barrett: 89 months old

 

We're headed towards Halloween, and Barrett's inevitable indecision when it comes to a Halloween costume.  We're not even trick-or-treating!  So far, Barrett has wanted to be Captain America, Iron Man, a squirrel, Shining Armor (a My Little Pony), Nakita (a motorcycle-riding character from the game "Hill Climb 2"), a cowboy, and a Dallas Cowboy football player.  Suffice it to say, I won't buy another costume until maybe one week before Halloween, because I am pretty sure he'll change his mind at least 3 more times.  

Both Barrett and Britton are staying in virtual school until at least January (after Christmas break).  He's working with a retired teacher every morning, and staying on task.  Sometimes a little too well!  They are able to get through the majority of his schoolwork in the mornings, so when Barrett goes back to his assignments in the afternoon he's almost finished.  We've been switching up physical education, getting away from the video links and actually getting outside to walk the dog or play on the playground.  

Likes:  squirrels, collecting pinecones for Memaw's Christmas wreath project, going on walks every day with the hubs and I after work is over, his scooter

Dislikes:  being told I'm not buying him every Halloween costume he thinks of

134 months old

Nella decided that Britton's monthly picture surely needed a cameo!  She likes Britton the best, probably because Britton lets her lay out in sun patches on her bed while she Zooms for school all day. Speaking of, virtual school is going well!  It's not the same as being in person of course, but we don't feel like we've been abandoned in no man's land either.  Yes, we get a ton of school emails per day (every announcement, every assignment submitted, every grade, etc.), but on the flip side, I'd rather be more informed than not.  At the end of every grading period you can change from virtual to in person (or the other way around), and we haven't seen any spikes in our area.  Britton's school is now 80% in person, but we're holding out for at least the rest of 2020.  We've all given up A LOT since March to avoid being infected, and I don't want to loosen the reins quite yet and make all of our precautions for nothing.  Both the hubs and I are working from home, so there's no rush to get the kids back into the schools, and every kid not in school helps the kids who have to be there.

No theater, volleyball, soccer, swim team, dance, or clubs are going on right now, so we oddly have a ton of free time after school.  Last spring, I was spending 3-4 evening carting both kids to their activities, and now we quite literally have nowhere to go and nothing to do.  We're trying to mix it up a bit now, so Britton and I are going to the mall tomorrow to get her some new clothes (since we didn't bother when school actually started).  And with the cooling weather this weekend, we're headed up to the tennis courts to introduce the kids to tennis.  

Britton finally started actually playing her clarinet!  Her band class has spent a while going over music basics, and now they have learned to assemble their instruments and make some sounds.  We found a great clarinet teacher to give virtual lessons once per week after school, to help Britton get a good handle on her clarinet (since she's not in person to get one-on-one instruction from her band director).

Likes:  playing dress up (note the gloves above), messing with the cat, reading, black clothes (early goth?)

Dislikes:  giving up trick or treating but was willing to accept premium candy as a substitute 

 

barrett: 88 months old

Look at this second grader!  Tomorrow is the first day of in-person school (the last three weeks have been online for everyone), but Barrett won't be there - we've opted to continue virtual schooling for the next grading period, at minimum.  And it has been working out well, if only because we hired a fantastic retired teacher to help Barrett out for three hours every morning.  After lunch, he's still got some work to do, but the hubs and I trade off overseeing those assignments, depending on who has meetings and deadline work. I know Barrett misses seeing friends every day, and for sure he misses recess (walking the dog at lunchtime just isn't the same), but he also understands, as well as a seven year old can, that this isn't forever.  

Barrett has been obsessed with Legos lately, and Memaw and PawPaw have gifted him many sets (Flintstones, Marvel), which he puts together with lightning speed.  He's taken over the formal living room, and I just gave in on that because fine, and the Lego table gets new themes weekly.  This weekend it became the setting of "Mulan" after we watched the new live action movie!

Barrett also has his first orthodontist appointment tomorrow! His teeth are spaced out and won't let some adult teeth come in, so I think he may be headed for an expander like Britton had.  We shall see!

Likes:  Legos, dressing up like a cowboy, Marvel anything, Peppa Pig, drawing

Dislikes:  steak (really?!)

 

133 months old

Britton is now three weeks into school, and officially a middle schooler!  I have a quick story.  Our local library does pick up, but doesn't usually have newer publications available.  And the school libraries aren't open.  Britton was getting to the point of re-reading books again, and I didn't know the best titles to buy from Amazon.  Aunt Jessica, middle school librarian, to the rescue!  She emailed me a ton of titles, with a synopsis for each book, and Britton and I went through the list to pick out what interested her.  For a kid who loves to read, and currently has way more free time to do it, Britton was so excited to get a fresh supply of new books!  

One new class this year - band!  Britton was originally going to play the flute, but her band directors thought she'd do better at the clarinet.  So, the clarinet it is!

Other than the huge change of not actually being in a classroom this year, everything else seems somewhat normal.  Unfortunately, Britton can't really participate in dance or volleyball (which she really wanted to do this year), swim team, or her local theater group.  For the first time in what feels like forever, neither child has fun extracurricular activities, and both are missing them terribly.  Of course, when you live in Texas, where covid is still flourishing, this becomes the new normal to stay safe.

Likes:  being able to dye her hair red because she isn't actually in school, snuggling with Nella

Dislikes:  when Nella doesn't want to be snuggled

 

barrett: 87 months old

               

Barrett has always been into costumes - he just loves them!  And now that we've discovered the Marvel movies, and started watching them together, Barrett has taken to each of them, first with Iron Man (yes, he's got the costume), and now with Mr. Steve Rogers, also known as Captain America!  We're at a point in the summer of quarantine that anything that puts a smile on this kid's face is worth it.  And he promises it will be his Halloween costume.  We've gotten a ton of Marvel books from the library, and I love that Barrett is getting into new things during our time at home.  Of course, there's less time for playing in two weeks - when [virtual] school starts!

                               We're headed to the beach next week - we've all needed a break from the house, a break from work, and the only feasible vacation was to rent a house at the beach.  Barrett loves the beach, loves playing in the sand and building castles, and of course, like his sister, swimming.  =             =Likes:  Captain America, Legos, Mod PizzaDislikes:  walking the dog when it's so hot outside

11 years old!

Britton turned 11 today!  Because of the pandemic, we knew the Britton's regular pool birthday party (August birthday + living in Texas means she always wants a pool party!) was off the table.  We couldn't have a gaggle of kids running throughout the house with no masks, and we knew it wasn't going to be fun to have to keep them all away from each other.  So, we decided on a Zoom party with Aunt Jessica and her family and Cammy!  Memaw and PawPaw joined us in person, as did Britton's best friend Lola, who also spent the night.  I decorated her party with an "Alice in Wonderland" theme, with the Mad Hatter tea party details a really fun addition to the table.  

Britton got some great gifts - new headphones, art supplies, new books, hoodies (she loves hoodies, even in this heat!), a katana (she wanted one), make up, a bow and arrow set (Katniss Everdeen over here), and a journal.  Every gift was a hit, and she was excited to see everyone over Zoom while she opened them.  

Likes:  Sailor Moon (manga and anime in general), doing special effects make up, playing volleyball, riding her bike, wearing hoodies, drawing and art, listening to music, swimming, and Marvel movies

Dislikes:  not being able to go to school in person (we opted for virtual for at minimum the first grading period)

barrett: 86 months old

Check out this spunky sweetness!  Barrett has taken to his pandemic lifestyle full-force, hanging out in pajamas all day and refusing to do anything that doesn't fall under "summer vacation." He'll lounge a bit after breakfast, take the dog for a walk, play on the iPad, then find a snack. Then after lunch, it's time for Legos, more iPad time, dressing up as Iron Man, and swimming in the pool.  

Speaking of Iron Man, Barrett has discovered the Avengers!  We've started watching superhero movies together as a family, and have watched "Black Panther," "Captain Marvel," and "Captain America."  Next up is Thor, Iron Man, and Ant Man, then onto Avengers together.  

Likes: anything Avengers, orange yogurt, "Diary of a Pug" books

Dislikes:  getting dressed