B's interview about Covid

1. What is the Coronavirus?
Virus that gets people sick

2. Who is the president?
President trump

3. How many days have we been in lockdown?
100 I think

4. Do you want to go back to school?
Kind of.

5. Who is the first person you are going to hug when lockdown is over?
I don’t know

6. Where is the first place you want to go?
The pool and the bowling alley. Ice rinking.

7. What do you think we can do to get rid of the Coronavirus?
Vaccines

8. Are your parents good teachers?
No.

9. How did the Coronavirus start?
Covid 19 I think

10. If you had to wear protective clothing to help you what would it be?
A mask

11. Are you enjoying being on lockdown?
No, I am not missing anything though. I miss everything I like. I don’t actually like ice skating.

Week 10- a good one

 A week has to be good if it starts off with a canned margarita from Freshcraft, right?    We have tried and found a few new restaurants that will be favorites long after we are locked down (crossing my fingers they all make it).  Freshcraft is one of them, not just for their drinks.

 Monday morning activities for B while we worked out.  First, sorting stamps by whether or not they have letters (as opposed to just pictures).  And then rescuing animals by cutting tape with scissors and then sorting them into dinos and not dinos.  Both were big hits.

 B has shown a pretty big interest in letters and trying to read.  I've been replaced by a new teacher in the house, he's really engaging for B!

 Backyard box fun.

 

 Front yard sprinkler fun while our pool warmed up.

 And a lot of backyard pool time.  This was the best purchase we made by far.

 While the big kids have school, B and I spend some time together each day doing some sort of "academic" project.  He's been very into scissors so we practiced cutting.

 With everyone home, the markers we have get used frequently and some have come to the end of their life.  But... we revived them as spray paint by soaking the dried out tips in water for 24 hours and then it becomes spray paint.  

 The sweetest.

 I made B a nature board for him to stick things to this morning.

 And to wrap up the last full week of homeschool, we made ice cream in bags and then added fun toppings to make them into sundaes!

Week 9- a big one

 The week started off with an amazing mothers day.  Of course it was different (no red rocks hike and no dinner at Little India), but it was a good one.  Brian and I went for a run and then I ordered brunch delivered for us and all the grandparents.   Brian delivered food to Baba and I delivered it to my parents.  We each got to see our mom's (of course not in the usual way, but better than nothing).  The kids all enjoyed the baked goods and I enjoyed the mimosa.  Brian ordered lunchy food complete with a canned mojito and a canned margarita (see pic below).  For dinner we stayed with our usual and ordered Little India to be delivered.  So much yummy food that carried us several days into the week.

And a huge milestone for B, he learned to ride his bike!  Its not perfect and needs some more practice, but he's getting it.

 As usual, B requested a unique dinner of "half a watermelon" and rice.

 Playschool at home comes each week with a packet of worksheets for him.  He completes two each day as a part of his "assignments".  This week, one page was roll a dice and then trace the shape above the dice.  B (as is his style) created an entire game around this worksheet.  He tossed the dice, "leveled up" to be able to find the dice, ran around, found the dice and came back to the sheet to fill in the shape.  It took nearly an hour, score.

 We've been more lenient with our bedtime routine and let the kids watch a show before bed.  Often, its these two watching B's choice of show while Ads and Brian listen to an audible story, then B runs into join them while LT and I watch a more age appropriate show for him and then Brian carries a sleeping B to bed.

 The amount of quality time these kids get together is something I will never take for granted.  This was during our "snuggle and stories" time.  Ads offered to read B the Pokemon book.
B has been wanting to spend most of his waking hours outside.  I think the screens have become too much for him at times (isn't that true for all of us?!)  After jumping, digging and playing in our yard, he decided he wanted to master our Parkour course.  At first he needed some support in areas, but after a few tries and guidance, he mastered it.

 At 3, I stop homeschooling and the kids get screen time while I go for a walk and talk to a friend or listen to a book.  I had to document that even this looks different with the mask wearing.

 With the mimosa I had for brunch on mother's day, I saved the mojito for later in the week.  It was really yummy and well worth the wait.

 Thursday we decided to come check on our place in the mountains for a few days.  It has been such a great mental health break for all of us.  Lucky for us, we had pretty much cleaned out the fridge the last time we were here (March 7) and we always clean it thoroughly before heading down so it was in good shape.

Thursday was Ying's 50th birthday.  Ads set up a zoom birthday get together which was really fun.  The boys helped me make a huge sign for her that we hung behind us.  And a special guest was able to join all the way from Australia, mom Duff!  Ying lived with her when she was younger and has remained a large part of her life. 

 B has been requesting going on "adventures" multiple times each day.  I took him out alone the first time and then he wanted to show his brothers what we found.  This was PE on Friday, not bad.  

 And while LT interviewed Baba for a school project, the other two completed B's Koala crate (bird themed).

 And science, same experiment, different location this time.

  All good adventurers wear jammies and accessorize with a butterfly cape, right?

Each adventure up here has gotten better.  Its been really fun to explore what we have only seen covered in snow.  Last night Brian took the boys out while I cleaned up dinner.  Despite the rain, they had a great time and made a plan to go to the same spot and build a fort.  We promised them we would take them out today after our zoom workout class and lunch.  

 B fishing.

 And helping find and carry materials for the fort.

 LT looked at me today and said, "I forgot about coronavirus for a minute!"  It has been such a nice break from the worry and mundane lifestyle with coronavirus.   We only saw two people the whole time we were out, and it was very easy to move 10 feet off the trail and let them pass.   So different from Denver.