Summer 2020 in a Pandemic

Over the summer we were very lucky to have some opportunities to see family while following social distancing recommendations.  We looked forward to Wayne and Millie visiting most Sundays and bringing a treat or garden goodies.  Walter is a man of routine and noticed it had been a while since their last visit (had to skip one of the Sundays).

Walter: Do you remember my grandparents?

Me: Yes, why?

Walter: Your parents, where are they?

Me: What do you mean? Because you haven't seen them?

Walter: Yes, I miss them. 

Although Walter enjoyed watching TV as much as possible on the weekends, Johanna was disappointed that we spent so much time at home.  We all missed Kluesner cookouts, trips to museums and parks, and swimming at the pool (Flora Pool didn’t open at all in 2020).  However, Johanna was able to have a softball season.  Tony was the assistant coach and pitcher.   We were impressed with Johanna’s running ability - always racing to the base and never getting out.  Her batting and fielding skills also improved - hitting some balls to the grass, and making some base outs.

As is typical, the kids spent the summer weekdays at Mercy Daycare.  Unfortunately, with the pandemic still going strong, they were not able to take their weekly trips to the pool nor go on any field trips at all, even to the local park. But they were happy to get out of the house and see some friends.

And just 10 days before school was scheduled to start in the fall with a hybrid model (school day, followed by learn-from-home day with families attending on alternate days for smaller class sizes) it was announced that the start of school would be pushed back.  And so it begins….

4th of July in Milwaukee

Since 4th of July celebrations were cancelled in 2020, we used the 4th of July holiday to check out Melissa’s new house in Milwaukee.  We walked and rode bikes by the lake, made chalk art, played with sparklers, and tried geocaching for the first time.  

Johanna was the one to find our first geocache. 

Not our smartest move, we walked/slipped down a steep trail to get closer to the water.

The kids woke at sunrise, luckily their nice aunt let them hang out in her room.

Tony used his skills to install some lighting for Melissa.

Arnold Family Gathering 2020

The annual Arnold Family Vacation to Galena had to be cancelled this year due to covid so we rescheduled and had a family get together out at Wayne and Millie’s over the summer.  We did our best to follow social distancing guidelines - staying outside, not sharing utensils, food servers with gloves.  The rain didn’t stop our fun and was great for cooling off - we even had a water balloon fight while it rained. 

It wouldn’t be an Arnold get-together without some kite flying.  Someone (probably Michael) convinced Walter he needed to sing to his kite to keep it up in the air.  And of course, Walter got Molly to join in singing a song he made up “I love my kite, I love my kite!” Johanna put her kite on "auto pilot" tying it to the grape vine.

Since the Easter get-together had also been cancelled, we used this opportunity for our Easter Egg Hunt -- in June!  And thanks to Toddo, we get to search for that one last Easter egg every time we visit until… who knows when!

Walter Turns 5

Walter is very into animals  - when we gave him a peregrine falcon for his birthday, he knew exactly what it was and referred to it by name.  Although he has many alligators and crocodiles, he still wants more.  He has become very interested in making inventions.  Typically they are “abstract” in nature (e.g. two pieces of a toy farm fence are his batwing) but recently started building some inventions from legos which are more recognizable.

Walter is affectionate in actions and words.  He will often say I love you, give hugs and kisses, and declare “Family Hug” where we must all join in.  He says we are the best mom, dad, sister - even claiming us as best friends.  He also has best friends at school, Graham and Zoey, who he spends most of his time with.  Outside of school, he always looks forward to seeing cousin Molly.  Walter wasn’t affected much by the pandemic; he enjoyed being home and watching more TV.  He did however get upset about not being able to go to Molly’s house and yell “No More Video!!” - meaning no more video chats as he wanted to see family in person.  

Walter lost interest in the birthday question list, so this is how far we got: 

Favorite to eat +: noodles and meatballs and sauce

Favorite to do +: watch TV

Favorite to watch: Muppet Babies, Wild Kratts, Mira Royal Detective, Paw Patrol

Favorite to read: Actually, all of them! But not the baby ones.

Favorite to help with: I listen to them?

Favorite to learn about: What the teacher says.

Favorite to hang out with: Johanna

You are good at: Watching TV, Making inventions

Walter continues to insist on having the same birthday cake as previous years - "cookies" (Betty Jane candy discs), marshmallows, and chocolate.

Walter loves these silly glasses and would wear them and pretend he is Mayor Humdinger from Paw Patrol.  Johanna and Tony took the look to the next level and custom made him a Mayor Humdinger hat!

The typical look of Walter's room.  I guess inventing is a messy hobby.

He does NOT like when you move his stuff - "You ruined my invention!" and he has a guard to his room that we are not allowed to move.

He currently likes to be the super hero "Beast Boy" that can change into different animals. We regret introducing him to the backyard tree as he frequently requests to be up in the tree to be a monkey and enjoy the view.

Easter 2020

Easter was a little different this year with family celebrations cancelled due to covid.  We enjoyed our own Easter Bunny visit and egg hunt.  And we were able to see family over video call (and quickly learned children under 10 do NOT understand video call etiquette (talking over one another, background noise) but they enjoy seeing each other! 

Pandemic 2020 and School From Home

Due to the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, declared March 2020, the kids did not return to school after Spring Break 2020.  So from mid-March to the end of the school year, the kids got to experience Mom and Dad as “teachers” in a school-from-home scenario.  The kids’ teachers posted educational opportunities and assignments.  Michelle and Tony worked full-time from home and used breaks to feed the kids and help with their learning.  All assignments from the school district were optional.  We bought a tablet and signed the kids up for ABC Mouse to provide them with some educational opportunities they could do independently while Mom and Dad were working.  

We started out strong with projects like this All About Me one where they drew self portraits and worked on together.

Johanna graphed out her teddy bear sizes.

Walter was required to practice his name every day and do a worksheet.

Johanna had a learning menu and she picked an activity from each row, each day.

Walter did the minimal effort possible to move on to watching TV or using the tablet.  Here is the picture he drew of his family.

We established a schedule we tried to stick to.

They had some fun and we all enjoyed, as well as disliked, aspects of this unexpected twist on learning.

Tony at his desk in the fuse panel room, Johanna at the kids work table and Michelle taking a break away from her desk and working on the couch (Walter presumed to be sneaking in TV or tablet time out of sight).

Tony returned to working in his office at Mercy in mid-May. The kids shortly thereafter started going to Mercy Daycare as it was hard to manage working full-time, feeding the kids (why do they eat so often?) and avoiding TV 24/7 with only one parent at home. 

The kids enjoy seeing Tony at work.  Here they are "spying" on Tony while he does some work near the daycare playground.

Michelle enjoyed her new home office and ability to focus on work.

Johanna used the extra time at home to learn how to ride her bike without training wheels. And Tony is getting more biking in as Johanna is always asking to go for a ride. Walter started riding, with training wheels, too.

With the kids spending more time together, we have been lucky that they have been getting along well. We also welcome the opportunity to get out to Wayne and Millie's as they have more space to play ball and ride bikes.

Playing with some cool trucks that Wayne and Millie made. 

Playing outside in the front yard with their animals.

Making an art project of flowers, spelling "Dad".

Pandemic Facts ..... April 2, 2020

Gas price a mile from home was under $2

School remote from home

Self-distancing measures on the rise.

Tape on the floors at grocery stores and others to help distance shoppers (6ft) from each other.

A limited number of people inside stores, therefore, lineups outside the store doors.

Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed.

Entire sports seasons cancelled.

Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events - cancelled.

Weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings - cancelled.

No masses, churches are closed.

No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, now 5 or more.

Don't socialize with anyone outside of your home.

Children's outdoor play parks are closed.

We are to distance from each other.

Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line workers.

Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill.

Panic buying sets in and we have no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towel no laundry soap, no hand sanitizer.

Shelves are bare.

Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks, hand sanitizer and PPE.

Government closes the border to all non-essential travel.

Fines are established for breaking the rules.

Stadiums and recreation facilities open up for the overflow of Covid-19 patients.

Press conferences daily from the President & Governor. Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths.

Government incentives to stay home.

Barely anyone on the roads.

People wearing masks and gloves outside.

Essential service workers are terrified to go to work.

Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families.

This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, declared March 11th, 2020.