Greetings from the Back house, where we only wear comfy pants and eat snacks. It’s Tuesday, March 24, 2020. I looked at the calendar and double checked on my phone.
Welp, it only took 1 week and 2 days for Margaret to declare everything is boring. I think it really hit her today that we’re in for the long haul. We spiced things up with homeschooling. Thank you, Mrs. Brown, for all the worksheets! We celebrated St. Patrick’s Day. Time has no meaning!
Did you know Niels wakes up at full speed and just keeps going? Like, he’s a lot, y’all. I put him on pause a lot—like I literally just say, “Pause!” at him.
I had a ham sandwich for breakfast because we’re eating things in order of expiration date. We’re about to be having a lot of Chobani Low Sugar yogurt cups for breakfast, lunch, and dinner because someone whose name sounds exactly like Niels has decided his beloved yogurt is “gross.” You’re killing me, Smalls.
We made sugar cookies today like we had not a care in the world—can’t read the news when you have to constantly look at a recipe on your phone to make sure you haven’t mixed up the baking soda and baking powder measurements! It only it took us, like, 2 hours to just get the dough together. We took a FaceTime break while making cookies to talk to cousins who rehashed that their Grandpa died in January. Little kids do grief in their own way, or something.
I had two meetings today and BOTH times Niels barged in to ask me if the butter for the cookies was ready: “Is it soft, Mommy? Is it ready yet?!” While he held a stick of butter up to my face and then TOOK IT UPSTAIRS WITH HIM, both times. When I went upstairs to retrieve the butter, he and Margaret were sitting on the floor of Margaret’s bedroom, just staring at it sitting on the floor in between them. Ummm, should I be worried?
Niels also ate FIVE cereal bars while I was on a 1/2 hour meeting. Smmmaaaalllls.
I was carrying around Niels on my hip this afternoon, like he when he was a baby. Why? What’s happening? He’s like 35 lbs. He was following me around and pulling on my sleeves and at my legging (which I haven’t changed in 3 days) like when he was a baby, and finally he put up his arms to be held. It’s uncertain times for all.
Henning came home from work and yelled, “Don’t touch me!” to the kids. I did the same thing when the kids touched a box that had been sitting in the foyer since yesterday morning: “We’re not playing with boxes!” We need to work on our reactions. Time out for Henning and me.
We made birthday cards for all our family who have birthdays on March 26th. Three people are about to get two cards each. Are we still sending mail?
And I’ll leave you with this. Niels tried to tell me a joke this morning approximately 30 seconds after he woke up.
Niels: What’s a ghost who has a face?
Me: <oh, good God, WTF is happening> What, sweetie?
Niels: <whispers> Coronavirus
Me: <this is fine>
Alrighty. Sweet dreams.Virtual hugs. Be well. Stay home as much as possible. Thank you to all who are putting your life on the line to save us all. Good night.