The School Administer Gods granted us a desperately needed break this last week. Prior to Spring Break, We’d actually taken turns due to some more-serious-than-usual sickness, and that in itself was ridiculously stressful. An entire week free from sub plans or general life expectations set us straight.

Monday

On that Monday, Taylor insisted on taking the tots so that I could take a full day to get ahead on my college homework and lesson plans for the remainder of my teaching semester.

This plan was going well at first. The house was clean, Tay & the kiddos were at the park, and I was contentedly attending my marketing class live without students of my own popping in for their homework help when I suddenly hit a wave of dizziness. I tried to push through it. The dizziness would roll in, and then rear back, falsely misleading me that it had passed. Then it would return, like a stronger ocean wave, and literally pushed me over. My body begged for relief from something as strenuous as sitting in an office chair (literally everyone can relate to this) and so I gave up fighting it.

I texted Taylor an alert and then laid on the bare floor. I was still logged into the zoom class. My instructor’s voice floated in between bouts of consciousness. I think during this time that I was semi-asleep, dreaming and then arousing enough to hear my zoom class marching through the lesson, and back to sleep. Taylor came home, settled me with a blanket, turned off zoom, and I knocked out for a couple hours. When I woke later, I took the afternoon nice and slow.

Meanwhile, Taylor and the tots still had a fun day to themselves.

Tuesday

Tuesday was a super un-fun adventure of raging diarrhea, lesson planning, and watching jeopardy on Netflix (my new favorite show). That evening I was able to get in an appointment at my doctor’s office for an IV. The simplicity of receiving same day treatment without an ER visit, or even an Instacare visit, boggled my mind. I am really grateful for medical care. I am also really grateful for laptops. It was amazing that I could be working from home for a few days to lighten the load for the next couple of months.

Wednesday

Wednesday is when the real spring break began. My school announced an unofficial surprise holiday and canceled all classes & assigned HW for the day.

After sanitizing the bejewels & diarrhea out of my house, we played and played outside, and did some window shopping. The kids were able to sweet talk me into taking them to their favorite restaurant Denny’s for dinner.

Taylor & I found a great discount store (you know how I love my discounts) and found a couple rug options for our front room. We are still hemming and hawing over these two:

Any insights for us?

Thursday

Thursday morning I zoomed to an allergist appointment to determine once and for all if I was truly allergic to the greatest nut in the world: walnuts. (The story of how walnuts attempted a failed assassination on my life is here.) For good measure, we tried pecans – the 2nd greatest nut in the world- as well, as there are crossovers in allergies between pecans & walnuts.

The result?

NEGATORY, GHOST RIDER.

Allergist: You probably had an irritation to the skin of the walnuts, and not an allergic reaction

Chaun: Irritations are not allergies?

Allergist: No. Most people can get canker sores from eating a skin that naturally irritates humans-

Chaun: Sir, please, I’m on an education break.

Allergist: [sighs] Just google it and call me with questions.

Chaun: Go home and eat banana walnut bread. Got it!

Friday

On Friday, Taylor took his turn to go prep his classroom. I attended my zoom classes (it is so nice, nay essential, to just to do one or two major things at a time instead of COMBINING MASSIVE ROLES AT ONCE.) and played with my babies. We got dirty outside, planted seeds in terra cotta pots, and ate cake for lunch.

I also spent an an unreasonable amount of time ignoring all the living creatures in the house to plow through these books:

During the kids’ quiet time, I watched Artemis Fowl on Disney+. You guys. You guuuuyyyyssssss.

They absolutely ruined it and with their billions of production dollars I was not expecting them to JUST COMPLETELY CHANGE THE STORY?! I have complained informed exactly 7 separate people just this weekend how disappointed I am that they ruined one of my favorite series.

Friday night, Taylor’s sister [HI MAREN] came over to play this Escape Room box game with us.

Unlike the Artemis Fowl movie which had great visuals, inconsistent characters, and a flopsy storyline, the “Escape the Dentist” game was clever, consistent, and really enjoyable.

Saturday

Bright and early, the nicest piano tuner in the world came over to fix up our spinet piano. Arrow was so happy, she wrote him an adorable little card. The card read “Dear piano man, thank you for fixing the piano” and taped 2 pennies and 2 conversation hearts to it. Her thoughtful generosity and gratitude is inspirational.

That afternoon, the kids went on a date with their Auntie Cami while we big kids took off with a couple of our good friends [HI CELEST HI RANDY]

Taylor and I got to try Texas Roadhouse with them for the first time. (I now understand the craving for the rolls. Though, perhaps, they could be made at home? Is this blasphemy?) and we played a round of bowling.

• 

• 

• 

My bowling abilities are as follows: miss, miss, STRIKE, miss, miss, STRIKE, etc. You’re missing out if you don’t invite me into your bowling league.

Meanwhile, the kiddos went to see baby animals and sweet talked their auntie into another round of Denny’s.

• 

Such a good week to rejuvenate from school. Love these people!