Covid 19 Pandemic Week 8

Saturday May 2nd:
We decided to revisit an old favorite from 2 years ago: Sidie Hollow County Park.  The last time we were there, we went in the late fall and did a camp fire.  This year we checked out a small portion of the trails and were surprised how big the lake was.  I would like to come back and paddleboard and Isaac and Lucy would like to mountain bike.  The fishing also looked great as we saw some large trout in the stream today.
As Isaac mentioned on his video post, the kids were all about the details and micro-nature today.  Lucy managed to catch some sort of butterfly or moth and there were many other insects, birds, and frog sounds explore.
We ate a picnic lunch and then ended our adventure for a quick wade in the stream at Esofea.  We did a different section of the stream and saw some more fish that like to live under the overhang of the banks.
On the way home from the parks, Lucy and Mom worked on a treasure hunt for Theo.  Charlie fell asleep in the van, so Dad hung out with him while we got the clues hid at Theo's house.  Lucy taped all the clues up and made Bunny fruit snacks the treasure.  She then watched Theo do his hunt from the sidewalk.

We stopped to take a closer look at this beautiful team of horses.

The insect that Lucy caught decided to land on Mom's shoe after being released.

Always a comedian.

Another walk in the creek at Esofea.

A windy family selfie on a dock at Side Hollow.

"Micro-nature"

Mom thought the reflection of the geese was neat.

Theo's treasure hunt clues :)

Lucy leaving the first clue for Theo at his mailbox.

Sunday May 3rd:
Today was the most beautiful day we've had yet!  We had a low-key day without any major adventures planned.  Both Isaac and Kerry got runs completed in the morning (they are competing in a virtual time trial up Ebner Coulee Rd).  Mom, Lucy and Charlie got a fun bike ride around campus in while Dad ran.  The rest of the day we enjoyed around our own yard including some play time with the hose and then sitting out in the sun.  The kids had a blast eating a snack in a chair fort while drying off and warming back up (that hose water was chilly!).

Monday May 4th:
This morning we returned to the marsh for a nature hunt after an inspiring video by Mrs. Olsen.  We found the majority of the things listed on the hunt including: a robin, nature items in fun shapes (like a heart shaped leaf), a hole where an animal lives, ants, squirrel etc.  They loved using their binoculars again and Lucy was excited to send a video of her bridge crossing to her teacher as today's book involved crossing a bridge too!
The smells of all the grills cooking did us in yesterday; so today we planned on our first cookout of the season...finally!! The kids spent almost an hour spraying down the grill with a tiny sprayer and then wiping it clean; what great helpers!  We are also in the midst of adding additional plants.  Lucy and Charlie have been able to help by using their tractor and doing some various digging/weeding.

Going on a nature hunt!

Hauling some plants to the other side of the house.

Busy cleaning the grill for the season.

Tuesday May 5th:

Charlie is creating a picture...and as always, his face becomes part of the art.

Playing "friend" with cousin Addis.  Lucy used her Belle legos and Addis used his Batman figurines.

Deep in production of the magic mirrors.

Lucy's magic mirrors for her friends: Hattie, Laney, Jessa and Kate.

Wednesday May 6th:
Today involved a visit to the dentist and we needed to generate a lot of positive excitement for Charlie as his first visit did not go well 6 months ago.  He was very ready and open to the idea and then Lucy decided to tell him he would be getting a shot as a "joke".  We were barely able to recover from that one, but with more positivity and bribery we got Charlie in through the door.  We all wore our masks, but the kids only lasted a minute in theirs.  Charlie did so well during his visit.  He asked questions about the tools and let the hygienist do a full cleaning.  He did not want Dr. Clara to check him, but he was ok with "just Clara" checking him.  Apparently he associates the doctor word with shots.  Lucy did great as always with her check up.  She's quite the grinder at night and managed to grind off one of her sealants and now has another small cavity.
After the dentist we had a family dance party and had a blast busting out the moves for Willie's birthday movie we are creating.

Thursday May 7th:
Today we got the kids to Paula's bright and early (that was a tough one for everyone) as Charlie has been waking up several times per night lately.
Isaac and I drove to Stevens Point to see Grandma and Grandpa Hyland and get some bulbs planted.  It was luxurious driving in the car and being able to talk uninterrupted!  Lucy and Charlie were having a great time watching a Bobcat rip out bushes in the yard next to Paula and didn't want to leave.

The only picture of the day that I got.  A distant visit from Abbey and Maddie while at the Grandparents.

Friday May 8th:
Isaac got out for a chilly early morning run, and luckily the kids "slept in"!!!  While the kids were at Paula's, some major kitchen cleaning/re-organization was able to happen.  Then we put together a video for our friend Willie's 40th birthday.  It was a logistical feat, getting about 30 clips from 6 families arranged to form the performance of a creating and smoking a cocktail.  Isaac and I were cracking up every time we got more clips from friends.
After Paula's, the kids had fun creating music/songs outside while banging on blocks of wood.  We fed them dinner and then their favorite babysitter Sara came over while Isaac and I did our first socially distant hangout.  It was a very cold night and we were going numb by the end of it, but it was nice to have some adult interaction and to hang out by a campfire.  Unfortunately our kids were running around wild when we got home at 10:15 pm!!!  They had a blast though!

Prepping for the cocktail video; first we need hand sanitizer.

Charlie was still awake at 10:27 pm...