Figuring Out a New Normal
[Photos from 22 – 31 March 2020, posted online 23 August 2020. We finally brought out the wood staining stuff, and got to work during this gorgeous weekend, me at house #1 and Finnur at house #2.]
It was weird not meeting any friends or family, it was just us for weeks on end. Emma met kids at school, but no such luck for Bjarki. We therefore let Bjarki hang out with 1-2 friends after his schoolwork was done, but that was about all the socialization that was on offer.
We ended up doing a fair number for workouts to let off steam, especially to begin with, but interest waned as the weather improved. Anna claimed the kitchen for epic baking sessions, I went on lots of walks to get out of the house, and scooters and bikes were brought out as the snow finally began melting properly. (55-ish images total)
Sunday 22 March 2020
Bowling, Skiing & Furniture Building
[Photos taken 01 – 13 March 2020, posted online 13 August 2020. We’re dog-sitting!]
March was a bizarre month. Due to the looming Covid-19 threat my birthday and our 20-year wedding anniversary were relatively quiet affairs.
I somehow managed to take the kids skiing during the 2-day winter school break (Finnur had injured a finger in February, and wasn’t up to hazardous adventures) a couple of weeks before the ski lifts were shut down. Anna also began learning how to drive.
As more and more covid cases were diagnosed as Icelanders returned from ski-and football trips from abroad, my workplace began dividing up areas to reduce the number of people needing to quarantine. The call also went out for people to work from home if they could, so I set up a small home office. (65-ish images total)
Sunday 01 March 2020
Colorful Art & Costumes on the Eve of Covid-19
[Photos taken 21 – 29 February 2020, posted online 04 August 2020. Currently in Borgarnes, over half-way through our vacation.]
The last few days of total freedom before the first Icelandic case of Covid-19 was diagnosed on 28 February.
We visited the library, dropped in on a couple of museums, visited house #2 with friends, made cream puffs, enjoyed Ash Wednesday/Halloween #2, and even joined more friends for dinner! (60-ish images total)
Friday 21 February 2020
Emma Turns 7 Years Old
[Photos taken 12 – 16 February 2020, posted online 31 July 2020. No more lovely weather, as a deep low pressure area will be visiting over the weekend. Most weekend events cancelled anyway as a result of Covid-19 reappearing.]
Our Emma is now 7 years old. She got a mini-celebration on her actual birthday, and a proper party a few days later. Little did we know that would be the last family party for a long while. (35-ish images total)
Wednesday 12 February 2020
Snow Play & Spring Signs
[Photos taken 01 – 11 February 2020, posted online 30 July 2020. Covid-19 is rearing its ugly head again, and authorities have just announced increased restrictions as of tomorrow.]
February began with snow, and then trended towards spring. We did manage to use a sled, go bowling, attend a birthday party, let Emma try taekwondo, get Emma’s hair cut, attend an IT show downtown, and gather gifts for Emma’s upcoming birthday.
Underneath it all, the Covid-19 wardrums began pounding, but they were still far away. (45-ish images total)
Saturday 01 February 2020
Darkness & Yellow Weather
[Photos taken 02 – 31 January 2020, posted online 20 July 2020. We’re officially on summer vacation, yay!]
This winter was harsh in multiple meanings of the word. The darkness was to be expected, but there seemed to be endless yellow weather warnings, as low pressure area after low pressure area swam by Iceland. We hunkered down and tried to make the best of it. (80-ish images total)
Thursday 02 January 2020
Anna 16 Years Old & Yule Party
[Photos taken 25 December 2019, posted online on 27 June 2020. Bjarki turns into a teenager tomorrow!]
On Christmas Day, Anna turned 16 years old. She opened presents at home, and then we all went to Finnur’s parents’ place to eat great food, play social-whist, and then Anna opened some more presents! (25 images total)
Wednesday 25 December 2019
Open-Yule-Presents Day
[Photos taken 24 December 2019, posted online 20 June 2020. Funny to look back to the dark winter now as the daylight never really leaves.]
The mad post-renovation-tidying continued while Finnur magic-ed a festive yule-meal in the kitchen. After eating a delicious meal, we opened all the presents. A good time was had by all! (25-ish images)
Tuesday 24 December 2019
Yule Photo-shoot & Recital
[Photos taken 17 December 2019, posted online 01 June 2020. It’s Whit-Monday, a public holiday, cloudy but calm outside, riots abroad.]
Out of pure stubbornness (my defining characteristic), I still take photos of the kids every year, for the annual photo-calendar. (The rule of the calendar is that every month has photos from the same month of the previous year.)
This year I was running out of time as usual, so a random Tuesday was my day of choice. It coincided with Emma’s first yule-tide music school recital, which was more stressful for her than I’d realized. Next year I’ll try to avoid such a basic scheduling mistake, but it all worked out ok in the end. (20-ish photos)
Tuesday 17 December 2019
Bad Weather, Good Progress
[Photos taken 08 – 16 December 2019, posted online 31 May 2020. It’s yet another three day weekend, I’m getting a bit too used to them now!]
December marched on. The Sun deserted us for longer and longer periods of time, but life went on. There were family gatherings, Bjarki performed at the his yule-tide recital, I got a new view of a gymnastics hall, and the weather put its mark on all our lives.
Thankfully, the bathroom renovations marched on, and we finally had an operational toilet and shower. (No sink though.) Feeling inspired, a storage “solution” was installed in the garage, to lessen the chaos there. (50-ish images total)
Sunday 08 December 2019
