Life Within the Cuckoo's Nest: Our Much Needed Getaway

We were supposed to spend an entire week in California over Spring Break, but the Coronavirus ruined all of our plans and quarantined the entire world. For months we have had to stay inside our house and work from home, homeschool the kids, etc. Nothing is normal anymore and we are all starting to feel it. I needed to get away. Away from this house and away from life during a pandemic. So I packed up the kids and we headed out to Logandale to spend a week with my Mom. We took a risk leaving our house, but it was one that we were all willing to take just to have some sense of normalcy for a while! And oh, what a wonderful week it was!! Briana came out with Thomas and Gracelynn and we had sooooo much fun! I home-schooled Austin every morning out on the front porch before the sun got too hot and the kids did chores for Grandma. Then we spent the rest of every day outside playing in the water! We were either in the kiddie pool or on our makeshift slip 'n slide on the trampoline! It felt like heaven to be so free and to not worry for a while. Briana had all sorts of fun crafts and games planned for each day and I navigated my way around having 2 kids and a baby to care for. Briana also threw a little late birthday party for Evie since nobody could come out to her actual birthday party and it was so fun! Evie was in heaven and was so excited to go on a special date with Grandma to McDonalds ;). This was Isla's first time leaving the house for longer than an hour and she was intrigued by it all. Being born the year of a global pandemic definitely changes life for you and you are far more sheltered than the other kids. She got her first experience with swimming, dogs, and sleeping at someone else's house all during this trip! I lost 2 pounds over this trip because I was solo parenting for most of it while also homeschooling and trying to keep the kids entertained etc, but it was totally worth it! The stress was nothing compared to the joy I felt being free again! Josh came out and joined us after work on Friday night and the kids were so happy to see him and to show him all the fun stuff we had been doing! We played the rest of the weekend with Daddy before we had to go back home to life again. But before we left we were already planning another trip out here to the countryside because it was too good! Oh and I have to mention that Sadie had her baby during that time too! Sweet baby Joey was born and I woke up at the crack of dawn to be the first one to see him on FaceTime since nobody is allowed to travel right now. It's a crappy time to have a baby and I feel terrible that Sadie has nobody out in North Carolina to care for her. But she and Joe make a good team so I'm not too worried. And oh is that baby sweet!!

Isla's first experience with swimming was a success! She loved it!

Waking up each morning happy and calm, away from the chaos of the world.

Austin trying to get some sleep despite having two sisters who love to wake up at the crack of dawn ;)

Enjoying my morning green drink on the front porch before homeschooling begins.

Just look at that little poolside diva!

The kids all living their best life :)

I don't know what I would do without my sisters. Their babies feel like my own and their happiness makes me so happy. Life is good with them around :).