Groundhog's Day science experiment: This one was kind of cool. We put different amounts of baking soda in 3 deflated balloons then stretched them over bottles of vinegar. When we shook the baking soda down into the bottle, the balloons inflated according to how much baking soda they contained. Science experiments like these are Mason's favorite part of homeschool. We do work out of his reading and math books every day and usually do one science or STEM project a week.
Just plugging along with homeschool. Mason does a good job. My migraines are making it harder and harder for me. I feel crummy nearly every morning now.
Lost tooth #1 for February:
Lost tooth #2 just a couple of days later!
When Spencer was in kindergarten, he made a cute Valentine's Day picture frame for me. I wanted a matching one from Mason so I made him go outside for a photo shoot one afternoon. We got lots of silly shots and one or two nice ones. ;)
Spencer just plugging along with distance learning. Zoom is getting old, but it's routine now and Spencer is still acing his classes.
I really debated whether or not I should send Valentine's cards this year and almost didn't when our first photos turned out terrible, but I wound up with one good shot out of 52 in our living room the next day and decided to go ahead with the project. What goofs!
The boys had been wanting to go to their favorite Lego store in Canby for months and we finally made it in February. I wasn't sure if their bulk bins would be open during Covid, but everything was pretty normal there. Clackamas County is way more lax than Washington County. Mason had earned a mini figure for not sucking his fingers (we are STILL working on that!) and Spencer bought one with his own money. They both left happy!
Mason got this stuffed animal sack for his birthday and it's so huge that he can fit inside it. Ha!
Feeding the ducks at Snyder Park for Mason's PE group. This was a fun and different activity for the group! Mason hasn't made friends and clicked with his PE group like I hoped he would. He still struggles with anxiety when I try to leave, so I bundle up and bring a chair and a book if I'm not teaching. I'm really looking forward to nicer weather!
A semi-warm park day. I LOVE that Spencer will still run and play at the park with Mason!
Spencer had to make a shelter for his out-door living class. I have serious doubts that this shelter would offer much protection from the elements. Haha!
Since I am still teaching English to Chinese students early in the morning once a week, we celebrated Chinese New Year again. Chinese restaurants use too much peanut oil so we always do homemade. Alan was the only one who was successful at eating with chopsticks.
It snowed again right before Valentine's Day! It was dry and powdery, but it was the most snow we had received for a few years. It was beautiful and fun for us, but actually turned into the worst ice storm Portland had seen in about 20 years! Tons of people lost power from falling trees and power lines and many lost water from frozen pipes. It was one time I was glad we live right in the city versus out in the country because most of the power outages were out in the country.
Mason helped me make our traditional Valentine's sugar cookies, but it was tricky to deliver them with all of the snow and ice. We had to wait an extra day and stay pretty close to home.
Valentine's Day was on Sunday this year and we had our usual bbq drumsticks and fondue with bread and veggies. Then we played some minute-to-win-it games afterward. Covid has really put a damper on Alan's and my dates the last year. We have a few shows we like to watch together so we usually save them to watch with a treat on Saturday nights.
Lunch and reading in a tent just for something fun and different.
Alan's Grandpa, Evan L. Larsen, passed away on February 12th. He had almost passed away in October 2020, but had a miraculous recovery and had been doing well just prior to this, so it came as a big shock. He and Virginia only lived ten minutes away from us, but we had only seen them a couple of times in the past year when Debbie drove them by our house. Evan loved basketball, especially the Blazers, and his family. He had been making and sending anniversary and birthday cards for every member of his large extended family since way before I joined the family. He was always kind and pleasant.
Sadly, due to Covid, we were unable to have an in-person funeral. We had a nice memorial service over Zoom, but it wasn't quite the same. Evan's four daughters shared memories, there were a couple of grandkid/great grandkid musical numbers, and Geoff gave a great talk. It was a good tribute to a very good man. I'm grateful that Spencer and Mason got to know him a little. I will miss Grandpa Larsen!
Our yard was still too soggy for playing in February so we kept up our frequent walks around the block. Mason thought it was fun to try the treadmill on rainy days.
Mason got this Magic Wand toy for Christmas several years ago. It has been one of the best toys we've ever had and he still loves it. It asks you to move like different animals and has fun music to go with each one. Mason will sometimes do it for a solid 30 minutes at a time and gets all sweaty from creeping, leaping, stomping, and climbing like crazy. It's awesome!
And, just some shots of our normal, every day activities. "Enjoy the little things because one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things."
