Chef Ally

Ally has been interested in cooking with me in the kitchen for a long time. She definitely knows more about cooking than the rest of the family, especially Dave!

Now she's been taking virtual cooking classes with a local chef who teaches kids how to cook. 

She made egg rolls and pierogis in January.

1970's Grandmothers

Before my knee surgery, I made a plan that I hoped would prevent me going crazy. I reminded myself how to crochet and bought some yarn. In order to get better at it again, I started a simple blanket before my surgery.

I got sick of making that blanket, so I turned the start into a foot warmer. That was actually really handy as my leg healed because my feet were always cold.

This was the blanket I first planned to make when recovering. I like it, but I think in this picture, it makes our house look slightly like a grandmother's house in the late 1970's (just needs more oranges and greens).

Making the blanket got me addicted to crocheting, and Kate and Anna along with me.

The next thing I made was this Harry Potter Gryffindor sweater for Lola. She hated it. HATED it.

I naively thought maybe it was just too warm for her, so I made her a higher sweater. She hates this too. HATES it!

Here's a panda hat Kate made Ally. Super cute. She also made one in a toddler size for our little neighbor boy.

Here's a beret I made Ally. It looks more Bob Marley than beret, but I think she can really pull it off!

Ally's favorite animal is a sloth and Kate made this incredible hat for Ally!

Bananas

Ally and Anna were each having a banana as a snack.

Anna - "Mom, are bananas expensive?"

Me - "No, they're really cheap."

Ally - "They're sooo good."

Anna - "They are. They're delicious!"

I'm so glad they think so; I wish I agreed with them. I feel momentarily justified for depriving them of treats around the house. Although I still fear for their first years of college. They'll either have developed such a healthy palate that they won't even desire tempting treats, or they'll go absolutely nuts, gain 30 pounds, and develop diabetes.

Quarantine team

We're having a bedroom and bathroom added on to our house. We currently have three bedrooms and 1.5 baths. But, having just one shower has become more difficult as the kids get older, and we think it would be nice to have another room to put the kids in. 

It's been an adventure, especially since the construction finally began the day before my knee surgery. It was not a quiet place to recover while the roof was being torn off and the rough framingbuilt.

Today the kids and I were all having lunch in the kitchen. The contractor came to talk to me and the HVAC guy and his apprentice came in. Then the electrician did. After we were done discussing some things and they'd all left, Ally asked, "If we get Covid-19, will we have to quarantine with those guys?"

Mom 2.0

I had knee surgery two weeks ago. For the first few days I slept half of every day. Then I started to be awake but mostly immobile. Sitting upright hurt my leg. I tried to play games with the kids. But lying on my side on the couch started to hurt my shoulder and sitting up at the table with my legs propped was too uncomfortable.. The last few days I've been moving around, but it's a lot of work. I've just gotten lazy and we've been crocheting and watching a lot of TV.

Yesterday, Luke said to me, "I like Mom 2.0."

"What...?"

"Mom: 'Want to play chess?' Mom 2.0: 'Want to watch a show?'"

At least he's been enjoying what I have perceived as failings.