That's why we try, as much as possible, to take these tiny monsters away from our own property. To a place where they can reap their destructive ways in areas that were meant for such things.
Parks, trails and the 'slides and swings' as Miss H calls them are their domain and she just loves them.
Hannah has always liked the swings, we have posted many times, photos and videos of her going as high as she can (being pushed). She has actually now her own scale of highness and craziness. Its starts with 'really' high or fast, then 'super' high or fast followed by 'Crazy' high or fast.
To be honest, we are usually pushing her as fast and high as gravity and the swing can go when she is still set to 'really' high or fast, but make larger grunting noises as she increases her limits. She, quite literally could not go any higher or faster than we can currently go. She is an adrenalin junkie at 2 1/2 and is only going to get crazier!
Oliver has also started to enjoy the swings too. He has had a few little swings and seemed to enjoy it a little, but this last weekend he took a big step forward and although he can't talk yet if you look at his eyes, you could see there is a 'Push he higher and faster' shout, waiting to get out!
Last week, we randomly discovered a map overlay for Google maps which shows EVERY kid's play area in Winnipeg and the surrounding towns.
Here it is - everyplace to avoid if you don't like pooping noise machines (Kids)
It's brilliant as we can now head out and drive 2 or 3 or even 20 or 30 minutes in any direction knowing exactly where we are heading and what kind of park is there. We found one on Saturday that was next to a skatepark, where Hannah was very interested in the small scooters being ridden by the bigger kids but worked out her own way of enjoying the ramps and bowls...
Because of the nice weather at this time of year. we have also been taking Hanny on little adventures around the local area. Although we live near downtown there are still lots of little hidden pathways and trails to explore. She likes nothing better than heading out for a wander around, usually in her Welly Boots, to find some undiscovered trail or pathway that leads to somewhere exciting! If this means she gets to climb up a big rock or play in the sand with Oliver - then that's just another bonus!
Also if I happen to be working and miss out - I get a nice welcome when I come out to meet her!
It's not all adventures outdoors though - we do plenty of stuff inside if it gets a bit too hot.
Hannah is learning so fast - especially numbers letters and reading - Now she can't really read, but she can somehow listen to and remember almost entire kids books. So much so that she can turn the pages when she is in bed and 'read', them back to herself. Pretty cool...
and share gets very excited when she draws letters...
Well, hello again.
You may wonder why I say hello again? It's because the blurb above was written a couple of weeks ago -Just before we discovered that my works car, whose lease is due up at the end of July - may be replaced by a smaller model. This isn't great news when you have two growing kids and a huge pile of gash to transport around all year. I asked work if they would consider letting me put in some extra cash to get a larger lease car and they made me an offer instead. So instead of a car they will give me some extra cash every month and I get to buy my own car instead.
Buffy and I talked about it for a bit and worked out the numbers, deciding that provided I continued to work for another 5 years, we could afford to buy a car with the extra cash and pay it off in the 5-year timetable - effectively getting a car paid for by work! So that's what we are doing.
A busy week followed - looking at potential cars, deciding whether to buy new or used and even a call to Gareth and Tracey in Australia. We had been meaning to speak to them for ages and the idea of a new car gave us a good reason to really push for a chat. Gareth works for Kia and one of the cars we were looking at was the Kia Seltos. A medium-sized SUV at a good price and after speaking with Gareth and taking a test drive we knew it was exactly what we needed. So after calling a couple fo dealers and finding the right model at the right price, we put down a deposit and last weekend we picked up a Sunbright yellow model. Hannah has nicknamed it Big Bird and we love it!!
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| Chatting to Australia! |
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| Big bird! |
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| Buffy is happy! |
Getting the new car not only gives us a lot more room but allows Buffy to drive. She wasn't allowed to drive the works car, but now we can share the driving and the looking after the kids in the back. Plus we don't have a pile of bags and food and bottles under our feet in the front. We are really happy and actually have two cars for the next few weeks till the works car goes back at the end of July. She might even get to take the kids to the cabin now that the border to Ontario is open again...
However......
We might have to wait a bit for that because last week we discovered that one of Hannahs daycare friends has been tested positive for COVID.
This news came at is really fast and really unexpectedly. We were supposed to be going camping last weekend for fathers day with our friends Adam, Alena and their son Jack. But we were thrown into isolation for 10 days and Hannah has to do 14 days as she IS the close contact.
So since last week, me and Buffy have taken 3 covid tests between us. We know that we have to isolate for 14 days from that date if we get a positive result. So it is worth taking a test a few days earlier than we actually have to.
All tests so far have been negative though, so we now have to wait till the tenth day - This Thursday - till we can take Hannah for a test and ourselves for the final one we should have to take. If we are al negative, then Buffy and I can go out again, but Hannah must still isolate till day 14. If she still has no symptoms then, she can leave isolation. We have everything crossed that we are all negative, not only for our health but our sanity!
Hannah has been brilliant though - listening to why we can't go out and learning about the illness. We have discussed the test she has to take and show her how the swab will go up her nose. She is such a trooper that she actually wants to go get the test! So to keep her interested in the long run, we have been practising on her soft cuddly toys!
Heres she is practising on a little toy dog!
Luckily, we did manage to make the best of lockdown. With Buffy's mum and dad away at the cabin, their house is empty at the moment and so we parked up the new car and drove to eth south of the city, to have a slightly different view of the outside world and some more toys and games for Hannah and Oliver to play with. We have still been locked up in eth house but at least it feels a little different than being holed up at home.
Everyone we know has been very generous too - From an ice cream cake sent with the single word 'Dammit', iced on, plus we have had good neighbours picking up shopping for us, toys dropped off from Megan to keep the kids busy and a couple of gifts of food delivery vouchers meaning that we have time to play with the kids and not worry about too much cooking.
We even had a whole load of homemade pies and pasties delivered by Brent all the way from Anola- which went down very very well with me! (Can I have the recipe please Brent?)
It's awesome that everyone has helped out in this last week, but for us life goes on as normal, but behind locked doors! Buffy is still working from home and having online meetings and contact with her various customers, while I have been doing remote service calls - fault finding and fixing customers issues with their phones and systems from the comfort of the basement.
This is the heartwarming moment our neighbour Mike dropped off a bag of shopping...
and the moment Hannah found the gifts left us by Megan!
So we HAVE been having fun this week. Although locked down, we are still getting outside - as far as the front garden at least! We have spent a couple of hours enjoying the sunshine and warm air,chasing bubbles, playing with toy planes and drawing on the pavement, all whilst avoiding passing on any possible lurgy to pedestrians as they walk by, just out of reach!
You see! Everyone is fine and happy...... except maybe Oliver who made a break for freedom this afternoon aided and abetted by his naughty big sister....
Well, I think that just about sums up the past few weeks. It's been a hectic time and with us being in isolation for the last week or so it's been even crazier.
Fingers crossed we will all get a clean bill of health on Thursday and this time next week Buffy and the kids will be enjoying a few days holiday at the cabin, with me following along a few days later.
Being a mum and dad is pretty tiring and hard work, but when your nearly 3-year-old gives you a hug and tells you to just be happy, whilst being told she needs to have a swab stuck up her nose to make sure she doesn't have deadly disease, it does bring a loving warm feeling to my cold dead heart.
Thanks for listening peoples! Have a nice day now and see you all soon!
What a delightful post! Never doubt how blessed Hannah and Oliver are to have you and Buffy for parents - I know you already know how blessed you are to be parents of these amazing children. So glad you found (and created) each other!
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