Faux spring break day 2

Today they learned to roller skate. First, they cleaned part of the backyard free of sticks and leaves. And then Ellie taught Cal how to roller skate. 

I don’t understand what the eye black and tie have to do with anything with getting better at skating, but it’s a new world. 

Faux Spring Break Day 1

We were supposed to be in chicago. They were supposed to be at the Cubs home opener. I was supposed to be at a convention seeing friends from around the country and geeking out about concrete. We weren’t supposed to be all at home, cooped up inside, participating in video conferencing with coworkers, friends, and classmates. 

But that is Spring Break 2020.

So we made neighborhood bingo. Yesterday we played neighborhood bingo using cards from a friend. Today, the kids made their own bingo cards and we gave them to our neighbor friends.

Virtual Play dates

Calvin had a play date to show off his LEGO creation while Ellie had a zoom meeting with friends (which of course started with a chorus of “can you see me” “I think you are muted” and “can you hear me...let me try something”)

Old swing, new life

When we bought the house, the previous owners left a swing. But for a couple years it didn’t get use because of the ages of the kids, etc. But it’s back now!

Ellie got some geography studying done while sitting in it and Calvin ended up in the swing for over an hour and read a whole Magic Treehouse book!

I’m busy, make yourself a snack

Okay.

Doodling

The kids had art today in homeschool! They got an art class with Mo Willems one of our favorite children’s book authors. He is leading “doodling” sessions online for kids and showing how to draw his beloved characters. 

(Apparently it was free dress day too and Cal refused to wear a shirt)

Adventures in having only one playmate

Today in PE and afternoon recess the kids choreographed a dance. And by dance I mean synchronized movements that involved swings and running and the occasionally shadow boxing. But they worked together, for something polished, we’re proud of their product, and didn’t fight or bicker! Woohoo!! 

Social Distancing Day 5

Piano lessons are a little different now...

Calvin lost his first tooth!

Calvin lost his first tooth today! 

And it wasn’t the one we all expected it would be which is the one that got loosened when he and E were wrestling in the hallway when he was 3. 

It was a lower tooth. It started to be loose back in February and was loose enough I though it would fall out before Frankie was born. But it stayed out until today! 

And some photos of ELA and recess on a rainy day.

Social Distancing Day 3

Studying math, the modern way! 

Ellie also got Calvin hooked on a math game Prodigy. You have a wizard avatar and go around battling other wizards (by answering math questions) for coins and stars which you use to get new costumes and pets and stuff. The two actually can find each other in the Prodigy-universe. And I get to track their online time and how well they are answering the math questions! Calvin is kinda obsessed, and gets frustrated that I have categorized Prodigy as “productive free time” which one gets to do after all their “mandatory” activities like writing in their journal and doing math pages in their actual math book. Today we had an official schedule which seemed to make everything go a little smoother despite the typical bickering. 

Social Distancing Day 2

Well, me and the kids were home all day together today. The novelty of it was pretty exciting for them and they did generally abide by rules and get work done. 

I took a walk with cal to see if we could find peacocks. We found one. But he also spotted a benchmark on a curb and asked what it was. Then we spent the entire walk talking about surveying, neighborhood layout, and benchmarks, and why I know this kind of stuff. 

And then gov. Newsom said schools likely won’t open for the remainder of the school year. And Orange County has put shelter in place orders out. Nick has been identified as “essential” personnel by gov’t groups who have issued shelter in place orders and his TV station. So...an hour at a time we will get through this.