Ilona's home schooling

For her home school today Ilona had to read a book for her teacher - maybe you'll enjoy it too? It seems she has got pretty good at reading

In reading related news (and one small upside of the quarantine) is that every evening I have been reading the girls 2 chapters of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which they both loved (and me too). I think this is the first time they have both been old enough for a relatively long book. We finished it yesterday and have more Roald Dahl and some other books I liked as a kid lined up next.

Bluet’s Birthday

So far Bluet has spent her 9 Bithdays in Central Park, Houston, Switzerland, The Outer Hebrides, Connecticut and in quarantine. This one I think will be pretty memorable. We even had some socially distant visitors (neither family has seen anyone else for over 2 weeks so they cycled over and kept their distance to wish Bluet Happy Birthday). Bluet even helped make her cake. 

Then because children can't have birthday parties right now, the local town laid on a surprise drive by for us (and all kids with birthdays, if you ask). Apparently it is good practice for them and pretty exciting for the kids (and parents)

Successful hike

This morning we went for a hike at the nearby Brinkerhof Preserve. It lifted everyone’s mood immeasurably and also we saw no other people. 

Outside

Of course we can still go outside in the garden or for a walk around the neighbourhood. When it isn't raining. The weekend before the big lockdown started we along with everyone else in Redding went for a walk around Huntington State Park. It was very nice, but unfortunately I don't think we will go again for a while as it gets very busy and I don't know that has changed now everyone is working from home. Also, some pictures of the animals - Wilder likes to pick up Willow in all sorts of uncomfortable ways but so far she is very tolerant of him (the girls aren't much better)

Quarantine

We're starting today our 3rd week of home school and our second week of running a daycare and elementary school out of our house. For the girls the most exciting thing was getting chromebooks to help do their work. For Wilder it's drinking a mug of mint and camomile tea every time he wakes up. The cat is getting a lot more attention and also we are doing the PE with Joe Wicks lesson every morning on YouTube. 

Even the cat and dog get tired of each other sometimes

PE with Joe

Sometimes when you're trying to do something else Wilder opens all the drawers

Here the girls are chatting to our old neighbours from Switzerland

PE with Joe

3 weeks ago/NYC

Three Sundays ago we drove into New York City for brunch and entertainment. We had brunch in an upper West Side Mexican restaurant- already it seemed like stuff was shutting down, or at least people were staying in as there was only one other full table at prime brunch time. We then went to Central Park and the ancient playground that you may remember from when we lived in NYC. Bluet liked it almost as much as when she was 1 1/2. The only people who seemed to be out and about were parents and kids, and there were plenty of those. We went over to the Upper East Side to show the kids our old Apartment building, then bought pickled herrings and gherkins and bagels from Russ and Daughters in the Hewish museum. I guess it will be a little while til we can go back, so I’m glad we went, even if perhaps we should’ve stayed home.