QUARANTINED GRAMMA

Yep, my kids won't let me go anywhere ... not even to get the mail!  Kate picked up a prescription for me today ... and wiped it with a lysol wipe before giving it to me.  She has an acquaintance who has Covid19 and is being VERY cautious.  

Technically, we are on Spring Break ... but I'm trying to do some fun learning activities with the boys every day. I don't tell them I'm teaching them, I just say who wants to play with Gramma!??  Trust me, they don't always say yes ... Mr. 6 will say "no thank you, Gramma, but thanks for offering".

Mr 9 has learned to video chat with friends ... giggling and showing each other their room and toys and books and games ... all while spending an hour on Gramma's phone (since I'm always home!).  It's a bit of work for me to always be "ready" for someone to look at my face!

Mr. 6 can make Pillsbury Cinnamon rolls by himself!  From setting the oven and the timer and asking a grown up to take them out of the oven.  He frosted some of his favorite shapes (um, WHO wants a plain looking cinnamon roll?) .. a heart or a snail or a snake or an 8, putting on frosting and serving Mom and Dad in bed.

They both can get their own breakfast but still love it when I offer.  B loves egg and bacon sandwich and D loves pancakes.  Some days they make their own lunch (supervised by Mom) and they always bring their dishes to the kitchen when done.  I usually put out a small snack about 4pm and let them know their "rations" are at the table, they can eat it or not.  Fruit, cheese, goldfish, etc.

Today I gave them my mason jar of candy (treat jar).  I asked if the would sort the candy, count each kind of candy and make a chart.

Jelly beans, mini m&m's, Valentine hearts and Hershey kisses

Mr. 6's chart ... jelly beans by color (?)

Mr. 9's chart of family preferences of candy bars

And a few days ago, they got to go on a camping trip ... in the living room

They kept each other up, woke each other up to use the bathroom then the sun woke them up at 6am.  Needless to say, they both fell asleep the afternoon after!  In the tents!

Tomorrow we may have paper caterpillar races (based on a MESSY trick that Poppa taught Mr. 9 ... and his mother ... so every time we go to a restaurant, they do it)

So we are going to try this DRY method ... blowing them through a straw

Alexa has been very busy.  How many people died in the Civil War? (620,000)  Alexa ~ play "One Eyed Purple People Eater"  Who was the BEST president (everyone has their favorite but Abe Lincoln scores the highest in surveys)(she's such a diplomat)

The Montessori school has short videos from the Spanish teacher.  Each room has suggestions of things to do and updates their posts once or twice a week right now.  Write the world's longest list of animals.  Keep a daily journal.  Practice telling time and duration of time.  Write and illustrate a story.  And so on.

I have a handful of food ideas ... making bread, making gummy bears, making waffles, cheese quesadillas, etc.

Stay tuned.  So far everyone is getting along!