Our Week - The One with Quarantine, Week 54 (Lots of Baseball and Beach Prep)

Happy Wednesday, y’all!  Last week was full of baseball and beach prep, and today I’m recapping it all!

Monday, March 22 (Day 374 of Quarantine)

Monday was just a typical day – work, laundry, repeat.  I took a little break from working Monday afternoon to take Maui for a walk since the weather was so pretty, and then it was time to pick the kids up from school.

Jacob had baseball practice at 7:15, so I cooked an early dinner at home, and we ate on the back porch before the boys headed out.  Olivia and I spent the evening hanging out together, and I got her to bed a few minutes before the boys got home.  I was pretty far into the book Dear Edward, so I spent a lot of time reading Monday evening… I didn’t want to put it down!

Tuesday, March 23 (Day 375 of Quarantine)

Tuesday was another workday.  I’ve started batch working for the blog, so I’ll spend an entire day writing, photographing, editing, and piecing together to get as much done as I can, and then that frees up a day for me to work on house projects, and other things that are pressing.  I’ve been having headaches and neck strain lately and staying away from the computer some days has been helpful. 

I was really excited on Tuesday because a long anticipated book finally delivered to my house!  I love Emily Ley and I've read all of her books, so I was thrilled when she announced a new one.

Tuesday evening, Jacob had a 7:15 baseball game, so we got homework done and ate an early dinner before heading to the ball field.  Right as we sat down, we started feeling little drops of rain, and with a quick check of the radar, I saw a big mass heading straight for us.  It wasn’t supposed to rain, so it came as quite a surprise, and it was disappointing since we’d already missed so many games this season… two because Jacob had the flu and another because of rain.

Thankfully, the rain miraculously held off until the top of the fourth inning, and once it started it wasn’t too hard.  We played the team that had whooped us in our second game (one of the ones that we missed), so we went into it thinking it might be ugly again, but our boys played SO well, and we ended up keeping the lead for much of the game.  We were up by two at the end of the third inning, and time was almost up in the game (they only play for an hour and 45 minutes, max) PLUS it had started to rain, so we thought for sure they were going to call it and we’d have a win under our belts.  WRONG.

They ended up letting the boys play out the fourth inning and the other team scored five runs and held us to zero, so they ended up winning the game 14-11.  Needless to say, it was an exciting game, but it was also heartbreaking. 

Jacob played so well!  This was only his second B-Ball game ever, so we were eager to see what he could do.  He ended up being walked for his first at-bat, and he scored a run.  It was his first run scored in B-Ball, and it tied the game, so his teammates were going crazy congratulating him when he ran home.  It was just the best thing.

For his second at-bat, he got a great hit to right field for a single – his first hit in B-Ball!  He ended up scoring a run that time, too, and that run gave us the lead, so again, everyone was going CRAZY when he ran home.  I don’t think I’ve ever cheered so loud at one of his games! 

Now that they’re in B-Ball, they’re teaching the boys to “steal” bases when a pitch or catch goes bad, and Jacob stole second base both times – his first two stolen bases ever!!!!  I know it technically doesn’t count as a stolen base when it’s the result of an error by the other team, but it was still exciting to see him doing his thing!

It rained the entire fourth inning, and the game didn’t end until 9:20, so we were all wet and exhausted by the time it was over.  Olivia is always lights out by 8 or 8:15 on weeknights, and Jacob is always lights out by 9, so it was a verrrry late night for both of them.  By the time they got in the bed it was after 10, and they were pooped.  B and I usually head upstairs to get ready for bed around 10, but we had to spend some time with Maui since we’d been gone all evening, so we watched an episode of New Girl and then headed up for a late bedtime for us, too.  Late games are no joke… definitely a downside to B-Ball.

And for history’s sake, it’s also worth noting that the Georgia governor announced late Tuesday afternoon that starting Thursday, March 25, ALL Georgians 16+ are eligible to get vaccinated!!!!  Y’all, I could not have been happier to know that ALL of our loved ones could finally go get theirs!!!!  My mom, dad, brother, and sister-in-law + tons of extended family are all vaccinated already, but my littlest brother hasn’t qualified until now.  He is a Starbucks barista, so he has to deal with the public all day every day, and it’s such a relief to know he can finally go get his vaccine now!  We are getting so dang close to wiping this thing out once and for all! 

Wednesday, March 24 (Day 376 of Quarantine)

Wednesday, I worked all day, made a post office run to ship a HUGE Poshmark shipment (it’s so awesome when someone bundles a bunch of items together!), and then I stopped by my parents’ house to check out an old cabinet that belonged to my Papa John.  My parents are still sorting through all of his and my Nana’s stuff that was in storage, and I was debating keeping the old cabinet because the carving on the front was so beautiful. 

The cabinet is decades old, and unfortunately was in terrible condition… lots of cracked wood, some pieces had been cut off, a shelf was collapsing, and there was lots of staining and other broken pieces.  I know NOTHING about refinishing furniture, so I knew immediately it was a project too big for me to take on, and I passed on it.  I did get to visit with my Daddy for a bit, though, so that made the trip worth it! 

Wednesday evening was b-u-s-y.  I grabbed the kids from school right at 3 and headed straight home.  Brian, Jacob, and Olivia all had hair appointments for Tuesday, but our hair dresser had to postpone until Wednesday, so those were on the schedule.  Olivia typically has dance on Wednesdays, but her class had been moved to virtual for the week, so we just decided to let her skip because after a year with no haircuts, she needed one desperately.

The kids flew through their snacks and homework, and then the four of us piled in the car to see Mr. Jamey at 4:30.  All three of them got their hair cut, and Jamey ended up taking 6-7 inches off of Olivia’s hair… maybe even more?!  She hadn’t had a haircut (not even a trim) since before the pandemic started so it was loooong overdue.  Brian and Jacob hadn’t had theirs cut since Christmas Break, so both of them were long overdue, too.  Everybody left looking great and feeling lighter!

After haircuts, we swung through the Chick-Fil-A drive through to pick up dinner, and then we flew home to scarf it down quickly only to head out the door less than 30 minutes later to get to Jacob’s baseball game.  He had a makeup game from a rainout at 7:15 and he had to be there by 6:30. 

Just as the game started and we got settled in, it started raining unexpectedly yet again.  There was no chance of rain all day, and for some reason it started right as our game started.  We have had terrible luck with baseball games this season!  They let the boys continue to play for about five minutes, but once the rain got harder, they called them into the dugouts to wait it out.  A few minutes later, it stopped completely, and the coaches went out to fix the fields so they could start again, and then it started pouring again right in the middle of it.  It ended up flooding the field, and they had to call it in the top of the first inning. 

We were all really bummed, but on the bright side we saw a rainbow, and we were able to get the kids home, showered, and in the bed by 8:45, so we didn’t have to have two 10 PM bedtimes back-to-back. 

Thursday, March 25 (Day 377 of Quarantine)

Thursday morning, I dropped the kids and came home to get in a yoga workout.  I did yoga a lot at the beginning of the pandemic but fell off the wagon during the winter months.  I LOVE yoga – it really helps to keep me centered and keep my anxiety at bay – so I’m going to try to make it a point to do it consistently… at least three or four times a month.

The rest of the day was spent working, stuffing eggs for our annual Easter egg hunt, and packing for our beach trip.  There was some horrific weather just north and northwest of us all day, and multiple long-track tornadoes touched down throughout the day, destroying tons of homes in Alabama and Georgia, and killing several people as well.  I was so grateful to be just outside that line of storms, and I’m keeping all of the affected families in my prayers.  Many of you reached out to me to check on us, and I just wanted to say thank you.  It really means a lot.  <3 

Jacob’s baseball game from the previous night had been rescheduled for Thursday night, so I cooked an early dinner and we all headed that way.  Thankfully, the rain held out, and they were able to play the entire game.  This one was very long and drawn out, and due to all of the walks by the pitchers from both teams, we were barely able to squeeze in three innings before we hit the 1 hour and 45 minute time limit. 

Y’all, it was the slowest baseball game I’ve ever watched.  Lol.  In the first inning, there was not one out made by either team… all players on both teams were walked, got on base, and scored until the five-run limit was achieved.  Things picked up a little throughout the rest of the game, but man, the majority of it was so slow.  Jacob only had one at-bat, and unfortunately, he struck out.  The other team’s pitcher found his stride and made some really good pitches.

The game ended in a tie, 13-13.  It’s a shame we didn’t have enough time to play the last three innings to see what would have happened.  I guess that’s B-Ball life, though! 

We got home SO late again Thursday night, and the kids didn’t get in the bed until 10, and then B and I headed to bed shortly after they did.

Friday, March 26 (Day 378 of Quarantine)

Friday morning, I dropped my Telluride at the dealership for its first service appointment and B drove us back home where I worked and packed all day.  It stormed all day long, so it was nice to stay cozy inside.  I finished Dawson's Creek and I'd forgotten just how perfect, yet heartbreaking, the finale was... I cried again!

I grabbed the kids from school at 3 and it was time to kick off spring break!!!!  The rest of the evening was spent celebrating the long week ahead with Mexican takeout and margaritas, and then the kids had a Zoom magic show as a reward for meeting their AR goals at school this quarter!  They usually do a big reward for them at school, but they’ve been having to get creative during the pandemic.  Jacob loves magic, so he was thrilled, and both of the kids enjoyed every single second.

After the magic show, we had just enough time to watch the new episode of Secrets of Sulphur Springs, and then we watched another episode of the Star Wars cartoon on Disney+. 

Saturday, March 27 (Day 379 of Quarantine)

Saturday was B-U-S-Y.  There was no baseball because of spring break, but I had a million and one things to do to get ready for our trip.  In addition to washing clothes and packing and beach prep stuff, I also decided it’d be a great idea to clean the whole house top to bottom, wash all the sheets, and tidy everything, too.  There’s nothing worse than coming home from a nice, long, relaxing trip to a filthy house so I always thank myself when I do this.

I made homemade waffles for breakfast and got in a cardio workout first, and then the rest of the day was spent doing aaaallll the things.

We got Five Guys takeout for dinner and ate on the back porch, and then the rest of the evening was spent catching up on American Idol, painting Olivia’s and my fingernails and toenails for the beach, and relaxing after a very long day of cleaning and prepping.

Just before bedtime for the kids, I got a call from my Dad that they had a situation with my niece, and she needed to be taken to the ER.  She ended up being totally fine, and everything is perfectly well with her, but since my parents had to be at the hospital for a few hours (my brother and sister-in-law were out of town), they swung my nephew over to our house so we could keep him.

Since it was nearly bedtime, we set him up with the kids for a slumber party and we kept him all night.  I let him have a bubble bath in our big tub first, and then all of them goofed off until after 10 before finally falling asleep.  That was the first time we've been able to keep him overnight since my bro and SIL don't live in town, and the kids all enjoyed it!

I typically recap Sundays in my weekly posts, but since we left for the beach that day, I’ll recap it with the beach posts instead.

And now for a few current things…

Currently Reading

 

For the month of February, I read Everybody Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People and I LOVED it.  Bob Goff is funny and endearing, and he is incredibly inspiring.  It’s SO hard sometimes to “become love” like he suggests in the book, especially in this climate right now in our country, but I’m working on it one day at a time. 

 

I also read the book Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano this month, and it was excellent.  The story is about the aftermath of a plane crash, and I was riveted from the very beginning.  I don’t make a lot of time to read during this time of year because it’s always really busy for us, but I found myself making the time so I could find out what happened next.  I highly recommend this one.

 

Currently Watching

 

In March, we finished The Bachelor, and we’re also still watching This is Us, Shark Tank, A Million Little Things, Saturday Night Live, and All American + New Girl and The Good Place on Netflix. 

 

I also just finished Dawson’s Creek, and it was everything I remember loving from my teen years.  I had forgotten just how heart-wrenching the series finale was.  I remember seeing the finale as a 21-year old and being peeved at one of the parts of the outcome (don’t want to go into details here in case any of you are watching it for the first time), but after watching it again as an older adult, I realized there was something in the finale that I didn’t notice the first time I watched, and that finally gave me the closure I didn’t even realized I needed all these years.  It was just perfect.

 

With the kids, we’re still watching Secrets of Sulphur Springs on Disney, and we’ve been rolling through lots of movies, too.

 

Currently Listening To

 

In March, I started listening to Emily Ley’s new Simplified podcast, and I also started playing all of our favorite upbeat tunes for spring.  I also recently downloaded a few new songs by H.E.R., Darius Rucker, and Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars’ new collab) and all of them are getting me in the mood for summer!

Happy Wednesday!

What I Ordered from Amazon in March 2021

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

March was another busy month for Amazon purchases – partly because I used up the rest of my Christmas gift cards, and partly because I had to shop for a birthday and Easter.  Ready to see what all I bought this month?  Let’s go!

Gingham Dress

I mentioned this dress in my Five on Friday post because it’s soooo good.  This gingham beauty is lightweight, fully lined, AND IT HAS POCKETS!!  It comes in 10 different color combinations and it’s the perfect little dress for beach trips, summer date nights, and weddings… it’s even appropriate for church and the office since the hem hits just a few inches above the knee.

Pink and White Dot Dress

This sweet little cotton dress was also a winner for me this month.  The fabric is thick enough so the dress isn’t see-through, and it has the slightest amount of stretch to make it comfortable.  The buttons are functional which makes the dress so easy to get on and off, and the color is even prettier in person.  It fits true to size, and I was especially pleased because the dress fits me like it was made for me.  The dress was significantly less expensive when I bought it, but it looks like Amazon has raised the price a bit since then.  In all honesty, I would still purchase it at the higher price point because it’s just that good.  It comes in 20 different solid colors and patterns, so there’s something for everyone, and it is THE perfect spring and summer dress. 

 

Ruffle Strap Tank Top

I loved this little tank, but since the 90’s baby doll trend is back, it runs very short, so I decided to return it.  It was really cute on aside from the length, though, so I’ll likely end up buying it again in a larger size.  I’m just debating whether I should buy a medium or a large.  I think a medium would work, but it’s hard to say.

 
Round Belt

This little belt was very similar to another one that I had my eye on at Pink Lily, but this one was a fraction of the cost.  Amazon has since sold out of the round version that I ordered, but they do have another version with a square buckle that’s just as pretty.  I’ll be pairing mine with aaaallll the spring and summer dresses!!

 

Lifeproof iPhone Case

I’ve used a Lifeproof case for my last two or three iPhones, and I’ve always gotten the one that’s top-of-the-line – the one that covers the entire phone and is drop proof and water proof.  I discovered last year that the case was causing all of my pictures to have a greenish tint to them, so I removed the lens cover and that solved that problem.  Recently, though, I started having a huge issue where the screen turns off as soon as I get on a call… that means I can’t use the key pad, which also means I can’t press numbers, I can’t put the phone on speaker, and I can’t hang up a call because the screen is black.  No amount of wiggling, shaking, button pressing, or anything brings it back either.  It has been a nightmare… basically every time I make a call, if someone doesn’t pick up, I end up leaving them super long voicemails of shuffling/silence because I can’t stop the call. 

I did some research thinking it was an issue with my phone, but it turns out, my Lifeproof case was messing up one of the sensors causing all of the issues.  I ended up grabbing this new Lifeproof case that’s less obtrusive (but also less protective – cringe), but the phone now works as it should, and I no longer dread making calls.  I do love this case so far… it doesn’t cover the screen (which is the part I worry about), but it has a rubber lip that goes all around the screen which is supposed to protect it from shattering if you drop it.  Hopefully I won’t ever have to find out!

 

Essie Nail Polish

This nail polish was purchased as a birthday gift for a friend.  I thought the color was so pretty and perfect for spring!

 

Farm Raised Candles

This candle was another birthday gift for the same friend.  This is a small business that sells on Amazon, and I thought the branding and fragrance combos were so beautiful and unique.  It’s really hard to choose a candle scent on the internet since you can’t smell it first, but my friend told me that she loves it… she actually said that it smells like the Anthropologie candle that we all know and love!! 

 

Growing Boldly by Emily Ley

I have purchased and enjoyed all of Emily Ley’s books, so I have been highly anticipating this one!!  I was honored to be a part of the launch team for GB, and I was granted access to the PDF copy of the book a couple of months ago.  I’ve been waiting for the hard copy to read the entire thing, but I did delve into a few different sections to get a feel for the book, and I have loved it so much that I absolutely cannot WAIT to read the rest. 

From Amazon, Growing Boldly “will help you believe in who you are and Whose you are… and move past the lies and fears holding you back.  It’ll help you figure out what makes you tick and own it confidently.  Gather all your grit, learned lessons, and tools because it’s all valuable.  Imagine the life you dream of and decide how to make it happen.  Love your people so well so that you create a lasting legacy.  Clear the clutter and cultivate clarity so you can do what matters most.  And do the hard work without forgetting to feed your soul.”

This is now available on Amazon (and most other places where books are sold) and I’ll report back once I’ve read it cover to cover.

 

Pilot Precise V5 Pens

I’ve been using these same pens since high school, and it was time for a refill!!  Amazon always sells them in boxes of 12, unlike other places, so they have the best price!

 

H2Ocean Purified Ocean Salt Water

After we got Olivia’s ears pierced a year and a half ago, we were told to clean them daily with saltwater as they healed.  The person who pierced her ears highly recommended this saltwater spray as it’s much easier to use than mixing up your own.  And he was right… we love it!!  It’s so easy to spray directly on her lobes, and it was nice to not have to mix up our own every single day.  We went through a small can of it after her ears were pierced, and her ears healed beautifully.  A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that the back of one of her earlobes was looking a little irritated, so I ordered another can from Amazon.  We’ve been using it ever since, and it has helped her earlobe heal quickly.

 

Lego Friends Baking Competition

Olivia received some money for her birthday, and she asked if she could spend it on this Lego set.  As always, Amazon had the best price (it just so happened to be on sale when we ordered it), and she was excited to put it together!

 

Minecraft Activity Book

Jacob is obsessed with Minecraft, so I ordered this activity book to put in his Easter basket.  I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised at how good this book ended up being.  I expected it to be pretty thin and not have many pages, but it’s thick, and has loads of activities including mazes, crossword puzzles, spot the difference games, word searches, and word unscrambles.  And every single page can also be colored!  I had worried that it might be a little too baby-ish for Jacob, but it’s not at all… I think he’s going to love it!  This is such a fun gift for any little Minecraft lover!

 

Encyclopedia for Minecrafters

This book was another Easter basket gift for Jacob… he LOVES books like this, and he spends time every night before bed reading them.  While I know nothing about Minecraft, this book is highly rated on Amazon, and after flipping through it, I can already tell he’s going to love it.

 

Plush Toothless x 2

Both of our kids love How to Tame Your Dragon, so I bought two of these plush Toothlesses… one for each of their Easter baskets.

 

And that’s it!  Happy Monday, y’all!

And if you want to see everything that I ordered in previous months, just check out the posts below!

January 2019

February 2019
March 2019
April 2019
May 2019
June 2019
July 2019
August 2019
September 2019
October 2019
November 2019
December 2019
January 2020
February 2020
March 2020
April 2020
May 2020
June 2020

July 2020

August 2020

September 2020

October 2020

November 2020

December 2020

January 2021

February 2021

*Linking up with My Glittery Heart, The Other Side of the Road, and The Sirois Family for Hello Monday and The Other Side of the Road for Prime Purchases

Five on Friday - More Spring and Summer Fashion

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Happy Friday, y’all!  In true Friday fashion, I’m sharing a few favorites on the blog today, and everything I’m sharing happens to be spring fashion items just like last week’s post.  This time of year, I always feel so inspired by all of the pastels and eyelet fabric and ruffles and it just makes me want to share all the things!  Here we go!

O N E – Pink and White Dot dress

Y’all, this dress showed up in an ad in my Instagram feed, and all I have to say is, well placed, Amazon, well placed.  I couldn’t click on it fast enough, and I don’t EVER shop from ads on Instagram!  There’s nothing that screams LINDSAY more than pink and polka dots.  I had a tiny bit of gift card money leftover, so I snatched this dress right up.  I’m happy to report that it exceeded my expectations and I couldn’t love it more!  I didn’t pay much attention to the fabric before I ordered, and I had assumed that it would be that light satin-y fabric that so many Amazon dresses are made from, so I was super pleased to pull it out of the bag and find that it’s actually made of cotton! 

The fabric is thick enough so the dress isn’t see-through, and it has the slightest amount of stretch to make it comfortable.  The buttons are functional which makes the dress so easy to get on and off, and the color is even prettier in person.  It fits true to size, and I was so excited because the dress fits me like it was made for me.  The dress was significantly less expensive when I bought it, but it looks like Amazon has raised the price a bit since then.  In all honesty, I would still purchase it at the higher price point because it’s just that good.  It comes in 20 different solid colors and patterns, so there’s something for everyone, and it is THE perfect spring and summer dress. 

 

T W O – Pink Heart Arch Earrings

I mentioned last week that I’d purchased some gold star arch earrings, and while I was at it, I also purchased some pink heart arch earrings.  The seller who had the gold stars didn’t have the pink hearts, so I purchased them from a separate seller.  They arrived quickly, and they are so dang cute, and I’ll be wearing them all summer long.  The ones from Nickel and Suede have been everywhere on Instagram, but these from Etsy are just as good, and for less than half of the price.    

 

T H R E E – Blue and White Gingham Dress

Y’all!!!!  Could Amazon be more on fire with the spring and summer dresses?!  This one is perfect for the beach, but I also love that it can be dressed up for church and other functions… you know, if we ever get back to doing those sorts of things.  Haha.  This one comes in 10 different colors, and it is just darling.  Gingham is one of those southern staples that never goes out of style… just like seersucker!  This one will be perfect for our beach trips this year!

 

F O U R – Woven Belt

I’ve always loved wearing a belt with dresses and certain blouses… it’s so flattering when you can cinch in your waist and get that perfect fit!  My old brown woven belt has been looking a little worse for wear, so I grabbed this lighter version on Amazon.  It has a straw woven design, but it’s actually made from some sort of synthetic material, which I actually like because it feels sturdy.  I’ve had my eye on a belt from Pink Lily that’s $32, so this one was a steal at just $8.99.  This one also comes in eight different colors and styles, including round and square buckles. 

 

F I V E – Hope & Henry Girls Dress

We probably won’t be attending church in person for Easter this year, but I did buy an Easter dress for Olivia anyway.  We’ll get dressed up regardless, and she’ll also be able to wear this dress at the beach and eventually to church when we start going again, so it’ll definitely get some good use.  This dress is absolutely gorgeous, boutique-quality, and it’s full lined.  It comes in seven different colors and the fit is true-to-size.  I bought Olivia a size seven and it fits perfectly with a bit of growing room.  It also has a side zipper for easy dressing.

 

Friday Funnies

On the Blog This Week

 What I Wore – February 2021

Our Week – The One with Quarantine, Week 53 (Tornado Day, Covid Vaccine, and Two Birthdays)

Happy Friday, y’all! 

*Linking up with A Little Bit of Everything for Friday Favorites.

Our Week - The One with Quarantine, Week 53 (Tornado Day, Covid Vaccine, and Two Birthdays)

What. A. Week.  Whew!  It was a mixture of odd and good, heavy on the GOOD, and we are rolling into this new week feeling grateful!!  We are also rolling into this week feeling excited because this is the last week of school before sprrrriiiing breeeeaaaak!

Monday, March 15 (Day 367 of Quarantine)

Monday kicked off with a Publix run after I dropped the kids at school, followed by a very long day of work.  I managed to get several blog posts outlined as well as a few completed, and it felt fantastic to be back ahead of the game again!

I had to work at the concession stand at the ball park for the first time ever Monday evening, so I grabbed the kids from school right on time, and headed home to get them settled in so I could get ready to leave.  The concession stand is run by the parents, so we all have to take at least one shift during each season, but due to Covid shutting everything down last year, and the other two seasons being fall ball (when they don’t require us to work concession), I’d never had the chance to do it.

I had to be there at 4:45, and I was with four of the other parents from our team.  I was a little nervous about doing it – we sell chicken fingers, corndogs, fries, and other items that have to be cooked in a fryer – and I’ve literally never fried anything in my whole life.  Lol.  Thankfully, a couple of the other guys there with me had done it a few times before, and they knew exactly what to do to get things up and running. 

I ended up ringing up orders all evening, and everything went perfectly smoothly.  I worked at a movie theater for three years and I worked at a bank for several years, so I definitely know how to take orders, use a cash register, and count money.  Ha!   As a matter of fact, one of the guys working concession with me was an old neighborhood friend who I grew up with, and we also worked together at the movie theater, so I had major 1998 flashbacks all evening long.  Haha.

The whole situation was a bit surreal because I hadn’t been around that many people in such close proximity for such a long stretch of time in over a year.  Everyone wore masks, so it was safe, and it was actually really nice to be out of the house and doing something with other humans.  Our shift wasn’t over until 9, so B had the kids at home all night, and it was the first time in over a year that I wasn’t there to put the kids to bed.  Come to think of it, that was probably the longest stretch of time I’ve ever gone in their whole lives putting them to bed regularly and not missing a night.  Prior to the pandemic, B and I were going on monthly date nights, and I was also seeing my girlfriends on a regular basis causing me to miss bedtime at least a few times per month.

The concession stand stayed super busy all evening, because not only were the regular ball games going on, the whole entire baseball team from our kids’ school just so happened to be there watching one of the games.  My nephew goes to our kids’ school and plays for their high school team, so I got to see him, too. 

When I got back home, I was pooped, but happy to have been out of the house a bit, and I settled in on the couch with a light, very late dinner while B and I got caught up on The Bachelor finale.

Tuesday, March 16 (Day 368 of Quarantine)

Tuesday morning, I had loads of errands to run – Krispy Kreme to pick up donuts for Jacob’s class for St. Patrick’s Day, UPS Store, Target, and Fresh Market, and then I headed home.  The remainder of the morning and early afternoon was spent getting a bunch of “life stuff” done – I’ve been fighting with the insurance company about a bill for months, and I FINALLY got that resolved in our favor – along with several other annoying things like that that have been hanging over my head. 

B picked up Chipotle for lunch for the two of us, and then after lunch, I spent the afternoon putting together Easter baskets and finishing up buying the things we need for the Easter baskets and Easter egg hunt.  We’re going to the beach for spring break this year, and will get back just two days before Easter, so I have to get it all done now!

After school, the kids and I stopped by my parents’ house to pick up some leftovers and we spent about 30 minutes with them in the back yard.  My mom was off of work, so we got to see both of them, which was nice.

Tuesday evening, Jacob’s baseball game was canceled due to the weather, so we spent the evening at home eating dinner and watching some of American Idol that we’d missed.  I even squeezed in some reading, and the kids built a leprechaun trap!

Tuesday evening, we saw the good news that a local clinic had gone to the kids’ school after hours to vaccinate all of the faculty and staff!!  That puts us one step closer to wiping this thing out, and it also makes me feel even better about having them at school in-person.  Our school  has just done a phenomenal job this school year, and I pray it continues since the end of the school year is near! 

Wednesday, March 17 (Day 369 of Quarantine)

Wednesday was St. Patrick's Day, so the kids were allowed to wear green.  

After I dropped them off, I got in a workout and then worked most of the morning.  There was terrible weather forecasted for the overnight hours into Thursday, so my anxiety was pretty high, so I spent the afternoon relaxing, taking Maui for a walk out in the fresh air, and meeting with my therapist for my monthly appointment.  That appointment couldn’t have come at a better time!

Olivia had dance after school, and all the while, I kept seeing tornado alerts to the west of us in Alabama, so I knew we’d probably be in for a long night.  All local schools had already announced they’d be canceling in-person classes for Thursday due to the impending weather, so we knew it was pretty serious. 

Since the kids were out Thursday, we treated Wednesday evening as we would a Friday evening, and B and I indulged in a St. Paddy’s Day beer paired with the leftovers from my mom.  Then after dinner, I prepped the closet under the stairs for impending doom, haha.  We let the kids stay up late and finish American Idol, and then B and I watched a few episodes of New Girl followed by the local news so we could get a feel for what was going to happen.

Thankfully, by that time, they were reporting that the squall line was moving significantly faster than anticipated, so our window for bad weather would be much earlier in the night, and they also said that because it was moving so fast, it was starting to look less organized for tornadoes.  The tornado threat was still there, but the risk wasn’t quite as high as it had been.  That knowledge helped me get to sleep a little easier.

Thursday, March 18 (Day 370 of Quarantine)

The storm came roaring in between midnight and 1 and it was crazy loud.  We went from no rain or wind all day and night to an immediate torrential downpour, high winds, and thunder and lightning.  It woke Olivia up immediately, and she came running full throttle into our bedroom, scared as can be.  We got her calmed down and settled in our bed, and then I lay there just waiting for the tornado sirens to go off.  I thought for sure they’d go off at any minute because it sounded so bad out, but they never did.

We ended up making it the whole night with no tornado threats in our area (PRAISE!) but I didn’t sleep well between the storms coming and going all night + Olivia hogging half of my space in the bed.  B got up at 7 and headed downstairs to work, and then Olivia followed not long after, but I rolled over and slept until just after 8 to try to catch up on some of what I’d missed.

Once we were up, it was breakfast time, followed by a couple of cartoons for the kids, followed by school for the day.  The school had pivoted to virtual learning for the day, but they didn’t schedule any live lessons because they were concerned about some people not having power.  The kids worked on their school stuff for the rest of the morning, only breaking for lunch, and then they finished up shortly after lunch.  The kids also spent some of the morning using the tornado closet as a fort, so it didn't go completely to waste!

While they worked, I got the closet put back together, and I figured while everything was out, I might as well go ahead and clean it out and organize it.  It is on my monthly goals list, after all!

Once all that was done, the kids and I went for a walk around the neighborhood, and then I dropped them off at home and headed back out to get in my first run in months.  I almost squeaked out two miles before throwing in the towel because I was struggling.  It’s amazing how little time it takes for your body to lose all of its conditioning. 

After my run, I showered for the day, and then worked in my office while the kids played video games.  I headed down and made an early dinner, and then B and Jacob were off to (indoor) baseball practice at 6:45.  While they were gone, Olivia and I busted out the sidewalk chalk per her request, and then we headed in to get her ready for bed. 

Friday, March 19 (Day 371 of Quarantine)

Friday morning, the kids were able to go back to school, so I dropped them and did some work for a couple of hours before it was time to get my first Covid vaccine.  As I mentioned in my last weekly post, people ages 16+ who have asthma now qualify for the vaccine in Georgia, so I made an appointment the moment it was available to me. 

I have really bad outdoor allergies, and had to start carrying an epipen when I started allergy shots a few years ago, so I have to say, I was a bit nervous about getting the vaccine since a few people have had severe allergic reactions to them.  I asked B to come along with me just in case, and he obliged. 

On the way there, I popped on to the website to help my sister-in-law get an appointment for their vaccines (since she and my brother-in-law now both qualify) and I was so dismayed to see that there were still appointments available around the clock that very same day which meant that the appointments weren’t filling up here in town.  :o(  As a matter of fact, I went on to the website at 10:30 AM and they still had appointments for 10:45 AM (just 15 minutes later) and every 15 minutes after that for the rest of the day.  Sigh.  

We know so many people in other areas who are unable to get appointments and we know so many people here who don’t yet qualify who are waiting patiently for their turn in line, so it is frustrating to know that there are so many available appointments/doses that are going to waste.

The place where we went to be vaccinated was a new mass vaccination site that had just opened two days prior, and when we pulled up it felt like one of those end-of-the-world movies.  They had set up around ten massive drive-through tents in the parking lot, and there were military men and women directing people through the maze of cones to get to the proper tents.  Everyone was wearing PPE, and we were wearing our masks, and the whole thing was just BIZARRE.

When we pulled up, there were way fewer vehicles than I thought would be there, and we only had two vehicles in front of us in our lane.  Someone immediately came to our vehicle to start the check-in process, and when he came to the window he said, “So you’re both getting vaccinated today?”  And I said, “Actually, it’s just me since I have asthma, but he doesn’t qualify yet,” pointing at Brian.  And then I said jokingly, “But I’m sure he wouldn’t turn it down if you have any extra doses!!” 

And, y’all, I’m so dang glad I made that joke because the guy responded with, “I GOT YOU.  Anybody who’s in the vehicle and is ready and willing can have it.”  Apparently, they are just wanting to get vaccines into any arms at this point since there aren’t enough qualifying people to fill the appointments. 

After that exchange, he got me checked in and then he added all of B’s info to the system, and then we pulled under the tent so two sweet ladies could administer our vaccines.  It was painless, SO quick, and easy peasy. 

The whole experience was super organized and efficient, and the check-in and actual shot part only took ten minutes, and then we just had to pull over in the parking lot for 15 more minutes to make sure we didn’t have any kind of allergic reaction.  The whole process took just 25 minutes, and the best part was that we never even had to get out of our vehicle!!  Woo hoooo!  We both got the Pfizer vaccine, so we’ll have to go back and get our second ones in three-ish weeks, and then we’ll be 95% protected!!!!  Light at the end of the tunnel, y’all!!

Local friends and family who qualify, if you would like the link to make an appointment, please do not hesitate to call, text, or email me… I’m happy to send it to you!  I know they would be grateful for those appointments to get booked!

B and I both felt totally fine the rest of the day – just a mildly sore arm for both of us, and it was no different than what you have with any other shot.  As a matter of fact, my arm always hurts terribly after a flu shot to the point where I can barely lift it for 2-3 days, but that didn’t happen with the Covid vaccine.

Friday evening, we got Mexican takeout, poured some margs, and then watched the new Tom and Jerry movie together.  Baseball was canceled yet again for wet fields, so we had the whole evening at home.  Jacob and Olivia asked me to build a fort in Jacob's room so they could sleep over together, and we did just that!

Saturday, March 20 (Day 372 of Quarantine)

Saturday was a typical day – homemade waffles, a workout, and laundry – and then B spent the whole morning hanging three more sunshades on the back porch.  We were so impressed with the one he hung last weekend that we decided to go ahead and put them down the entire length of the porch, plus the one open side.  I’m hoping this means we can utilize that space more during the summer even when it’s miserably hot outside.

I made grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch, and then afterward, B was back at it hanging the shades.  It was very chilly Saturday, but sunny, so the kids spent the entire morning outside as well as the early part of the afternoon.  I had reached the point in my book where I couldn’t put it down, so I read the entire afternoon.

B and Jacob headed to baseball practice at 4, and Olivia and I stayed home and got ready.  Saturday was my Mama Cass’s 92nd birthday, and my aunt and uncle hosted my mom’s whole side of the family for an outdoor, socially distanced birthday celebration.

When the boys got home, we picked up pizzas for our little fam, and then we headed that way.  It was cold, so they had three firepits all warmed up and ready to go, and we spent the whole night out there.  Two of my family members who live a couple of hours away came down, and that was the first time we’d seen them in over a year since before Covid hit.  It was SUCH a nice night catching up with everyone, and it was so nice for everyone to be able to get together to celebrate Mama Cass.  She is fully vaccinated now (along with many of our other family members), so things were a little less nerve-wracking.  We still, of course, kept our distance from each other and wore our masks if we had to go in the house, but I was able to sneak in a couple of hugs, and it was just a great night.

We got home late, so the kids got in the bed way past their bedtime, and then B and I spent a little bit of time on the couch watching TV before heading to bed ourselves.

Sunday, March 21 (Day 373 of Quarantine)

Sunday morning was the usual (cinnamon rolls, church, planning the week ahead), followed by my first Pilates workout ever, and then we headed to my mother-in-law’s and step-father-in-law’s to have lunch and celebrate my MIL for her birthday.  She cooked lunch for us (crazy that she always cooks for her own birthday, but she enjoys it, so that’s the way it’s always been), and we all ate in separate rooms.  It was a little too chilly to eat outside, so we split up inside to eat instead, and by the time lunch was over, the sun had come out and warmed things up enough for us to hang out in the back yard for the rest of the afternoon.

The boys and Olivia all played baseball while all of us adults chatted, and it was a lovely Sunday afternoon.  Most of us (besides the kids) will be fully vaccinated in just a few weeks, so I’m hoping things might be able to be more normal over there soon.  We’ll just have to see how things go, though, I suppose.

Sunday evening, we were still stuffed from lunch, so we had a cheeseboard for dinner on the back porch, and that was how we ended our week!  It was a great one!

Happy Wednesday!