Junebug in the time of a global pandemic

Ok, WELLLL. SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED since the last time I updated this blog. Where do I begin? Here are the biggies:

1.) As a type this, we are under a "stay at home" order because of a highly infectious coronavirus. We have been mostly in our house and yard for... about a month as I type this. I'll come back to this one later.

2.) You and Zoe started homeschooling this year and we are all pretty happy with it and our plan is to continue until something changes. We picked a good year because they closed public schools for the last quarter of the school year. You're happy about that because now your friends are pretty free to Facetime and chat on Messenger Kids.

3.) We just lost your Grandpa Russell to cancer last week. We are heartbroken.

I wanted to make sure I updated this blog during this quarantine period because I know we'll want to remember what our lives were like. Luckily, your dad's job is stable and he's able to easily work from home. Jack is quarantining with his mom because she's still working and he can't really go back and forth safely. This is his senior year at SME so no graduation, no graduation parties, etc. Fortunately he doesn't seem to mind about that stuff. We miss him, but he comes over for fires and stuff.

Our days aren't terribly different from our days when we were home before the quarantine. The biggest difference is there will be no travel for the next... who knows how long? We spend a lot of time outside; we feed the birds and you have a mud kitchen, fairy garden, dome climber and disc swing to keep you busy. We let Zinia and Willa use the playset because they enjoy it and don't have one. We had the tent up for a while and will probably get it out again. Dad builds a fire many nights, which is fun and we have eaten a lot of s'mores. You also have figured out how to play with Willa and Zinia pretty well from 6 ft away, so we are thanking our lucky stars we have friends that live next door!

We get our groceries delivered and we eat every single meal at home! This is a surprisingly weird change - I guess we were eating out a lot. :) We have been baking a bunch so we are going through eggs and butter like crazy (you guys get a lot of inspo from the kids baking championship on Hulu) and it's so weird to be sort of worried about going to the store. I really took "running out to the store" for granted!

The first part of the quarantine, your dad spent about half the time out in Lawrence helping to care for Grandpa Russell since we couldn't have a lot of nurses in and out of their house because of the virus. We made a lot of batches of Snickerdoodles for Dad and Grandpa Russell and Grandma Jackie during that time. I can probably make them in my sleep now. :) You and Zoe slept with me on the nights Dad wasn't home and that was fun.

You had your 9th birthday in the middle of the quarantine. We couldn't have a party, so our friends gave you a drive-by birthday party parade. It was really pretty remarkable. I didn't know what to expect, but they really delivered.

  

Right now there is really no clear end in sight for when life will return to normal so it's making life a little wonky but I am so, so glad I get to be cooped up in our cozy house with you, Zoe and Dad. You and Zoe are playing a lot of Roblox and Animal Crossing and we are having family movie nights. We saw Onward a few weeks ago (now movies come out straight to streaming services!), and Stepbrothers last night. I'm reading a lot and walking every day and Dad is playing a new video game. We are trying not to watch too much news because it makes us nuts. Donald Trump does a crazier thing every single day, I swear. He is batshit.

I love you, Bean! This is the weirdest blog post I've written.
xoxoxo Mama

Oh geez - it's been two whole years

Dear Junebug,

Writing the first sentence on a blog you haven't updated in two solid years is not easy, kiddo. I have no excuse except for life is busy and fun and I just haven't done it. Truth hurts, huh?

Time is weird. How are you in 2nd grade? I look at you and you seem SO BIG. You're the baby! Stop it! I blinked and now Zoe's in 5th grade and you're in 2nd. You have the same teacher she had, Mrs. Gallegos, the fun one who tells jokes into "A REAL MICROPHONE!" and dances on her desk. You still only tolerate school - you just don't like anyone telling you what to do with your time. You have a million other things you'd rather be doing. Because of this, you don't want to do any extra-curriculars which is fine with me. You like your time at home and I think that's swell. Soccer can shove it.

I was re-reading a few of the old posts here and you're still the exact same 50% feisty/50% sweetie. It's a really great combination, I happen to like it a lot. You are very kind and loving, but you don't take any shit. It's pretty great.

You are still besties with Kelsey Carroll and sometimes you guys will be together for 48 hours straight, traveling between our house and hers. She recently got you a framed picture of the two of you that you hung in your room. It's so cute I can't stand it.

You decided about a year ago that you don't ever want to get married or have kids because it's just "too much work". I find this hilarious but also sort of amazingly self-aware and forward-thinking. Sometimes when Zoe has a big fit about something and stomps off to her room you'll say, "THAT is why I don't want to have kids." and roll your eyes. I can't get enough.

Every now and then now you'll come up to me and say, "I have a problem," and you'll act like you're going to whisper in my ear but you just kiss me on the cheek in the cutest way and giggle like you really pulled one over on me. You're really such a love and a snuggler just like your Papa.

I love you so much, baby! I'm so glad I get to be your mom.

xoxox mama

Kindergarten

Dear Bug,

Somehow you started KINDERGARTEN! What? You were so ready, though, and you think it's pretty cool to be going to school with Zoe in the mornings.

I was a little worried you would think the day was too long (you go all day just like the big kids!) and that it would be too many days in a row. Last year when you were in Pre-K, when I told you it was a school day you looked at me like I was torturing you. Not this year, though. You're so happy at Briarwood with your lovely teacher, Miss Nick, and all of your neighborhood pals. This is one of the classic parenting truths: the things that you think will be hard are rarely hard. And often it's harder on you than the child. Feel free to embroider that on a pillow if you want.


You are just the sweetest little love. Miss Nick says you draw her love pictures all the time at school. I am trying to get you to sleep in your own bed more often because you are so big that you kick and smack me in the face all the time when you're moving around in your sleep. Problem is, you always say the sweetest things like, "I just want to be next to you so I can have a happy sleep." You've got my number, kid. I can't say no. Obviously.

You and Kelsey Carroll are the best of friends and play all the time. One of your favorite things to do this summer was collect cicada shells and play with them. You would name them, and give them little beds and set up a whole hospital and/or (roach) hotel.  Kind of gross if you ask me, but funny.

We had an amazing time in Michigan, OF COURSE. You are so sensitive that you really miss your dad, the big kids and your friends when we are gone but you also really love to spend all that time with Grandma Patty and your kitty, Bebe. This year Charlie was there for 10 days and you guys had a blast together. He is the cutest little nugget and you loved being bigger than somebody. You call him "Chawlie" and it rules.




 I'm so proud of you, Bugsy. You're growing up too fast, though. If you could put the brakes on that, I would be grateful. If I think about it too much, it makes me want to lay on the ground and cry. Josie started her senior year this year! In a year she'll be going off to college and it really seems like just a few years ago she was 7 years old. We are all going to miss her so much it's going to SUCK. You'll notice this is a thing with me - the passage of time really FREAKS ME OUT. But enough about that.

I love you to bits. I'm sorry that sometimes I say things like "No more leaving shoes in the car! You have to have shoes on before we get to the drop-off line!" Who cares? Am I right? Someday I'll be wishing there were still tiny flip flops laying around in my car, I just know it. Being a mom is a weird business. But I love you, all the time. Every minute. And I can't write these damn blogs without crying. Maybe that's why I'm so bad at updating them.

xoxoxo
Mama

Just Junie

Hi Bug!

Sometimes when we call you something other than Junie (like Bug, or Junebug or Juniper), you say, "No, I'm JUST JUNIE!"

I know I always have an excuse for why I don't get to this blog more often, but excuses are cool. Right? This time, it's that things are busy and FUN!

The fall is such a crazy fun time with Halloween, my birthday, Thanksgiving, Zoe's birthday and then Christmas! And this year a few weeks after Christmas we went to Arizona. There has been no shortage of fun around here, kiddo.

In the past few months you've gotten really into sharks (you pronounce it SHOUT) and have decided that your power animal might, in fact, be a shark. You used to be really into cheetahs, and you still are, but I have a feeling sharks are going to take the crown for a while.

You are just so, so sweet. You want to snuggle all the time and hold my cheek and give me "tisses" and you tell me I'm the best mom ever.

Sometimes, though, you get mad and tell me that I'm actually NOT the best mom ever and I'm not even the best DRIVER ever. This is the sort of thing that comes out of your mouth when I, for example, try to put your snowpants on and you remember that they are blue and blue is NOT your favorite color. Or if I make you hand over a marker when I can see you're clearly on your way to color something that is NOT meant to be colored on. You don't stay mad long, though, which is nice.

You and Zoe are so RIDICULOUSLY CUTE together. The other day I was watching you play outside in the snow and she was pulling you around in the sled. I wanted to cry tears of pure gratitude because having a sister is just the best. It makes me so incredibly happy that you have each other. Sometimes when we drop her off at school you get a sad little look on your face and say "I'm gonna miss Zo." And my insides twist.

I love you SO SO SO much. You are the light of my life, my sweet girl. I am just so lucky that I get to be your mom.

xoxo
Mom

Catch Up

Bug,

Time to play catch up, I guess. We moved! Moving sucks! It's super stressful and leaves things like blogs in the dust. You just have to deal with it ALL THE TIME. So, sorry I've neglected this blog for so long but it's time to catch up!

Here's our new house. It's cute and we love it. We mostly love it because it's right near our dearest friends but also because it's in a sweet neighborhood with tree-lined streets and you guys can walk to school and it's just what I wanted for you guys as your childhood home.

We also had a crazy summer full of fun and fun and more fun. We joined Round Hill pool, which turned out to be one of our better ideas. Then of course we spent a month in Michigan doing everything fun there is to do. We ate SO MUCH ICE CREAM. 

And of course you got to meet your cousin, Charlie Coconut, for the first time. You adore him. You call him Chowlie Toe-ta-nut.

When we got back, you stood on your chair and managed to fall right off backwards and that landed us in the ER. You ended up with this: 

Luckily, you're just a pretty happy roll-with-it kid so you aren't that bothered. Phew. 

The other thing that you've been doing lately, which I think is so funny, is getting super into one toy (or type of toy) for like 1-3 weeks and then basically forgetting about it altogether. You got a Rainbow Dash Equestria Girl and it was THE THING. You carried it everywhere. You played with it every single second. Until you found Magic Clip Green Anna. Then you only played with Magic Clips. Next it was Thomas and "greenie greenie" the Trains. Now it's Sultan of the Disney Palace Pets. It's exhausting and hilarious. And expensive because you beg and beg and beg and you just have to have whatever it is....

I love you, Buggy. You are so funny and sweet and feisty and you just make us all so happy. I love it so much when you wake up at night and say, "I wanna snuddle you." and you put your hand right on my cheek. I just melt, kid. 

Love, 

Mom

Don't Tiss Me, That's Yut

Junebug, you're THREE!

Even though I can't even remember life without you, I also can't believe you're already 3. You're already the age that Zoe was when you were born. Crazy insane how time flies, kid.

You have been talking about your birthday for weeks and weeks and were not the best sport about other people's birthdays leading up to yours. For example, when we tried to sing to Grandpa David you said, "It's MY birthday!" (although when you say it it sounds like boat-day) and then you sulked. But this time it really was your birthday and you had the best time. You are obsessed with the movie Frozen and you got A LOT of Frozen toys and clothes for your big day.

I love this picture of you looking so pleased with your Frozen dress and Elsa doll.

You just learned how to go on the potty a few weeks ago and that was SO EASY, I can't even believe it. You're a smart cookie, kiddo. I always gear up for things like this (starting preschool, weaning, potty-training, etc) like I'm driving straight into a hurricane and you guys always show me up. You're all, "Um, nailed it. Good thing you got all nuts, Mom. Ain't no thang, fool." 

You are so funny;  you hardly ate any of your birthday cake because you did mostly this: 

It's awesome. And messy. Luckily your Dad seems to totally get it so he's happy to let you go to town. The desire to squish your cake must come from his side. It's lost on me, man. 

I love you SO much! You're growing up into such an awesome little kid. You're so sweet and funny and rascally and feisty and I love you to bits and bits. 

Love, 

Mama

OMG YOU'RE SO CUTE

Junebug!

You at almost 3...I can't even tell you how adorable you are.You are the spunkiest little rascally kid but you are also the biggest sweetheart. You sit in my lap and smooch my face and say things like, "I love you so much!" In the middle of the night when you come into my bed you will say, "Can I cuddle with you?" and when I say yes you say, "Oh Goody!" (but it sounds like oh doody). I can't get enough of it. You also still say, "You da bess!" when we say yes to you. Which reminds me that you really don't like it when we say no to you. You'll sometimes say, "DON'T SAY NO TO ME!" or "Say yes!". Sometimes you get so mad when we say no that you cross your arms and say things like, "Don't look at me. You're mean. I don't like you anymore." Lately you've started saying, "I hate you!" because you love to be just like your teenagery big sister. And that big sister would NOT be your teenage sister Josie but your 6 year old sister, Zoe.

Whenever you and Zoe play games she always names someone Ella. It's like her go-to name. You, however, always choose Dayla. Dayla is your go-to name. Which is really hilarious since it's just something you made up and not actually a name you've ever heard.

I have been telling you stories at bedtime of when Grandpa David was little and when Aunt Jess and I were little. So you have started telling other people stories about yourself when you were little. You say, "When I leedle, I get stuck in mud! I say, 'MOMMEEE HELP MEEEE!" and then you laugh and laugh like that is the best story anyone has ever heard and you feel so lucky to be able to tell it.

For the longest time you said "I want somepoo eat" when you were hungry but just lately you have started saying, "Mom, my tummy is so hunn-ry." You'll often say, "I so thirssy. I need my wah-ballah (water bottle)." I know you'll outgrow saying things like this is a flash so I'm savoring it all right now. Just like 1/4 of all mom blog posts tell me to do.

You always want to be a part of the conversation so sometimes you'll hear me say something like, "well, that's on Saturday" and you'll say, "SATURDAY?! I hate Saturday!" and you'll kind of roll your eyes like, "sheesh, man? you know?"

Right now we are starting to learn potty stuff. I'd say you're about 10% in. You're not opposed exactly, but you kind of act like this is just another one of my crazy schemes and you'll humor me for a while until I get on some other jag. So we'll see. You're kind of sick right now w/ a crappy cough so I'm not putting it high on my list of priorities.

Well, guess what? I love you. I love you like crazy. I was listening to this book on tape and the main character has a baby and she said, "this love is so big it's TERRIFYING." Yup. That's exactly how I feel. Love you so much it hurts.

xoxoxoxoxox
Momma