Marbling paper can be a stand alone activity, or a way to add visual interest to another project like a birthday banner, a Father’s Day card, a letter, or even the chore list! This kid-friendly version of paper marbling requires shaving cream, food coloring, and a large pan. Pro tip: Don’t over stir your colors together. If you do, you’ll end up with a dyed piece of paper but none of the marbling your after! See more ideas in our creative classroom!

Howell 2
Photo by Missy Kaiser
Gretchen Howell, 41- Sean Howell, 41- Reese Howell, 10- Graham Howell 9 
 
Occupation: Gretchen- Brand Manager, Keystone Food Service- Sean, Mortgage Loans, Great Plains Bank
 
How am I coping?  It has been a bit of a struggle.  The juggle of working from home, while also being mom, cook, distance learning teacher, just everything blending together.  I am thankful and happy that we are all healthy and I am very thankful for the extra time I have been able to spend with my kids that I would not normally have had.
 
New rituals: We have been going fishing A LOT, so much so that I would consider it a ritual.  I haven't fished in years and because of all of this we have had time to revisit activities that otherwise we wouldn't have.
 
The worst thing about quarantine:  It has made so many people sick and so many have lost their lives.  It has cancelled celebrations, and caused us to miss time with our extended families.  
 
The best thing about quarantine:  We have learned to appreciate what we do have.  We have slowed down a bit and are able to enjoy some of life's little things.  Doing puzzles and Legos, sitting in the driveway and blowing bubbles and doing sidewalk chalk art.  Picnics in the backyard.  Hot dog & marshmallow roasts by the fire.  Drives in the country with the windows down and music loud.  These are the memories I will take with me from this time.

Ansley 3
Photo by Missy Kaiser
 
Teresa (age 60) and Jim (age 66) Ansley
 
Teresa-retired, Jim-OSU Department Head-Natural Resource  Ecology and Management
 
 
We are coping, I think, much like everyone else.  Good days, bad days!  
New rituals-eating 3 meals a day together, every day, for the first time in 37 years together! 
Worst thing-not being able to see/spend time with,  our daughters.
Best thing-having time. To keep in touch with people, each other.  To work in the yard, read, listen to music, hobbies.  
Thankful for our family. Thankful for technology which allows us to keep in contact with family and friends.  

Pence 1
Photo by Missy Kaiser
 
Jared and Cara 
Ethan (12) Wiley (10) Elizabeth (8) Pence
 
Cara is a surgeon and chief of staff at Stillwater medical
Jared is a stay at home dad
 
We are coping fairly well but it’s hard working so many hours at the hospital and worrying about bringing home something to the rest of the family. We have a lot of cleaning rituals to keep us all safe when I get home.

We have renewed our love of the family bike ride and geocaching. We have also tried new painting classes online as a family. We have camped which we had never done before and walked the dog a ton!

The worst part of being quarantined is missing our friends.

The best part is all of the family time and being able to focus on each other instead of many activities that pulled our family in so many different directions.
We are most thankful for this time together and our health.

Norwood 2
Photo by Missy Kaiser
 
Philip(40), Autumn(40), Annie (10), Denver (6), Lily (3) Norwood. 
 
 
How have we been coping?
We feel like we have done well, we created a daily schedule early on to incorporate some schooling, outdoor, crafting, rest, screen, & playtime because Philip had to work from home & I (Autumn) had to continue to go i to work every day.  The kids have a learning & playspace upstairs & have done really well staying on task & keeping quiet, playing outside, etc... when office meetings & Zoom calls are going on & knowing work still has to be done even though Dad is at home.
 
The worst thing about quarantine?
The separation from family & friends.  It’s been hard missing Easter with extended family & not getting to visit grandparents. It also has really thrown off the summer schedule with extracurricular activities extending into the summer & having new guidelines to follow that bring some challenges to training & class.
 
The best thing about quarantine?
All the time together as a family. We really enjoy being around each other & doing things together but this has put a whole new spin on things.  The kids have been amazing - they work together to help each other with schoolwork, they play well & are very creative & celebrate & encourage one another.  We’ve had times we have been at each other’s throats & needed some space but overall we’d all agree this time together has been good for us all.
 
What are you thankful for?
Soooo many things. 
*Each other - it’s been so nice to have family & friends to go through this together.
*Jobs - we’ve been so fortunate to be able to continue to work throughout this pandemic.
*Technology - we’ve been able to attend church & Bible classes, continue with school through distance learning, & even grown closer & chatted & checked in more with family & friends through Zoom, Marco Polo, & FaceTime over these weeks of Quarantine. So very grateful to have these resources.

Brown 31

Marilyn Brown 67 (and dog Dusty)

I really miss spending time with my family and friends.  But I’m using Zoom to teach my grand daughters to embroidery.  We had a virtual ‘surprise’ birthday party for my grandson and even an online wedding for a couple of pets. ?   So I’ve really enjoyed the unique ways we’ve connected but I’m definitely ready for hugs!