Spring 2020

My Dearest Evan,
What a whirlwind life has been since I last wrote to you. Coronavirus (COVID-19) has taken us on a crazy journey we never before anticipated but we are definitely trying to make the most of it.

First, you have had more of a normal life than your sister lately. After the first three weeks of our shutdown, you started back at Ms Patsy's with all your friends. Life looked mostly normal for you, with the exception that we didn't make any other contact with other people outside the house beyond that (no going to Avery's soccer or going to swim and no going out to the park or shopping or on trips). While we’ve enjoyed the lack of rush (rushing Avery to school, then you, then to work, then to pick ups and soccer and dinner and homework), I know you'd like to be out and about with other kids.

We’ve tried really hard to balance the social distancing required with pool time, new toys/games, FaceTime with cousins and grandparents, walks through the neighborhood, fort building and camping. We've also been mostly working remotely. I've started going back in a few days a week but still working from home the other days. And dad took a huge leap and quit his job in June to be able to be a stay-at-home dad! You and Avery are so lucky to be able to get all this time with him! He's got you both on a schedule and he runs a tight ship!

There’s also been a big fire caused by lightning on the Catalina mountain range right next to our house. We are fortunate the firefighters worked hard to contain it for over a month already and it’s getting close to fully contained (but almost 200k acres were burned)! The worst we got was some heavy smoke, thank goodness.

May brought Avery's soccer birthday and swim opened back up but we haven't taken you yet because we're still worried about the virus. You're swimming in our community pool and getting familiar with the water that way but no official lessons yet. I also painted and made up your big boy room next to Avery's room. You've moved in and are enjoying your freedom a bit more.

You talk a lot now, including "all ov da place" (all over the place) and "please cuddle" and "play legos?" and "go team Stein"and "get out of my room" and "one, two, four, nine, ten" and "Avey" (Avery). You like Toy Story and Muppet Babies and you like to sing and dance to the Greatest Showman soundtrack and you love getting cake pops from dad when he visits Starbucks. Dad has you saying "ball-es" as your private gets cleaned in the shower (and now you're saying it when your diaper gets changed). Thanks, dad! You love playing with your sister and antagonizing her. She loves playing with you too (for the most part!). And you're still sucking that thumb, especially when you need comforting (like when you go to timeout or you're mad about a decision we made). 

It’s now July and we just got back from camping at Kaibab Lake near Williams Arizona. There were no formal fireworks for Independence Day in Oro Valley but we did sparklers and glow sticks. While camping, you learned to fish and had fun putting on some pretty cute dance shows with your sister. You wound up really enjoying the experience and it was a great escape from the 100+ degree weather (20 degrees cooler). At night, you'd tap me on the shoulder to see if you could cuddle in my sleeping bag with me. Of course, I obliged. We had fun making faces at each other to pass the time in the wee hours of the morning as the sun was coming up (something my Grandma Elinore and I used to do to pass the time when I was a kid). You were a good helper with the dishes and any other chores we needed to do while there. You came back from camping with scraped knees and dirt under your fingers and some extra sun on your skin. 

That’s about it for the recap of what’s been going on the past few months - here’s your life in pictures...

Painting rocks while camping

Playing with Avery while camping....you always wanted your backpack!

Helping me wash dishes

Dad relaxing after doing all the cooking

Fishing!

At Bearizona, a place near our camp site where you can drive through and see some wild animals!

They're backwards, dude!

Playing ring-around-the-Rosie at your request

the best type of nap.....under a shade tree with a cool breeze on you!

So focused on painting those rocks!

You're really into super heros...Super Man! You like to sing it!

This was on a swing at the cabin in Pinetop.....lots of fun!

"Camping" on the floor of the cabin - you two were SO EXCITED to sleep next to each other

With daddy!

See the duck!

S'mores at the cabin!

Horseshoes at the cabin

Soccer ball pinata for Avery's birthday

.....which had glow sticks in it!

Fun in Avery's room!

Look at that hair! You were no doubt trying to offer cuddling for getting into our bed

We took a quick trip to Phoenix (where you spent the entire time in the car) so we could get you some bedroom furniture - this is how you passed the time!

Reading in your old room with your sister

We've been trying to make the most of your time a home. We took some old sand we had and got a small pool for you guys to play in - you LOVE it!

Lots of swim time too!

Pop sends "homework" to you and Avery - it's newspaper art you jump at the chance to do any time it comes in the mail!

Dad got you a new dinosaur for your dino room - this is "Pizza" :)

Your new room

And another look at your new room

Dressing up! My little monkey!

Learning to fish

I am 99.9% certain you're going to be a lefty......you do everything left handed, and you have a great throw. Dad's not thrilled thinking about you being a left handed pitcher!

We had to let your hair grow a bit before it was safe to get a haircut

Still practicing with your dad!

Paint time!

You're helping Avery get used to wearing a mask (she has to practice for school)

You playing around with the tooth brushing app that Avery uses 

My heart!

Playing with the water table! We're lucky that the courtyard always has an area of shade in it

Twinkies!

Happy Birthday, USA!

July 4th crown!

You just learned how to play the Batman Lego game on dad's phone....and you hold it in between your toes, like so many other things!

Three peas!

Action shot! You've gotten pretty good at casting!

Big Horns!

Well Evan, I think you're handling this crazy time A-ok. You love your time with your dad and your sister. There are still times that you talk about Ms Patsy and we may do the occasional day here or there in the future but it won't be your norm anymore. You are attached to your dad so I don't think that's too big of an issue for you. I adore the way you're growing from toddler to child!

All my heart,

Mom