Other Fun

So, what else did we do?  Just lived as much as we could in the moment.

They built "giant lego blocks and stood in the same position as their lego avatars.

Before cousin summer, we went to a new park, which just happened to have a library event going on, and a book sale too!

Emily and Grace were "melting."

We blew up the pool for one week, then found out about the "pool party" schedule at the Charlotte Aquatic Center and haven't used it since.  It's still out, and on the porch, but empty.

We got to check out the Oldsmobile car show in downtown Dimondale.  I think it was back a two-year hiatus.

Father's Day was pretty quiet, but everyone was around to wish Daddy a happy one!

We read the "story walk" posted at the basketball court.

Grace and Molly got ready for camping.

I took in our bikes (3 at a time) to be serviced at the bike shop. Grace's had to be totally replaced with a new one.  

Grace set two summer goals for herself: 1) ride a bike without training wheels.  2) swim without a floaty/pass the swimming test at the pool.  She's making great strides with both and is close to mastering #1!

During Grace's trip, we left Alice and William home, since they didn't want to come, and hit a really pretty bike trail we found one day.  Then, we went to a second bike trail, but the girls were tired, so we went home.  The next day, Billy and I went out and did 10 miles on the trail in Lansing.  The direct sunlight was pretty brutal, but there were several pretty parks on the way.  Next time, we go downtown!

Grace has been feeling a little sad without Juliet, so she's been my go buddy, since Emily is also at camp this week.  She got a cookie the size of her face at BJ's!

She also went with me to snag some on sale school supplies.  Staples had a $10 off any $20+ purchase coupon, so we picked up the 3 things that they had on sale that I had on my list. We also scored some fresh headphones for the big girls for their school supply list.  Spent $12, which was not bad considering I was able to get everything on my list and two pairs of headphones!

Avia was in Texas this year for her birthday, but we didn't waste a chance to celebrate!  The cake was good, sadly, I was trying to schedule a package pick up when the kids got everything ready, so this was the only picture I took.

Emily didn't have time to grab some and eat it before camp, but she got some when she came home. = )

We met up with the Cornishes at the Magical Realm Festival in Charlotte.  Despite the warmer weather we'd been having, it was cold and rainy.  

They had a scavenger hunt that everyone, except for Alice, thought was delightful and fun.  And Grace has now tamed her fair share of rocks! ; )

Billy paid for the kids to be jailed.  I think they might have liked it! = 0

Their "warrant!"

I feel like I must include an Alice interaction here as well, so that she can read it later.

Bought this sweatshirt for Alice (even though it was like 90F.)  

When we came home:
M: I bought you a new shirt!
A: <eyeroll>
<But reads shirt and works hard to conceal smile>
M: well, what do you think?
A: <reaches for it, and feels edge> at least it's soft...

It has been such a great, but busy summer.  And somehow, we've managed to fit in doctor visits, grocery pickups, new glasses, karate, and even some Latin, math, German, and reading!  

Maybe we'll get some rest once school starts.

later days

March 29th, Day 16 of Isolation

The expected high today was 49F.

The day started out wet and chilly, but with no need to dress and hurry out the door, we 'attended' early service this morning.  It was communion Sunday, so we ate the sacrament in our home for the first time ever!  It is a very weird time.

But right after church service, the sun showed up with it's rays of warmth, Emily asked to go on a bike ride.  This was Billy's inaugural ride on the bike I procured for him last fall, so he aired up all the tires that were in need.

It was very windy last night, so while Billy filled up tires, my helpers and I picked up some fallen branches and sticks. = )

Emily rode up to the school with her training wheels, but had me take them off as soon as we got there.  She's now comfortable enough to keep them off!

It was a windy trip! We saw a tiny bit of sun, while we rode around the empty elementary school parking lot. But, by the time we were heading home, the clouds blew in and it started to sprinkle and get us all just a little wet!

There were lots of people out walking and biking and running. Also, a surprising number of people driving?! On a weekday I would expect more traffic, but everything is closed, and even places that are open somedays, tend to be closed on Sunday. Where was everyone going?

For lunch I raided the fridge to heat up leftovers from the week.  Now we have plenty of space for my grocery run tomorrow.

I reviewed lesson plans for the week and update our schedule.  Emily, William, Grace and Juliet all have Zoom meetings this week at one point or another.  This is our last week of school at home, next week it is time for Spring Break II and then back to school*?!

At 7 I chatted with some local moms via Zoom and it is so comforting!  And tonight the president issued an order that the country should continue distancing until April 30th**. 

It's shaping up to be an interesting year.

later days

*In an interview, the governor made some remarks that school would likely not resume this year, in a brick and mortar capacity, anyhow.  But as of right now the official word is that the will resume school on April 14th.  

**but as of the time of this post, nothing official has come from the governor or school district.

Bike Riding

William was the instigator for the process, when he wanted to ride his bike to school. Once I found him a helmet, he was allowed to ride his bike when we walked. This of course raised the girls collective interest in riding bikes too.

We don't have the most contusive set up for practicing without training wheels. So, the first pretty Saturday we had, after I'd found bikes and helmets for all, we rode up to the school for Alice to practice.

She did awesome!  She has such good balance for someone who had not really ridden before!  Billy took a go on my bike, since I haven't yet tracked one down for him.  Emily wants her wheels off now too, but I haven't gotten her a kickstand yet.

We walk our bikes across the bridge, since there is no barrier between the sidewalk and the road, just a step down.

Once everyone was hungry, we headed home, stopping at Charlie's for lunch. = )  The kids wanted to go back and do it again, but with the arrival of the cold weather, that will have to be spring activity.

later days