St.Paddy's Day and April Fools

Not a big crazy party this year, but we sill couldn't let the day pass.  The pesky leprechaun stuck around until April Fools day, when he drew mustaches on the boys as they slept. This was one joke that they weren't happy about and didn't even let me get a picture of. 

Quarantining Time

The days were long but the months were short. On March 13, everything changed. Kai was home sick, as John had to pick him up from school the day before. On Friday the 13th (an ominous day) I remember Kai and I at the grocery store with the long lines of people and shelves starting to empty as we joined others in hunkering down. We thought it would be for a few days, maybe even weeks, little did we know that we were in for a much longer time.

 Although each day felt like a marathon and a sprint, it was so crazy how it all flew by. The days melted into each other and became a blur. The packed days of teleworking and homeschooling and a walk every evening to get out of the house. As the days turned into months it began to feel like normal.

One of the first days of quarantining we went outside and painted our neighbor gardens.

My only regret was some days I needed a lock on the door.Otherwise my co-workers often ended up in my room. 

At the Airforce memorial.

We pulled out all the toys we had never used, including this strip of LEGO tape which Foster turned into a highway on his door for cars.

A challenge to make a bridge out of LEGOs.

Once it was warm enough the boys were outside in the rain,making a muddy and happy mess.

Mud is so much fun!

Kai's lady bug picture complete with the aphids that they like to east.

Camping on our deck, the only safe place in the city with lots of creatures in our back yard. The boys were so excited and tucked in their animals and ate dinner there. But when the time came they decided sleeping outside was too scary. The tent then moved to our living room for a few weeks and Kai slept there every night.

We wrote signs for the postal workers and the sanitation workers who were out still doing their important jobs.

John gave Foster several hair cuts and I became John's barber. Kai didn't even need a haircut until about 4 months in. JOhn even said he wouldn't go back to a barber, we'll see how long that lasts.

It's the End of the World as We Know it

The last few weekends before everything shut down we had no idea that these would be some of the last park visits and time in public spaces with friends for a long time.

Learning to roller skate!

Our first socially distance outing to Great Falls!

Visit to Monticello

Over a long weekend we headed down to Charlottesville to tour Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello. While the boys were impressed with the home and the stories of how Jefferson was an inventor and were struggling with whether he was a good man or not since he had slaves--the part they talk about the most months later was the hotel. Mind you, this was a modest normal hotel, but to them the pool and the breakfast were amazing. The waffles especially, you would think we had gone to a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Chiefs for the win!

It was almost too good to be true. Another comes from behind, underdog win for one of Foster and Kai's favorite teams. As if the Nats winning hadn't been unbelievable enough--the Chiefs came back after a 40-year drought to come from behind and clinch the Superbowl title.

There isn't a big following in KC for the Chiefs, but we found seats at one of the bars near our house to watch the games. Then for the Super Bowl Whitney had us over for a party!

Foster thinks all of his favorite teams win now--his sports fandom might have peaked at an early age!

Nats Trophy

The boys and John had a chance to get to see the Nats staidum up close and even meet a few of the players in January.