September - it's getting crazier here in California

September started out mildly, with the kids settling into their school, play and swimming routines. Auggie and Evan continued writing practice, which was always fun to read.  The boys also started doing "PE" together - via zoom.  Ella was probably the one enjoying the social restrictions of the pandemic the most - having all of her people in the house, with no need to meet people she didn't know. 

Then came the California fires - months earlier than the year before.  We watched them carefully on the news, packed our "Go Bags" and made evacuation plans - so much more complicated in a pandemic!  One day, the wind shifted, and the Bay Area skies filled with dark, dark smoke.  The sun disappeared and street lights turned on.  

8am in front of our house:

8 am drive down Moeser

We went to Babcia and Dziadek's house, hoping for better air.  It was definitely better there, but still quite apocalyptic:

Auggie's swim trunks, left outside to dry, were covered with ash:

By the time we arrived at Babcia and Dziadek's house at 9am, this is what the street in front of our house looked like back in El Cerrito:

Fortunately, within a few days, all that was left of the smoke were some pretty sunsets:

Once the air cleared up, we were able to host some friends in our backyard.  Ella's almost-birthday twin (1 day apart) Anjali is in this picture. 

Agnieszka and Daniel spent some evenings writing get-out-the vote letters, and Auggie helped seal the envelopes and attach stamps.  

We had plenty of family time, too. 

When the smoke cleared completely, we were able to go to the beach again, which never got old!

And there were always fun weekends at Babcia and Dziadek's: