Year 5, Weeks 39-41: Solar Eclipses and Days Worth of Sickness

 Well, hello! It is certainly spring going on summer at this point! We have had a few different seasons in the past few weeks, but it has been a fairly eventful time. Work, school, events, sickness, it's been quite the three weeks.

Week 39: April 8th - 14th

We were off for the day and it was a lot of fun to get to watch the solar eclipse together! I made a Yoder's run in the morning, then worked on the flowerbed and watched the eclipse every once in awhile between weeding. After that we listened to the baseball game for awhile! It was quite a good summer evening. We had grilled cheese, popcorn and smoothies!

On Tuesday, JL had the kids and took them to get the vanity for our bathroom! They had a good day together, thankfully, there was popcorn at the store. Then Wednesday was full of all sorts of stuff! We had small group, so I threw the brownies together when we got up, then we went to the library and hung out with friends in the afternoon for lunch. I worked on layered taco throughout the day so we had some supper to eat, then I got laundry done and some cleaning - all ready for the evening! It was a great and productive day!

I threw a breakfast casserole and banana bread together on Thursday while we hung out with friends in the morning and had a great time and conversation. JL had band in the evening, so we went to visit Mom real quick and hung out for a little while. Then on Friday, we had Philly cheesesteaks, smoothies and popcorn for supper after I worked. It was a good day, we always love getting to have dinner together! Saturday Jonathan worked on the house and I took the kids to Mom and Dad's while I went and got some shopping done. The kids needed all new clothes to fit them and needed a whole new season's worth of clothes as well! In the evening, we went to Virgil's for ice cream and got Chipotle for supper. It was a sweet little evening together!

Sunday was a lot of fun. We had church and they had lunch in the lobby afterward, then we came home for naps and JL mowed. I made some chicken for leftovers, then had pork chops, potatoes and green beans for supper and spent quality time outside. It has been so beautiful around here so we have been trying to enjoy the weather as much as we can.

Week 40: April 15th - 21st

Double 13 week as usual. Pam came to stay with the kids and Emily had the day off so she came too! Amelia was so excited to spend the whole day with Aunt Emily and Grandma! It was a good day for me at work, JL and the kids came to visit me and do some shopping, so that was a treat! Amelia seemed a little out of it Tuesday morning, I was concerned she was sick and it was confirmed at supper time when she threw up instead of eating, she also threw up again in bed. Poor thing was a little out of it again on Wednesday. We spent the day home on Wednesday (for obvious reasons) and then the kids stayed at Mom's for small group because we didn't want to get Evie sick! On thursday, Jonathan went on a work trip to Rolling Hills so we just relaxed at home. 

On Thursday we went outside, went to the library when there weren't a bunch of other kids to get sick, and we had spaghetti for supper. It didn't go super well. Amelia got sick again in bed at midnight. Poor girl didn't even cry. I gave her a bath, Jonathan cleaned up her bed and she went right back to sleep. She is a tough little thing!

We played it safe on Friday and I took her to the doctor. She was deemed okay, so we grabbed our stuff and went up to go grocery shopping. We had leftovers for dinner and everything went downhill from there really. William got hit after supper and threw up multiple times, 4 times in bed, and I went down later in the evening. It was not enjoyable, but we made it through. I spent Saturday in bed, then we had Subway for dinner, it actually tasted really good. By Sunday I woke up feeling great! We went to church, then got Walker's for lunch. Naps all around, JL did some mowing, then we had meatloaf for supper. Family night was much needed and we had a great time together.

Week 41: April 22nd - 28th

Jonathan was sick on Monday, so the kids and I spent the day together relaxing. We watched some shows, I made some lunch and we just made it through. I made some noodles for supper for the fam and went through the day trying to be healthy enough to function the next day. It paid off, we all went about our days normally on Tuesday. I was pretty wiped out, but made it through. 

I did a lot of cooking on Wednesday again - supper, oatmeal, snack - and Evie was sick so the kids went to Mom and Dad's again. It was a great day, I got a lot done and was ready for Thursday when we got to have a home day. Always a blessing. Jonathan worked on the house a little bit in the evening and then we ordered pizza and went to get that in the evening. We were running out of leftovers, so it was for the best.

Long weekend at work. Not a lot of fun, super slow, but we made it through and I got a lot of stuff done, we accomplished a lot. The kids and Jonathan went on a trip to Beechcreek and had a fantastic time, Amelia said it was the best part of her day. We spent the evening together and then repeated on Sunday, except they went to church! After church, the babies went to Mom and Dad's so Jonathan could work on the house. In the evening, Dad tilled our garden, we had our upstairs picnic and enjoyed time as a family.

I hope everyone else is staying healthy and enjoying the weather out there. It really feels like summer today as I am typing this! Looking like we are into some good weather from here on out. Time for the outside work to begin! We love you all!

Love,

Jonathan, Allison, Amelia and William

Random Photos:

Year 5, Weeks 36-38: Spring Has Sprung and Jesus Has Won!

Here we go! I know we did not get the previous post completed yet - but I am able to write now so I am getting this done while I can! (Editor's note: the previous has been completed and is posted) Babies are sleeping, our last few weeks have been pretty relaxed, so here we are!

Week 36: March 18th - 24th

I had a doctor's appointment in the morning, which was very normal, then we had our date swap on Monday where we had all four kids! They were absolutely great. We had noodles, danishes and a lot of fun! It as a fantastic time, the kids were thrilled.

Tuesday was normal, Jonathan brought the kids to visit, I had to go vote before work, otherwise it was just as normal. Wednesday was my yearly meeting, so I did not see the kids at all. I drove up to Medina before they got up, Jonathan took them to the babysitter in the morning, then I got home in time to pick them up! I swung by the library first, then picked Jonathan up, we got the babies and then we went to Classic for supper with the fam! It was a good end to the craziness, I was just thrilled to be back with my little family. 

Thursday I made ritz chicken for supper, muffins for breakfast and ranch pretzels for the weekend. I finished laundry, changed all the beds and got the whole family ready for the weekend, which was packed full of all sorts of stuff, except Friday! Friday I worked, got some soup prepped for Saturday and had leftovers for dinner. It was a great evening of relaxation.

On Saturday we took a road trip to Columbus with Mom and Samantha, Amelia and I had a fantastic time. We had so much fun. There was a shower for an extended cousin and we enjoyed seeing everyone, but I think the car time was my favorite part. Amelia quoted the GPS the whole time "Mama, we need to go south." She cracked me up the whole time. Jonathan and William had a good time too! They did a little bit of shopping, but mainly had a home day! Mom and Dad went on vacation, so Jonathan had to milk and then we had some soup.

Sunday was super relaxing - church, Jonathan worked on the house, we napped, had sandwiches and took the kids to the barn. This is always risky - they were both terrified, HOWEVER, we worked through it! Since that evening, Amelia looks forward to the barn! She loves to go with Papa, she is thrilled to spend time in the barn and looks forward to seeing the cows and cats.

Week 37: March 25th - 31st

Long days incoming - my double thirteens take quite a toll. Jonathan had to milk, Pam stayed with the kids and then they all came and visited me. Which was extremely encouraging. It was my first day with Tom, who is one of our new pharmacists. It was a great time. We had another long day on Tuesday, but made it through. Thankfully, it was then that we finally got our long stretch of time together. Unfortunately, it was super busy, but, thankfully, we enjoyed all the things we did. Jonathan worked in the house on Wednesday night, we went to Nana and Papa's so that was helpful. After we got the kids down Jonathan and I had supper. The morning was spent at the park with our friends. We spent a lot of time there and the kids had a blast. It wasn't quite as warm as we wanted it to be, but nothing was stopping those babies!

Thursday William and I had therapy and then my friend Melissa came to visit! It was a great day, we had casserole for supper and Jonathan had band in the evening. We spent the evening at home together, just the kids and I! Friday we spent the day mainly at home, it was a great day. In the evening, we had our date night! Of course - Easter was in two days so we really needed to do some shopping for that, we snagged supper and did some shopping! Got all prepared for the holiday and for the babies to have some Easter gifts.

We went to the Landis' in the morning on Saturday to celebrate Easter, then we came home for naps, snagged some lunch on the way home. Jonathan worked outside in the afternoon and I spent some time organizing the rest of the house! My parents came over to celebrate the holiday in the evening and brought pizza. We enjoyed family time more than anything. The kids had such a great day with so many people who loved them.

Our Easter was spent with family. We had a lot of fun. Jonathan played in the morning at church, so we didn't celebrate until after lunch. The kids had a blast, well, Amelia did, William didn't care much about the eggs or the basket, but I have a feeling he will put up a bit of a fight next year! After naps we went to my Aunt and Uncles to celebrate with more family. It was a really laid back Easter with a lot of gatherings. We enjoyed every minute and are so thankful for the families we have to celebrate Jesus raising from the dead!

Week 38: April 1st - 7th

Grocery shopping Monday went well! I haven't taken the babies shopping on my own recently, but it went really well! We went shopping, then came home, played a little bit, then I made breakfast enchiladas for the rest of the week and stroganoff for supper. Our family night was really good, we didn't get to spend as much time together as we probably would have preferred because there was a lot to get done, but we take advantage of the time we have!

Tuesday was normal, I have been trying to hire, so it has been some additional work BUT this week we had some good interviews and hires. It has been a great experience and I was really hoping for some positivity! On Wednesday I made pork loin, then went and hung out with Mom and Dad while JL did some work on the upstairs. We had supper together after the babies went to bed and met at the mechanic before we came home so we could drop our car off.

On Thursday we had chicken enchiladas as a family, then took a few trips in to get the car...so we finally got it, Dad had to take Jonathan in so I could get the babies ready for bed. William was struggling hard core with sleeping, he is still struggling a little bit, but we are trying to get a little better, this evening was the first time we did stuff different and he has improved a little bit.

It was my weekend to work, so the kids spent the day with Faith and the rest of the day was normal. On Saturday Jonathan and the kids went and did some shopping while I worked. We had leftovers for supper once I got home. French toast for breakfast was a real win! We had it both days on the weekend, spending the mornings together for breakfast is a real lifesaver on the weekends I work. Jonathan did not have to play, so we actually got to spend the time together instead of all going our separate ways. The kids went home with Mom and Dad so Jonathan could get a lot of work done. He was super productive and it really encouraged him, so that was incredibly helpful! He got some house work and yard work done since it's basically spring here! Yard needed mowed, we needed to get a lot of weeding done which has also been a project but we are just whittling away! 

I hope everyone has been having the weather we have been enjoying here! It has been lovely. The kids love being outside, William especially. Poor guy hates coming back in. Hopefully you have been able to get outside too! Looks like it is only going to keep improving from here, at least we can hope!

Love

Jonathan, Allison, Amelia and William