Little libraries

It seems that several families in our neighborhood took time during the quarantine and built little free libraries and put them up in the ‘hood. So now, on our regular bike rides to Starbucks we stop at a little free library that appears to cater to the K-8 kids in the hood. Calvin loves looking through and then finding books he is done reading to put in the library for someone else. He is especially excited to see that a book he put in was taken. So now, our typical Starbucks mornings have more to them (including wearing masks and riding bikes).

Not sure this is the best idea...

Calvin joined Ellie’s table for after school work. They supposedly playing the online math game Prodigy together, but I was on a marathon conference call so I don’t know for sure.

Repetitive

I didn’t take any photos of my kids because our days are repetitive. 

So enjoy Frankie!

First grade class

I caught some candies from Cals first grade class today, including P.E.

Action shots

The family bike ride has become the highlight of Calvin’s day. The first thing he asks when he wakes up is if we can do a family bike ride.

Today we did. Well, me, Cal and Ellie did. Got some action shots and impressed Calvin with my skills of riding a bike with one hand. Ellie was too far ahead of us for me to get a photo.

Middle school is tiring

She requested a nap. Her headphones aren’t plugged into anything, she just wanted the quiet. 

Also, I’m not sure how long it’ll be before I’m tired of taking pictures of this kid in his school uniform with headphones doing distance learning.

Fri-yay

It’s hot here. Heat affects parenting decisions.

Email

Calvin emailed his principal.

Also...you can take the kid out of the class but you can’t take out the class clown.

Bikes

We now have four bikes, well technically 5 but the fifth doesn’t fit anyone. Ellie outgrew her bike, so we were on the hunt for one for her. Unsurprisingly, finding a bike during COVID is very difficult. Nick got lucky and got a hot tip on a used bike which he snatched up for himself. I’m talking to a coworker she had a bike that she didn’t need and thought would fit Ellie; it doesn’t but it fits me perfectly (size and style!). Calvin got his hand-me-down from a friend at the beginning of the pandemic and has grown into it. Well, I’m getting my new-old bike tuned up the shop had a bike that was just a smidge too big for Ellie, but not so much that she couldn’t ride it. 

So now we all have bikes! 

Second Day of School 2020

Well, technology is the most difficult part of school right now. Figuring out new software and platforms, remembering to click “submit assignment”, learning email etiquette...yes these are all lessons she needs to learn, but it should be the hardest part of 6th grade. 

And Calvin is just enjoying the novelty of his teacher on the screen.

First Day of School 2020

Today was the first day of school for the year. The kids got up earlier than they have and got dressed and came out to the guesthouse which we reconfigured for desks and workspaces. Everyone has a place now. 

Despite a few technology hiccups it was a success. Calvin saw his friends and teacher (the same one he had reading with last year so she was a familiar face and knows him pretty well). Ellie...well the first day of middle school is always stressful and chaotic, right? It was just a different stressful and chaotic...and maybe tougher because she couldn’t talk to her best friend although they have the same teacher. Lots of learning curves but we survived. It was a short day so tomorrow will be more interesting with more online school. 

Well visits

The kids had their well visits today. Both are healthy and growing fine. Both got flu shots. Ellie got two other vaccines...fun being 11. 

They are exactly 1 foot apart in height. Ellie has a growth spurt which is visible in her chanted height growth. Calvin is tracking along his same curve. 

Drive through registration

Today we had drive through registration for Ellie at Marshall. They made sure I had filled out forms online, handed her textbooks, passed out PTA and ASB info, and made sure we were ready for Monday. 

Ellie the chef

Ellie has taken to making baked goods and simple meals lately. I’m not sure if it’s boredom, frustration with me in not making treats, or interest but she is trying her hand in the kitchen. There have been lessons (double checking recipes, not checking the oven every 2 minutes, etc) but she made muffins and the kids’ lunch today. 

And she did the dishes! 

She’s in the “don’t take my picture mom!!” Phase of life so candids are all I got. 

Enjoying moments

School starts on Monday. And it’ll be more scheduled with the kids having to login at 8:30 for class and attendance. 

So I decided to take advantage of a random Tuesday without appointments, class, or conference calls and Calvin and I walked to Starbucks. Ellie, being a tween, refused to get out of bed and get dressed to come with us. 

We had a nice walk. Found out neighbors just installed a new little library. Calvin wanted to take Dr Doolittle because he remembered seeing a trailer for the movie in which Iron Man plays Dr Doolittle...so the book has to be awesome right? He and Nick later rode their bikes to leave a Magic Treehouse book that we had a duplicate of and Cal has already read. 

Practicing new skills

Besides learning to ride a two wheel bike and going on long bike rides, Calvin has also been practicing other skills including hula hooping. He’s gotten pretty good at it.

As an aside, the shirt he is wearing was one that Ellie wore last summer. Both are going through growth spurts apparently.

Outside time

I think my kids have spent more time outside than they normally would during the pandemic. In our backyard, riding bikes in the neighborhood, climbing trees because playground equipment is off limits...

Bike rides

Nick got himself a used bike and is now taking the kids on bike rides around the neighborhood and even down to the library (not that they went in the library...just rode their bikes there).

Although, I think Ellie’s bike is too small for her. However, finding a new bike right now is almost impossible. She is in a growth spurt. Had to get new clothes, shoes, and cleats! 

Frankie photos

We are at the point in coronavirus that I have stopped taking pictures of my kids doing stuff at home during the day. 

In looking at my photo roll, I have more photos of Frankie recently than my own kids. 

But that’s not a bad thing.

Street ready

He learned how to ride without training wheels. He moved up to a bigger frame. And now he has been practicing riding with Nicks and Ellie everyday. On Saturday he rode his new bike all the way to Starbucks.