Day 2929

 Down to one kid home sick, but she’s malingering as hard as she can. Just to prove she still sick, she conked out before lunch during a walk in the wind and rain. Fine! We get it! We’ll keep you home and snuggle you more!

Day 2928

 My boy seems to have internalized a few rules of colour theory:

1. You can mix colours together to make other colours (usually a colour is made by mixing whatever colours he happens to spot, sometimes with repetitions.

2. Colour names are best preceded by an animal name (see peacock blue and his seagull grey and cat yellow)

3. Many, many colours are at least kinda red. Pink and orange, obviously, but also brown and silver. You might as well just call them all red.

4. Red is best.

Day 2927

 Chaos with pockets of peace. 

Yes, let’s put your table beside my desk so we can work together... while you colour everything red.

Day 2926

 For some reason, I’m suddenly remembering that we had to move the recycling bin into the kitchen for a while.... 

Darn toddlers...

Day 2926

 Our dog is an absurd little boy. I spent ages keeping him away from the all the fun so I could give him a haircut and a bath. It made him desperately sad. And then once I had finished he followed me around and snuggled aggressively. 

Dude, even our children have figured out trying to get away from the parent who was most recently stern at them.

Day 2925

 Banana, our clever little not-a-champ, is learning the theory behind taking clothes on and off and has developed the fun game Please Put On This Sock.

And when you tell her to back her truck up, sticks her bum out and takes big steps backwards.

Day 2924

 The boy had to go get a swab shoved up his nose. He says it was pretty crazy watching his Dad get swabbed. And that the doctors did a good job, and one of them had a computer!

It sounds mostly like they went for an adventure (he even asked for us to pack him some) healthy food.

But then of course he had night terrors during nap and one the slowest, grumpiest wake-ups ever, so maybe not entirely the walk in the park he suggested.

Day 2923

 And now we rest...

Oh wait... work, course, sick kids...

Now we return to slightly more reasonable life-life balance. 

After wine.

Day 2922

 In these pandemic times, I expect I will get to say the following to my children several times: “you’re home sick, not on vacation.”

Day 2921

 Deep breath. And keep swimming. 

Day 2920

 I am frankly offended when my activity tracker won’t recognize my hard work.

Day 2919

 Kids are exceptionally good at picking up colds at the worst times. 

Also at mispronouncing clapping. 

One of those things is much funnier than the other.

Day 2918

 Dear Children,

Please hold your colds until the end (of next week).

Love, your mother

Day 2917

And then suddenly you realize you’re a person who goes to vendor conferences now....

Day 2916

It seems our Goat might have the biggest feelings after all. Or at least the biggest flair for the dramatic.

Day 2915

 Best homework ever: “Get someone to read to you.”

Day 2914

 Went for a run and then started coursework. Have probably gone nuts and/or been replaced by a pod person.

<end transmission>

Day 2913

Turns out you can get a lot done on days that you just keep swimming.

Day 2912

 Lizard is super interested in earthworms and afraid of daddy long legs. She gets excited when I dig up worms and comes over to admire them. This afternoon she was contentedly thinking that the patch I was digging up in the front yard must be a happy and peaceful home for them.

But again... scared of daddy long legs.

Day 2911

 Sometimes I wear my hat; sometimes the teapot wears it.

Day 2910

 Our Lizard is thriving in pandemic-era school: she’s got her own table and she isn’t “surrounded by children”.

Day 2909

 Bup? Bup bup bup! BUP!

Day 2908

 First day of school in a new world. Lizard is thrilled to have a table all to herself. 

Day 2907

The zucchini is not a trick. At this time of year, the zucchini is always there and always delicious.

Day 2906

 The abrupt transition to fall seemed to be coming early, so we got to do an abrupt transition to harvesting tomatoes.

And Banana got to try to eat sand. An adventure for everybody!

Day 2905

 I’m not sure which kid is winning the grumpy awards, but I do know they’re all eligible for participation ribbons.

Day 2904

 Apparently daycare workers think our kids might be somewhat determined. 

Inconceivable!

Day 2903

 How many tomatoes do you have to eat before you turn into a tomato?

Time to experiment...

Day 2902

 Sad baby + magical Cheerios + music = happy baby!

Day 2901

  I remember putting one kid to bed by myself feeling hard. Now doing three at once is fine. 

Now I just have to figure out how to have a conversation with my daughter about gently bending the rules so that she feels okay making fart jokes with kids at daycare.