Monday, April 27, 2020

Corona diaries, week 6

At week 6, we adopted two baby chicks into our home. Jackson and Norah took them to their play set to slide down. They also put them on the swing to swing high. Jackson loves them so much that he put them in his pockets and walk around. I hope to write about them still next week so keeping your fingers crossed that those two chicks survive! :-)

Our family interest for chess also grew and grew. Jackson likes to challenge his parents to play. He wins fair amount of time. Norah likes to play by herself on both white and black. She would stage the check mate moves for one side and laugh out loud about it. This quarantine gave the kids the time to nourish their interest in chess. 

Work out at home with Coach Doyle

Baby chicks are home!

Jackson loves those cute fuzzy balls

Chicks in the house

Backyard water play

Jackson made a 3-D holder for his 3-D doodler

Norah taking gymnastic class on zoom

Neighborhood birthday parade every Sunday afternoon

Both kids are chess nuts with the Knight School 

A family walk with our other new pet -- A remote control car

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Corona Diaries, Week 5

Week 5 is now in the bag. Even with plenty of preparation, we still felt the blow when the official announcement came last Friday that no more school this semester. We are in for the long haul.

Over the last week, we enjoyed the beautiful weather of Dallas spring and our newly paved Forest Trail. Daddy and kids built a small house. Mommy saw a chicken coop through the finished product. Daddy thought Mommy had dementia.

Quote of the week:
Norah:  Daddy, can I pleeeeaaasssse clean the counter tops after dinner?
Daddy: Hmmm...if you finish all your dinner...and clear your dishes...I guess that would be ok.


Jackson's class mom organized everyone to have Friyay shirt to surprise Mrs Barnes on Friday's Zoom class

Zipping down the newly paved street

Speed!

Candy after dinner is kids' highlight moment of the day

Building house with our scrap wood at driveway

Norah loves cleaning 

Building a house with Daddy's tools

Adding color to the house

At the beginning, I though of outhouse. Now I am thinking of chicken house. 

Finished product

Santa Claus

Working hard on handwriting


Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Corona Diaries, Week 4


Week 4 has come and gone. We had not pictured this diary lasting this long, yet it goes on.  There are definitely times we feel like it is getting to us, but we are finding ways to have fun too.  Tianhong has done a fabulous job keeping us well stocked and well fed.

Quote of the week:  "I hate social distancing!"  yelled in frustration by Jackson as we reminded him once again to give people space on the sidewalk.

A visit to Flagpole Hill is always welcome


We went camping!

Digging fossils. This week's favorite topic is dinosaur hunt



 


Daddy had a haircut


 Will and I used the kids sleeping time in the long weekend to make a computer desk. Total cost was zero $ and total trip to Home Depot/Lowe's was zero. We used the scrap wood from our old fence posts and turned into table legs. Will's old unused coffee table is now a handsome desk! We have one more work area that is essential for our work condition.


Forest Trail gets resurfaced

Art work

Lunch doodle with Mo


Backyard egg hunt was a huge hit

Kids already requested a July 4th backyard parade.

More artwork

Off-road biking is super fun!












Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Corona Diaries, Week 3

Nerf gun warriors
Quote of the week:  "Cock my gun or I'll throw it in your face!"  Norah, who can't cock her Nerf gun, to her teammate Jackson in the heat of battle.  I think it is fair to say we were all a bit on edge in week 3.



In an attempt to avoid crowds around flag-pole hill, the bicyclists headed off-road...

Mud makes it better...tuck that tongue in, Jackson!

When the trails got too muddy, the kids got creative with the wood pile

It's amazing what is comfortable to a 4 year old

The school work ramped-up this week

Jackson built a contemplative robot

Jackson and Tianhong built a chess set out of Play-doh
Coach Jackson getting Norah in on the chess-action

On rainy days, this inflatable pool (sans water) provided hours of indoor entertainment


Norah taking her baby for a stroll and showing off her Spiderwoman gloves
Will cleaned-out the AC units...



Daddy was teaching Norah how to write letters

We had fun with Google 3D. They loved being stepped on by a lion

The finished chess set

Every Sunday, our neighborhood has a birthday parade. This Sunday, it passed our house. There were more than 60 cars all dressed up with balloons and signs. There was an Easter bunny too.  Two kids enjoyed watching them from our window.