Strawberry Picking

Strawberry picking this year was a little different than usual. Sam didn't come and it was hot. Wearing masks was required, so after being in the sun, it was a little much. The kids had to stay within arms length, 6 six feet away from other groups, etc, etc.

They lasted about an hour though and we got a lot of strawberries, which got mushy very quickly. Now we have lots of frozen berries for smoothies and popsicles!

Lanie's Drawings

Vivian has been drawing pictures and leaving them in people's rooms. Here is an example, a drawing of me that she left.

Lanie had a daytime nap the other day and woke up and said, that she "had a dream that told her to draw ugly pictures for all of us."

Lanie's drawing for Chris.

Lanie's drawing for me.

An additional drawing that I found.

Another.

Masks

All the masks. Viv likes to make them.

Vivian's Book

Here is a book that Vivian made as I was starting to think about how the children were psychologically handling the lockdown. She had been begging to see her friends in person and wanted to go in her grandparents' house. At least she was able to write about it! And it helped me decide she should see her grandparents and stay over. 

The Days Have Passed

When the book begins.

This says "it has been a terrible year. It really has. But I wouldn't be sad but I couldn't help at all. People were sick but it was so hard to help. So I thought hard. Others are surviving. But how could I help? I wanted to be able to help."

I feel like everything is spinning so fast and the Earth is going around. But it makes me feel dizzy and like I can't do anything.

I can't help. It is so bad.

I have no idea how we can fix the people who are sick. It feels to me we can fix this.

When I go in my treehouse to think with my brother, I thought I can help. But I can't. I thought to myself, my brother is old he is 10 years.

I know, we can do this! 

It feels like the days have passed and feels like they will get better. The days I hope will be better.

The end

Lanie's message

Writing to her friend:

I really want to visit and play in your room. Because I like playing in your room. I also wish we could have a unicorn in the room.
Love and wishes.
Actually I wish we could have a sleepover. And a hamburger.

"Mom! can me and him have a sleepover when it's not Coronavirus time?"
"Yes."

Goes back to writing.
I really wish we could have a sleepover. Could we have a sleepover next time?
Love and wishes.
Oh! And party. Can you ask your mom to set one up?

Costumes Again

A hopping bunny with a helmet in case she falls.

Bills Man costume, he decorated his shirt the other day when I wasn't paying attention.

FaceTimeing their grandparents after breakfast.

Backyard

We removed a tree from our backyard, prior to putting a patio in. Our friend transplanted it to her house.

Since we are still home, the kids are running out of things to do. Since they recently built wooden boats with their grandfather, they decided to flood the hole and sail their boats.

 

And Vivian only fell in once. Hours of entertainment. Lanie mostly sat in a chair to the side and had a picnic. 

Boston walk

Boston is still very, very empty right now. There is very little open. We took a walk near the New England Aquarium, the seals are visible from the exterior, and the Greenway was empty, and Fanueil Hall. Parking is abundant!

Visiting the seals.

New Addition

We had a new addition to our family a few weeks ago, a little Snowshoe kitten who we named Mika. She is settling in well after 48 hours of more or less hiding, with the kids constantly trying to "help her." Now she is very assertive and let's Jack know her place if she doesn't want to play. She is also, so far, tolerant of the kids and particularly Lanie who likes to carry her around.
It seemed like a good time to get a cat as we are home all the time pretty much.

More and more is closed around us, so options are few and far between, quite literally, for getting out and about.

Her favorite place to sleep is the kitchen drawer, which I know,
but still makes me jump every time I open it.