First post in 2021????

 I always try to update this blog when I have time off school!!!!  I realized I didn't update during Winter or Spring Break and now SUMMER BREAK is over in two days!!!!

A lot has happened since my last update!  

Christmas was just us - COVID Christmas wasn't much fun - but it was still nice!

  

This year's ornaments

Gifts for co-workers

Anyone who knows me - knows this is the best gift EVER!  

GIFT CARDS

My new office chair 

Ryan was excepted into the manager training program with Jewel and has been going full steam from department to department learning the ins and outs of the grocery business!  He was transferred to another store a few months ago and will be going into another store in about a week.  He's hoping to return to the store he is currently at because he enjoys working there!  Fingers crossed!

All three of us are fully vaccinated and hoping to stay healthy.  In February, Bill tested positive for the coronavirus!  Five days later I tested positive.  It was HORRIBLE!  With Bill's diaphragm condition it was scary!  He had to get chest x-rays every other day and was put on many antibiotics!  Thankfully he recovered.  I was off work most of February and experienced the typical symptoms: WORST HEADACHE EVER, loss of taste and smell for over a week (horrible), cough, and tired!  I was unable to even lift my head from my pillow with the COVID Headache! 

Bill continues to have many procedures, tests, and infusions in hope they will begin to see improvement with his diaphragm! We continue to hold out hope we will see some improvement, but at times it gets very discouraging considering it's been a year of treatment.

 

In May, we celebrated the lives of three of my uncles who passed away during the pandemic. It was great to see family who we haven't seen in a long time, however, the circumstances wasn't ideal!

These were the gifts I gave at the end of last school year.  

With most of the year remote and on zoom - I only worked with a small amount of people!

Retirement Gifts for another Teaching Assistant and for the person I am replacing in the LMC!

The first week out of school, I purchased a new car!  It doesn't LOOK any different than my former Impala - same body style and color - but a few years newer and only 1700 miles on it!

My niece is getting so BIG!  The last time I updated she was only a month old and now in a couple months will already be ONE!  Look at this sweet face!

The biggest news is that I was approached about making a change at work/school!  I was asked to be the LMC (Library Media Center) Assistant in the mornings and continue as a Special Education Teacher Assistant in the afternoons!

The library has not been updated or "cleaned up" in a very long time.  I've spent a good portion of my summer over at the school creating, cleaning and learning the new responsibilities of a LMC Assistant!

Here are some BEFORE and AFTER comparisons!

These are the signs I created for the displays

Here is the final results!

Here are some other projects I have been creating!

Back to school little gifts

Classroom signs

These gumball jars from Target were a hot commodity and hard to find!  Everyone was posting how to paint them to use them for displays!  Here's some of my creations: 

Now they have them in WHITE!  I hit the jackpot on a Saturday morning!

Lastly, I already ordered Ryan's ornament for this upcoming Christmas!

That's the latest!  Hope to update sooner next time! 

STAY AT HOME!!! The Quarantined Days

Since my last update things have really gotten "REAL".  I would have NEVER in a MILLION YEARS believed we would be in a "Stay At Home" order missing the entire last quarter of school!

Prior to the "Stay at Home" order, we celebrated Ryan's Birthday and Valentine's Day in February.  (Hearing on the news of the virus in China causing sickness and death - it seemed so far away and not something we needed to worry about in Ole' Illinois!!!!)

We started hearing "rumors" that we may have to cancel school for "a couple weeks" and use e-learning days as we planned for "snow days".  On March 13th - FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH, we got official word that we would not be returning to school through Spring Break with a projected return date of April 6th.  We packed up student belongings and technology and sent them on their way that Friday afternoon with the thought we would see them again soon........

The date was extended by a couple days -  April 8th and then came the news we would not return through the month of April!  We then went to Remote Learning days due to the time frame and uncertainty of our return to school this year!  Last week it was announced that all Illinois schools would remain closed through the remainder of the school year!

I officially put my name badge in "storage"!  It usually hangs from my rearview mirror so I can slip it around my neck when pulling into the parking lot...and since it will not be needed for at least FIVE MONTHS - when we return Mid-August it was time to put it away!

NOW, we are hearing there may be a second wave of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) in the fall - bringing even more speculation on how the next school year will look!

I am extremely lucky to be still receiving full salary and benefits during this remote learning time!

It's fun to connect with staff and students via Zoom!  Bill and Ryan are in essential jobs and continue to work - making the days seem very long with all my favorite shopping places CLOSED!!!

Right after school closed was St. Patrick's Day - Not much to do but stay at home at look at my 

Rae Dunn St. Patrick's Day decorations!

Then came Easter and my Mother's birthday......Unfortunately, we were unable to get together as a family to celebrate either event.  Glad I was able to purchase all my Easter decorations early!

Ryan's Easter Basket

During my "extra" time at home I decided I wanted to try to make faux whipped topping for my 

Rae Dunn Mugs.  Luckily, the hardware stores are still open and I purchased lightweight drywall and made several toppers.

 It takes several days to dry, but I was happy with the finished product!

Prior to the quarantine, my brother and sister-in-law shared they were expecting their first baby!  

Bill and I were sworn to secrecy and it was revealed to my parents on my mom's birthday! We should know within the next month if it will be a boy or girl! 

We were able to get our deck furniture and yard ready a little earlier this year.

This week we are hoping to get our flowers, as they are opening up garden centers! 

We all need some color and happiness during this time!

I am so grateful I had bought A LOT of extra solar lighting and had a stash in the shed!

Anxiously waiting for the stores to reopen to replace my "extras" and add some more decor to our existing yard decorations!

Prior to the stores being closed (this is a HUGE thing for me - as I hit the stores 

EVERY. SINGLE. DAY!  I need my retail therapy!!!)

I purchased some new boots and a couple pairs of Skechers

I also got a new phone case - I always purchase an Otterbox to insure protection - love this version with the pop socket build right in!

Last week the Illinois Governor extended our "Stay At Home" order until the end of May now.  This seems so unreal.  Stores remain closed (only essential stores remain open).  Even IF or WHEN the order is lifted there will be phases in reopening the state.  I look forward to the day I can walk into a "fun" store and do some serious shopping!!!!!   WITHOUT A FACE COVERING - WHICH BECOMES MANDATORY THIS FRIDAY!!!

I also pray that no one in my family contracts the virus (especially my son who is on the frontline as he works in an essential grocery store.)  We hear how Illinois is "bending the curve", Peaking, etc..... but the number of people getting the virus and the number of people dying is scary!  Many summer activities have already been canceled and the talk of a reoccurrence is depressing and frankly, after being off work for five months - it will be extremely hard returning to work!