School Begins in a Pandemic!

 What a whirlwind! Through the ever-changing national landscape, we have coped and thrived! 

Summer Fun!

The kids had Spanish class this summer, and Nova took piano. Otherwise, we were just at the park! The kids have found the fun of the see-saw this summer!

Our friends Julia, Camran and Claire visited from Boston and we all had a great time. Here they built a fairy house in Peachwood Park.

Bedtime reading!

After that great visit, it was time for school to start!  Nova started Kindergarten on August 31.  It was a rough start - from mid-August until September 10, Nova was constantly angry, arguing with me,  and complaining about every single thing.  Then, on September 11, she woke up on the right side of the bed and was back to her usual self.  Happy, engaged, charming, sweet, excited about everything.  I'm not sure if it was anxiety about school starting, Gary's joining us September 10, the changing of the seasons or a developmental leap but I do know that I am SO glad we're over that hurdle. Welcome September!!

Nova is in a Spanish Immersion Kindergarten program through the county. It's fully online and WAY better than I thought it'd be. Here they are, sporting their blue-light glasses.

Our friend, Gary, is in class with Nova.  So, one day a week, he's at our house, and Nova goes to his house another day of the week.  They both look forward to it tremendously and have a great time during breaks.

They have lunch in the "cafeteria." 

We walk to the bus stop (aka, a neighbor's yard) every morning before school. 

The set up!

I thought perhaps Lynx could learn with Nova, but when that inevitably didn't work out, we decided (at the very last minute) to send Lynx to preschool in-person.  It's been going really well. He gets nervous (he's a very snuggly guy who loves being with his sister) but always comes home with stories about the fun he had.

Periodically, Nova gets the confidence to try to read or write.  I was SO proud of this one. She did it by herself during quiet time. It says "open the book." 

We got a piano!  In early September, Nova's piano teacher hooked us up with a former student who was selling their piano. It's in pristine condition, and we got it for a steal.  Nova is enjoying piano much more now (partially because of the nice piano, partly because she's over her developmental leap and partly because my bribing game has improved.) 

Here's Nova playing the piano!

And here's Lynx and I chatting while he climbs on the jungle gym.