Covid Quarantine Life - July- August 2020

 

Well, it may be covid, and we may still be quarantining, but that doesn't mean we can't still have a good time! It's still summer, after all!

And so we swam, and had sparklers on the 4th of July. We had our first 'dive in cinema', and a few safe-as-we could vistis with friends and family. Mama died your hair,  and we sang and danced and karaoked and drummed and climbed a lot. And we loved each other- in spite of being stuck together-, at a time when the world- and we- really needed love.

And I took pictures of gross bugs.

There were mud fights in the back yard,  and a movie theater (and hotel (and a movie-voting station)) in our living room.  There were legos and ice creams and books and drawings and the world's tallest marble tower.

We painted the shed together, and went on lots of walks, we rode bikes together, and I got my butt kicked at Star Wars Monopoly (several times); and you even beat Yaya once too. We loved on Toby, and while Julia's room was getting converted, you guys slept on a double-decker mattress in Aidan's old room.

We developped a world-famous fried egg, home pickle sandwich and adopted an inflatable alligator named allison. We jammed and jumped and goofed around.

Tea parties? Oh yeah. We had those.

We even had a 'vacation' to stay at Mimi and Pops' house while they were working in our house and the smell of wood stain and varnish got too strong  for us to stay here. 

We gardened and knitted and pickled and basked.

And don't foget.... our HOUSE GOT FINISHED!!!!!!!!!!! Your rooms upstairs grew from nuthin' to something! And finally in August, we got our final approvals and you got to move in!

And before we knew it, our sweet summer was over, and y'all were back to school (with masks on). 

The house was quiet...too quiet... but the laughter, and noise, and music, and pitter patter, and splishing and splashing echoed through the house's memory...and would return again, very soon.

Backyard Ballet

 

We built some drums! Daddy and Julia

Julia, when you set your mind on something, it gets done! So one Saturday, you came up with an idea!

 "Let's build some drums!"

And you and I put our heads together and creativity on high alert...we used LOTS of boxes and tape and some beads and coins and a shampoo bottle and rubber band and ...holy smokes... we built some drums!

Your brother even joined in for the painting!








The end result was a HIT (get it?) for everyone!



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I love being creative with you and this is certainly a cymbol of our love and creativity!

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Aidan's Third Grade Graduation

Aidan, You graduated 3rd grade! And because of Coronavirus, we got to be there for your (usually private) celebration!

You've been looking forward to this day for the longest time. Ever since you saw the first moving up ceremony as a first grader, you knew that you would get a ROCK and a JOURNAL... and guess what!

You got your journal! (Ms. Bell hand-delivered it to you at our house!)

You got your rock!

Ms. Gwynn chose the word 'empathy' to describe you.

She said, "I have a long list of words I thought to describe you including humor, clarity, tact, honesty, integrity, respect, patience, and it took me a long time to decide which word to use. Which word really summed up what I admire so much about you. You are so willing to share your thoughts. You listen so carefully to others' thoughts. And you're such an amazing helper to others. And I landed on the word 'empathy,' because I think that it's your empathy that helps you be all those other things. Empathy is the ability to understand how other people are feeling and to recognize how much other pepole are like you, and how much you are like other people. Inclusive i just thought of another word. You are the most inclusive person that I know. You really understand what makes us all human, and and you have genuine effect. You really, really make a difference in people's lives. I think we all have so much to learn from watching you be empathetic. I have loved every minute of having you in my class for the last three years. And I am going to miss you so, so much. You are absolutely a bright spot in my day, every day. I love talking to you, I love teaching you, I love looking at your work. Everything about it. Thank you so much for being willing to be yourself..."

You said, "I will miss all of you too!"

Saad'ullah said "Aidan, you've tought me a lot for my life."

And - after you found him - you said "Thank you Saad'ullah for saying that. That makes my heart glow!"

"You are so full of love, and you are so good at expressing it. You have this super power of being grateful. You are so in touch with what you appreciate about other people, and what you appreciate in your life. And I want to say, you have these expressions on your face and things that you say that just melt my heart. When you talk about your family. Your love for your mother, and your father, and your sister...I can feel it. You have this amazing power to give love."

You said " I'm brave too! I've climbed up a big mountain before."

She continued, "You're so good with words too. The way you said Saad'ullah made your heart glow, that's a perfect example!" 

I can't sum it up any better any better than that! 

You are an empathetic 3rd grader! And you will continue to grow to be an empathetic, and humorous, patient, respectful, honest 4th grader too. 

We are SO proud of you!!