Still Here

We are still here.  Like the rest of the world COVID 19 continues to affect our lives.  Colorado remains under a shelter in place.  I have been out of the house four times in the last four weeks.  Twice to the grocery store, once for a 6 foot happy hour on a friends driveway, and once to try and go see the Thunder birds flight.  Scott is going into work and their office is implementing all  recommendations for a health workplace.  Martin/Martin is still fully remote.   The kids continue to do remote learning and School has been canceled for the year.  There have been ups and downs with this new normal.  We are on week 6 of staying home.  The kids are really doing well considering.  They have started to play together so much better than before all this.  Though they wouldn't admit it I think they are grateful to have playmates in each other.  I do think this has been a little harder for Milo as he is at an age where relationships are so important.  I have to admit that I am thankful that I don't have teenagers during this time.  

I am not sure what will be important to remember so I will just share some photos from our COVID time.

Aschermann Farms School...Open for Business

This was taken day one where the kids were a bit more excited to learn from home.

Tree Climbing on our walk

Exhibit A: An image of how successful remote learning is going...

Our baby goats are starting to get big.  They can get out of the corral so the property is fair game for them. 

We have had some crummy weather days, but I have to say that no snow day was called. They still had to do their school work.

These two love birds.

Hard at work

Grammy sent us some science experiments.

Cows and goats.  It really is nice to have the animals around for stress. 

These two.

We learned how to make friendship bracelets.

Liesl and Miss Jan.  I can express how thankful I am for this lady.  She has spent her days Tuesday-Friday (Monday is a planning day) helping Liesel with her school work.  Nana is working with Maddox (picture coming up).  Maddox floats between the three of us.  Miss Jan also became a grandma over this COVID 19 experience.  Graham and Dani had little Izzy. 

We pulled out Great Grandpa Arpe's train set one afternoon for some entertainment. 

I can't get over this face. 

Working on another project from Grammy

Since we are home we got chicks.  25 baby chickens and 5 ducks. 

This little girl is a farmer at heart.  

COVID HAIR!  Liesel has taken to wanting her hair braided like this since week one.  The good news is it is staying out of her face and is really low maintenance. 

Is that a Duck in you Pocket

Pure Joy

Another big shout out to this Lady.  Without Nana our days would be exponentially harder.  She works mostly with Milo.  They have been studying Native Americans.  I wonder if Milo will look back and remember this. 

  

Snuggle time

The cutest little office mate.

A bonus from working from home.  I get little visitors. 

Why do you stay home?

Sometimes Nebby takes the brunt of our boredom

Helping big brother do his homework. 

School time.

A project for school.  I can't get over how big he is getting.

This cute girl too. 

On his conference call.  When he wakes up he asks "do I have a conference call today"  In what world do we live in that this is a normal question for a 5 year old?

These two ladies!!!!

The Thunderbirds flew over for the Air Force Graduation.  We didn't get a great view, but it was fun to get out of the house. 

Tired boys. 

Sharing his picture for school. 

 7 going on 70!

More brother time...more screen time.  I like to pride myself on my honesty when it comes to being a mother.  To get work done,  our kids have gotten way more ipad/screen time than normal.  I suppose it won't kill them.  

COVID 19

March 25,2020

I honestly don't even know what to write or where to go with this blog.  All I know is that this is a pivotal point in history and I should document it.  I am not going to proof read this as I would like it to be a gut reaction and string of thought.  My apologies in advance for typos and errors.

During the weeks of April and the early weeks in March the news started to transition from the Democrat primary coverage to Coronavirus, COVID 19.

March 13th, Friday the 13th, was the first day I started working from home due to COVID 19.  Liesel had a fever on March 12th so both Scott and I thought it would be smart to work from home as well as keep the kids home that day.  As the day progressed on the 13th more and more businesses started to implement "remote work" policies. By the end of the day Martin/Martin had moved to a 100% remote work policy and Jeffco Schools decided to start remote learning.

It is a weird thing to say, but this first day had an element of excitement.  While writing this I am a little embarrassed by this reaction of mine.  I hadn't been able to grasp the magnitude of it all.  I started to plan my workspace, get the tools I needed to work from home 100% of the time, put together a schedule for remote learning (which turned out to be useless :)), and sending Scott to get the necessary groceries.

Remote Learning started on Tuesday March 24th.  It was an incredibly overwhelming day.  I was use to working from home, but I was not use to teaching my kids at the same time.  This was so hard for me and I have to admit I had a ton of help. Miss Jan and Nana Janet helped with the kids and I only had to step in if something didn't make sense.  The root of my anxiety that day I believe was embedded in the knowledge that this whole environment has a bit of permanence to it.  Each day that week the remote learning got better and better.  The kids were such troopers and Miss Jan and Nana were incredibly helpful.  I will give a shout out to the Van Arsdale teachers who did a great job organizing the curriculum and being available for questions. March 19th or 20th we got notice that all Colorado Schools are closed until April 17th.  The remote learning will continue.  This week is our spring break so no school, but remote learning will start back up on Tuesday March 31st.  I must admit I am already nervous about it.  I hope it goes smoothly. I worry that there will be a time when either Jan and/or Janet can't come help me due to "social distancing" requirements.  I am blessed that this is just a worry of mine for now.  I know there are a lot of people out there that are having to figure out how to teach and work in the day.

Martin/Martin transitioned to remote work so well.  Our IT department and management team set our company up for success.  The majority of my projects continue to move forward.  A few have gone on hold.  I hold my breath and hope that the economy can recover from this and the market can get back to the thriving environment it was just 2 weeks ago.  Again,  I am blessed,  I work in an industry that I can work from home.  A lot of people have lost their jobs.  The service industry is all but shut down.  Deliveries can still take place, but restaurants, bars, venues, and other areas of gathering are closed.  Denver and many other City's in the country have put in "shelter in place" orders.  Do not leave the house unless it is an essential need (groceries, medical needs, some jobs).  Currently construction is considered an essential service so my job sites are still running.  Scott's company, BDI,  is also considered an essential service.  Starting on March 20th Scott started going back into the office.  He is the only one in the office portion of the office, but there is still production staff.  He is following the recommendations and keeping 6' separation, washing his hands, and quarantine if ill or exposed to someone who is ill.

Don't get me wrong, being stuck at home is isolating and hard. However,  we are so lucky to live where we do.  We have land for the kids to run around, we have animals, we have a treadmill, we have access to open space, we have each other.  I like to think that I was grateful before all this, but I can't express how much the current state has highlighted by good fortune.  I am not religious, but I have started to pray.  I am not sure who I am praying to.  But I pray for those who have lost their jobs, or may lose their jobs, for those who aren't healthy, for those kids who don't have the abundance of adult love and support that my kids do,  I pray for those who have lost their loved ones.  I also have selfish prays:  Prayers for a recovery economy, for my family and friends health and safety.  Mostly I pray that we all come out of this better on the other side.

Life…I am Busy…And I wouldn't have it any other way.

So one thing I wanted to to do this year was to be more thoughtful in my response to the question "how are you"  My typical response is "busy".   Everyone is busy, that isn't a fair response, that is what I told myself.  But OMG am I busy!  I don't know if it is the phase of life I am in, my inability to say no to things, or my need to over scheduled coupled with a partner who also defines his ambition by how busy he is.  Whatever it is my answer to how are you right now is "I am busy"  because I am BUSY! 

I don't want to miss the opportunity to blog and remember these kids the way they are now so I am forcing myself to sit down and hammer out this blog.  Because, as you will see from the pictures, these kids are adorable and keeping my life full.  I know that if I don't write it down this time of my life will be a blur.  And the truth is I do believe we are in the sweet spot of parenting.  The kids are old enough to dress themselves, brush their teeth, wipe their butts,  but they are not too old to enjoy their parents. 

Outside of our jobs being crazy busy due to a pretty awesome economy, which is a positive and our kids growing list of activities, we also have a growing farm family.  We have taken in a mini american bulldog named Nebula, and we have three new baby goats. We are surrounded by funny little animals and we are all loving the farm life.  Our current animal count is two dogs, 6 goats, and four cows. We are hoping to start up chickens again in the spring.  You know, because we are looking for something to fill the few remaining free minutes in our week.  

 Last year I signed up for the Fundraising Chair for the PTSA.  I do not know what I was thinking.  I will say that it has kept me in touch with the school.  Considering the awesome help I have with the kids it would be an easy thing to stay on the sidelines and let others run these school events.  I always say that I got into engineering to help shape my community and the truth is the PTSA is exactly the same thing.  A chance to help with your community on a very local level.  It has been a great experience and I am sure I will do it again next year.  I am currently hammering away at setting up the Silent Auction.  I have an awesome team of friends helping me and I am learning all the tricks that will make next year's event run more smoothly.  The auction is this weekend and I am hopeful for a breath of air on the other side.  

As much as it feels like I am complaining when I say "I am busy" the truth is I wouldn't have it any other way.  I am busy at work because the economy is booming and I get to work on some amazing projects with some amazing teams.  I am busy with my family because I have three active healthy kids and a family that is full of life.  I am busy at home because I am blessed to live on a little farm where we get to meet new animal friends all the time.  I am busy because I have awesome friends I want to see and spend time with.  I am busy because my body is strong and allows me to workout and stay healthy.  I am BUSY and I wouldn't have it any other way!!!!!

Handsome Milo

Rag Curls

This girl!

Another outfit another photo shoot

Yep,  haven't posted since Christmas.  Look at this pretty tree.

Nana and Liesel

I took some time off for some medical reasons and I got a minute to redo the kid's rooms.  The boys got a baseball/hockey room.  I had so much fun painting this.  I love my job but I don't always get to get my creative juices flowing at work. 

Josie, Maddox, and Winston

So Maddox at this age.  Always making faces. 

What a handsome boy

Our new addition Little Nebby

Liesel and her pet friends

Watching some hockey

Nebula watched some hockey too

Sledding fun

Winter fun up in Grand Lake with the Thomas Family

Nebula - She doesn't really identify as a dog.  She is part Cat, Pig, Dog, and Gargoyle. 

The organization of the PTSA silent auction

Making Snowmen or snow babies

She always wanted a sister. 

Headlock or Hug

These little goats came on my birthday….Milly Jane and Billy Jean.  That has to be a good oman

Another one of Nebula because I am obsessed with her

This boy!

I got to run a 5k with my bad ass friend Shannon Sharkey

Truman and Milo hanging at the bar.