Life Lately

   Even though life lately kind of feels like groundhog day and there's nothing super new and exciting to report, I did want to document what life has been like during these unusual times. Sometimes I still wake up and think "is this really happening?" but overall life in quarantine has been overwhelmingly positive and I really think we will remember it as such.

We saw this on our walk one morning and it's an excellent reminder; Staying positive is so important

   It has been soo nice not having to rush everyone out the door in the morning every day; we really are appreciating the slower pace of life and the extra time together as a family. The break from the daily grind has been such a nice reset. Tim still spends his weekdays working from his basement "office" but I have had so much extra time with the kiddos during the day that has really been special.

Sissy snuggled up with her favorite book; it is such a blessing having this extra down time

   If you didn't already know this about us, we walk A LOT. We take multiple walks a day and I now truly have a thorough appreciation for how walkable our neighborhood is. Sometimes Charlie takes a scooter or bike, sometimes both kiddos ride in the stroller, and sometimes they ride in the wagon. We walk as much as we possibly can and I can honestly say it's a critical component of my sanity now more than ever.

Big kid on his bike! He really does so well riding his bike now

...And the scooter! He really moves on this

They love taking the wagon together

And Mama enjoys getting out in the sunshine!

Little besties being silly

   We also bake a lot! We used up some extra Easter candy in our cookie-baking recently. Both kiddos love to bake so this is a go-to activity for us, especially on rainy days when we can't get out and walk as much.

These were delish! (Also: I dont know how I ever baked without parchment paper)

My little helpers in the kitchen

   Tim celebrated a birthday last week and the kiddos enjoyed it as much (maybe even more?) than he did! Charlie baked cupcakes and both kids helped him open gifts. We got curbside takeout for dinner and it was a really nice day.

Happy Birthday, Tim!

This little peanut thought it was *her* special day

Homemade cupcakes for our birthday boy!

   There was a neat flyover close to the city last week, too, and the boys went to see the Thunderbirds. Charlie was enamored with the fighter jets and is still talking about how awesome it was. Dad was careful to practice safe social distancing with our precious boy and both wore their masks. (Thanks, Nani Akita! Best masks EVER!)

A view of the flyover from the art museum

Sweet boy in his awesome Batman mask

   Char has also been doing Zoom with his preschool class three times a week. He really looks forward to this and his awesome teachers do an incredible job making their virtual class-time special. Sis even joins in (ahem, butts in) occasionally to see all of the "big kids."

Zoom preschool is fun!

Sis loves to check out what they are doing, too

   We are spending as much time as possible outside in our yard every day. Tim started a garden full of fruits and veggies for this summer and the kiddos have been having fun playing out in the fresh air. The outdoor play really helps and they sleep so much better after a good day outside. I found this cute little playset on super sale in the middle of the winter and we just put it together. I am thanking my lucky stars for this little thing right now. They love it!

Swinging and bouncing!

This has been endless fun (and a huge help for parents' sanity)

   Speaking of outdoor fun, last week the kiddos were able to chase around our neighbors' chickens for a bit. Our little animal lovers had a blast playing with their chicken friends.

Charlie and the chickens

They really are SO cute

Maddie liked the baby ones

   Being home 24/7 has also made us more aware of all of the little things we want to get done around the house, so us grownups have been doing lots of house projects, both inside and outside. I have been obsessively planning the addition of another bathroom, so stay tuned for that project.

Home sweet home (with a sweet little pup at the front door)

I hope you ALL are doing well and finding peace during this crazy time. Sending you love wherever you are ♥

From the Homefront...

   Greetings from the SneeFam homefront. We are on our second full week of quarantine and while I'd say we're doing a pretty good job of embracing our new normal overall, yesterday was probably the toughest day we've had yet. Maybe it was the weather; it was rainy and cold so we couldn't do our usual walk around the neighborhood. It was also a Monday and we both had work to juggle from home so that adds a little bit more to the equation. Either way, we got through it, ended with a nice family dinner, and woke up well-rested and full of hope for a better day today.

   It helped a bit to shift gears and focus on gratitude. I keep coming back to how grateful I am for our sweet little home. When we purchased this house almost 6 years ago, Tim was in grad school and we were newlyweds with no kids yet. I don't think in our wildest dreams we could have pictured being quarantined in this home with two kids and a dog, but here we are. It's such a safe place and such a happy place for our fam and I have never been so grateful for these four walls as I am right now. The backyard has been Charlie's lacrosse field and the kitchen has been my sanctuary where I can go bake some stress off. We even set up our treadmill last night in the laundry room because a little workout does wonders for the soul right now (Tim and I are really missing our local gym that we each normally escape to a couple nights a week...)

   From talking to friends and fam, it seems like everyone is dealing with this whole situation in waves. Sometimes it kind of comes out of nowhere and hits. Some days are easier than others. Some days the gravity of it all just feels so heavy. Each day is a new opportunity to seek out joy and gratitude in the midst of all of this upheaval.

   Some ways we have sparked joy over the past couple of days include, of course, baking...

Banana muffins hit the spot

...and painting...

Charlie did a great job painting Simba...

...and so did sweet sister 

...and planting some fruits and veggies...

Dad is in charge of this project; these will go in the ground in a few weeks

...and setting up a little gym in the laundry room...

A little treadmill sesh does wonders for mama's sanity right now...

   I also had fun shopping (online) for Easter basket stuff for the kiddos. Since the quarantine will likely last through Easter, I wanted to order a few little treats for their baskets and leave plenty of time for possible shipping delays. Stay tuned for how those come together! This was a nice, happy focal point on a stressful day :)

   What are you guys doing that brings you joy during this time? It isn't always easy to see it, but there is always SO much to be grateful for. Sending you all love and so many good vibes right now ♥

Staying Home

   Our area, like many across the country, is totally shut down because of the Covid-19 outbreak. Anything non-essential is closed and we are being instructed by our governor and county officials to be quarantined in our homes. This is obviously uncharted territory for all of us.

   On one hand, I am a bit anxious about a lot of things. I am anxious about the health and safety of my loved ones, including our sweet little ones. I am anxious about how long all of this will last and how it will affect our community for even longer than that. I'm a planner (hello, meal planning) so the fear and anxiety of the unknown of what's-to-come is something I really struggle with.

{If you are also feeling this way, this article really helped me find positive outlets for my anxiety}

 
   While we are hunkered down, we are spending as much time as possible doing things that we love:

We are crafting our hearts out. Paint, markers, crayons, scissors- you name it! We are alllllll over the craft situation and creating a plethora of 'masterpieces' every day:

Stocked up on dollar store crafts....

Workbooks are fun, too! Charlie is really enjoying practicing writing letters and words

Painting is always a favorite activity around here

Madeline's watercolor masterpiece

We even decorate a box! (So random but they love doing this)

Markers are fun!

   We are baking! This one is a given ;)   Baking is our happy place so we are baking lots of treats:

Making chocolate chip cookies

So many helpers...

And everyone gets a turn to stir!

   We are walking around the neighborhood, practicing safe social distance with the kids in the double stroller. The fresh air is GLORIOUS and does wonders for the soul:

Taking our double-stroller for a spin around the 'hood

We LOVE going on long walks and the fresh air does wonders for all

   We are getting outside as much as possible; the weather has been kind to us so whether it be yardwork or just playing, we are getting out into the yard as much as possible:

This little laxer is obsessed with playing in the backyard (for hours on end...)

His happy place

   Basically, life changed for everyone overnight and we are embracing our 'new normal'. Sometimes the stress of it all does surface, so I am trying to counter that with a grateful heart. Grateful for this extra time together with our babies. Grateful for our home that has become a safe haven during this time. Grateful for the life and routine that really is so wonderful that we miss it all right now.

Sending you all so much love during this crazy time. Stay home, stay safe, and stay healthy. XOXO ♥