I've been thinking of how to document this time for days.  It's hard to find any words to explain what's going on in the world.  Everything is closed - restaurants, bars, stores, malls, gyms, schools...  We are staying home, staying healthy, and hoping you are, too. 

We have cleaned the closets and the garage.  There has been loads of baking (my favorite being monster cookies).  We have been  playing games, practicing yoga, preparing for our adventure in distance learning, and snuggling with the kitty.  There will be more words - when I can find them.

 

For the short time you were our's we loved you so, Tucker McGee.💗

The emptiness of this quiet room is overwhelming. This space that is supposed to be filled with laughter and learning, challenges and secret handshakes, sits silent. It is heartbreaking, yet fills me with hope.

Everyday, in Room 75, we are guided by the principal that our number one job to help others succeed. By making some major adjustments, we are doing just that. This shift is confusing, scary and very, very hard, but we can do hard things. And, know this. Your favorite third grade teacher (that's me) isn't going anywhere - so be ready to respond in complete sentences - with capital letters and correct punctuation. #fromadistance #washyourhands #beawesome

You know those days...  The kind when you forget to set your alarm, and wake up 30 minutes late.  This late start not only affects you, but each member of the family.  You fill up your coffee mug, and the cats start scampering around, and you trip.  Your coffee spills, and you have to change your outfit.  You finally get to work, and realize you forgot your lunch, and it this pattern just keeps going and going...  Finally, you get home, you just want to crawl under the covers and take a nap.  So you go into your bedroom, and to see this secret note left for you.

Dear Mother, 
     Thank you for... well, everything.  All you do is clean, help, and love us and much much more.  You help me, no the whole family, clean our rooms, do our homework remind us to do things, give us chores WITHOUT giving us a reward.  I think all families should do that.  People don't even need them, not even parents do.  You are a awesome mom.  Also, you have many nicknames, for example Momma, Momma Bug, Mamasita, Mommy and just Mom.  Also, of course Gina or Mrs. Prose.  Clearly, if I didn't have you I wouldn't be me.

                Love, Baby Bug

PS - You are the best bestest mom ever.  Thank you.  Love ya!
PPS - I know that 'bestest' isn't a word. 💗

March 5th.  We have been dreading this day since returning from winter break.  We have cried and negotiated and disaster planned - for scheduled on this day, was the Oak Ridge Elementary 4th Grade  Concert.

Those of you who are loyal readers of the blog, know that the concert (or any situation with multiple people) cause extreme stress for our sweet girl.  For those of you new to our story, here's a quick update.

Kindergarten - she cried and cried until and her teacher snatched her off stage.  

First - she cried and cried until her teacher snatched her off stage.

Second - she caught a (what I believe to be stress) sickness, and couldn't attend

Third - she cried the entire time, but remained on stage

While I know this is super stressful for Harps, it's also super stressful for us.  AP and I talked about just letting her skip the whole thing, but knew we wouldn't. So we began our preparation which included lots of practicing, even more positive self talk, recitation of mantras, brave oil, and new shoes.

The night of the show, I told her she could do it, and she would do it, and we would be in the audience (in the far back row, so she couldn't see us).  We laced up her new kicks, put some curls in her hair and applied just a bit of gloss to her lips. 

I dropped her off in her classroom, gave her a quick squeeze, and took a pic of the twinning.  Then, I said a few prayers for strength for her and me.

And, you know the rest of the story.  She did it - of course she did it.  Not one single tear, and there was even a hint of a smile (although it was hard to see from the back row).  We all breathed a collective sigh of relief when the 9th, and final song, concluded. 

Proud of you, Harper Nicole.  You can do hard things.