ISO happenings

As the isolation restrictions are being lifted slightly (which is totally confusing because I now have no clue of what I should and shouldn't be doing) I am going to give a brief run down of some other things that we have been getting up to during isolation.

It has honestly been the best time for our kids' relationships. They have been playing together so well, they have been patient with each other, working together, sharing, cooperating, etc. It has just been lovely to see! Unfortunately with heading back to school some of that seems to have gone but hopefully it's just an adjusting period for them.

Eliza enjoyed her many craft activities that she received for her birthday just before lockdown started.

colouring in around felt

dancing fairy puppets

There have been many slow mornings and snuggles in bed with the kiddies.

Alexander discovered the ball basket could be used in other ways. Crazy kid!

We weren't able to have Auntie Sue's birthday lunch together so we facetimed so that we could say hi to her and Grayma.

The kids wanted to have their breakfast at the little table. Why not humour them I thought. Yep, not again for a while. They are too big for the little table and it was just a bit more stressful that I had thought it would be. They didn't care though!

Their imaginative play has blossomed during this time. They have been builders (as an aside, I love their 'workman/workwoman' deep voices that they use when talking to each other as they play. Many board games have also been played including Planes Monopoly.

Many many many cubby houses have been made, packed away and made again. Eliza especially has loved heading up the cubby houses.

Cardboard box houses have been made.

The trampoline has been used the most probably since it was bought and was a new novelty. Most days the kids have gone outside to have a jump on the trampoline, play with balls on it, try and do handstands on it and somersaults. 

The kids have written letters and drawn pictures to their friends (Alexander - Flynnie, Gus. Eliza - Matilda, Emily, Clara. Daniel - Lachie, Sadew, Alex) and their friends have written letters and drawn pictures in return.

More games have been played including the beetle game.

We have missed seeing family and friends. One of the pictures that Eliza made for her cardboard house was this one. I think she missed seeing Oscar.

Chilli has loved having us at home more and has been very snuggly with me in particular (no clue why!!). The kids have been really good with her too, putting out their hand to see if she wants to have pats or not and respecting when she turns away.

Daniel has offered to do the washing up a few times which has been great!

We had a council clean up and Daniel found a cricket bat that we brought home.

Eliza discovered that pegs can be used in different ways. Crazy girl. She told me that they didn't hurt.

We planted some more seeds from the Woolworths packs from ages ago.

Eliza and I worked on making her Easter Pom Pom craft from Auntie Megan and Mark. It was cute but so very fiddly! Not too keen to make pompoms again anytime soon.

Our loungeroom became a supermarket inspired by Alexander. We even had to have the sliding checkout to put our purchases on so that you could buy things. It started as just Alexander and I and then Daniel and Eliza joined in too.

Some musicals have been streamed over the internet because musicals and concerts aren't able to happen. I was so excited to see that The Phantom of the Opera was on! I also love that James has taught be about Apple TV and being able to connect to the TV so we can watch it on the big screen.

Eliza ordered her present from Grannie Jean online using her gift voucher. She bought a Barbie pet pack and also a juice truck lego.

We played UNO Moo, thanks to the Howies for passing it on.

Alexander helped me make some banana muffins for morning teas.

As I mentioned before, there have been many cubbies. Eliza even made one in her room.

Eliza's birthday lego arrived which was very exciting. She asked Daddy if he could help her make her juice truck.

Meanwhile, the kids made their own LEGO creations.

A park

Theme Park with Rollercoaster - by Eliza

Car park by Alexander

Daniel's bedroom - by Daniel

Eliza's dog

Bedtimes have been nice to sit, read, chat and occasionally fall asleep next to the kids.

Alexander's preschool did Zoom sessions with his teachers on his preschool days. While he wasn't too keen to do the zoom meetings, once they started he enjoyed singing, dancing and listening to the stories.

'Hop Little Rabbit, Hop Hop Hop'

Eliza's dance classes also moved to being on Zoom. She hasn't enjoyed it as much as Term 1 lessons face to face and has struggled to feel engaged with the lessons. But she has done the lessons each week which I am proud of her for. She has done the dances and does pretty well with learning the moves too. She has also learnt to do a spin properly which has been fun to watch.

Daniel made us dinner on of the nights. I basically left him to make it all by himself and he did a great job!

These 2 monkeys were playing on the barbie computer one morning. Cuties!

Eliza and Daniel enjoyed joining in on Alexander's zoom lessons when they had finished their school work and on the pupil free day.

The kids enjoyed sitting and doing colouring in. Eliza remembered that I had a colouring in book and asked that I got mine out. Of course that resulted in the kids colouring in my book but that's ok. Was nice sitting and chatting with them.

Chilli has been so affectionate during this time. She has climbed onto my lap for snuggles at night and pats, she has climbed onto our bed for pats in the morning too. It has been nice to see her be a bit more settled. She has even learnt that she doesn't scratch the couch to ask to go out, instead she can sit and meow at the door and the same thing happens!

Snuggles at night

Snuggles in the morning

 I enjoyed a zoom session with my mother's group mums. I miss seeing them on Thursdays and going out for dinners. We really should organise another zoom session soon. It was also lovely to catch up with Jan who moved to Adelaide and hear how she and the boys are going.

 Daniel made some lunch for everyone - ham and cheese scrolls. They were yummy.

The kids have enjoyed climbing the tree out the front.

We have been enjoying puzzles as a family - some kids puzzles and some older ones.

Eliza has also enjoyed trying to find a few pieces at Nana and Poppy's place (and I have too).

We went and looked at the Community Garden at church with Mum and picked some veggies and some herbs.

We have ridden on the road with Anne, Lachie, Emily and Flynnie as well as Matilda, Harry and Jack multiple times. Sophie and Eve have also ridden down and joined in the fun.

As the restrictions have started to be eased we have gone around to have Thursday night dinners at Mum and Dad's place again. So nice to be able to go around, to catch up and to not have to cook 1 of the meals in the week.

Daniel's tooth was very wobbly and he wanted it out. He kept asking if I could tie a piece of string around it and pull it out like Poppy did with my teeth when I was little. I did it for the first time. Took a few goes but we did it. It was pretty gross!

We have played many boardgames.

Anna, Emma and Mikey came to visit the art gallery and have a play on the road too.

Alexander explaining a few of the artworks to Emma

Playing ball with Mikey

Elbow high fives to say bye

The kids did a morning exercise routine with Ollie Florrent.

Handballs

Listening to their instructions

Push ups

Moments like this have melted my heart. One morning I could hear Daniel reading a book outloud. I went into Eliza's room to see him reading to Eliza and Alexander. Too sweet!

We watched a few movies including Horton Gives A Who and I enjoyed snuggles with my kids during it. 

There has been lots of music playing in our house. The kids' line up and dance music list has been played a lot as well as Daddy's band music. We have listening to church music and the best of Aussie Rock music. We have had Tay Tay, Ed Sheeran and many more. I love Alexander running to get the guitar so he can play and sing along or the drum sticks and chair so he can sit and play along with the music.

There were more snuggles with Chilli.

After 2 long weeks of Daddy being in Hervey Bay, he came back home to us safely and it was so lovely to have him back. He was missed.

Daniel wanted to do an experiment to see if food colouring can be used to paint with or if waterpaints worked better. He found that it could be used as paint but isn't as good.

We also enjoyed playing the beetle game.

This time at home together has been lovely. It has helped us to slow down. It has helped the kids have freedom to be creative. It has helped the kids play together and know that they are in this together. It has given us time at home. It has helped me be creative with activities at home. It has helped me be thankful for our upstairs space. It has helped me embrace the kids being creative. It is going to be hard to return to the busy way of life. I guess we need to work out how to keep the simplicity in among the chaos.