After quite a few very emotionally rocky weeks, this photo makes my heart happy. Seeing my baby smile is the best 

Funny boy!

Found my wedding dress when we were cleaning the shed!

Freedom day ... kind of?

 Yesterday marked our 'freedom day'. After 260 something days in lockdown, the longest and strictest lockdown anywhere in the world, yesterday we were 'released'. 

It was a strange day. We weren't jumping out of our skin to leave home?

This last lockdown definitely took its toll. I saw the kids motivation levels drop, as did ours. It was like groundhog day, same same every day. While we did what we could to make it fun, it was nothing like last years lockdown. No fancy dinners, themed dinners or dress up days. We had to push ourselves for motivation and even to leave the house and do exercise. 

So why, after all this time being confined to our home, were we not busting to leave, go out for a fancy meal, walk the city, drive to St Kilda? 

I think it's a couple of reasons. Firstly there are A LOT of Covid cases around. We are still recording 2000 cases a day on the day we opened, to put this in perspective, last year when we opened up after lockdown 3 (3 months at home) we had less than 10 cases a day. It is now seeming a lot more real, people we know are contracting it. Brendan and Courtney (neighbours kids) both have it and apparently she is sick, my friend Ella at work is in 14 days isolation after seeing her sister and nephews on the weekend and the 3 of them all have it. Gabes neighbours brother has it and has just been admitted into hospital as he is quite unwell and having trouble breathing. 

So for us Lucy is unvaxxed and the thought of 'going out' with the masses and bringing it home to her, quite honestly scares me. I know she probably wouldn't get it that badly, but who knows??

The second reason is we are just all very use to being at home, I think it will take a little while to venture out and go back to the way life use to be. It's a strange feeling.

Harry went back to school yesterday, he had a good day, as good as school gets for Harry anyway! I think he was glad to see his friends. I also think he is very lucky to have Riku in his class. Riku lives at the end of our court and they have spent a lot of time together outside on their bikes over lockdown. They will all be going back to school 2 days per week for the next 2 weeks before they return fully on the 8th November. By this time they have missed a term and a half straight of school!

Holly is really struggling, but is improving daily at the moment. I am so proud of her for pushing herself and going out of her comfort zone, even though she is finding it incredibly difficult.

Lucy is bouncing off the walls, although she hasn't said it, she needs to be back at school and in routine. Her mood is all over the place and losing her temper at the drop of a hat. After all she is 9 and has the energy of a 9 year old and demands the attention of a 9 year old. She has coped incredibly well to this point, always finding new ways of entertaining herself ... usually with Harry.

I know life will go back to normal, but for now we are going easy and adjusting to the 'new normal'.

School Photo 2021 and first day back in 77 days!

The most beautiful boy in the entire world ❤️

New hair for Holly

Hair dye!!

Luce is pretty happy with the result!

So proud of these two for being a part of the solution

Fun at the park

Wishing we could rub this belly!

Welcome Jack Thomas!

Park plays and friends

So after 240 days in lockdown and not breaking any rules a d following the rules to the letter of the law, we have bent a few rules at our own discretion. The kids have had friends over, mostly hanging outside and from families who like us have been doing the right thing and fully vaxxed. 

Jadon and Isabella came over today at different times and we went to the skate park this morning. 

Things are getting tough mentally to deal with and lockdown is dragging!