Easter and Tornadoes in Quarantine

This Easter was no doubt the strangest one I've ever had.  I don't remember an Easter without church and going to my parents for a family dinner.  I haven't hugged my mom and dad in 5 weeks.  I sat on their back deck with them the other night (6 feet apart) but that's the only time we have been together since all of this has started.  My kids miss them.  We all miss each other but we know this is what is important to do right now.  We have gone to Jimmy's parents a few times to fish or go out on the boat.  We haven't been in their house or close to them either during this time.  We talk from a distance and wave from the car.  It's all so strange...

The day before we were up at Sisty and Grandaddy's and Keatyn cornered me about whether the Easter bunny was real or not.  Then she cornered poor Trace in the truck.  Lol!  It had been a subject I had been avoiding for months.  I was honestly surprised we made it through Christmas with her "believing."  Once Easter talk rolled around, and the questions of how that was going to work in quarantine, I think her common sense kicked in.  So very reluctantly, we confirmed her suspicions on the way home and conceded that yes, we were in fact the Easter Bunny, the toothfairy and Santa Clause.  Ugh... Jimmy really wanted to hold on but I told him it was time and she had figured it out.  We couldn't keep pretending.  It was sad.  Putting out their Easter baskets that night was so different.  Knowing I didn't have any more believers took away the magic but I reminded myself that that has NEVER been what Easter was about, so get over it mama!

We woke up to candy and a few simple, strange treats. Keatyn got some slides, Trace got a PlayStation gift card.  They both got a small garbage can for their room and caterpillars that we can watch turn into butterflies.  Not my best gifts but the best I could do under the circumstances.  Lol!

We watched church on TV and the Easter message was excellent.  I'm really enjoying church from home.  We can pause it, explain, rewind if we need to and I can make sure everyone is paying attention.  I told the kids that although this was a different kind of Easter, Easter is and should always be about Jesus.  This year, with all the "fluff" taken away, maybe everyone can just focus on what really matters.  No one was rushing to the mall to see the Easter bunny or to find the perfect dress for church, no one was coordinating matching outfits for the family pictures or worrying about cleaning or cooking for a big Easter crowd.  It was simple.  It was all about Jesus. That afternoon, we had to go check on some houses while no one was there working.  The kids just love that. ;)

When we got home, we colored Easter eggs...

That night, Jimmy and I were in the basement watching Ozark when his mom texted about turning on the weather.  We knew it was storming outside but hadn't seen the weather for a few hours.  We flipped it over and I immediately called the kids down to the basement.  It was really bad out there and Paul Barys was telling everyone to get to their safe place.  East Brainerd was getting hit by a tornado right then.  We got the blow up mattress and blankets and pillows and the kids, dogs and I spent the night down there.  Jimmy stayed upstairs watching the weather and eventually fell asleep.

When we woke up, we realized the devastation that had happened to our city overnight.  Multiple F3 tornados had destroyed/damaged 340 homes in East Brainerd, Ooltewah and Cleveland.  The pictures on the news were heartbreaking.  It looked like a war zone. People I knew, although not well, completely lost their homes.  Jill's friend, Holly, lost her home in Holly Hills.  Justine Jefferson, a hair stylist I know, lost her home.  Eight school administrators lost their homes.  It is heartbreaking!!  By a miracle, only 3 people died during the storms.  I am forever grateful our family was healthy and safe and our home had no damage.  It was certainly an Easter no one will forget.

On April 6th, sweet Van turned one!  Sadly, we didn't get to see him and squeeze those fat cheeks.  Oh I miss those boys so much!!  Mom and dad went down to Andy's and her mom and dad, sister and family were there and they stood far apart and watched him eat his smash cake.  I knew if I took the kids down there, it would be hard to keep them apart so we just waited on pictures and Andy said they would have a redo when all of this is over.  Look at that little love!!

Also, in the midst of all this craziness, Emily had baby Noah.  Everything luckily went well and they are both healthy and home from the hospital.  What a blessing and a cutie!!

Our evening walk with Keatyn on her hoverboard...

One day I decided we were going to clean the deck.  I gave the kids a toothbrush and squirt bottle with bleach and away we went.  They worked hard and the deck looked great!

Walking through Valleybrook...

We went to Granddaddy and Sisty's to help cut cane and get the pontoon set up for them to fish.  Keatyn talked Granddaddy into making her stilts with cane poles.  Trace jumped right on and took off.  Keatyn took some practice but eventually got it. 

Keatyn wanted to make Sisty's chili so she called her for her recipe and we made it that night...  So good!

Jimmy and Trace replaced Trace's toilet in his bathroom.  He is learning all kinds of handy things in quarantine.  Lol!

 That was the new one, not the old.  Ha!

Giving the dogs a bath...

We found out last week that the kids will not be going back to school this year.  I'm not surprised but they have mixed emotions about it.  We will be homeschooling for the rest of the year.  Knowing this, I need to get some "systems" set in place to keep some routine and sanity.  Oh boy... this is going to be interesting!