George's reading video

 George was asked to make a Bedtime Story video of himself reading one of his favourite books for school. He picked "Bumps in the Night", a Funnybones book by Allan Ahlberg. His reading has really improved over the past few months!

January and February catch-up

 

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve walk at Roundhay Park

There was a sprinkling of snow of NYE and George was thrilled!

Richard's birthday was snowy, too!

We went to Skipton for a canal walk in the snow--it was so fun to see the canal covered with ice & snow!

Paul is not a fan of the snow!

"What is this?!"

We picked him up immediately, with that face!

On January 4th, we found out that George wouldn't be going back to school and we were starting another lockdown. I'm so glad I have Numberblocks and phonics readers and the conservatory as a base for our home learning! George is crazy about Numberblocks

I made a lovely King's Cake for Epiphany--I used a new recipe and it tasted very authentic!

The following weekend, we got more snow! We went up to the top of the Chevin, because there wasn't much at our house but there was a ton up there!

And a few days later, we got some more snow at home

Home learning--borrowing Paul's leftover Cheerios to use for counters

Inauguration Day 2021!

Paul is thrilled to be getting a carry from Daddy on one of our walks--he doesn't like the Ergo as much as George did, so when he gets fussy and arches his back, Richard carries him for me.

Paul's face--standard reaction to Burns Night haggis, tatties and neeps!

It was delicious and George had seconds of the haggis!

Another snow day!

This particular snow day was supposed to be Paul's first day at nursery. They were short-staffed because of the snow, so we got turned away and he got one more day at home.

We made coconut macaroons!

Note how much the snowman had melted in the background--this was just the next day! The snow doesn't stay around long here.

Paul loves playing with these balls--they have water and little plastic fish inside

Walking back from Paul's nursery--such a gorgeous view! He's going two days a week and now that he's settled in there he loves it!

George made this dragon for Chinese New Year

We made these lanterns, too

Paul loves the fruit cutting set that George got for Christmas from Aunt Kelly

Pancake Day!

Paul enjoyed his pancakes!

February half-term--we went to the garden centre and got this dinosaur 3-d model kit

We also did the Dino Lab activity kit that George got from church for Christmas

I set up a racetrack with the road tape for the boys to play with the Cars minis

Crocuses at Kirkstall Abbey--spring is coming!

Lots of walking, as lockdown continued to limit our recreational options

So grateful that we have such lovely places to walk and socially distance

In the gardens at Roundhay Park

This third lockdown (Jan 5-Mar 8/ongoing) has been hard. The weather has been harsh--way more snow than I've ever had here before, and it's been sticking around longer, too. One day we tried to go for a walk in the park, and the sidewalks were a sheet of ice, so we cut it short. When the weather is like this, you need to be able to do indoor activities--museums, shopping centres, etc. but all of those options are closed (for good reason, as the virus spreads in indoor spaces, but it's still hard!). We've been feeling a bit better now that George is back in school (although his bubble burst, so we had another week at home after he'd been back at school for a week!), I'm able to get some writing done two days a week, and the weather is improving now. It's been lovely to do a bit of gardening again and we're looking forward to some more walks over Easter break!