The First Day of School

We had an extra long break this year, but as always, I was a little sad to see summer come to an end. It hit me even a little harder this year, which was unexpected. We had staff work day the day prior to the students’ first day. As I was leaving the house that morning, it hit me that our days at home all together had come to an end. I know this time of coronavirus has been really difficult on many people. I even had my own moments of anxiety. But this time together has also been really special and I just felt really sad that morning about it being over. I was also exhausted from adjusting to getting up early and being in my own sinus headache fog. But, our first day arrived.

Bella is officially in high school now! Hello freshman year! She got a new backpack. The kids can’t use their lockers this year due to social distancing requirements. Normally, they’re not allowed to use their backpacks at school (due to school safety requirements), but they are wearing them this year since they can’t use lockers. But the backpacks had to be a smaller size, so we set out to find something different. She didn’t see anything she liked in the back-to-school areas, but we found this grown-up looking backpack in the same area where they sell the purses. I think she picked out a cute one!


Graydon is a sixth grader this year! The sixth graders are top dogs at our school - the big kids! He also got a new backpack this year (mainly because he’s used the same one since first grade and it had worn out). He literally picked his bag out in about a minute, which was a vast contrast to the time and stores we had to visit before Bella chose hers). Out of our three kids, Graydon was the most excited to return to school. He is the most extroverted of our three, so that came as no surprise. He was also really looking forward to joining the school band. Once students reach sixth grade, they get the opportunity to begin learning an instrument. However, due to COVID restrictions, there is no band this year. We had some major sad feelings to work through when he got that news. But he was still excited for that first day of school to arrive.


Curtis is a fifth grader this year! Fifth graders are in the older hallway with the sixth graders, so that is a big change for him this year. He is our child who is generally the most resistant about going to school. He does fine and gets great grades, he just likes to be at home more. But he has kept a pretty positive attitude so far.




I began my second year as a school counselor. In these photos so far, it looks like a typical first day of school . . .


. . . but school is anything but typical this year.


The most obvious change is needing to wear masks all the time. Most of the desks in classrooms have been spread six feet apart, so kids can take them off at their desks on the elementary side. That is not the case on the junior/senior high side. Bella keeps her mask on all day with the exception of lunch time. Some other changes are getting temperatures taken every morning at school, having assigned seats at lunch and also social distancing in the cafeteria. Specials teachers (art, music, library, etc.) come to the classrooms because they need to limit exposure to shared areas. Recess areas are divided into zones: the playground, the track, and the parking lot. Classes have to stay in their zone. Basically, the kids aren’t able to have any contact with any of their friends who are not in their class. This is all due to the need for contract tracing. If someone were to contract COVID, they would need to be able to track who else might have been exposed. These are some of the major changes. But pretty much everything has been impacted. It’s definitely a change, but overall, everyone seems to be handling all of it pretty well.

Here’s to the 2020-2021 school year! May it be well and may everyone stay well.

The Last Weeks of Summer

I spent a few days at school getting ready for the upcoming year. When I walked into my office, this drawing greeted me on my dry erase board. Bella drew it on our last day of school before Spring Break, March 6th. It was meant to welcome us back after Spring Break - only we never went back. As we finally prepared to head back five months later, I think this message of ‘good vibes only’ was even  more relevant since school re-opening plans seemed to stir up a lot of emotions and controversy.


One evening, Graydon challenged the other two to a drawing contest.


This was the inspiration sketch.

Here are the results. . .

Bella


Graydon


Curtis


All three of our kids are such good artists!

I spent one whole day going through the books in our church’s preschool. I organized and sorted them and also got rid of a whole bunch. Now they can be pulled by topic. I love a good organization project.


A couple days before this book project, I started to feel unwell. I had a low fever, scratchy throat, and felt exhausted. I felt OK on this particular day, but that evening, started to feel much worse again. A day or two later, Graydon started to feel achey and he had a fever. The two of us went to the doctor. They didn’t test us for COVID (they said we didn’t fit the criteria for a test). That morning, neither of us had a fever anymore, so I’m guessing that’s why they didn’t test us. We were tested for Strep and Mono. Both came back negative. The doctor did say that my right ear was infected and that I had sinusitis (a sinus infection). I had lost my sense of smell and my taste was greatly muted. The worst thing was probably my lack of energy - I couldn’t read and even watching TV felt hard. We were both prescribed antibiotics. This was all a few days before school started, so it was really important that we get checked out and on the mend. Graydon started feeling better by the next day. I was more gradual. Feeling sick is a major bummer.

Wisconsin Visit

We arrived home from New Jersey around 10pm on a Sunday night. On Wednesday, the kids and I loaded up the Jeep and drove up to Wisconsin for my sister’s baby shower. We had a taco theme and I was in charge of making a couple banners.




Graydon and Rocky - the eight pound dog who the kids all love to hold and carry around like a baby.


If this photo was in motion, you’d see Rocky’s little feet paddling away. So cute!


The kids had a blast splashing each other with water.






Grandma always has lots of art supplies on hand.




It’s a beast to set up, but this jumpy house provides hours of entertainment.


More beach time for us! But instead of the Atlantic Ocean, we were on Lake Michigan.






Graydon wanted to take a solo trip on Ava’s kayak. I was a little hesitant at first, but eventually conceded on the condition that he not go out too far. And that, he did not.


We wanted to see the birds up close, so we sprinkled the crumbs from our bag of chips. Instant birds.


After a hot afternoon at the lake, we went out for some ice cream.








The next day was baby shower day! I stole a few photos from my sister’s Instagram.


Photo on the left: Lori placing her bets at the Kentucky Derby during her bachelorette weekend. Photo on the right: Lori ordering food from the taco truck at her baby shower.


The food was SO good! And this was a safer way to serve food during these times of corona.






“Momgarita” station!


Cousins (minus 2.5 - the Benetti girls in Texas and Auntie Kristen’s baby who is still baking). :)


Siblings - minus Jeff!


Graydon played some hacky sack with Uncle Pat and some of his friends. I haven’t seen anyone play this in years!


The kids and I drove home to Indiana the next day with two remaining weeks of summer vacation before heading back to school.

New Jersey 2020

We are thankful that, with everything going on in our world with the coronavirus, we were still able to have our annual New Jersey trip to see Mimi Jane and play in the ocean.

The day we arrived was a little overcast, but we still got down to the beach in the early evening to put our feet in the water, fly a kite, and use the metal detector.


A big wave surprised Bella as I tried to take her picture.


Safe and dry on the sand.


Those are Bella’s footprints in the sand.


The boys taking a little rest after metal detecting.


The sun came out the next morning, so we made our way back to the water. It happened to be high tide, which isn’t as good to play in. After a little while, the boys headed back to the house. I had a good book, so I was content to stay. Bella stayed with me. We played in the waves together a little bit, she played some on her own while I read, and then we both spent some time relaxing and soaking in some sun.


While Bella and I hung out at the beach, the boys had a little crab feast.




Bella is a silly goose.


Plank competition! Andy was the winner.


My dear friend, Jen, drove out and we spent the day together. We grabbed lunch, walked through shops, and spent several hours on the beach. We never run out of things to talk about and the day always goes so fast. I loved being able to see her again this year.


Lazy mornings are the best.




Since the tide was high in the morning, it made for a great time to go swimming in the bay.


And also do a little hot tubbing.


Andy knows how to vacation.


Bella, Jane, and I did a little shopping. Time to mask up!




Waiting to go back to the beach.




I didn’t take my camera out as much each day at the beach, so I decided to make up for it this one day as everyone played in the water.




















Some of their facial expressions are the best!
















It’s hard to catch Graydon out of the water. I had to quick get him to turn and look before running back out again.




Curtis took a little break.


He went looking for shells - found a bunch of baby shells this year.




The kids are pretty good sports with all my picture-taking.
















Watermelon martinis - summer in a glass!


Seagull footprints.


Bella and I took a walk along the water that night. The forecast for the next day (our last full day) called for rain. She wanted to visit the ocean one more time.






Seafood night! I believe Graydon had shrimp, scallops, crab cake, and possibly a little bit of flounder? I can’t tell by looking at that plate - and I can’t remember now!


Curtis’s plate was similar.


Bella had salmon.


We hadn’t gone out for ice cream yet, so we decided to go for it during a break in the rain the following day.




We spent that last day relaxing at the house. I was on my second book of the week, so I didn’t mind the rain one bit. That evening, Andy and the kids made one more bonus visit to the water.

And then Saturday arrived - always the saddest day because we have to pack up and say goodbye. Our week with Mimi is always so special and this year was no exception.


As always, we drove to Cinnaminson for a few more visits before making the trip back to Indiana. We spent a few hours with the Figiels and Popperts that afternoon. It’s always a highlight to catch up with them each year. Brooke just graduated with her nursing degree and was in the process of studying for her boards (which she passed a week or so later!) Maddie just finished up her freshman year of college and is working for Instacart this summer. These girls were going in to 4th and 1st grades when we first met them in 2007!


That evening was spent with the Krott family. We had our “annual sleepover.” The kids all have a great time together.






And it’s fun for the adults to hang out too!




The vacation may be over, but we have lots of pictures and memories of our fantastic week in New Jersey.