A pandemic conversation

On the way home from JCC.

Norah (out of blue): We haven't had our teeth clean for a while.

Me: Uh... yes. It has been delayed because of the pandemic.

Jackson: I thought the pandemic is better. Why can't we go cleaning our teeth?

Me: Well... It's not actually better.

Jackson: That can't be. Then why are we going to summer camp?!

Red, White and Blue

We stayed 500ft radius around our house this July 4th. We had to be creative on entertaining so we brought out water balloons, kiddie pool and water guns. 

I had saved some red, white and blue water balloons. Bits of pieces of the balloons were scattered around the grass after the balloons fights.

The next day, we noticed red, white and blue chicken poops on the pavement. The chickens were celebrating Independence Day in their own fashion. 😀

Corona Diaries, Week 11

Week 11 marked the end of our Phase I quarantine. Or maybe Phase II? The kids are going to summer camp from week 12. 

We had an exploration theme in this week. We ventured out to discover the hidden trails of Dallas based on an article in D magazine. 

Piedmont Ridge Trail and Scyene Overlook.  This trail-head was hard to find if not the magazine description. It is 20 minutes away from our house and is a 1.3 mile loop trail. All of us loved this hike. Kids loved the ups and downs on the ridge. We loved the varieties: prairies, forests, overlooks. 

Goat Island Preserve. This is a hike on a levee. We walked a stretch of open main trail and turned on the levee to the right. It was a bit disappointing since the view from the levee are mostly covered by trees and the trail went on miles long.  I found a big blackberry path at the main trail that might lure me back for a second visit. Overall, it was not recommended for hiking, maybe for biking since Dorba maintains the mail trail well.

Post Oak Preserve. This trail is about 12 minutes away from Goat Island Preserve. We stopped by to check it out. It looks promising for a family hike. A grandpa was taking his grandsons fishing when we parked. We plan to come back some time. 

Trinity Forest Trail System. We did this trail last weekend. We loved the big wide trail but the hike was cut short by pouring rain. We plan to come back again.

Corona Diaries, week 10

This week marked Jackson's kindergarten graduation. Congratulation, Jackson! It was an eventful week besides this big milestone.

Two kids had their sleepover at Grandparents' house. Will and I had a completely different experience of working from home. It was a much appreciated break for us. Thank you so much, Grandma and Grandpa!

We made the decision of signing them up for camp. Our quarantine diary will end on week 11. There are still many unknowns of what camp in Covid-age means. We have made a small first step and are prepared of uncertainties.

Since we decided on camp, we also told Jackson that he could hang out with his friends on the street again with social distance. Starting from there, it's all about friends for him. He even made the plan that he will lure them over with his chickens and everybody will play with him. It was exactly what had happened on Saturday.

We had a small car accident on Monday when we drove back from Audubon. The car in front of us lost its bumper in the rain. Will had to stop and the car behind us hit us. It was a low impact collision but what's surprising is that the car behind us sped up and fled. We had to chase him and call 911. Luckily he changed his mind and pulled off. We exchanged insurance information in the pouring rain. Both kids and us were a bit shaken of these events.

Jackson graduated from Kindergarten! 

Two kids climbed up high for mulberries

Jackson showed us the neighborhood kids' hideout places

Sometimes the two play together well

We had neighbors came over to play with the chickens

Norah begs to clean dishes after meal every day

Will installed hand brake for Jackson's bike

We explored Audubon center in the rainiest day of the week and all were soaking wet.

Corona Diaries, Week 9

Week 9 is almost over. It felt extra hard for us this week. The kids had enough of us, yet the ending of this quarantine is not near or clear.

Our highlights this week:

• We had our only week of eating outside. On Friday, Norah was bitten and our patio season was over just like that.  
• We continued to pick mulberries in our neighborhood. This tree grows low and is easy to pick. 
• I made my weekly Challah bread. This week I shaped it like a ball. Kids said it tasted better than store bought Challah. It was the best one I made yet.
• I sewed homemade masks for the family. It could be tied at the back of the head, no ear loops. 

We love eating outside when we could

Yummy bread, happy kid

 

Corona diaries, week 8

In week 8, we finished our chicken coop! It has windows, door, two nesting boxes, wood floor and a roost. Norah and I painted it white with brown roof. We can't wait till the chickens are big enough to live in their coop.

Quote of the week:

Jackson: I L-O-V-E Gal-bi.

Our quarantine project is done!

My happy painter

Enjoy an afternoon snack in the backyard with chicken coop in the background

Jackson was 2nd place in the 68 person tournament this week

Making dough

Making dough again -- I am an expert on making Challah and Chinese buns and dumpling wraps now. My cooking skill has graduated a level in these 8 week.

We bid a "Cinco de Mayo" experience for Jackson with Mrs. Barnes last year. It is a social distancing afternoon snack time at her front yard. He invited Reid to go with him and loved it.

Our own Blackland Prairie school. Lesson 1 -- recognizing plants

We found a field of wild blackberries. Prairie lesson 2 -- Foraging

Prairie lesson 3 -- finding bugs!

Gift from the Texas Prairie

Off road biking -- On road bike is so week 1...

Norah practicing handwriting 

Neighborhood peacock shows off his stunning beauty

Corona diaries, week 7

Week 7

Quote of the week -- Norah: I can't wait till I am old enough to wash dishes. It looks fun!

Jackson was third place in the chess tournament for Pre-school and Kindergartners

Norah loved making books this week. She made 4 of them. 

We loved an evening family bike ride on the day we did takeout

Norah's school had a reverse parade on Friday. Jackson looked like a boss and waved like one.

Our highlights this week is Grandma and Grandpa hugs!

fishing

We re-discovered Norbuck park. It is so close to us, yet we never knew its so beautiful and big.

Hard to believe this is walking distance from our house.

Slip-slide was a good entertainment for an hour in the afternoon.