Pontypandy

Elias wanted a panda for his birthday and luckily IKEA had a super soft and cuddly one! Elias names him Pandy, short for Pontypandy (that part was my idea) which is the town where Fireman Sam lives. 

Pandy does just about everything with Elias. He even has a mask for mowing (and just in case for everyday life now too, stupid pandemic). 

Elias holds Pandy while he weedwhacks and mows, but his arm gets tired, or so he says. 

So we got out the doll sling and Pandy happily rides on Elias’ back during all yard work now. 

And sometimes he rides just because. He also sleeps with Elias every night either with Elias in his bed, or right next to Elias’ bed in the doll bed that my Grandpa Carlson made for me and my sisters when we were little. It just depends. Sometimes Elias says that Pandy is keeping him awake in his bed, and sometimes he says Pandy just needs to cuddle. 

Other things we’ve learned about Pandy

• he had and recovered from coronavirus in one afternoon

• he just had his fifth birthday the other day

• he isn’t usually very hungry

• Augustine helps Pandy exercise 

• Pandy sometimes goes missing because Elias can’t remember where he’s hidden Pandy from Lewis

Eucharistic Procession

Our parish priest planned a Eucharistic procession around the ‘hood! We asked the Rutledges if we could sit in our old driveway during the procession. It was bittersweet...still feels like home. 
Fr. Hottovy stopped to bless people along the route. 



We packed a picnic and enjoyed the ‘hood for a few hours. 

I made the boys ham/cheese and pbj. I made Logan and I tuna salad in butter lettuce and bbq chicken with spinach on my grandma Carlson’s sweet rolls. 

I did a little chalk art while we waited. We were at the end of the procession route, so we waited about an hour. It was a lovey afternoon!

Mommy Adventures

Augustine was in a bad mood that he just couldn’t shake at the beginning of this week. I can relate. Five weeks of quarantine is a lot, and we’re still in it. 

I decided a mommy adventure would cheer him up. I told him to pick a place to drive thru for dinner and we’d park at Holmes Lake and eat, just he and I.

He snapped right out of his bad mood. 

He chose Arby’s. We chatted while we ate and then I asked him if he wanted to take a walk when we were done. He said yes. He’d never walked to dam, so off we went. It was beautiful!



Lewis’ adventure was parking in another location with a beautiful view and eating ice cream together. Then we took a walk across two big bridges that pass over some busy streets. It’s fun to watch the traffic from up high!



Elias and I stopped at G&G’s to say hello from a distance, and then jumped in rain puddles. 

Cleaning the Cupboard

I was making jello play dough a few weeks ago, but I don’t love it because it has to be refrigerated. Takes too much space when I’m keeping a stocked fridge for 6 people who are always home. 

I had five boxes left, so I made jugglers. Not as good as I remember. 

Lewis ate one but wasn’t super impressed, and if Lewis isn’t impressed with a dessert then you know it’s pretty bad. 

Elias wanted to like them but couldn’t get past the texture. 

Augustine wouldn’t touch them with a ten foot pole. 

COVID-19 Quarantine, Week 6

More baking. I made my Grandma Irene’s cinnamon twists. They were my favorite when I was a kid. 

Delivered a birthday greeting to our favorite babysitter on our old street. 

We’ve been taking evening walks after dinner. Pandy has been joining us for many outings. 

The yard is very well kept these days. 



So much time at home means so much mess. I’ve taken to leaving most of it and just sitting down at the end of the day. I gotta stop working at some point and take a break. There will always be something to do. 

We made a bakery! We also cut the playroom in half with a long wall of toys so that the big boys could get out sets with small pieces. Levi stays on the other side so I don’t go crazy keeping him from choking. 

I perfected my dairy free chocolate chip cookies and delivered a few to a friend. 

Levi is very happy in the wagon these days. 


Levi has figured out how to get the coins in his treasure box!

Lewis did all of his school work on the deck. 

And Elias did all of his preschool work on the deck. 

Levi has discovered the Tupperware cupboard. One of my favorite pastimes for babies because I can get a lot done in the kitchen while they play. 

Levi was reading this book VERY loudly, and Elias didn’t mind because it was about pandas. 

We have daily screen time during the week, and family movie afternoons on the weekends. Levi LOVES Fireman Sam...are we surprised? No. Should a one year old watch a little tv? No. Does it keep me sane during this quarantine? Yes. 

He has figured out how to slightly open this drawer. He looks at me like he’s being super defiant when he accomplishes it. It reminds me of “Nemo touched the butt!”

I made my Grandma Carlson’s bread recipe for the first time ever! I made rolls for a picnic. 

Cooling on the cutting board Grandpa Carlson made in his woodworking shop. 

Outdoor Work

The boys helped Logan remove a small stump from the front yard. Using an ax is fun, apparently. 





Then we headed to Jim & Coco’s to watch Jim use his chainsaw on a stick, and help him clean up. I motivated the boys by telling them they could earn a penny per stick they picked up. $24 later, the yard was spotless. 

The Bashes couldn’t believe my boys happily watched and worked for 2.5 hours. They love yard work. 

More Elias Thoughts

“I’m a homemade monkey.”

“I’m gonna fight you like a goat.”

E: do you want a bite of my sausage roll?

Me: sure! Yum!

E: do you want a bite Lewis?

L: no. 

Elias: {turns to me} why doesn’t he ever like my bakes?

Me: can you believe you’re four years old now?!

Elias: I believe it in most movies, like Peter Pan.

Lewis: Elias stop saying mean stuff!

Elias: that’s not how it works Lewis.