When SIP started I, perhaps naively, did not think that we would still be having to contend with it in the middle of summer. In fact, our neighbors had a wager on when SIP would end and I'm pretty sure the last guess was in the beginning of June. As SIP has dragged on, we've had to modify routines and expectations. Masking is an everyday reality of going out and running errands, everywhere, markers on the ground remind us to maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet, plexiglass barriers protect service employees from errant coughs or sneezes, summer plans and vacations have been scrapped, and we're facing the looming prospect of starting the fall school year with yet another round of distance learning.
 |
Finally accepted the reality of masking being a long-term thing and bought masks for the kids
|
 |
Checking out the Pokemon card display at Target
|
Rewinding a bit, one of the last posts I wrote was in regards to Kai's birthday. We had a SIP street celebration on his actual birthday, but his birthday wish was for SIP to be over (me too, buddy) and to have a birthday party with his besties. We decided to reach out the bestie crew and arranged a small get-together with just the besties--no parents, no siblings. Mind you, at that time in the end of May it seemed possible that SIP restrictions would start to ease up soon. It ended up being an awesome time and it was evident the kids missed each other lots.
Determining your risk tolerance and taking calculated risks is part of being social in this time of Covid. We stayed away from my parents' house for almost three months until my Mom's birthday at the end May. Since then, we've returned to having semi-regular visits and family dinners.
 |
| My Mom's dog, Brownie, recently passed away. I'm grateful that we are able to live close enough to my parents that we can easily visit and support them |
Another integral social outlet has been our neighbors, twice-a-week cocktail exchanges and weekly Houseparty hangouts have kept us sane.
 |
| Ice out! Love our neighbors <3 |
 |
Epic water balloon fights in the street are a socially distanced activity, right?
|
In spirit of preserving our sanity, we decided to create a social bubble with the Halls. The freedom of being able to hang out at each others' houses unmasked and without having to worry about social distancing has been liberating and the kids took to it immediately. Kids playing with one another is so natural and the physicality of their play just doesn't translate into a great virtual experience. Sadly, the Halls are moving in less than two weeks and will be sorely missed.
As the weather has warmed up, we've had a few opportunities to swim or play in the water. We've broken out the inflatable pool a few times and Kristy invited us over to swim on some of the really hot days in June. So nice to have a neighbor with a pool, though you can't just invite yourself over to swim all the time. We've also escaped to the beach a few times: once with the Ngs and the other time, with Micah and his family.
 |
| First visit to the beach was in early June when times were still restricted between noon and 5 |
 |
A much more laid back beach visit in mid-July when beaches had mostly reopened
|
And let's not forget the creek and the perc ponds, we love living near such an awesome natural resource. The kids love wading in the creek and exploring. We even went on a frog hunt with the Connicks.
 |
| We rescued a bucket of baby fish when the creek was suddenly drained and a bunch of unlucky fish were stuck in a rapidly disappearing puddle |
 |
Yes, that's Kai holding a frog O_o
|
We've also visited Alum Rock Park a few times since it reopened in June.
Everything that I've written is not to say that our lives haven't been completely and utterly disrupted by SIP. Our first outing after the beginning of SIP was in May, when we ventured out to Brentwood to go cherry picking. I remember feeling euphoric as we drove out to do something other than go grocery shopping or pick up take-out. The kids had a wonderful time doing something novel (for a change) and we had a huge haul of cherries to bring home and share with our friends.
 |
| Over 10# of cherries and we barely had enough cash to pay for them |
Our holidays have looked like this:
 |
Cinco de Mayo. I saw the line, took a picture, and drove home
|
 |
Social distancing front yard picnic for Memorial Day
|
 |
| Fourth of July. A not quite socially distanced picnic in the park, but so nice to see our LSCC family |
And the end of Kai and Sora's school years looked like this:
 |
EOY pick up at Toyon. I'll really miss Mrs. DuBose and hope that she'll still be around when Jad starts TK in 2022
|
 |
Kai really enjoyed his weekly meetings with Mr. Diamond
|
Jad's daycare reopened in June, but unfortunately due to low enrollment (only four kids returned, including Jad) and an increase in Covid cases, they will be closing again at the end of this month. It was a difficult transition for Jad to return to Bright Star after he had been home for nearly three months. He cried at almost every drop off for at least two weeks. He will still sometimes say, "I'm scared Lao Lao," but as long as we go through his usual routine of having him get out of the car "by myself" and ring the doorbell "on my own" he will now walk in without any hesitation.
I was disheartened to hear that Bright Star would be closing again, it's such a sad and strange way to close out our time with them. This is the same daycare that we sent Kai and Sora to, so Xiaoyan and her mom have essentially raised all of our kids.
We have relished in this brief respite of having only two kids at home and have managed to few things here and there with just Kai and Sora.
 |
Biking at Ed Levin Park
|
We've had (somewhat) socially distanced hang outs with LSCC friends here and there. As I mentioned, we saw many of them on the Fourth of July. We've also met up with the Shaws and Ngs, and we've had members of our church family just randomly stop by to bless us with treats.
 |
| Tim came by to help Nik assemble his new bike |
 |
Really feeling the love. We need to get our act together and do a treat drop off as well
|
There have been a few notable distractions during SIP:
 |
SpaceX Dragon 2 launch. Jad thought the capsule looked like a ghost
|
 |
Nik took the kids up Suncrest to see if they could see the Comet NEOWISE. They really wanted to see the comet since Kai said "I'll be dead when it comes back," but there was too much light pollution to see it..they did however catch a nice sunset
|
Goal setting and hobbies are also helping us get through this time. I've been diligently keeping up with my running and exercise (since March!), and did run in July where the goal was to run a 4.167 mile loop every hour for as many times as you can. I ran 5 loops.. a bit short of my goal, but I still felt pretty good about it. The kids also did their own mileage challenge and though I felt like I was nagging them incessantly to get them out the door, they did a great job and it was great motivation for them to stay active.
Kai really wanted a fish tank for his birthday and my Mom was happy to oblige. It took more time, work, and money to set it up than we had anticipated, but now that it's set up it's become a nice diversion for the kids.. and me. Nik has told me that I've become obsessive. -_-
As for Nik, he built a zip line in the backyard for the kids and recently got himself an e-bike.
We have no idea how long SIP will continue on, we're tired and the days are long but we are trying our best to make the most of this time and stay sane. We're playing board games a lot and are more gracious with letting the kids have screen time than ever before (weekly movie nights are a thing). I am not looking forward to the return of distance learning in the fall.. but this is our (and for the most part, everyone else's) life now.
