Professional Hair Help

 Finally, a real haircut for Leo.  Boy did he need it. 

Exposure notice

 I received a COVID exposure notice on Wednesday that a girl on Serafina's dance team tested positive for COVID.  The girl is on the same small jazz line as Serafina, and they rehearsed together inside the studio on April 19th, when the exposure happened.  The girl was asymptomatic and I'm not sure when she tested positive.  By the time I got the notice, the quarantine period was already almost over. I decided to have Serafina tested anyway out of an abundance caution because Serafina will be attending an in-person dance convention and competition this weekend.  I didn't want to be responsible for a super spreader event. 

Plus, testing is free and drive thru.  And she got to administer the test herself, so it wasn't a big deal at all. 

The test was negative.  We were all pretty sure that would be the case, but it is reassuring to have it confirmed. My friend in New York has her kids in hybrid school and has received a few exposure notices.  I guess that's the norm for kids that attend in-person activities and will probably be the case next school year when my kids go back to in-person learning.  I think it's excellent evidence that masks work that Serafina spent an hour dancing in the same room as a kid sheading virus and didn't get infected. 

Leo's top braces

Leo started using a bite plate over two years ago.  It stopped fitting at the beginning of the pandemic but I didn't feel comfortable going to the orthodontist until the summer.  When we finally went, they said Leo was done with the bite plate (he could keep it for a souvenir but I'm not sure where it is now) and it was time for braces.  We didn't get started on the process until December after Tom started a new job and had better insurance. He's spent several months with a couple different appliances in his mouth but they are mostly hidden.  Today he got his the top brackets for traditional braces.  Though they will be hidden behind a mask a lot of the time he's in public.  

He was an absolute trooper through the process and I think they look good on him.  They have colored rubber bands to hold the wire to the bracket and he chose dark purple.  The ortho said he can pick a different color every time he comes in for an adjustment as long as his teeth are clean.  If they aren't clean, the orthodontist will pick the color.  

 

Backward Somersault Race

Spoiler alert: no one barfed

 No one can ever beat Leo.  I don't suggest trying. 

Competition Dance filming

 Serafina's first dance convention and competition is next weekend.  It was supposed to take place locally, but because of COVID restrictions in our area, they moved it to Reno.  Guess you can do whatever you want in Reno.  As a result, the dance studio decided to submit their competition dances via video and will allow kids to attend the workshops virtually.  

Serafina is definitely bummed that her first convention and competition has to be virtual, but there are three more events this dance season that should all be local and in-person.  

On Sunday, the studio had all the dancers come to the parking lot to perform on the portable stage so they could record their video submissions for the competition. 

Serafina's Show Jazz performance was the first dance of the day.  

Here she is all ready to go: 

The only make-up requirement was fake lashes because they are all wearing masks which cover most of their faces.  She applied the lashes herself, which was a great relief to me. 

Here's a video of the Show Jazz.  Show Jazz is a big group with kids from all different age groups. It's a little hard to spot her because of the mask, but she's on the left of the screen.  

After she was done filming Show Jazz, she changed into her other Jazz costume.  This year, every kid was given a body suit as a base for all their costumes so they can change outside or in some other open space.  There was a little bit of a wait until her next filming, but we enjoyed watching other groups warm up. 

Her next performance was Pixie Jazz.  It's a smaller group based on age. She's easier to spot in this video because she is the tallest.  She starts on the right side of the screen, but comes back on towards the back on the left.  

I think she did great during both dances, but it's clear these kids haven't had a chance to practice together in person much.  Learning group dance choreography over Zoom is tough.  Two weeks ago, the competition teams started holding their weekday classes in person.  

Here she is once we were home.  Her lashes held up great but her hair was a bit of a different story.

First COVID shot

I got my first COVID shot at a mass vaccination site today.  I went to Levi's Stadium, where the 49ers play, and where I've been on field trips with Serafina and Leo, and also a Beyoncé concert. 

There were a lot of people there.  I mean, a lot.  It was well organized and they kept the line moving, but I was still there for close to two hours.  

I'm very happy to be one step closer to being protected.  I'm also looking forward to seeing my family, hugging my friends, and just overall relaxing when I'm out in the world.  I'd also like to go back to Orangetheory Fitness since I miss that a whole heck of a lot too. My friend asked for a vaccine selfie (a "vaxxie"), so I took one with a Snapchat filter.  This pandemic has worn on me, folks, and you can see that in my face when it's not frosted and adorn with butterflies.  

 Tom gets his second shot next week.  I go back for mine on May 6th.  Yay for science! 

Spring Break, Santa Cruz trip

We took a little trip to Santa Cruz today.  The first stop was the beach so the dog could run around like crazy.  He loved it.  It was really nice to be down by the ocean.  There was hardly anyone at the beach and the sun was shining.  

After the beach, Serafina wanted to see where I went to college, so we drove up to the university campus.  It's a really stunning place, but we just drove around and didn't take any pictures.  

Of course, no trip to the beach is complete without a stop at Marianne's for ice cream.  Because of COVID, we have to take it to-go.  It's delicious no matter where we eat it. 

 

Spring Break, day 1

 We don't have any plans to travel for Spring Break - no trip to Tahoe, no visiting family or friends.  It's still a pandemic, after all.  It's a little bit of a let down, but things are so much better than last year.  Last year, Leo and Serafina's school breaks didn't line up. Mousse wasn't fully vaccinated and he couldn't do much, like walk on grass.  And, of course, there was the incredible fear and unknown we were living in because of the pandemic.  It was starting to become clear my kids were not going to go back to school, but we were so unsure about COVID and how it was spread.  I was still wiping down all my groceries and I was the only one going out on errands. 

Things are better and looking up.  Tom got his first vaccine on April 1st, the first day he was eligible. My first shot is scheduled for this coming Thursday, the first day I'm eligible.  It's exciting.  The kids still have to wait a while and that's hard for them.  But we are trying to find some fun each day of spring break.  Today it was a favorite spot where the dog can run around. 

It was really nice out. 

Leo brought his pocket knife so he could whittle a stick.  He said it was harder than he realized. 

Serafina is pretty much always working on her flexibility. 

In the afternoon, we went for frozen yogurt.  I wouldn't have allowed my kids into a yogurt shop a year ago.  I wouldn't have even let them do it a couple of months ago.  They are now experts at social distancing and mask wearing.  I trust them and I feel better about the state of our world.  It was a nice treat to eat, and nice to realize we've come a long way. 

Leo's magnificent mop

Leo was way overdue for a haircut.  He could barely see with all the hair hanging in his eyes.  He said I could cut it today. 

Before I got started, he allowed Serafina to work some magic. 

Crazy hair selfie. 

I think he used up all his patience with Serafina because he didn't let me do a lot of cutting.  He said he was tired and the cuttings were too itchy. I was able to get it out of his eyes, but he definitely needs more cutting. 

 Though it looks okay in this picture, it doesn't look that great in person.  I already texted my hair stylist, and if she can't see him very soon, Tom will try to fix it. Whoops!  Fortunately next week is spring break so he doesn't have to tune into virtual school with a bad hairdo. 

 

Happy Easter!

 Today we celebrated our second Easter during COVID.  We had a nice brunch with my mom. I made tofu chilaquiles and a cinnamon roll cake. Tom made pork for dinner.  I took zero pictures today, but I did take some pictures yesterday when we went to the elementary school field with the dog.  The field has been locked up for a very long time, but now that the campus reopened to bring a portion of the kids back to school, the gate is unlocked during the evenings and weekends.  Dogs aren't allowed, but I know what the principal's car looks like so we don't get caught.