Days with the Dorans

Well~ We made it work. This year's costume/theme was Napoleon Dynamite and it was fun! Jeff was well enough to put on his Rex Kwan Do costume and he came out to the hallway so I could take a quick pic. Covid is no fun but being together and having the family I do made the best of it for sure. And it's so good to "see" Jeff~ even if it's from more than 6 feet away! We were able to carve pumpkins. Halloween fell on a Saturday so it was a full day of fun affair! Then it was time to get into our costumes even though there was no trick-or treating. Here is what everyone looked like... Jeff as Rex Pedro, Deb, & Napoleon Tina the Llama & Grandma Because we have the coolest friends ever- Coz stopped by and dropped off some dry ice for us to play with. He left it on the deck of course but it sure was fun!! HERE are some fun videos from the night!

And the hits keep coming! Covid sucks! Jeff is super sick and on top of everything else, I found out that my lovely district is moving me from second grade remote to KINDERGARTEN!! I have never taught kindergarten in my life and to say that I am screaming inside is an understatement! The thing that kills me is that my second graders decided to stay remote so I figured we'd keep on keeping on, but the district had other plans... So my students will go to the 5th grade teacher remote and I'll go to kindergarten (because going from 5 to K is worse than going from 2 to K). Meanwhile a community and a routine I have worked SO hard to build has been wiped away.  I went for a run with tears streaming down my face. I talked to my dad through my earphones and I didn't even care that others could hear me (and that the kindergarteners I would get COULD be in my neighborhood... yup- Dublin and Glengary!). I also didn't care that I was swearing on occasion. I'm not a big curser ...

I wrote the following on FB so figured I'd just share it here... My last act before quarantine begins for me (dropping off our ballots in my RBG shirt). I’m so sad, frustrated, angry and everything in between. Grab a drink and settle in if you want to read my novella because this girl is about to vent. Now that it’s out there (and thank you to friends and family who have called and checked in today), Jeff got word today that he tested positive for Covid. We knew this would happen, even made a plan for when he went back face to face with students (mind you, everyone wears masks and he sees only a few kids since he works with students who are blind). Still, we made a plan when on day one of return, one of his coworkers was quarantined. I first want to say we are a family who has been SO careful. I can count on my hands how many times I have been to a store since March. We’ve said no to gatherings, restaurants, seen people only outside (and I can count that one one hand), told our 3 y...

I love that the kids still want to do these types of things!! My mom heart is full!  

  I don't know what to say about Joey and his running but he's doing REALLY well! Like dropping serious time! He got to run in the all county meet and is sub 18 now! Just WOW!!!  HE EVEN QUALIFIED TO RUN REGIONALS!!!!!! We are soooooo proud of you, Joe! You. Are. Amazing.

  So prior to all the Covid nonsense, I had signed up to run the Detroit Freepress International Half Marathon. When it was cancelled I was given the choice to run it remotely, or defer and be able to run it the next time they race it in person. Since I have no idea what will happen, I decided to run it remote! I was really bummed because I REALLY wanted to run over the bridge, so we found a bridge to run over in our hometown. Not quite the same but it worked. It was a beautiful morning for a run. We ran the airline train and I ran dirt trails and paved. It was relatively flat too. I wasn't sure how I would run it but I did decide to do a Galloway. I had a timer on my watch and I eventually got into a good groove and felt really good. I ran with my friend Dave (a XC running dad/ friend) and his two friends (now my friends). None of us stuck together though- I was second in the pack. One of the husbands was waiting with water at one of our turn-arounds which was so fun. I didn't...

Sean's birthday contained the usual things- Papa checking his height, food, presents, and cakes! The cook thing about having so many sibs is that you have a built in party! Sean had a great day and loved his new penguin mask! Things you never thought you'd give or get... Happy Birthday, Seany! We love you more than you know!