Summer 2020 - Week 1

Since Spring was an absolute and complete bust with the Covid pandemic in full swing, morning sickness raging, all the kids home, schooling from home, and only being able to enjoy your own 4 walls, I decided I'm going to live up summer and document it along the way.  We don't do lavish vacations or crazy outings, but we take little adventures often.  We get out and enjoy people, places, and the gorgeous weather.  That's something I really do not take for granted after being in "red" for 12 weeks from March to June and not being able to go anywhere.

Currently, we are in the yellow phase.  Restaurants are open again, but to outdoor seating only.  Stores are opening, but with a limited number of people inside.  Masks are worn in all offices and stores.  However, although those changes still feel like a far cry from normalcy, what has changed for the better is that playgrounds are open again.  On top of that, it's not nearly as frowned upon to be out and about, especially outdoors.  Lastly, gatherings are allowed again. 

Taking advantage of yellow's allowances, here is how we filled week 1 of Summer 2020 vacation:

Backtracking slightly, we took our very first day of no-school-summer-vacay-yay, last Friday, and traveled to Tuscarora Lake.  It was so nice to get out of our town and just feel free.  This lake is beautiful... it's nestled among tree-filled mountains and just feels like an oasis sitting there is soaking in nature. 

That was such a nice outing.  Following Friday, we had a good weekend and then week 1 truly began.  

Monday we trucked out to a local hiking spot: Hassen Creek Trail.  The cool fascet of this hike was a little waterfall dam.  It's pretty and not something that you see around here often.  

The downside of this hike was the hilly nature of this particular trail.  There are so many ups and downs in a very short amount of time.  It took us 20 minutes to reach the falls and 20 minutes to get back to the car.  However, in those 20 minutes, you are getting a day's worth of cardio via inclines and declines. My 22 week self survived, haha.

 That said, I would totally go again. 


Tuesday was filled with appointments.  First, we loaded into the car and took Josh to the dentist.  He had a cavity appointment that had been canceled due to Covid and was finally rescheduled due to being in yellow.  Following, that appointment we stopped for smoothies and headed to our next set of appointments, well checks for Josh and Annie.  We had 15 minutes to spare and stopped at a park across the street. 

We played for a few minutes and then skadoodled over to the doctors.  Both kids got bills of clean health and are all caught up on their vaccinations for the coming school year.  No tears were shed, which is always a bonus.  

Wednesday we had an event with our local MOMS Club, which happened to include free Kona Ice for all.  Afterward, we headed to a smaller, but awesomely re-done park near us.

Thursday we had plans to hit the lake again, but the weather thwarted that.  Instead, we took a day at home catching up on inside chores and also finally finally finally deep cleaned the van.  It desperately needed it! The photos below were courtest of Emily.... while I vacuumed out the van. :P 

Friday, we got to see friends for the very first time since early March.  We ate lunch, rode out a pop-up thunderstorm inside, and then brought out the water!! The kids played on a massive slip-and-slide... fun for ALL!  We rounded out the afternoon with freeze pops and headed home with our cups full.  Selfishly, I got LOTS of talking time in with my good friend, which is something that I've been really missing during the quarantine.

This week was a good start to the summer.  My goal is to fill our summer, but not overwhelm it.  This year we have no schedules and have the freedom of big kids.  Next summer, our baby boy will be in tow and we will have nap times, nursing schedules, and baby life.  I'm sure that won't slow us down too too much, but I plan to enjoy this summer and it's "big kid" motif. 

Onto week 2.... (which is currently pretty wide open soooo we shall see what we find to do!)