Friday, June 12, 2020

Quarantine Chronicles

Things are starting to feel a little more normal lately. We are still social distancing but I wouldn't say we are exactly quarantined anymore. We have our select group of friends we see, and we have been seeing family. The governor asks we not be in groups of more than 10 and that we be outside as much as possible when gathering. We still wear masks in public places, even though the kids have not been in a store or restaurant since early March. Mostly we hang at home, finding new ways to entertain ourselves, and add in visits with friends & family. 

We celebrated Jackson's 10th birthday on May 22. 
We went to the Brownings for a Memorial Day cookout and the kids were elated to be playing with their friends. It was so joyful to just let them be around them and run and play. 

We grew a second round of "beebles" thanks to Aunt Whitney, and then set them free. Now every butterfly we see outside is a beeble coming back to say hi to the kids. 
Our sweet Aunt Rita passed away peacefully at home on May 24. We spent a lot of time in Georgetown with her family, celebrating her life and that she is now in heaven. 
And of course time at Auntie Jo's means the slip n slide. 

Ainsley had her last "official day of 1st grade". It was not the end we wanted but as always Liberty staff made the best of it. 

Baby Charlotte (and parents :) ) came by for a visit .Parker was so sweet with her and it made me wish (momentarily) that we had had one more so that he could have been a big brother. 
And like I said we have been outside as much as we can. 


The kids each got a turn at Gramma Joy's house. They both got to bake something, play outside, and Parker got to go to Parkette for dinner! 
Saturday morning we were sitting on our back porch, in the heat, realizing we had zero plans for the next two days. We were wishing we could spend our days at our neighborhood pool, but no pools are open. We got a wild hair and found a boat to rent for Sunday. Then we thought, well why not go up tonight and stay the night! We stayed at Lost Lodge, where Philips grandpa and family had helped build. We got a little cabin, walked to the lake, went fishing, had a campfire, and played with peacocks (key-cocks as Parker called them). Parker may have walked up carrying two large eggs and subsequently started being chased and squawked at by said peacocks. We stayed up late and each crammed in a twin bed with a kid and surprisingly all slept really well. 
He was so proud of catching a fish, was so excited reeling it in, and when he saw it up close he was terrified and refused to cast out again. 
Ainsley however caught at least 6 fish, felt the scales and got very independent in her fishing! 


Of course Philip found a boat with a slide:) That slide was key though, our kids were on a repeat loop and we were actually able to just relax some. Philip told the kids that there no fish where we were and I was shocked they believed him. 
We ventured to Evans Orchard to pick strawberries, have lunch and play outside. It was a perfect day for it. We are anxiously waiting for their play area to open.