Because of COVID19, I have had Sierra in the house with me along with Ezra during my parental leave. It wasn’t what I was expected but I suppose everyone says that about this situation!
But there have been some interesting moments and I feel that Sierra has started to bond a lot more with her brother compared to the evenings and weekends she was limited to before. Sometimes when we leave them alone they end up playing together. When I say playing, I mean that Sierra decides to take a ball from him, or grab him when he’s trying to crawl. But there are other fun times where she plays peek-a-boo or shows him new toys and he laughs. It’s pretty amazing to see a bond form between these jokers.
Sierra has developed quite an imagination over the past year, no doubt fueled by the adventures that her parents bring her on. Whether it’s looking for pirates on our walk around the block, or jumping onto her parents bed which has magically transformed into a boat surrounded by shark infested waters, she revels in the land of imagination. Perhaps not so coincidentally we have also noticed an increase in her lying to us about certain things like brushing her teeth or other things. I sometimes wonder if the concept of lying is tied to a great imagination. In theory, we encourage a world where things aren’t really there, but she is made to believe that they are so perhaps lying is the same time of game in her head?
When she likes to help out, she helps out well: she helps sweep the floor and pick up toys. We were also noticing she was trying to figure out how to open the baby gate down the stairs so I decided I better show her in case she figures it out one day and leaves it open. Unfortunately that experiment failed miserably as she proceeded to leave it open twice over a span of a week and was punished for it but continued to do so. In the end, she currently has to ask one of us to open the gate from now on. As some wise man said in relation to his grandchildren getting in harms way…”Not on my watch!”
Sierra is transitioning from nap times to quiet times. If she is being nice, then we offer her the choice. If she’s being mean, then it’s nap time. We have also noticed that she herself decides to go for a nap during quiet time. Why not, if that’s what your body is asking for? Quiet time has been a hit or miss. One time I came into the room and she had marker all over her hands and feet and then she mentioned something about drawing on the floor!
A typical COVID19 day for her has transitioned to waking up and going downstairs to watch TV. As I type this she is excited to watch Thundercats ROAR which is a new Thundercats parody cartoon which is quite funny. It’s really neat to see her interested in things I have interest in. I also saw her with all my boxed Thundercats toys out on the coffee table. Part of me gasped, the other part of me thought “Well, why not? She likes these toys.”
All in all, there are frustrating days with her where she leaves little things on the floor for Ezra to get a hold of, and then there are great days where she helps take care of her brother. Probably pretty average for a soon-to-be four year old.
Sierra helping me take down the Christmas lights. I refuse to take them off if there is still a foot of snow on the ground.
I spied outside the patio door to find this daredevil around the outer edge of the deck!
It’s still spring which means that there are some sunny days that still require being wrapped in a blanket on the front porch.
Sierra doing some repairs on the handrail down the stairs.
There’s not many opportunities in the house to play drums considering someone is usually sleeping!
Wow, it’s really strange to see this video from April Fool’s Day. I will still working! As I type this it’s already been a month I have been on parental leave with the two kids so it’s seems like a lifetime ago that I had the laptop set up on the kitchen table.
Sierra came back from a walk and noticed that someone had put some fishies on our window for April Fool’s Day! I believe I witnessed two little friends on bicycles put these on the window.
While I work from home, I also take some time out of my day to teach the future labour force of Canada how to type. I showed her a picture of my pal Mr. Clive and showed her how to talk with him online. He was nice enough to reply with some emoticons like smiley faces. She was quite excited whenever my colleagues would write back after she typed her name. She’s getting pretty good at typing her name…Vero said she even typed it on her own the other day!
Poisson d’avril!
Enjoying the swing set
Doing some repairs to the tricycle
Taking in the sights of Vars from the top of the rock
Here’s Sierra helping Maman make muffins
Sierra stumbled on a DVD of Lavaleville and I told her that Maman was on it! She was quite excited to see Maman in a ‘movie’. I ended up digitizing this and putting it up on Youtube if anyone is interested in seeing Vero in a play.
Muffins are fun!
This year we couldn’t go to any sugar shacks but that doesn’t mean we couldn’t enjoy some crepes and maple syrup!
The end of an easter egg hunt
We were quite fortunate that the Easter bunny came to visit our house this year during COVID19. Turns out he’s an essential worker!
There was a birthday that was celebrated in our neighbourhood so a bunch of a cars lined up for a parade. You can’t see it but Sierra has a kazoo playing in the backseat.
Getting some lessons on how to play Rain Rain Go Away
I can’t remember if this photo was before or after she complaining of getting water inside her boots!
She was definitely complaining after this puddle!
A rare quiet moment
We had a silly walk competition
Not sure if she will make it far on this ride
Two minutes later, she has to bring it back because it’s too hard. I knew it!
Thanks to Uncle Rob and Aunt Jan there is some more music in the house
I have to get my weight training in somehow!
I have found a new card playing buddy!
Hanging out
Pyjama song and dance
Blowing bubbles has kept us all sane around here
I’m glad we have a kid who insists on doing some work around the yard!
Sierra’s Kraft Dinner song!
Sierra doing some fishing
