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

Vivian at Ballet

First time dressed like a "ballet student" since the ballet year began in September. Usually she favors sweatpants and a t-shirt. She's completely unpredictable. Last year she decided she would do her end- -of- the year recital and to the point where I paid $50 for the costume. Then she decided she wouldn't participate the week before it. The day of I tried to get her to at least go and watch and she laid on the floor and refused. To be fair she did get sick that day and spent the afternoon asleep. This year she is refusing to do the recital again and I'm afraid to not get the costume in case she changes her mind (because of course Lanie wants to do it). 

But she likes class and enjoys dancing, which is the important part.

In the Cellar

I went down the cellar to do laundry and heard a distinct animal sound but couldn't locate the source. I sent the kids down to figure out what was going on, hoping it was a toy.
As they walked down the stairs I hear:

Sam: "If it's a cat, I call dibs!"
Vivian: "That's not fair! Fine. I get it if it's a squirrel, or a dog."
Sam: "I don't want a squirrel anyway. And Viv, it's totally not a dog."

When I went to check they were well prepared.

Forty-five minutes later they came up holding a small stuffed cat that Vivian had rescued from the rain earlier today. I had told her to put in downstairs to do through the wash. It had never made a noise before, but since it was rain soaked, apparently it set the batteries off.

"Hey Google"

Vivian just walked into the kitchen and said, "hey Google, what's your real name?"
Google: "You can call me Google Assistant."
Vivian: "Great! Google A-ssis-tant.  Are you my friend?"
Google: "Yes! Of course. We are great friends, in fact, you are my hero!"
Vivian: "YES!"
Lanie: "HER-O?"
Vivian: "Hey Google, I like being your friend!"
Google: "Good friends like going on road trips.  We should start planning one."
Vivian: "Yes! Hey Google Assistant, where's your car?"
Google: "I don't know what you mean."
Vivian: "Well that's annoying."

How the Day Started

We have Google Home in our kitchen, which we usually use to listen to music or check the weather.  Sam starts his morning routine with, "Hey Google, what's today's weather?"

Occasionally they ask Google questions.  Today Vivian was down first and I heard, "hey Google, how many days until Easter?" (because we finished birthdays so what can we know get excited about)...
"11 DAYS!  Mom!!! 11 DAYS UNTIL EASTER!"
Quickly followed up by, "hey Google, how many days until Christmas?"

Stay on the Sunny Side

Vivian made Sam a late birthday card.  It is a giant cupcake, and it says, "stay on the sunny side, Sam."

New Name

My parents are out of town, visiting Arizona, where my mom's grandfather lived and worked at the turn of the last century.  Whenever they are away the kids have lots of questions and more or less are mildly obsessed with it.  Last night's dinner conversation went from one family member to the next and then turned to names.
My dad's mother's name was Philomena originally, but she didn't like it, and changed it to Phyllis and eventually Fifi.  It's also traditional, according to her, to name the a granddaughter after the grandmother.  I'm not sure how this works, but she adamantly told us not to name the kids "Philomena" because she detested it.  So of course after hearing this story, Vivian decided to change her name to Philomena Vivian Myrra (after her other great-grandmother- the last two are actually her names).  Then she practiced writing and saying it a lot.  Luckily she decided it would just be her "home name," at school she would still go by Vivian. 

Although she did ask this morning how we pronounced her new name.

Artistic Expression

When Vivian gets away with not having a bath the night before and decides she doesn't want one in the morning either.

"What's it like?"

Vivian and Sam were having snack yesterday after school and chatting and Vivian asked Sam, "so what's it like to be you?"
"Huh?" Sam asked.
"What's it like to be you?" Vivian repeated.
"Why do you ask?" Sam said.
"Well because I want to know," Vivian answered.
"Oh," Sam said. "Well, it's fine.  You know, it's mostly funny, but sometimes a little bit annoying."
"Oh," Vivian said, "okay."
And they continued eating.

Cinderella and the Mailman

Vivian was "reading" Lanie Cinderella the other day, while I was getting ready for work. 

Lanie's latest reading behavior is to interject, "what's that?" throughout the entire book, multiple times a page.

"What's that?" she asked.

"That's the mailman," Vivian replied.  "He is bringing the mail."

I thought to myself she'll explain the delivery of the invitation to the ball.

"He's the one who brings all the packages that you order on the computer." Vivian continued.

"Oh, yes." said Lanie.

Or that.

Frankie the Frog

Vivian had a homework assignment last week of bringing her stuffed frog home from Kindergarten.  He was supposed to be involved in our family activities and outings and then we were to journal our experiences in the class book.  At first I misread the assignment and thought he was with us just for the weekend, which was good, because it made me do all the photo taking and printing and get the bulk of the work done on Sunday. When we reread the information that night I realized we had a whole week with Frankie.


Of course, every single activity that we did outside of the house, we forgot to get Frankie.  So Frankie did not get to choose a Christmas tree, put lights on the tree, go to the park, go to dance class, or go on a playdate...

Frankie's missed outing to find a tree.

We did remember when we folded laundry and went to dinner at my parents. He got to hang out with the family, so that was good.
On the actual Sunday night before Frankie had to return to Kindergarten, he disappeared, no where to be found.  Vivian's things tend to do that. We had a few talks about how very, very sad her entire Kindergarten class would be if Frankie was lost, including her beloved teacher. Vivian was not entirely persuaded. We discussed how it wasn't fair that some children got to keep Frankie for a longer time than others, and everyone should have a chance. Nothing.

Sam wanted to pose with Frankie.

Eventually I gave up to read stories, figuring I'd deal after the kids went to bed.  I sat down on the couch and out of the corner of my eye I spotted something that I first thought was the dog. It was Frankie, sitting on a dining room chair, pushed in under the table. I retrieved him and kept him safe until the next morning and lectured Vivian on how much trouble she would be in if Frankie didn't make it to school.

A Bug

Vivian has had an upset stomach for a few days now and keeps asking why her stomach hurts.  I told her she probably had a little bug and needs to rest and drink.
She asked me again a little later and I said, "remember, it's probably a little bug?"
"Or a fly," she told me.
"Um, I think a bug, which means a little sickness."
"Right. Like a fly. Probably a mosquito.  Remember mosquitoes make big bites on me? I think one did it inside my stomach.  I have a mosquito."
"Perhaps."

How Vivian was Made

I asked Vivian where she came from today, "the crazy girl factory?" and then this was her explanation:

Maybe She Doesn't Want a Sister

Vivian has been trying to rid herself of a sister.  

There have been several occasions since Lanie was an infant.  Luckily, to do, it is more an verbal inquiry than actions, as far as I know. 
When Lanie was very small and had transitioned from bathing in the kitchen sink to the bathtub, Vivian looked at the drain in the tub and said something along the lines of, "oh, well, maybe the baby will get sucked down the drain."
I assured her that she wouldn't, that Lanie was much too big, and Vivian said, "oh, well that's too bad."

Another time we went through a car wash and Vivian said, "so can the baby get washed away in the car wash."
"No," I replied, "she's safe in the car."
"Well, maybe next time." Vivian said.

More recently we were celebrating Christmas and Vivian said,"auntie, maybe Lanie should come and live at your house, you can have her for Christmas."
Tessa replied something like, "that's very nice of you, but she lives at your house."
 This was a thoughtful way to get rid of her, compared to the watery ends she had thought of prior to this.  Also, a few weeks before Christmas when the temperatures dipped to 9 degrees, Vivian was not happy that Lanie was now trying to play with her toys in her room.

"When will Lanie get her own bigger room that could fit toys in it mom?" she inquired.
"Oh, when she's bigger," I told her.
"Like when she's two?"
"Probably a little older than that, we need to figure out where to put her bed and her toys."
"Well I don't like her playing in my room with my toys." Vivian told me.
"I know.  It feels frustrating for you."
"So maybe we can put her in the dining room?  She can sleep in there?"
"Vivian, that might not be a very convenient when we want to use the dining room."
"Oh, ok.  Oh! I have an idea!  She can sleep outside.  We can put her bed out there, it's very big."
"Yes," I told her, "there is lots of space.  But she might be a little cold out there."
"Yes," Vivian agreed, "she might freeze."

Lanie gets her own though.  She is rather good at grabbing handfuls of Vivian's hair and pulling and pulling.  I can tell by the yelling what is happening.  Yesterday apparently she had a vendetta against both the children because I found them both lying on the floor with Lanie holding a handful of each of her siblings hair while they screamed. 

Vivian's Fashion choices for Nana

Nana came over before school yesterday to drive Sam and Vivian to school, as Chris had to be at work early.  Lanie was thrilled to see her and bounced around and reached for her, Sam continued to go about his morning, and Vivian ran to see her.  After a few minutes, Vivian needed to get dressed, at which point she looked Nana up and down. 
"You is driving me to school today?" she asked.
"That's right," my mom told her.
"And you's wearing that?" Vivian inquired.

Just for the record, Nana was dressed rather fashionably, with leggings, a tunic top, and ankle boots that matched her scarf.

"Yes.  This is what I'm wearing.  Should I have sent you a photo first to make sure you approved?"


This may have also come from Vivian's birthday dinner day, when she was allowed to choose Nana's outfit for her, but it's a little unclear.

Nana's outfit chosen by Vivian.

Vivian's idea of a very beautiful outfit.

Magic Word

Vivian was supposed to be getting her pajamas on and I kept reminding her.  Finally I went into her room and told her again.
She looked at me and held out her foot and said, "take my boot off mummy."
"Vivian," I said, "what word do you say?"
Very seriously she looked at me, "abracadabra."

Closets

The new house was built originally as a carriage house, so the bedrooms are odd sizes and shapes, and one doesn't have a closet.  My dad put an extra pole in Vivian's closet, so Lannin's clothes can hang on top and Vivian's at her level. 
Periodically Vivian will look at Lannin's dresses and say, "why are Lanie's clothes in my closet?" and I'll respond with, "well she doesn't have a closet, so you are sharing your closet."
This twice now has been followed with, "so soon Lanie's closet will come in the mail?" and I'll say, "no."
Vivian will respond with, "when Lanie's closet is delivered we won't share anymore." 

So Clean

Vivian after her bath, "mom, look at me.  I is so clean.  I is all shiny and fluffy!" 

Have a Good Day

Chris was leaving for work when Vivian called out, "bye Daddy! Have a good day!  Don't lose your mind!"

Phone Call

I asked Vivian to please use the potty the other day as we were (trying) to leave the house.  She went into the bathroom and then half turned to me, held up one finger and told me, "just a minute, I need make phone call."
While I tried to think of a response, she opened her purse (that she was carrying around the house), pulled out her toy phone, and said, "hello?  Yes..."