fell three weeks into this month. I thought about ordering candy from Amazon, but decided we wouldn't need it. I tried to think up some Christ-centered activities instead. And they went really well! I feel like we celebrated Easter more this year than we really have before. We thought about, talked about, and rejoiced in Christ for the whole week. Again, this quarantine has really helped me to see what matters most. We will be glad when this plague has passed and life can get back to normal. But I hope our new normal is better than before.