Polar Bear Plunge

What is a Polar Bear Plunge?  The first recorded one took place in Boston in 1904.  It occurs in many Canadian communities each year generally as a New Year's tradition.  It has become an international activity branching out into fundraising events and is sometimes even toted as a healthful cold water plunging therapy for athletes.  

All that aside, this year, we introduced the little boys to the idea of a polar bear plunge.  I suppose technically their Canadian cousins introduced them.  If it wasn't for the 2020/Covid 19 they may not have been as familiar with their cousins and subsequently with the idea of a Polar Bear Plunge.   

It was New Year's Day and mid-day this video came in on the family group chat.

All the Karlsson's took their plunge also.

We watched the videos and then the conversation from the boys of why?  What are they doing?  and then... Can we?

To which I replied... "Why would you want to???  Besides all the water around here for at least 100 miles is all frozen solid.  No. can. do.  The best we could do would be to go jump in a snowbank."

And then... we posted that Duncan was going to go do snow angels in the snow bank.  He had said no such thing but .... he's a good sport. 

So...  Emerson and Whittaker joined him and out they went.

Into the snow drifts they went.  

Whittaker standing in the cold and watching had a change of heart and decided snow angels were not for him...  He says in the video, "I don't want to."  So we said .. Okay, that's fine.  But minutes later he said, "If I don't have to take my shoes off I could do it."... 

Reassured that he could do it or not do it... Do it with his shoes on or off... It was his call... off he went.  I almost didn't have my camera ready.  

Of course his shoes filled with snow and fell off so he ended up doing it with them on and with them off.  

Then....

erghhh... those children..... "What about you Mummy?" 

So, wearing Patrick's swimsuit and a t-shirt since my swimsuit is packed in storage somewhere with other SUMMER clothing, I headed out.  It wasn't a delightful experience.  Oh so cold... 

Ava went a few more times... Eden a month later went again and Duncan and Caleb did also.  

I say... been there, done that!

"That's enough"

Winter must be taking its toll.... we've begun to dress up poor Jim as a sleepy time lumberjack!

 

Covid Update

 Patrick is sleeping. 

[He still has headache, body aches, cough, fatigue but seems to have more energy in short spurts.]

Emerson is playing operation, knocking down the fortress of the pigs and listening to a magic treehouse book.

[No actual symptoms]

Duncan is listening to a book, playing computer games, eating day old pancakes and pining over the lack of cookies in the house.  He is keeping the fires burning and has taken over spelling and other school tasks with the boys via zoom. (Wishing it wasn't a week off school so there would be more to occupy his time!)

[No actual symptoms]

Whittaker is listening to Nancy Drew mysteries, and arts and crafting.(He has created a pen catapult launcher, many Christmas ornaments and some random sketches.)  He looks forward each day to time on the computer and the chance of a chat with Ava.

[Angry rash on his hands, sore throat and a tightness in his chest, but good spirits and plenty of energy to make frequent requests for more tea, for paper, paints, glue, empty toilet paper rolls, a new book, water refills, any snacks?]

Jim is bored, and inventing new covid symptoms like, bruising easily, inability to heal after a burn and the need for frequent urination (may be tied to the constant supply of tea I've been providing).  He is productively working in spurts and suggesting activities like charades from our respective doorways.  He has thrown caution to the wind and decided to eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. In other words, it's not a no sugar week!  He has lost self-control and eaten an entire container of peanuts in two days.  

[metallic taste in his mouth, had a slight headache, had a tickle in his throat, had a tightness in his chest, sporadic heavy limbs.  All symptoms are in past.. mostly.. very minor and isn't eager to do any exercise.. is winded easily after simple exertion.]

I am creating a symptom chart (None of us can register a temperature at the normal range... we all have unusually below normal temps.  Whittaker winning with 95.3) and I'm justifying ice cream for breakfast since I had lots of leftover heavy cream by adding granola and berries.  I'm paranoid that the mice will have a complete lack of respect for my days of cleaning and rodent proofing efforts.  I'm catching up on years of neglected slothfulness and am not getting dressed until noon... if I get out of my p.j's at all.  

[metallic taste in mouth, fatigue, body aches, slight cough, cold sores, nagging headache, stuffy nose, swollen throat glands and hands that constantly smell of bleach]

Figaro has increased her efforts of laziness and when she isn't lounging on Emerson's bed or meowing annoyingly at the door to be let out for 3 minutes, she has taken up residence on Patrick's side of the bed.  She also sneezed twice last night so I charted it and we'll monitor it closely. 

Noella is baffled by the lack of interaction by the humans and has quarantined herself to the couch by the front door.  She is afraid to make her presence more publicly known due the shame she feels for NOT capturing the elusive kitchen torturing mice!

Quarantine Memes

Isolating since March...

Quarantining with Covid19 for the last week...

I've been amazed at the cleverness of people as they share quarantine memes.  These are a few of my favourites.

Boys are tough on pants...

 The trouble caused when boys wear the same size pants.  I had completed the laundry and it was all folded.  I had summoned boys of all ages and sizes to put away their clean clothing.  They had ... except a pair of jeans remained. 

"Emerson, come put your jeans away."

He returned, took a glance at them and said.. "They're not mine." 

"Whittaker, come put your jeans away."

He returned, took a glance at them and said.. "They're not mine."

Trying not to get frustrated I repeated... "One of you needs to put your jeans away."

"Maybe they're Duncan's."

Fine.

"Duncan, come put your jeans away."

"But... mum.. they're not.. "

This was going to go on all night. So, I insisted.  "Would someone please just claim the jeans and put them away."

I was not prepared for what happened next.

Duncan just snatched them and marched to their closet. 

This is how he returned...

The little boys were laughing hysterically.  

Duncan had made his point.  They were NOT his jeans!

I thought the kerfuffle was over... but...

These are also NOT their jeans!

How am I supposed to keep a straight face!?

A year later..

We were all just minding our own business when this came down the hall.

The walking was very difficult with three legs in each pant leg.  

But this one...

This one freaked us out!

Where's (Waldo) Stephen?

I'm not a fan of gory decorating or creepy stuff.  But creative methods of startling each other is exhilarating!  Our favourite way is with out buddy Stephen.  Stephen showed up out of storage this year and was lurking around every corner.  

He was in the shower, Patrick's lunch box, just outside Jim's bedroom window, on Duncan's pillow....

(there is also a Suzie, she doesn't get around as much as Stephen does..)

Suzy's a biker chick.

 

Stephen is competitive.

(He has the best poker face.)

He waits patiently to give Patrick a ride home from work.

He doesn't eat much.  Has to stay fit when he's working on the force.

He keeps to himself and likes to read.

He and Whittaker are pals.

So who is Stephen?

Sarah had mannequin heads from her hair cutting class days.   They have names on the back.  Suzie Q and Magnum.  It was fun to put them in the window.  But... then we met...

Steven!

His resemblance to the mannequin head was uncanny. 

Spooktacular

 The weather outside is frightful!

The Covid has changed the normal.

But since we have zoom online

Halloween, Spooktacular, BOO!

We kicked off our Halloween with a Zoom costume party.  Followed by Halloween themed Balderdash!

Eden was sooo convincing as Jafar.

We had a big costume reveal performance with YMCA and In the Navy, as the Village people. 

Art class in the week leading up to Halloween was our pumpkin carving fun. 

Ava did some prep ahead.. and took longer to complete.. but was SO worth the wait for her incredible Pumpkin Diorama house.

With all our pre-Halloween activities, the actual day of Halloween wasn't very eventful.  (Celebration wise.  We did a huge demolition on the kitchen wall and kept very busy with construction)  We didn't even dress up again.  The boys watched their traditional 'Coco' movie and just ate the candy from the bowl.  We had planned to have them trick or treat each room and outbuilding but it was cold and we were all tired.  

Before bed they popped outside for some sparkler fun thanks to Grandma. 

Next day was art day again... what better fun than, candy wrapper art!

Construction Bloopers

All work and no play... 

No worries there.  There has been plenty of play.

For some it seems to be their job.

They have managed to find delight in cast off building materials.  These are extra pieces of the concrete forms... otherwise known as robot walkers.

The tubs have been very useful for collecting scraps for burning, garbage, moving dirt and obviously for rolling around in.

The new ripstick backyard stage was enjoyed, for the few days it existed, before pesky things like walls, roof and plumbing were put in the way.

Then there was Duncan.  He found amusement on the actual jobsite... It was his personal jungle gym.  They delighted in calling to me to come see how he became stuck under the house!  It looks like the house in the Wizard of Oz when it landed on the Wicked Witch.  He was neither, dead nor stuck... but definitely wicked!  The tubs also doubled as a place to sit for the few seconds between tasks.  

Take a Gander at that!

 

Part of the renovation required that a few bushes needed to be moved.  While we had the backhoe seemed the best time to move them.  

Bushes and trees are not something I'm willing to waste.  So.  We transplanted them.  

We opted to plant them around the goose pond.

While we were transplanting them, we decided that the geese would like an expanded and deeper pond. 

Instead of the two weeks of digging by shovel that it took Duncan last year, it was twenty  minutes by backhoe.  

Now it is a daily task to keep the bushes alive.  This first year after transplanting is crucial to their survival.

The new and expanded pond was refilled and the boys decided to enjoy it before the geese soiled it.

It may have been a good idea to keep the geese in the corral until the boys were through.  

The boys didn't seem to mind though.

In fact they all seemed to enjoy their water play.

I believe it's because the bushes added a delightful and irresistible ambiance to the pond.

The geese gave their inspection and seal of approval on the pond and left in search of a snack.

The boys lingered in the pond.

Party Time!

For Ava's birthday, Sadie requested everyone to send a quick happy birthday video to wish her best wishes for her special day in isolation.

So we threw a party and sent her our video...  We even ate the cake for her!

We'll happily celebrate any occasion by proxy for people!

Gangnam Style

An idea... seven years ago.... 

some video footage with the nine... obliging children...

A trending song and dance sensation... long ago forgotten now.

Resulted in the following; day late and a dollar short segment of silliness.

We had intended to make it our Christmas video card for the year with words to tell of our exploits from the year.  

However when it came time to edit the footage and put the music with new words together, I realized I didn't really know how.   So it sat on the back burner of my mind and in the recesses of the computer until now.  I know how to edit/trim video and add music... just not how to record new lyrics... and they weren't very good anyway!

Driving Tips

With a student driver at the wheel... I find I'm being asked a lot of interesting questions about road and driving and safety.  This one stumped us both. 

I'm fairly certain this sign is to forewarn us that at any moment a truck could appear out of no where and sled down the embankment.  In fact.. the truck on the actual sign may take off any time now!

Onsie, Twosies

Getting ready for bed one evening... Whittaker remarked that most were wearing onesie pajamas.  Including myself... but Emerson piped up..

'I'm wearing my twosies!'

His was indeed.  A two piece fleecy footed number.

Bad hairdo day

Having declared days as Cookstove day... and Pajama day and such... Whittaker spent an unusual amount of time in the bathroom one morning and emerged declaring it...

'Bad Hairdo Day'. 

He was quite pleased with himself.

Monkeyin' around

Sometimes... there's nothing to do but hang around.

and try to overcome our fears.

Did you catch the reference to rule #1?

For some there is no fear.

For others... they really want to be like the big kids.

Battling the Birds

Directions? 

A clandestine message for those who know the code.

The message is becoming more insistent.

I must crack the code.

Is this like x marks the spot?

Is it time sensitive?

or... 

perhaps...

just maybe...

The chickens have been on the trampoline again!

They're becoming more brazen.  The message is clear!  

"We want to take over all your designated chicken free zones!"

Signore Russo

Once a name settles upon an instrument it is customary to let the name sink in... swirl around in the minds for a time.  Let it become one and infiltrate the lives around it. 

This happened with Signore Russo.

His essence became intrinsically embedded into our hearts and souls.

Then we became friends.

As friends... we decided to have a makeover party.

We began with some subtle, but still debonair ensembles.

Then we moved onto to some character, flair pieces.  Every wardrobe should consist of that gem that shows off a little personality.

Obviously, we had to be prepared for outdoor endeavors.  Both summer and winter gear protection is vital.

But then...

He was unstoppable!

He went rogue!

Who knew he had such a wild side!  Gangsta Russo!

I could tell he had a great time.

Signore Russo, you were delightful.  Come again!

Herr Otto was with us in spirit, since Miles' dear friend, Johnny Daniels was already here for Esther to utilize.  

Perhaps next visit we will have the opportunity to become more intimately acquainted with Herr Otto as well.  

Come again!.. have I said that already?  

Well it bears repeating.