March: Sneaky Leprochauns and COVID-19

The beginning of March: wondering if COVID-19 would affect us, how soon, etc.  We stocked up our pantry and felt apprehensive as we read CNN around-the-clock.

Our PTA planned a fitness decathlon, and achieved our very ambitious goal of raising $6,000.  As the treasurer, I remember writing that down as our target goal at the beginning of the year and thinking, "In your dreams, Sarina."  We have such a low income school and most fundraisers fall pretty flat.  Last year, our biggest fundraiser of the year pulled in less than $5000, and it was for silent auction items.  But Sarina and the rest of us pulled it off with about half of the money from local business sponsorships.  

I was the squat station and found many ways to make squats playful.  I did them for a straight 2.5 hours and could barely walk for days afterwards.  I love working directly with the kids, and every time I do, it reaffirms my decision to stick with education as a career path.

The dumping rain almost ruined our fundraiser but the kids pushed through and had a blast.

Ohana Picnic with Kate and Owen.  We picked up sushi per Kate's request.  She loves sushi, especially when it has spicy sauce smothered across the top.  Owen only likes the pieces that have ZERO sauce.

The Science Fair!  She scored over 100% on her presentation and project, despite her project not working out as intended twice.  She wrote about the discovery of penicillin and related it to how things do no't always go as expected and that is part of the scientific process.

Lydgate park reopened so we went to it during piano lessons.  He can hang on monkey bars for an impressive number of seconds.

These goggles typically only get action in the bathtub but he is starting to dive down more at the pool.  The pool is freezing until about August, so it is love when I take him.

Owen and his playdate, Lexi.  Both of them drive around in the Jeep and play dress up every time they get together.

SOCCER SATURDAY!  All our games this season had early starts, so we left our house prior to 7am.

Kate's team killed it at her games on the 14th.  She played so well, and her team is so coordinated and skilled together.  We had no idea this would be the end of the season.  Zachary's team was winning half their games and enjoying the bigger playing field.

Her last soccer practice.  She was so aggressive.  Her goal was to not turn her back when the male coaches were kicking or coming up on her.  She has made so much progress.

Owen's last preschool: water day!

Miss Maddie, Ivy, and O.

Mid-March: the island suddenly shuts down.  By March 18 (middle of spring break), we knew the kids would be out of school for several more weeks.  It is currently canceled until May 1, but I would be surprised at this point if the kids go back at all.

This island is eerie.  It is so sad to see all the hotels and businesses shut down.  It is the right thing to do with the information we have, but it is still somber to realize how many jobs are gone, and how  daily life can go from hopping to a standstill.  Emotions are running high--anger, anxiety, fear.  There's definite an anti-tourism sentiment that mistakenly bleeds into anti-white.  I try hard to look for instances where the island has accepted us rather than focus on the times I experience or hear about the anger directed at white people.  The islands have a complicated history and were taken advantage of by white people again and again, and that anger carries over in times of fear and stress.  It is particularly poignant that locals will only get this disease if tourists bring it here (or locals bring it back), so it feels to many like a repeat of history where for financial gain and tropical climate, people are willing to sacrifice the health of the local population.  It is obviously more involved than that, but this is the general sentiment.

Nic and Heidi made fun of us the last time they were here for our empty pantry and fridge.  Both are now heartily stocked without hoarding, of course.

We found a lot of what we needed, except for of course Lysol or any more bleach cleaners.  We did get more toilet bowl cleaner, and when I unpacked it at home, realized our toilet bowl will never get dirty.

We froze flour and rice and some frozen chicken.  Plus some mini-tacos, because we need tacos even during the apocalypse.

Spring Break brought non-stop rain, flooding, and wind.  The beach was out-of-the-question, so we picked that time to work hours each day on Zachary's 750 piece puzzle.  It was surprisingly difficult and time-consuming, but actually a fun family activity.

With no soccer on Saturday and tiny bursts of sunshine, we took off for Hanalei for the first time in what feels like 6 months.  Owen took a few boogie boarding bumps ("waves"), Zac surfed his heart out, and Kate was in the water the entire 3 hours, surfing at least 40 waves.  It was a spectacular day for the kids and we loved watching them.

Mommy Preschool time is now everyone's school time.

Kate begged to do the science experiment one more time.

March 17: Owen said, "Those sneaky leprechauns came to our house!"

Sour skittles are the worst candy of all time.

Kate and Owen made leprechaun traps, but somehow those darn leprachauns evaded them again this year.

Rock wall:

Money at the bottom of the bowl to entice them to jump into a bucket.

Our only picture wearing our Patty tees.

Spring Break had so much rain, and unfortunately flooding.  The north shore roads and bridges were under water and a state of emergency was declared.  We even had a tornado warning.  We had no idea you could have a tornado in Kauai.

My kids found ways to play.

We were also joined one afternoon by Bob, the pig that was hilarious until he started ripping up our grass.  The kids chased him around for an hour.

Pigs are SO FAST.

More Spring Break puzzles:

We were surprised when Brady's eye surgery was still on, and flew to Oahu for it.  His vision is atrocious and he does not quality for LASIK.  He did the Visian surgery where a lens is created and inserted behind your own lens.  He has excellent vision now, with of course a few minor side effects like seeing halos especially at night.  He was so excited to get this done and we are hopeful that it continues to be a good decision.

I was not allowed inside the surgery suite so I went surfing and then to Target to kill time. Empty shelves, empty aisles.  The whole mall felt desolate.  I wandered from noon to 5pm, getting a little anxious to hear from Brady.  Everything went fine, but they were behind on surgeries that day, and then he had too much pressure in one eye after the procedure.  That night, we ordered takeout salad from Cheesecake Factory and ate at almost 10pm.  The next morning, he was cleared after his appointment and we were good to go!

Finally, clear weather at the end of Spring Break!  Dirty water meant biking and hiking.

We asked Kate if she wanted to go hiking with us that weekend, and she said no but then ran out to the car with her shoes in hand and said, "I can't miss this opportunity!"  Oh, Kate.  You are so charming.

It's hard to take a bad picture along these beautiful cliffs with this beautiful girl.

Zachary learning to use the stove.  He has cooked before but it has been a long time.

That Saturday morning, the kids spent hours making forts, playing in them, and sleeping in them that night.

Saturday afternoon at Sheratons, surfing and catching the biggest crab we have ever seen in the sand.

Finally, church at home.

Major changes in our lifestyle in March--we went from slammed with soccer, work, and daily activities to social distancing.  It was surreal to have practice one day, and the next be told to stay home from school, church, and any activities involving groups of 10 or more.  We knew it was going to be a a major impact for a long stretch of time, and I scrambled to create homeschool curriculum for the kids and prepare schedules for our new normal.  Leprechauns are sneaky, and so are pandemics.