January treated us just fine. I still smile thinking about Inauguration Day. I am quite pleased with the new tone, communication style, and competent calm energy that is back in the White House as well as celebrating the arrival of our nation's first female VP Kamala Harris.
Indoor tennis opened up again in limited capacity after an over 2 month hiatus. It gives us an indoor option again for something we like to do somewhere other than in our home. A mild Portland winter (so far) has allowed outdoor tennis to happen more than I expected as well as plenty of outdoor playdates.
I finished month two of working full time from home and all is good there too. Oma is incredibly helpful taking over lunches with the kids. My parents feel more needed and there is a bit more bonding time happening between them too. Nate's work from home routine hasn't changed much at this point, just checking in more with Paul and Elise between meetings or trying to get them on task when their horseplay is getting into the ears of people on his conference calls.
Paul really amazed us with sticking to his plan for about a year of saving up all his allowance and extra job money to buy a PS4 console. I'm proud of him. Pre COVID, I was a regular in saying how we are a video game free home and intent to stay that way. Uhhh...not anymore and I don't really care.
I read this quote by Ross Gay describing parenting (really all adulting) as terror and delight sitting on a bridge next to each other with feet dangling. January was definitely a month of more simple delights maybe because I chose to focus on them or maybe because delight just won out over terror for a change of pace.
I'm hopeful February will mark Oma & Opa geting their COVID vaccine and hearing a more concrete plan as to when a school hybrid model will be offered as an option for my kids. We are just weeks away from making it one year since my kids have been inside a school and since Nate has been in his cubicle.
Lily at school
