Well, since we are well into spring I guess it's time to update you on what we did this past winter.
I have been working since November and it's been a fantastic change for me. I was ready to get into a different realm of teaching and that's exactly what I did. My favorite thing about my new job is the learning aspect. It's so nice to be challenged in a new way and learning new material, while still working with children to some extent. I am incredibly busy with work right now as the we are moving the training to an online format, as is the rest of the world. It's been a drastic change, but I've really enjoyed the learning curve.
So, back to November. Aunt Patty came for Thanksgiving and we had a fantastic time with her. She sent me the grocery list ahead of time and then helped me with some of the last minute items we needed to pick up for Thanksgiving Dinner. I took some time off and we spent one day shopping and running errands, and then went into New York for a night for dinner and a Broadway show. Andy was able to meet up with us and we saw "To Kill a Mockingbird". Amazing! That was our first time going to a show since we moved here and it was a great choice. We finished off the week with spending a lot of time in the kitchen cooking, then eating, and then all of Friday shopping online. We did get to a few stores, but it was a pretty quiet Black Friday for us. She also showed me how to make turkey stock. So good! As always, we love having Aunt Patty here and we are especially grateful for her amazing cooking skills!
In a blink of an eye, it was Christmas and we were back at the airport picking up Andy's sister and her family. They got in on Christmas Eve and it was non-stop excitement for a week. Santa got the memo that they would be at our house so put on our matching pajamas and woke up to half eaten cookies in the fireplace and some leftover reindeer snacks on the deck (which Deb loved munching on the next day!). We had heard that Christmas was a good day to go into the city since it was a little more quiet and that was mostly accurate. The boys took their first train and subway ride and we got to see some of Uncle Andy's buildings and Times Square. It was really fun to get to show them all of the big buildings.
The days all started to run together, but somewhere in that week Lisa and I took the little boys to the beach. It was their first time seeing the ocean. Mind you, it's winter so nobody was swimming, but it was warm enough to take off jackets and touch the water and throw rocks. Lots and lots of rocks. It was fun to watch them run in the sand and play. We also went to a big playground right next to the beach and they ran off more energy.
The weather was beautiful most of the time so we got to spend a day at another huge park nearby and we went to the zoo, which is right down the road from us. Everything about the week was fun and we loved having everyone here. We can't wait to do it again!
After that week, we settled into a routine of work and more work. Andy went on a golf trip to Florida in January and an Ice Fishing trip in Minnesota in February. I took a few day trips to New York, otherwise we were mostly home.
Around the end of January or beginning of February we started to hear things about the Corona Virus. It wasn't until the beginning of March that it started to inch closer and closer to us and by the 2nd week of March is when it really became serious. My last day in the office was March 16th, and even then we didn't really understand the extent of what the Stay At Home orders would be. Andy started working from home shortly afterwards.
We are safe, we are healthy, and we are staying home as much as possible. I am working from home for the foreseeable future, as is Andy. We are both working full time and enjoying our quiet, relaxed mornings. While I don't miss traffic, I think it's fair to say we both miss our drives. That was when I would talk to my friends and family all across the US and catch up on my podcasts and audiobooks. I can do all of those things at home, but I've always loved a good drive. We are staying out of stores as much as possible and really only grocery shop about once every 2-3 weeks. We have plenty of food and plenty of books and movies to catch up on. Plus, my yard is enjoying the extra attention it's getting. It's nice to get outside for a bit on a lunch break and weed or enjoy the Cherry Trees.
So for all of those who worry about us, thank you, and we are doing well. We are taking every precaution we can and keeping our distance. Somehow my allergies aren't even too bad this year, so I call that a win. I'm also knocking on wood hoping that it's not just a late allergy season. It's our first spring in New Jersey so time will tell, but I'm just going to assume the best.
Until next time!
P.S. Andy keeps saying he will update the blog from his perspective. I'm as excited to see that as you probably are. I'll keep reminding him.
I have been working since November and it's been a fantastic change for me. I was ready to get into a different realm of teaching and that's exactly what I did. My favorite thing about my new job is the learning aspect. It's so nice to be challenged in a new way and learning new material, while still working with children to some extent. I am incredibly busy with work right now as the we are moving the training to an online format, as is the rest of the world. It's been a drastic change, but I've really enjoyed the learning curve.
So, back to November. Aunt Patty came for Thanksgiving and we had a fantastic time with her. She sent me the grocery list ahead of time and then helped me with some of the last minute items we needed to pick up for Thanksgiving Dinner. I took some time off and we spent one day shopping and running errands, and then went into New York for a night for dinner and a Broadway show. Andy was able to meet up with us and we saw "To Kill a Mockingbird". Amazing! That was our first time going to a show since we moved here and it was a great choice. We finished off the week with spending a lot of time in the kitchen cooking, then eating, and then all of Friday shopping online. We did get to a few stores, but it was a pretty quiet Black Friday for us. She also showed me how to make turkey stock. So good! As always, we love having Aunt Patty here and we are especially grateful for her amazing cooking skills!
In a blink of an eye, it was Christmas and we were back at the airport picking up Andy's sister and her family. They got in on Christmas Eve and it was non-stop excitement for a week. Santa got the memo that they would be at our house so put on our matching pajamas and woke up to half eaten cookies in the fireplace and some leftover reindeer snacks on the deck (which Deb loved munching on the next day!). We had heard that Christmas was a good day to go into the city since it was a little more quiet and that was mostly accurate. The boys took their first train and subway ride and we got to see some of Uncle Andy's buildings and Times Square. It was really fun to get to show them all of the big buildings.
The days all started to run together, but somewhere in that week Lisa and I took the little boys to the beach. It was their first time seeing the ocean. Mind you, it's winter so nobody was swimming, but it was warm enough to take off jackets and touch the water and throw rocks. Lots and lots of rocks. It was fun to watch them run in the sand and play. We also went to a big playground right next to the beach and they ran off more energy.
The weather was beautiful most of the time so we got to spend a day at another huge park nearby and we went to the zoo, which is right down the road from us. Everything about the week was fun and we loved having everyone here. We can't wait to do it again!
After that week, we settled into a routine of work and more work. Andy went on a golf trip to Florida in January and an Ice Fishing trip in Minnesota in February. I took a few day trips to New York, otherwise we were mostly home.
Around the end of January or beginning of February we started to hear things about the Corona Virus. It wasn't until the beginning of March that it started to inch closer and closer to us and by the 2nd week of March is when it really became serious. My last day in the office was March 16th, and even then we didn't really understand the extent of what the Stay At Home orders would be. Andy started working from home shortly afterwards.
We are safe, we are healthy, and we are staying home as much as possible. I am working from home for the foreseeable future, as is Andy. We are both working full time and enjoying our quiet, relaxed mornings. While I don't miss traffic, I think it's fair to say we both miss our drives. That was when I would talk to my friends and family all across the US and catch up on my podcasts and audiobooks. I can do all of those things at home, but I've always loved a good drive. We are staying out of stores as much as possible and really only grocery shop about once every 2-3 weeks. We have plenty of food and plenty of books and movies to catch up on. Plus, my yard is enjoying the extra attention it's getting. It's nice to get outside for a bit on a lunch break and weed or enjoy the Cherry Trees.
So for all of those who worry about us, thank you, and we are doing well. We are taking every precaution we can and keeping our distance. Somehow my allergies aren't even too bad this year, so I call that a win. I'm also knocking on wood hoping that it's not just a late allergy season. It's our first spring in New Jersey so time will tell, but I'm just going to assume the best.
Until next time!
P.S. Andy keeps saying he will update the blog from his perspective. I'm as excited to see that as you probably are. I'll keep reminding him.
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