#92. Living the Quarantine Dream!!

Wow, it's been awhile since the last blog!  So long that blogger changed their interface and I'm having to relearn the site!!  Needless to say, the last several months or so have been filled with hardship and fun.  This post is dedicated to catching up on our (somewhat lack of) activities and experiences during the early months of lock down/quarantine/staying healthy and safe during the Covid pandemic.  

We sure spent a lot of time this past spring together!

I don't know if there is ever a good time in life for a pandemic (thankfully and hopefully this is/will be the only one we ever experience!), but the twins seemed to be 'virtually' unphased by the situation!  School became all online, but that didn't stop the twins from learning!

Learning happened pretty much anywhere possible...at the breakfast bar, 

...from the floor,...

...or anywhere that supported a laptop!!

While the twin's teachers did a great job of providing educational support during the spring months, sometimes we decided to take teaching/learning into our own hands with some 'Daddy-made' lessons.  (Of course, most of these revolved around Daddy's comfort zone!)

Lesson 1: Human Coinstar!!

It took quite awhile, but they showed great counting skills and perseverance!

And, an opportunity to make a bar graph!!

Lesson 2:  Let it Roll!

Once the data was collected (not sure what was going with Clare's dice?!?)...

...we charted both the experimental probability (right) and the theoretical probability (left).  Sorry kids that your dad's a math teacher!

Lesson #3:  3D Scavenger Hunt...they came back with some pretty cool solids to discuss!

There were also math games...

...writing and word practice...

...and, of course, some tears, but somehow the twins graduated, and are now 1st graders!

Truth be told, we never really knew what to do day after day.  I'm not sure we ever established a routine, but somehow there was always something to do.

Making chocolate chip cookies...first time with the mixer!!

Nice spacing, kids!!

Clare learned how to vacuum...

...and Luke 'suffered' through a handful of quarantine haircuts!!

Papa & Clare got some exercise in the living room...

...and Trig took even more naps than usual!!

When the weather cooperated (or even when it 'didn't'), we got outside and explored our town as much as possible. 

This was one of many visits to Lovelace Park

We usually visit the Temple in the summer, but made an early spring visit this year (we'll be back!!)

We 'swung over' to the Great Lake...Michigan...

...and visited the twins' favorite Evanston beach....Lighthouse Beach...

...aptly named because of this Evanston landmark!!

But, by far the most exciting thing to happen outside during early pandemic time (for many kids on our block)...

...was getting new bikes and learning how to ride without training wheels!!

Clare was first to master the activity...

...but Luke quickly figured things out (when he realized he had to actually pedal fast)!!

Thankfully, the pandemic didn't cancel Easter.

So, traditional activities like dyeing eggs...

...and receiving Easter baskets were still enjoyed!

Hoppy Easter!!

Eventually, the weather outside turned nicer (and warmer)...

...and some of the learning happened outside!!

Plenty of walks were taken...

...throughout our neighborhood...

...and events like cooking out with neighbors in our front yard became normal!

The most important thing is, like everyone else, we survived.  In a strange way, time slowed down for much of 2020, and we as a family grew closer and learned how to live with each other a little better.  We will definitely never forget 2020 and how we got through it T-O-G-E-T-H-E-R!!