When Jack gets Stuck

 Jack sometimes gets "stuck" in the bathroom, or thinks he does (the door doesn't actually latch). If he is scratching at the door, Mika will come and open it for him.

Day Twelve Home

(I think. Maybe day eleven, maybe thirteen. Who actually knows).

Lanie's best friend walked by our house and said hi through the window.

After 4 "snow days" by the state, we are in full swing of attempting to get kids online to learn virtually. The "snow days" were granted so that we did not have to make up the time. Now the state of Massachusetts wants some form of children doing review work or continued learning. There is also a huge disparity already forming with kids from lower income areas versus (mainly three) economically advantaged towns. They are providing distance learning, while places like Lynn and Fall River cannot provide devices for children to learn on or from.


Our district wanted us to check on the families, asking three main questions:

1.) are you well and safe?
2.) do you have food?
3.) do you have technology and internet?

Me spending hours on the phone on text and three way calls with interpreters trying to get people  onto computers and into programs.

Lanie pitched right in.

  For most of the families we are down to question 3 and then working on getting devices out and operational. Meanwhile, grade level, department, administrative teams are meeting figuring out available resources and meeting as a class community.

Simultaneously my own children are doing the same.

Every time we try to leave the house to get some fresh air, someone has a huge fit. Today was Lanie's turn. This is when she "HATED GOING FOR A WALK" and "WASN'T PUTTING SOCKS ON!"

Everyone found a walking stick and no one got hurt.

WIndow

Because why wouldn't you play football in the house? And then replace the entire window on a 32 degree day?

Board Games

We're finally at the point where the kids are playing board games, with each other as well as us, which is so nice.  It especially helps in the winter when there's a lot more indoor time.  Of course Vivian will still occasionally pitch a fit if she loses, but she's getting better and throws the game pieces less these days (unless she's particularly hungry).  It's also nice when they have their friends over.  Sam will even make a game on periodically.  Lanie is still to young to understand, but because she spends a lot of time mimicking their behavior she still might sit and play a game for a while by herself.

a game Sam was trying to make.

Sam and Tessa on Christmas.

Storyland

I took the kids to Storyland in New Hampshire on Thursday.  Despite the constant, "how much more time until we are there?" and "when do we get to Italy again?" (Viv), and intermittent torrential downpours and thunderstorms, as we drove through the White Mountains, we arrived (not in Italy, at Storyland). 

The first ride the kids went on, I was with the girls and asked, "where's Sam?"

The antique cars with Vivi driving and Lanie and I as passengers.

Vivian pointed to a car as he drove by solo.

The kids had a great time and were really well behaved and happy.  Vivian (and by default Lanie) got to have tea with Cinderella, and Sam spent a lot of time riding bigger kid rides with my friend and her son, although at times he was definitely terrified.

Rollercoaster with Sam in the back, relieved it's over.

Girls and I on the train.

Water area.

Water area submarine.

Camera captured an action shot of Sam on the roller coaster.

Ferris well type ride.

Vivian sipping tea at Cinderella's tea party.  

Lanie and Vivian hugging Cinderella after the tea.

Vivian at Cinderella's castle, in her very fancy outfit.

Lanie loved the train ride.

Dinner view.

Learning How to use the Whoopee Cushion

                          Sam and his friend taught Lanie about whoopee cushions the other day.

Fourth of July

My friend got Vivian to put on this dress for all of five minutes (she refused when I asked her too).  Just long enough for a photo or two.  She much preferred to wear as few clothes as possible all weekend.

Rowing to no where.

One Sticky Visit

 Photos from recent visit with high school friends and their kids.  The one Patriot's Day that was about 90 degrees.  Not that I should complain, as the Boston Marathon runners were the ones who really suffered.  The kids were melting though and really weren't into posing for us.

Farmer's Market