The first Blursday of Marprilay

Hello, we're back again! It's not like we went anywhere... we're still on lockdown! According to the calendar today marks day 24 of official Paraguayan lockdown but it feels like so much more. To date Scott has left the house about 8 times and Kiersten has left twice. It's starting to get real... real boring.

But! We are grateful that the government took this seriously from the start and the number of cases in the whole country are less than some counties in Virginia. So for the time being we are comfortable, safe and healthy.

So the question now is, how have we been filling our time? Let's make a list for you:

• Scott and Kiersten started their one and only puzzle. It's 2000 pieces. We should finish it within the week.

  

  Mackenzie was so curious and of course wanted to help.

• Mackenzie is learning her letters and started tackling reading. She read her first word without any help; cat. It was very impressive! We've got labels around the house like 'door', 'chair', 'table', 'water', etc. to help reinforce the words. She's picking it up quickly.
• We've also been doing "school" in general with her.

  

  Science. Growing a batata roja (sweet potato).

  
  

  

  Learning how to make a bed.

• Movies and popcorn almost daily.

  

  Twins!

  
  

  

  Another movie and popcorn.

• Scott's gone to work a few times.
• Playing on the couch cushions like trampolines.
• Putting diapers on their heads. Mackenzie calls it her chef's hat.
  
• Chasing each other around the living room.
• Dress up!
  
  
  
  
• Having daily picnics and enjoying the dropping temperature and humidity. Pool season is almost officially over. We are not sad about that.

  

  Using our patio furniture for the first time in almost 3 years.

  
  

  

  Breaking our fast picnic.

  
  
  

  

  One of our last days in the pool.

  
  
  
• Chalk drawings.
  
  
  
  
• Throwing rocks.
  
  
  
  
• Venturing to the sidewalk for about 15 minutes in the mornings.

  

  Moving the cars for more running room in the garage.

  
  

  

  Stretching their legs.

• Participating in a community Zoom kids show and tell.

  

  She loved every minute of this and did great with her
  show and tell of Piggie and Bop-bop.

• Baking. So many cookies.

  

  Oatmeal orange cranberry white chocolate cookies.

  
  

  

  Double chocolate and peanut butter chip cookies.

  

  General Conference cinnamon rolls.

  
  

  

  Sea salt chocolate chip brown butter cookies recommended by Jenna.

• Dancing.
• Building book towers.
  
• Painting rocks.

  

  Kids craft Zoom meeting.

  
  
  
  
• Building houses/forts.
  
• Making a pinata.
  
• Hammock swinging.
  
• Having virtual family game nights 3 times so far. Code Names and two different Trivia Nights hosted by us.
• One Community Quiz Night hosted by us complete with a movie clip round. It was a big hit. The Ambassador kept things entertaining by wearing a different costume/disguise every round. Others played guitar for us while we tallied points. It was really fun.
  
• Watching General Conference.

  

  Kiersten's conference craft.

  
• Collapsing in an exhausted heap every night.

There are probably more things but that's a small taste.

Earlier last week we heard about an opportunity to take a charter flight back to the States later in April. We discussed it extensively and after the Worldwide Fast on Good Friday we decided the best course of action for us is to stay put here. We feel good about it and hope things will continue to be good here in the long run. Thank you to everyone who have had us in your thoughts and prayers during this stressful decision.

Besides if we left we'd miss things like tarantulas (it was dead).

And double bananas.

Watching The Lion King for the first time.

Easter was a lovely day. Leading up to Sunday we'd hidden an Easter egg in the living room with a symbol and scripture discussing something important leading up to Easter to remind us why this week is so special. Mackenzie loved hunting and we enjoyed taking a few minutes out of each day to come together as a family and talk about Jesus. 

On Easter itself we had a small egg hunt. Mackenzie helped Finley find her eggs first then she got to go find hers. We had one empty egg to discuss the empty tomb and read some more scriptures about Jesus. Then we participated in Scott's parent's ward via Zoom where his dad gave a wonderful talk. Later that day Grandma Jackson did a story time for the grandkids while Kiersten made dinner: spicy pork, steamed carrots and broccoli, scalloped potatoes, a braided Hungarian sweet loaf and a mini carrot cake. A small feast for our little family. We ended the night with another Jackson Family virtual trivia night that even Scott got to play in. Close game but Team Jenna/Todd/Brenton pulled out the win on the tie breaker question!

Happy Easter from our girls!

Eggs!

Hard work paid off. Delicious meal.

The Mackenzie Update:

• She really loves to pretend to be a kitty. She crawls and rolls around and meows loudly. Finley has started to copy her at least with the meowing.

  

  She's also getting good at her play dough figures. 

  
  
• One of her favorite games is to "go on a trip". She'll pack a bag and ask if we're coming or just go on her own. Her destination is one of three places: Virginia, Maryland or Paraguay.

  

  This time we made a treasure map.

  
  

  

  Finley is all ready to go!

• Kiersten put some tape letters on the ground in the quincho/play area and we've been teaching her letter recognition by having her jump on them. Educational and tiring! Win-win!
  
• She's started asking us if we'll marry her. Mommy and Daddy have both said no because we're already married so she's told us she's going to marry Finley. We keep trying to explain how that's not allowed but she's not convinced.

  

  We 'went' fishing one day.

The Finley Report:

• She's started blowing raspberries.
• Kiersten has been practicing handstands (because why not) and now Finley tries to do it too.

  

  "Look at me!"

• She's now interested in the garbage can and can open it. Sometimes to look, put something in or take something out.
• We don't know why but she pats her belly a lot. Sometimes its because she wants something or because she's happy. It's cute whatever it means.

  

  Playing with the indoor water station.

• We've put floaties on her arms when she's gone in the pool because she requests them. They just help her float a little but she loves it and it gives us a little break too.
  
• When we announce it's bath time she darts right for the stairs. But she will not enter our bedroom (or any room) if it's dark. She stands on the threshold looking in until the light comes on then happily charges in.

  

  We also measured the girls with our new height chart! So big!

So many things have happened in the last two weeks and its not over yet. Lockdown was extended to April 19 but this is the third time lockdown has extended so we don't foresee it ending then either. Until then, stay safe, stay smart, stay home and keep in touch!