September Update (Lily 6, Clara 4)

It feels so weird that I'm posting an update for September without any pictures of tailgating. Don't get me wrong I love the extra free time on Saturdays but I do miss seeing everyone at our tailgate. The girls have been busy with school and playtime. At the beginning of September I got a call at work from Lily's after school program telling me that someone in her class had tested positive for Covid and she needed to quarantine until the 18th. I checked Lily out of school and got her tested (negative) and prepared to do remote learning for a few days. Remote learning with a 1st grader is not for the faint of heart guys! Everytime they would change pages, switch assignments, etc Lily would yell for me. I tried working out while she was in class.....it took me 2 hours to do a hour long workout. Since online classes start at 7:45 am by 9:30 am I felt like it was 4:00 pm. It all did get a little easier the next week when Clara was back at daycare and I was just dealing with Lily but seriously my hats off to anyone doing full remote learning with a 1st grader.

Lily September Update:

Since Lily was home for a few days doing remote learning it was very interesting to be able to see how she interacts with her teacher and how she handles assignments. Her favorite subject is math (how is this my child??). There were definite pros and cons to remote learning. Lily told me several times she missed her classmates and wanted to go back to school but she did enjoy the breaks throughout the day. For example, she would finish an assignment 10 minutes before class would come back on and she would run upstairs to her room to play Legos for a few minutes. 

Lily Loves:
-Legos

-Bluey

-playing soccer/ hot potato 

-deviled eggs

-doing chores for $

Lily Hates:

-that the pool closed for the season

-wearing a mask all day

Clara September Update:

Clara has a very interesting way of asking questions. For example, instead of saying "Mommy, I'm such a good helper" she will say "Mommy, I'm a good helper. Aren't I?" It probably is more common than I think it is but I don't often hear 4 year olds ask questions that way. Clara is always active. Occasionally before bed, to work her energy out, I will have her hop, do jumping jacks or run to complete her bedtime to do list. She loves spending the night at her grandparent's house and is eagerly looking forward to our cabin trip with Andy's family next month. 

Clara Loves:

-Bluey

-Barbies

-playing soccer / hot potato

-yogurt

-popcorn

Clara hates:

-going to school (I don't get this because everyday when I pick her up she say's had the BEST DAY EVER!!!!)

-food that 'mushy' in the middle (aka: peas) 

we found a splash pad that was open!!!

Lily starts remote learning

gym class

Go Noodle

playing hot potato

guess who stole the soccer ball

making brownies for special snack

we also found a non crowded park that was open

painting signs for their doors

the finished product

Other pics from this month:

the girls insist on brushing their teeth with daddy

Lily had her first hit of laughing gas to get a cavity filled 

rainy day water fight

sleep time after a pool day

dancing to daddy playing the guitar

Clara didn't want to get dressed so CJ 

reluctantly volunteered to model her dress

"Mommy I'm Queen Anna on my throne" 

(she knows shes not supposed to be up there)

Muddy footed CJ at the dog park

August Update (Lily 6, Clara 4)

I feel like we just started August and already it's over. Although, to be fair, I feel like I'm still trying to  process April. In August both Lily and Clara were out of the after school program (Lily) and daycare (Clara). The day's that I worked they spend at my parent's house. With all the things they have out at my parent's house it's like a camp (bees, cows, zipline, swingset, boat rides, growing watermelons and sunflowers, firepit and ranger rides). They were also able to spend night several times with Andy's mom, brother and nephew. Andy and I are so lucky to have family close by so we can rest and get some things done around the house. 

Lily's August Update:

This month Lily started the 1st grade. We waited anxiously to find out who her teacher would be. While it wasn't one of the teachers she wanted she wasn't upset. We did a virtual meet the teacher a few days before school started and Lily was so excited to meet her. As stressful and tear-inducing as last year was this year has been the opposite. Lily was pretty nervous on the first day but every day so far she has gotten out of the car and walked into the school without any problems!!! We told her that if she did a good job on her first week of school that she would be able to take her own money to Target and buy a toy. She chose Legos and an LOL doll.  

Lily loves:

- legos

- Scooby Doo

- American Girl movies

- Chili Mac and Cheddar Soup

- Hamburger pockets

Lily hates:

-waking up for school

Clara's August Update:

Clara is finally about to move up to the next class at school. She loves sleeping in and trying to push back bedtime with a variety of excuses (ex: "I need to tuck in my barbies/ water/ to bounce like Tigger for 1/2 an hour before going to sleep). She loves being helpful and is my go to helper when I have something to take to Andy. Occasionally her helpfulness goes a little overboard. For example, let's say that I've filled up Andy's water bottle and am preparing to hand it to him (he's only 2 feet away after all). She will demand the water bottle so she can hand it to Andy. When Clara got to take her money to Target she chose a Peppa Pig toy and some kind of unicorn surprise thing. 

Clara loves:

-Barbies

-Peppa Pig

-being helpful

-English Muffin Pizza

-the grocery store (to be fair she hadn't been in a grocery store since March)

Clara  hates:

-doing her to do list at bedtime (she would prefer to run around, yell, play with toys, dance etc)

We went to a small driveway celebration for our niece's 1st birthday

Me "Henry come sit down for a picture"

Henry "umm....no"

"Excuse me ma'am can I see your qualifications for holding babies?"

Camp Nana and Pop is the most fun

pretending to be office workers

 

they love going on the zipline but they don't like climbing the hill to get to it

Other pics from this month:

Clara: the body of a 4 year old the fake press on nails of a 

55 year old divorced secretary from south Florida (pink and purple zebra print)

things have gotten weird around here

1st day of first grade

chipmunk