March Madness

…Means something new this year. The Corona Virus pandemic has shut down the NBA, as well as all schools, restaurants, the Canadian/US border, and DAYCARE! While the city locks down for social distancing, Jon and Lindy are attempting to work from home with the three kids running around. This obviously adds new and different challenges. A month after returning to work, and now we are trying to do it all at home. Our pandemic started off with the babies getting hand foot and mouth from daycare…which was many miserable days and a lot of toy washing!

At least Isaac was able to celebrate his birthday before the city shut down and started cancelling all activities and gatherings. We had a few of Isaac’s daycare friends over for a playdate to celebrate with an obstacle course in the basement. Even trying to keep the party small, Isaac was still a bit overwhelmed. We had a couple other playdates and celebrations with family on other occasions in order to spread it out. Unfortunately we didn’t know we should have done one bigger event in order to see everyone before the social isolation kicked in! Now we are staying home, and slowly coming to realize that we can’t even be visiting with grandparents or playing in the park…a whole new challenge ahead for the unforeseeable future!

It was good to get a much needed break with going back to work, but it is pretty nice to get to spend so much time with the kids – as stressful as it can be sometimes while trying to be productive at the same time. These kids are cute! But sure are little monkeys! Our biggest challenge right now keeping Cadence and Asher safe as they become expert climbers. We have spent a lot of time letting them explore outside on foot and going for walks in the wagon. Isaac has been enjoying biking again and we have trouble keeping up with him! But Cadence now tries to stand up in the wagon, so we’ll need to change our routine. Asher and Cadence can climb into their high chairs, and are also learning to go down stairs – which can be difficult to manage both at once. They love standing in their stool at the sink or counter, and Cadence has started pushing it across the floor to get it where she wants to see. She’s a fiesty kid!

Lindy’s work wasn’t properly set up to manage so many people trying to work from home, so it has been frustrating trying to get connected and stay connected to get some work done, especially when trying to fit it in when the kids are sleeping. It has gone surprisingly well with the kids though, considering how much attention Isaac demands, and Cadence and Asher need. Isaac has been given the opportunity to watch some movies during the morning nap, and is now loving the Disney channel we got to prevent him from watching so many bad cartoons. It’s a fun throwback for Lindy too! They’ve also been doing some fun activities – digging for treasure in jello, making noodle necklaces, stickers, baking, and lots of playing in the basement. It’s only been a week, but so far so good. Cadence and Asher are getting a lot more outdoor time, since we have a daily routine afternoon outing. Usually just a walk around the neighbourhood, or playing in the back yard. Hopefully the snow and ice will continue to melt and things will get a bit easier.

It has encouraged some new ways to be social – they were always there, but not in the usual routine. Lindy has started having ‘video drinks’ with friends and neighbours, to stay sane 🙂 Our social network had started to focus on only the most convenient situations including the kids, so it’s nice to get back to visiting with our friends that live a bit more distant. Something that many people have been doing all along – but that it took a pandemic for Lindy to embrace.

I guess we don’t know how long this will go on for, or how drastically it will affect us. The timing wasn’t great, with the cancellation of the home show which will affect the spring sales for Celebright. Unknown yet if they will be able to start installations soon. Fingers crossed that this all blows over quickly…if not, we might just need to isolate ourselves at the cottage!