Week #3

It is hard to believe that this was the third week of our new normal.  No school, no public transportation, VERY few (about once per week) trips to the grocery store, still "home schooling" with less and less joy and success.  MANY many walks. 
Monday morning, Marty and I needed to swing by the Apoteke (pharmacy) and pick up some allergy meds for Benjamin. Marty said - why don't you duck in there (Aldi - a small grocery store along the way) to see if they have TP.  OK, why not. I doubted that they would.  But lo and behold they had about 20 packs of TP!  I

snagged one and went to pay walking out proudly, swinging my plastic "trophy" by the handle in the package. SCORE!  Then on to the pharmacy.    And that was the excitement for Monday.. Oh and a scrumptious lasagna that simmered all day for dinner.

On Tuesday is snowed.  Probably only the second time all year.  Perfect timing!  The kids took a break and jumped on the trampoline as the big flakes fell down and discussed how likely it was that it would stick. It didn't.  Then they made themselves hot chocolate.  A nice and welcomed break from "home schooling"

Wednesday was more of the same. Nothing really stuck out.  Still A LOT of fights with Benjamin.  He just really does not want to do anything school related.  And we fight because he just sits there for like an hour and writes one or two sentences.  Marty helps with German and I manage (or try without any success) his days. I have tried so many different approaches toward his schooling.  Heavy handed, totally flexible, giving him choice, not giving him choice.  Nothing really works.  Thursday we borrowed my friend, Fionnuala's car to get groceries.  Just Marty and I went this time and I have to say I am getting the grocery shopping with an actual cart and a car down.  The day before I had asked friends that live nearby if they needed anything from the

TP and wine delivery!

store.  They said if we could find TP they could use some.  Often there is a sign if there is even TP in stock saying that you are only allowed one roll per customer.  Thankfully I had already found TP earlier in the week so when I found it on Thursday I could buy it for them.  Then while in route with the goods I said that we were going to the "drink store"  It reminds me of the good old Pop Shoppe Pop of the 80's.  It is a store with just drinks.  Beer, water (regular and sparkling) wine, juices, flavored syrups, etc.  It is called Getranke Hoffman.  We really like (glass) bottled sparkling water and in normal times I can fit a 6 container glass bottles of sparkling water in my bike basket. 

Shortly after the snowy day and for nearly 95% of our
staying at home the days have been bright and sunny,
albeit a bit cold. First fire of the season. 

You pay a deposit (pfand) for the bottles and the container so when we are finished we just bike the empty bottles back in the container and exchange.  Anyway, I told our friends that wanted TP that we were going to the drink store to see if they wanted anything.  Buying drinks without a car is a total pain due to their weight.  They asked for 3 bottles of red and 3 of white.  SO happy to help out.  We know what it is like to try to stock up on liquids without a car.

The kid LOVES fires. 

Friday was the end of the 3rd week of "homeschooling" and also the beginning of our 2 week spring break.  The schooling from home has been my very least favorite part of this.  Not being with my children.  Just trying to get them to do some school work.  And really this only applies to Benjamin because Josie has managed her time and her homework like a champ.  But "teaching" Benjamin has been the hardest bit of parenting or teaching I have ever done and if I could have quit I would have which is saying a lot because I never quit. 

By Friday it was short sleeved weather again.
Benjamin found a magnifying glass and started
a fire using it and then read in front of it for hours. 

We were supposed to be going on a 10 day road trip around mostly Germany (touching into France, Luxembourg, Switzerland and possibly Austria) clearly that wasn't going to be happening with hotels and restaurants all closed.  But Spring Break will at least bring a bit of different to these days where everything is pretty much the same.  Benjamin still has some work to catch up that he didn't finish but I think I will give us both a week off before I bring it up.  Spring Break 2020...lamest one yet!!