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!

We met Eryn snd Lisa in the park this morning, so nice to see people!

Made a drawing cookie from nanny 

I bought Hol a shellac kit, super fun!

My boy

Still in lockdown

Today was the busiest of lockdown days that we have had! Holly and I walked to crest with Isabella and Liz this morning, then Holly  had an orthodontist appointment. Harry and I went to the park to meet Alex while Tracey and I walked laps of the oval, then Holly had a physio appointment in Emerald for her knee. We decided to make the most of it so we ducked in to Emerald park lake for a play and walk. 

I’m not joking, I’m exhausted!

Am outing to the park

4 of them half vaxxed!

They built a billy cart from scratch!

Andrew did a zoom cooking class for the corporate team yesterday

230 ish days of lockdown!

 This current lockdown, which was only meant to be a week, is now heading into its 7th week! This one feels long and drawn out. Holly really hit a wall this week, for a beautiful girl who is always full of positivity, energy and excitement, she wasn't great. I had to drag her out of bed and she didn't smile for 2 days. Its scary the toll this pandemic is having on mental health. We have been so lucky and only seen a tiny glimpse of it. On Thursday I invited her friend Isabella over to hang out on the deck. It made the world of difference. Its amazing to see how much of a part friends play in the part of a happy teenager. They had the best day, climbing trees, taking photos and being silly ... and we got our girl back. 

On another note, one silver lining in all of this has been the independance in the kids. Its like we have children of the 80's. They now take themselves off on bike rides aroudn the neighbourhood, walk to 7-11 to get lollies and even down to high street to the chicken and chips shop to get hot chips for lunch picking up friends along the way. When the weather is nice, they are outside, climbing trees, the roof and making rope swings. Its cool to see. They have always been inventive, but boredum is taking inventive to new levels.

A very outdoorsy day today, everyone spent the day in the sun!

Lockdown - 6 weeks

Sushi for lunch while writing the recipe for her school

Work ✔️✔️

Hard at work … he really is, just doing it in style!

New way to watch tv!