Covid 19

I don't remember exactly when we started hearing bout the Coronavirus in the news. It was some time in January. People were getting some new flu in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. It is in the same flu family as SARS which was a huge problem back in 2003. This was a new strain never seen before in humans, and it was spreading like wildfire.

China locked down the whole city of Wuhan, and then I think the whole province of Hubei. Pretty soon however the virus was popping up all over the world.

At the end of January there was 1 case in all of Canada. As of yesterday there were 324 cases, 145 of which are in Ontario. On Thursday night the Ontario government announced that March Break would continue for two more weeks. As of last night Alberta announced it was closing schools indefinitely. Friday at school was weird. Leaving for at least three weeks... I kept wondering if it would be longer than that..

The church has been closing temples. On Thursday the church leaders decided church would be happening from home for the next little while. Missionaries have been in various states of self-isolation. Isaac was in self-isolation for two weeks in South Korea. He's now been home for a week with the plan to send him to Detroit after being home for two weeks, with the hopes of returning to Korea when it's safe to do so. Brendan is getting transferred to the big city - Maputo in Mozambique although I think there are as yet no known cases of Covid 19 in Mozambique. A friend's son in France just got locked down in France, France has completely closed its borders, and he was due to come home in less than a month.

I think the scariest place right now is Italy. A friend just shared this:

Ken's working from home. Schools are closed. Daycares are closed. Aid packages are being announced, some stores are staying closed. People are buying food in massive amounts - you can't buy toilet paper anywhere. Gas prices have fallen - it was as high as 1.12/L and today I paid 81.9/L.

People are being advised to practice social distancing - keeping mostly to themselves, being outdoors, but not getting too close to anyone. The ROM is closed, the Science Centre is closed, the Zoo is closed. The symphony concert we were supposed to go to on Saturday got cancelled. The ballet has been cancelled. The Sarah Harmer concert we were supposed to go to has been postponed. We were supposed to go to Hamilton (a musical) and it was cancelled. Libraries are closed, our Family Zumba class was cancelled. Even Disney Land and Disney World are closed!

Right now the people hardest hit by this flu are the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Around 10-13% of people diagnosed need to be hospitalized. Those that are hospitalized need ventilators to help them breathe. In Italy their hospitals are completely overrun and they don't have enough ventilators to save everyone. Most middle-aged people, most young people and some older people are fine - they have a fever, they don't feel well, but they're fine. They can recover at home.

The girls have been home since Friday- when their March break started. We've done a little shopping here and there, we've gone on walks, and we've seen my Mom. Ken insisted that we needed a Nintendo switch - so now Ken and the girls can play games together, and Kate has been enjoying Just Dance enormously.

Fiona has been building lots.

One of Kate's new outfits.

Our family hike at Greenwood Conservation area.

More of Fiona's creations.

Colouring and workbooks.

Kate and Fiona and their creations!

We had church at home yesterday. It was, I'm trying to come up with the words. I felt so thankful for Ken's ability and worthiness to bless and pass the sacrament. I felt so thankful for a prophet of God. We were able to sing, partake of the sacrament, and have a little lesson. It was a blessing. Then we went on a hike/walk at Greenwood Conservation area. I'm thankful for where we live, and when we live. I know that even though everything feels crazy, ultimately things will be okay.

Daddy's Birthday

My Dad would have been 80. Suzanne pointed that out last week, I hadn't thought of it. It felt like a big deal.

This is what I posted on Facebook on his birthday: "Dad would have been 80 today. I'm so grateful that I was adored by this man. He was equal parts loving and grumpy, he wasn't one to complain, he helped lots in any way he could, he worked hard, he played hard and he loved his family more than anything in the world. Miss you Daddy. Happy birthday!"

We went for a family dinner at the Keg in his honour. It was the location on Leslie by the 401, one of the many locations that Andrew worked at. It was a nice dinner. Alice made it eventful by spilling Pepsi all over Andrew and Fiona, but other than that, it was just a nice dinner. Andrew of course had rock star status and there were people coming by the table all night to give him hugs. We didn't really talk about Dad, but he's always there.

 

On the way home from school on Friday I went by Cosmo music to drop off some instruments that need to be repaired. Cosmo is really close to Dad's grave so I popped by to say hello. I'm so thankful that there's a grave, I didn't know it would be mean so much to me, but it does.

I'm so glad that I'm sealed to him. I'm so glad that Families are Forever.

Growing Up

Wednesday was Kate's last day of aftercare, and today, today she got her own phone. On Wednesday when I picked her up I reminded her that she was done, and she had the biggest smile on her face. She was so excited. She's been asking for a phone for ages, well, not ages, but knowing that she was going to be walking home on her own, she wanted a cell phone. I was really on the fence about it. We don't have a home phone, but we have a google home, and two google minis and the girls can make phone calls on them. The other day Kate phoned me and I couldn't understand her at all. She called me back on Ken's phone, and was like, see, I need a phone.

We went to the mall, bought a prepaid phone, set her up with the cheapest plan, bought some talk minutes, and a case, and she's on her way. I got a key cut for her a few weeks ago and she was over the moon - the ravenclaw key chain made it all next level.

I feel calm, and excited, and a teensy bit nervous all at once - which is I think how you're supposed to feel. Kate is very level headed and she's my rule follower. She's really looking forward to some time on her own, walking home to decompress, and be in the house alone. I think she's going to get about a month before Alice is going to call aftercare quits, but we'll see.

I joke that Kate is 11 going on 40, not quite, but something like that. My baby!!

The Birthday Questions - Alice - Age 9

1. What is your favourite color?

                        Orange

2. What is your favourite toy?

                        My jeep (for her Our Generation 18” doll)

3. What is your favourite fruit?

                        Peaches                     

4. What is your favourite tv show?

                        The InBESTigators

5. What is your favourite thing to eat for lunch?

                        Tortellini      

 6. What is your favourite outfit?

                        Can it be an outfit that doesn’t belong to me anymore, that I only wore

once? My baptism dress – my favouritest thing I have ever worn. I love
            fancy dresses and it’s white and very fancy!

7. What is your favourite game?

                        Clue

8. What is your favourite snack?

                        Miss Vickie’s Honey Dijon Chips

9. What is your favourite animal?

                        Narwhal

10. What is your favourite song?

                        Dance Monkey

11. What is your favourite book?

                        Amulet

12. Who is your best friend?

                        I have three – Adelyn, Laila, Heather, Izzy (that’s 4)

13. What is your favourite cereal?

                        Probably Lucky Charms

14. What is your favourite thing to do outside?

                        Play with a ball

15. What is your favourite drink?

                        Not wine! Mountain Dew – with no caffeine

16. What is your favourite holiday?

                        Christmas

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night?

                        Funshine (the carebear that Nana made for her)

18. What is your favourite thing to eat for breakfast?

                        French Toast

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?

                        Mexico Lindo

20. What do you want to be when you grow up?

                        A Mom

**I kept forgetting to do this, so really, I asked Alice these questions on March 10... but I wanted to post it in her birthday window, so here it is in February!**

Alice's Birthday - Part 2

I can't remember when Alice decided she wanted a Michael's party, but we started talking about it a while ago. Michael's is a craft store, and they have a special room set up for classes. For birthday parties, you pick a theme, and you get a two hour crafting party. Someone from the store will run the craft portion for 90 minutes, then you have a half an hour to eat at the end. Alice chose a "slime" party and the rest is history!

All of Alice's friends were able to come, and Alice was very, very happy!

When they came in they decorated their loot bags.

Next up was marching like a train through the store where they each picked out a t-shirt. We marched like a train back to the craft room and the girls all decorated their t-shirts and their slime jars.

Then there was a yoga break?!

And then it was time for the main event - the SLIME! Jasmine, our leader, was really cute. The girls all got a pile of slime, and then she added glitter. A lot of glitter. Then it was the girls job to knead the slime and glitter into a cohesive pile of slime.

After they all washed their hands, they had pizza and chips (a few had fruit!) and then the cake! Alice wanted an artist's pallet and Ken did not disappoint. Alice's friends were so cute and so good, and we had a lovely time.

 

Alice's presents were awesome. Her friends know what she likes!

Gabby gave her the dress last night, and she looked so cute wearing it to her party today.

The cake.

We love you so much Alice. Our beautiful, creative, imaginative, sister loving, giggling, sensitive, wonderful girl!

Alice's Birthday - Part One

Today, Alice's actual birthday was a strike day - strike day number five. I had the second shift, so I dropped the girls off at Grandma's and went to picket. The girls had fun with Grandma - they went swimming!

I came back to pick them up, and only Kate wanted to come with me. So Kate and I went to Cosmo (and Kate used her birthday money to but a ukulele) and Alice and Fiona stayed. Fiona played with toys, and Alice read her birthday book. Mom brought the girls back to Ajax and we all went to Mexico Lindo - Alice's choice for dinner.

Andrew wasn't able to come, but Gabby, Mom, and all of us celebrated Alice. Alice wanted to wear a sombrero and she did! I think Alice had a fun day. She loved her presents and she loved her birthday dinner.