Lockdown Holidays 2021

Term 3 holidays were in the middle of lockdown. The rules had been slightly lifted where we could meet with small groups of people outside in open spaces but otherwise it was more time spent together. The holidays weren't too painful and long and the kids were overall pretty good with playing together. Lots of games were played, some adventures out and about and more memories made. Here is a glimpse of our holidays during lockdown with photos to help tell the stories.

Emma had her birthday so Alexander and I popped around to drop off a present and had a little play out the front of their place.

Alexander was sounding out words to write a message about a meeting with Emma and him. Love seeing him use his skills from lockdown in pretend play.

The kids got mail in their art gallery letterbox.

Inspired by the Paraolympics, the kids made up their version of wheelchair basketball.

Auntie Sue dropped off (through Mum and Dad) a care package/well done package for me for doing so well and surviving lockdown with home learning. 

The kids did some Zoom art lessons with Jane Lear (who did their preschool/monster art). It was great to have them do some art lessons during the holidays which I didn't need to think about organising and it was also great to have some artworks ready to go for the next art gallery.

Painting Hogwarts and Midnight. I so can't wait for the kids to be at a good age for Harry Potter!

Cuddles were had with Chilli (who got many many cuddles during lockdown time)

Preschool dropped around a care package for Alexander which included a card game of Guess Who. Alexander and I had some fun playing it together.

Eliza did a lot of craft during these holidays. She made a trapeze person.

Bike rides and scooters were still a big activity!

At the oval Eliza made a daisy chain. I remember making them when I was little.

We learnt about Pete Cromer while doing some more art with Jane Lear. The kids made collage budgies.

The kids had been asked for all of lockdown to play my Monopoly. I had resisted because it takes so long to play but decided that holidays would provide the time to do it.

School organised a trivia night so we joined in. We didn't do too badly overall considering we hadn't teamed up with any other families.

We bought, printed and did an At Home Getting Lost Game. I will write a seperate post about it because it was quite good fun to do together.

Daniel learnt some magic tricks.

James went for a bush walk with Tim to City Lookout and so he took us for a walk along it. It had recently been a hazard reduction site so was quite eerie but cool to see some new signs of growth already. We also bumped into people along the way - Jake and Jo Turnbull, Meredith and her family from Alexander's mother's group. Nice to see real people for a bit of a chat.

Daniel used his maths stick measuring skill learnt during home learning to measure the heigh of different trees on our bushwalk.

Daniel made us pizza for dinner.

He learnt how to toss a coin and we played a heads and tails game that he leant in one of his books.

Eliza made glazed cookies from her birthday cookbook.

The kids each enjoyed icing their cookies.

She also made spaghetti bolognese that night too.

Alexander tried to play with his magic kit from his birthday. He had a very funny card trick where I had to pick a card and show it to him. Then I shuffled the cards and had to show him the cards one by one. He would then tell me when it was the original card. No trick to it but he was very excited when the card was shown (after multiple other cards).

Because of the easing of rules, we were able to go to the park for a picnic with Nana and Poppy. We headed to Fagan Park because it has so much space and it was just so lovely. We went for walks to the different gardens, the kids apparently saw a snake and saw a lizard, played with kites and sports equipment and we ate a tasty grazing box made by Nana. It was a warm day but not too bad when in the shade. So lovely to see Mum and Dad again after such a big break. It filled my heart.

Statues

If Mum and Dad can't go over to Holland, we will bring Holland to them!

Duck spotting

Lizard spotting

Eel spotting

Mum's amazing grazing box! So tasty

Playing sport

Let's go fly a kite!

Alexander got hot and tired and wanted to go for a walk with just me so he headed off to some of the gardens. I love that Alexander still holds my hand.

The kids did another zoom art lesson of backyards beasts.

The kids did an online concert for Nana, Poppy and Nana J (I will do a seperate post for this). I have been sad that the kids have been missing out on different concerts - Eliza can't do her dance concert, Alexander can't do his Christmas concert, Daniel can't do his band concerts. So I wanted them to have a purpose for doing all their practice still through lockdown and their online lessons and the Grandparents were all too happy to help out!

This of course sparked motivation for Daniel to start playing the piano again. He was keen to learn Humpty Dumpty.

Alexander has set up many light up tracks in his room and the lounge room. He has enjoyed playing with them lots which has been great. He found that he could make a hoop for the car to drive in and it would move around. Very fun!

Monopoly was played again.

Alexander was very excited to receive a letter back from Ranger Dan! I love that he took the time to reply to him. What was even cooler was that he included a tooth from Elvis. Alexander's face lit up when I read it out to him. We then checked the envelope and noticed that the tooth must have fallen out. He then had tears. My poor boy. I told him that I would email the Reptile Park and ask if by change the would have another tooth from Elvis lying around. He was still sad but settled down a bit. Still so cool that Ranger Dan sent him a message back.

So cool!

So sad! The hole where the tooth must have fallen out.

The kids enjoyed their last art lesson with Jane which was drawing sushi. It was fun to see how unique each of their artworks were in the end.

It then led to them doing some more fun drawing of Alexander making some flags and Eliza and Daniel making Yogoberry drawings. 

Alexander made us Nachos for dinner.

Chilli was super helpful during my quiet times.

The kids had fun outside - riding bikes, watching pink galahs, climbing trees, spraying each other to help cool down. James was amazing and offered to mow one of our neighbour's yards (Annette) who hadn't been able to have her mowing people come because of lockdown. It is one of his least favourite jobs to do but he loving did it for her and she was so appreciative. Proud of him for doing it.

A lockdown purchase was a new fire pit which we enjoyed. We often had dinner around it, toasted marshmallows, even read before bed around it.

We enjoyed a bushwalk near Louise's place too. She mentioned that there was a Where's Wally trail and also a few fairy houses. It was fun trying to find them, although James didn't cope with some that have most likely gone due to the elements. But it was still fun. I loved finding Snuggle Pot and Cuddlepie.

Spoonville at the start

Where's Wally?

A fairy house

Morning tea next to the fairy house

SnugglePot and Cuddlepie next to the Big Bad Banksia Man

And that takes us to the end of the school holidays. It was nice to have a break from home learning but I am also looking forward to routine being back and structure. It will only be for a few more weeks hopefully and then the kids will enjoy being back with their friends. 

I had to laugh when I did this on Twitter. If only I was able to have a little break for myself. That will come with time.