We took one of our friends on an little outing with us.

We didn't do plan anything spectacular, we just invited her along at the last minute, when we were heading to the library and then had lunch together.

We headed straight up to the library. It's about a 15 minute walk from our house. I picked out books on the Mayans and Mexico for our next History Unit. MsE got herself lost in the stacks finding books for herself and MsI (MsI stayed home). MsC showed her friend how to use the Digital Access Catalogue on the computer (I was tempted to call it the Card Catalogue, but I suppose that's really dating myself).  We can only take out 16 books at once, so I told the girls they could pick 2 books each. That left me 8.

In the end, MsE and MsC convinced me to get rid of a few History books in favor of some extras picks of theirs. Book selection at the library always works on our counting and negotiation skills. We piled the books into our backpacks and headed down to the Food Court to find some lunch.

I offered to take them to a restaurant, but the picky eaters thought the Food Court would be easier. I picked up McDonald's for MsE while the girls waited outside the exit, so they didn't have to check in for Contact Tracing, and then we entered the Food Court. I gave the girls each $10 to buy whatever they wanted. MsC had Sweet and Sour Pork with white rice; Our friend Chicken Rice; and I had Green Thai Curry.

Somehow after all our food, the girls were still hungry for dessert. We picked up Baskin Robbins Ice cream, because they always have at least one dairy free option for MsC. We ate it outside the mall where it quickly melted.

While we were out we realized that, other than for MsC's birthday event, we hadn't taken our friend out with out with us in over a year (since before Covid). She used to come out with us all the time before that.

It's almost like 2020 is the year that never happened.