Fun Family February

Dressed in red for Kohen's piano class

Thankfully we made it through over seven weeks of lockdown including five weeks of online school.  The kids have been back to school for three weeks, minus two snow days and Family Day.  One child was very excited to go back, another did not want to go back, and the other didn't think much about it.  

The transition has gone alright.  Snow days look different this year as school work is posted online for asynchronous learning.  We have extra grace for less work when there is more snow play.  Actually, on the second snow day I didn't tell the kids until they all had their snowsuits on and Isaac had his backpack and was asking me to open the van.  Then the four of us went outside and played in the snow.  The kids had dug a cave which they could all fit into snugly.  Graham helped them build a snow wall as well as a snow man.  

"Let's make an experiment Mommy!"

Her experiment cookies were tasty!

We also found a new hill for sledding.  It was a little hill but big enough for a good ride and small enough to climb up again easily.  It was a lot of fun.  

Sledding fun

Valentine's dates were also different this year.  I took each of the kids to the Starbucks drive-through for hot chocolate and a cake pop.  We then parked in the parking lot and they sat in the front seat for our chat and treat.  Our church also hosted a Zoom Valentine's Party during which Lily-Anna helped me make garlic knots which were very yummy.  Graham surprised me by having beautiful roses delivered and then picked up some yummy Indian food for supper and rented a movie that wasn't available to be streamed.

The Kids' Ministry also hosted a 'Nailed it' Contest in which we submitted a photo of our Double Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake along with a photo of the picture from the cook book.  Three families won Amazon gift certificates and we were one of the families!  The kids were pretty excited though we still haven't decided what to buy.  The latest idea is to put it toward a baseball bat as we don't have one of those.

Our whipped cream looks like marshmallows!

Isaac and I have been playing catch with the baseball outside the last few days with some milder weather.  I use Graham's baseball glove which is too big but works well enough to enjoy ourselves.  Perhaps I will buy one that fits my small hands this year so that the three of us can play together.

Isaac making butter chicken pizzas

    

I'm almost finished the health challenge.  I have one more week to go after today and I am ready to be finished.  I have been able to get all of the points so far so I am pleased about that.  I have decided that drinking a lot of water does not help my skin as my hands are as dry as ever, even with drinking 2500 millilitres every day.  I still have to decide what new habits I will keep and which I will change.  

Fun on the stairs

Kohen has been counting the days until his birthday.  There are five more to go.  He really likes the show Wild Kratts so he has asked to watch that on his birthday while eating pizza.  Lily-Anna is usually able to watch most of that show without being scared so it will be nice to all watch the same thing.

Actually, I have introduced the kids to Road to Avonlea which we have all been enjoying.  It's from the library.  I watched that series growing up.  It would air on Sunday evenings so we taped it as we were at church and then we watched it over supper on Monday.  I had forgotten how mean many people were to each other in terms of the women gossiping and the kids making fun of people.  

We are now reading the fourth book in the Vanderbeekers series.  I also found out that the fifth one doesn't come out until September so we will have to wait for that one but I want us to start reading the Penderwicks series next.  I read the first one and really enjoyed the characters.  Kohen is especially enthusiastic about me reading to them.  

Zoom Tea Party with Grandma F.

Andrew, Margaret, Olivia, and Eliana were finished with a few things and blessed Lily-Anna with a lamp, mirror, and some fake flowers.  I surprised her with them after school one day last week and she was thrilled.

I still need to exercise so I will say goodnight!

Blessings,

Elizabeth

Kohen's masterpiece!

Lily-Anna's masterpiece!

Psalm 25:4-5

Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.  Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.