Farming and the First Day of School

We had some landscaping done, including patching up our lawn. Grass has a hard time growing in all the shady areas of our yard, so along with putting down new sod, the crew "limbed up" several trees, even taking down a few, so that a bit more light could get down to the ground. (I loved when the guy said that phrase, "limbed up." Never heard it described that way before.) 

Shawn read that you should water-in new grass quite a lot, so this morning I am playing in the hose/sprinkler, moving it around to all the different patches. I'm choosing to look at it that way, not "getting wet and muddy after already taking a shower," lol. I actually don't mind. Working from home, no meetings, For The Win. I will have to re-do my hair and change clothes before an 11:15 chiropractor appointment, but that's the only person I'm seeing today aside from the fam. (And she's pretty casual, herself.)

Before all the farming began, though, we ushered Kate off to her first day of Junior year! Yes, school starts very early here. Yes, she's so grown, Junior year is some serious business (she has 2 APs this semester, and 2 next spring). For me, the main thing is it's the first year of her driving herself, wahoo! She could have ridden the bus these last 2 years, and she did, a bit, during the first of those... until she decided it wasn't a good look for her. ;) So I had carpool duty. It made for disjointed work-days. I liked getting a little time with her (when she was nice! haha teenagers) but I'm so glad the driving part for me is done. Glad we could make it happen for her to have a car to drive. Nervous for her in the parking lot at the end of the day -- some of those teens absolutely tear out of their parking spaces, I have witnessed. But hoping she will be extra careful, and have plenty of after-school meetings etc., so she isn't leaving during the mad rush. 

Some bulleted thoughts about school this year:

• I agreed to make her lunch today and probably will tomorrow, but after this I'm going to require that she does it sometimes. Girl can't go off to college in a couple years if she can't even demonstrate that she can pack a lunchbox. It is the smallest of things and she can HELP, for the love. (I did kind-of smile putting her lunch together this morning, though. Grapes and a sandwich, just like her first days of Kindergarten, sunrise, sunset, etc!)
• She's planning to carpool with a friend, actually, so she won't be driving every single day, and I'm glad about that, too. We live so close to several of them. But the main reason is they don't want to walk into the building alone. Even if they drive separately, they plan to meet at someone's car before going in. Solidarity, I like it.
• She and that same friend did not make the high school volleyball team. It was a blow, but they got over it quickly. Subsequently, they both also decided not to play club ball next year, nor beach, so that is the end of a little era! I'm not sad about it. Not sad about my pay raise, either, without those club fees! Instead, the two of them have gotten jobs (Smoothie King), and also signed up at Planet Fitness to stay in shape. Heck yeah! I wish I'd been that motivated when I was her age (or ever). Their plan is to go workout after school on certain days, together. I'm proud of them and hope they will enjoy this new life they're creating for themselves.
• She's doing yearbook this year (my heart! one of my THINGS when I was in school!), and her friend group has started a club called Project Dress, where they're collecting prom dresses and somehow going to get them to girls who can't afford to buy their own. It's sustainability along with helping others, and I'm here for it.

Here's to another August - May! 

High School Orientation! and Clothes

Another rite of passage today: Took Kate to Orientation for high school. There isn't too much to tell, really. She was nervous, but handled it. Met one girl in her homeroom (yay!) and saw the couple of kids she knows. She said she feels better after having gone, so the event served its purpose. One day left of summer vacation.

I do love our high school. Today, part of the parent presentation was to introduce our new mascots (our mascot is a bulldog) -- real live dogs in the building, wearing cute little dog-sized football jerseys in the team's colors!   

Moving on: Let's talk for one minute about how GREAT school uniforms are -- or, were, in our case. Kate is most nervous about what to wear every day, and I totally get it. I've been thinking about trying a clothes-rental subscription. Did you know this is a thing? My sister does it. She always has something cute on, and it turns out, she rents all these things! 

You get a box with, from what I can tell, 4-6 new pieces based on your style profile, and you wear them for a month, then send them back. And then you get another shipment! To me it seems like a perfect, chef's-kiss solution for teenage girls who are so fickle in what they like ("in" today, trash tomorrow!) and always want new, cute things. Of course these would be used cute things, but let's not dither over details. I also like that it's that "sustainable fashion" mindset; instead of buying something and wearing it a couple of times and then throwing it away or giving it to Goodwill, you send it back and someone else enjoys it.

Of course I would feel like I wasn't giving equal kid-treatment since her brother definitely was NOT offered such a thing. But boys wear athletic shorts and tshirts every day. Dressing a girl is a different animal entirely. 

It's somewhat expensive -- around $80-90 per month usually. But I don't know... maybe? I have spent an average of MUCH MORE than $80/month on clothes for Kate in the last 4 months. Granted, we've been trying to build a bit of a wardrobe after 9 years of plaid skirts and knee socks. But it seems like this would be a wise investment. I wonder if she would be at all interested. I'm not seeing a "teen" option on any of the sites so far, but maybe that's okay? Better, even, since there would be fewer teeny tiny crop tops that are barely a shirt.

---haha, Edited to add: I mentioned this to Kate just now and she is NOT interested. She says, "That would be so weird." Oh well. Keeping it here in case maybe you are intrigued, dear Reader! :)

That's a Wrap on Schoolyear '20-21

FINALLY, school is over in this house! It seemed to drag on this week -- especially because one kid was finished with his last exam on Wednesday morning, but the other kid had 2 more days to go. But today as of noon, they are both officially on summer vacation, woo hoo!

I can feel palpable relief in the air. Kate said, "RIP my bedtime!" with glee. (Me: "I... hope you won't stay up 'til 3 a.m. every night....?" Her: (stares blankly at me). Teenagers.

This morning Shawn asked me to water the backyard with our sprinkler (not an installed system, just the old-school revolving one at the end of a hose), and even that felt kind-of like summer fun, getting wet but not minding, when I moved it every half-hour. :)

At 2:00 p.m. I will drive her over to CVS to get her first dose of the vaccine! And THEN we will get some double-celebratory ice cream.

In the next 2 summer months, I'm looking forward to:

• Popsicles
• Quiet mornings while they sleep in
• More grilling and maybe even patio dinners
• Enjoying our backyard and my flowers (and tomatoes - looks like so far we're going to have a great crop from our one plant!)
• Fruit: Strawberries, melon, cherries
• Maybe a rewatch of Mrs. Maisel, which was My Show last summer and is just so fun
• Pedicures 
• Maybe some new clothes for myself - I spend so much time thinking about clothes for the kids
• A little bit of sun on my legs, face
• Going in to my office more (HA! Just a little joke!)
• My birthday!
• Our beach trip!

My Kitchen Smells Good This Week!

Specifically, today it smells good -- I have red beans (pinto beans) in the crockpot. P.S. I just learned this week that when my mother makes Red Beans & Rice, she uses pintos! What the what?! I never knew this. If Mandy were still reading here, she'd have something to say.

I've felt pretty good about the last few weeks of dinner menus, although I didn't post any. Some memorable ones: 

Pasta Primavera, but using the veggies I had (spinach, broccoli, bell pepper, zucchini), so basically nothing like the recipe I just linked, lol.

Chicken Fried Rice. This is one of the easiest things, I don't know why I don't make it more often. I made teriyaki chicken (made up the recipe, really - soy sauce, garlic, a little honey, voila).

Breakfast for dinner! One night I decided enough was enough (menu planning, I mean) and we had pancakes, but the really great thing (once I got over my need to control the kitchen) was that KATE made the pancakes! I just told her, "You are in charge of the pancakes." She made blueberry, chocolate chip, AND regular... and a mess, naturally, but still. A kid who cooks, I'll keep. ;) We had fruit salad, too, and bacon.

A variety of quesadillas. I've had this container of BBQ pork in my fridge for a week or 2 (or 3), and the other night I decided to use it for a fancy quesadilla. I added red onion, BBQ sauce, and cheddar, and made a sour cream sauce to go with it. If I'd had cilantro, that would have made it better, but I didn't. Also made a plain chicken-and-cheese, and a black bean quesadilla, because those are always good. Served with canned corn and chips/salsa.

And tonight is Red Beans (and Rice), but from scratch, not the Zatarain's box (which we normally use, and I do love). They've been cooking since 8:00 a.m. and are going to be delicious, with corn bread muffins. I need to add the sausage at about 4:00, then cook it 2 more hours. 

-----

School is going well! The local newspaper headline this morning about the private schools who went back (including ours): "So Far, So Good." Teachers and students seem to be doing really well with mask wearing and enforcement, as well as taking "mask breaks." Kate says it feels pretty normal, all things considered. Honestly, I hope the administrators find value in the new practices that can carry over into the future, when things really ARE normal again -- like holding more classes outside, taking a 10-minute walk (mask break) around the school once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and virtual teaching when there's a need for it. I heard a report saying lots of schools have decided "We'll never have Snow Days again," and to that I Strongly Disagree, as will kids everywhere... but ... it makes sense, really. And a little virtual schooling on Snow Days couldn't hurt.

And So It Goes

Today our public school district announced that Fall 2020 will start out 100% virtual, instead of going back to school. 

I am so relieved.

I am also so sad.

Three weeks ago, they said we would have to decide on our own, whether we'd send our kids back or do online school. I knew that the right call was to keep Alex home, but he had said immediately he wanted to go back. I was reading all the advice saying "We have to be the grown-ups, we have to be the bad guys in this situation, for our kids' -- and the nation's -- health, and keep them home." ...but still, I was willing to let him choose. To order him to wear his mask, obviously, but let him go. His mental health and growth and development is a factor in all of this, too. He was looking forward to it.

But now we don't have the choice, and I'm sad for him. We're waiting for an email from the band directors to come tonight. Supposedly fall sports are still on (... ?? how is that feasible? football? are you kidding me? surely this will change soon, too), and we are supposed to start Band Camp next week. 

I am trying to stay calm for Alex's sake.

Kate's private school has been moving toward in-person school with an option to do virtual, and they probably have an easier time planning for it all, being exponentially smaller than the public district; but I do wonder if this will alter their plans as well.

I feel some legitimate sadness hovering over all of us; the kids are so bored, and starved for contact with their friends. They've both had one or two sleepovers and visits, but it's not enough. I know they're in contact with friends online, but it just isn't the same. I worry for their futures, their relationships, their mental health. 

AND on the other hand, I'm determined to do my best to help make it a good semester anyway. How can I do it better than in Spring? How can we be together more? How should we order our days to make them Good Days? What can we add that will be of value later? What can we subtract? It's our job as parents to give it our best shot for our kids. I want to do that. I pray I'll have the energy and means. I pray work will let me be here and work flexibly, and that I'll keep my job. 

One thing I think is sorely missing from all the leaders, is some hearty cheerleading for everyone -- you know, like, "Everybody come on, together we can DO THIS!" Maybe that's what I need to focus on most of all. Rallying the troops. Positive attitudes. 

Updates on Day.... um.... 66, I think?

1. The refrigerator WAS especially dirty! I am so glad I cleaned it. 
2. The scaveola are hanging (ha) in there! They perked up, I've been VERY diligent about moving them under the porch when it rains, constantly watching my phone for weather alerts, and only watering them every other day, only if they need it. I am a farmer like my father before me. ;) But seriously, I am pretty proud of the success of these plants since I usually kill plants easily. I'm nervous that, if I ever have to go back to an office every day, they won't get the attention they require. 
3. I did, in fact, go back to work, from home of course, and it hasn't been all that terrible. Monday was a day of meetings, and I had to pick Kate up from a sleepover across town (let's talk about that below), so I felt like I got nothing really accomplished. But Tuesday and Wednesday were significantly more productive, and that felt good. 
4. The kids have all but finished school. Grades are in (all As). SEE YA, 6th and 10th grades. Alex has his AP Humanities exam today (!!) and Kate still has one "fun" Google Meet scheduled tomorrow, but all the other work is DONE. Kate had so many projects. Science (Google slides re: Hurricanes/Hurricane Harvey); Religion (some kind of family tree thing); Spanish (a menu for a ficititious restaurant); Social Studies (Google slides about Enlightenment thinkers - that was a tough one); and Literature (a paper about hurricanes - cross-class w/Science). Sheesh! Today we have to go to Kate's school to pick up her yearbook and the rest of her locker stuff, which the teachers have bagged up and labeled for every kid! There's a food pantry drop-off, as well, which makes me love our school even more, again. 
5. Both kids report they WANT to go back to school in the fall. 
6. I finished 4 books in the Women of Lancaster County (Amish) series and loved them all. I haven't read a full series in a long time. Now I've moved on to Sisterland, by Curtis Sittenfeld. 

So, Kate has had a couple of sleepovers. The first was Adrianna (neighbor nextdoor), and it was because A. asked me if she could sleep over. !! A little presumptious of her. She claims her parents have been fighting and she wanted to give them some space. (Her mom has told me they've been arguing a bit -- husband is home 24/7 and I think it's driving wife a little crazy, but it's nothing serious as far as I can tell.) I guess it's nice of their daughter but I hope my kids are not that bold to directly invite themselves over to other peoples' houses! No, ma'am. Anyway, we handled it (not without a little moodiness from 2 pre-teen girls), ordered pizza, made s'mores at the fire pit, set them up with a popcorn and movie night, served cinnamon rolls for breakfast, and then sent her home. 

The better sleepover was a meetup with her camp friends -- since she won't get to see them at camp this summer. And it was a surprise: Sarah Kate is from Kentucky, and her cousin Olivia lives here. I told Kate we were meeting O. but SK had secretly come down for a visit -- we met up with them for a hike and Kate had no idea SK would be there. Surprirse! It was so fun. They waded in the creek up to their waists, making memories for sure. And then they couldn't bear to part, so I let her go home with them. 

SHOULD we be having sleepovers, technically? Probably no. But geez, we've been isolated at home for nearly 2 months, and the kids have been SO good about not complaining. I absolutely couldn't say no. In my opinion, it's still social distancing as long as we don't do it frequently. The rules don't say, "Never ever see your friends again." They say to do things cautiously. 

In that same vein, I'm getting excited about our June visit to Pensacola. I think we might try to skip the condo in Destin; why haul all the stuff out there when we can stay at Mom and Dad's just as easily? We'll see. They might want to go, to "get their money's worth" from the time-share. I get that. But with a pool and enough beds, and cousins across the street, I think their house would be just fine. Still vacation-y! Getting to see my parents (we've missed 2 full times we should have seen them this spring)! Easier to get groceries in town than at the beach! 

Speaking of groceries, we've had some good meals lately. (I am still so sick of meal planning.)

S - Red beans and rice with sausage

M - Sloppy joes, sweet potato fries and tots (whatever was left in the freezer)

T - marinated pork tenderloin, wild rice, green beans

W - marinated grilled chicken, black bean salad (made w/cilantro and chives from the garden!!), cornbread muffins 

Th (tonight) - PW's creamy tomato fettucine and a spinach salad (will use basil from the garden!)

F - Hello Fresh (I restarted) bulgogi meatballs and jasmine rice, yippie! 

S - order in night

School's Out Forever

Georgia's governor finally decided to declare this a big deal and issued a stay at home order yesterday. I'm glad my county had acted ahead of him on that, and we've been staying home as much as possible (minus a few food runs). His order also included that kids will not go back to schools in Georgia this year. Boom.

It felt so sad and pessimistic to actually hear it for sure; we suspected this was likely to happen, but yesterday it became true and just felt heavy and final. Watching the press conference made me cry. There he was, trying to say things like "we'll be back, with strength and courage," when none of us really feels like that at this moment.

Oh well. I mean, we can't control what we can't control.

Today* I put on makeup, real pants, and shoes that were not lace-up sneakers (Skechers slip-ons, but still). I don't think it made a huge difference in my mood, but I felt like I at least needed to try. I did get a new pair of yoga pants, by the way. They're extra soft and we will become very close friends immediately.

Here's one thing I'm not doing well: faith/Catholicism During This Time. I mean, Lent was quickly out the window when it all began; I started comfort-eating sweets and desserts immediately, which was what I'd given up. The cliche of "gave up everything in Lent 2020" fits here, and I don't even feel bad about it. But, because the bishops of Atlanta lifted Catholics' Sunday obligation, I haven't been requiring that we attend any online Masses. Nor even wanting to. I skimmed this article today, but it didn't make want to livestream Masses. And Easter? No motivation, I gotta tell you. At some point we could get out the home decorations....Maybe. I haven't decided yet about an Easter dinner. All that fuss? There's some guilt building, because I know I shouldn't deny my kids the holiday, and more important, their own practice of faith, just because I'm not feeling it. But, ugh, it exhausts me to think about it if I'm honest. Do we mark Good Friday by being somber and fasting? We're already kinda down already, you know?

I'm doing plenty of prayer and gratitude by myself (this Catholic's preferred method), but I know I have some parental responsibility, too. It will be curious what these weeks (months?) will do for this generation of kids; will they decide that they can get along without churches/synagogues, as they grow older? Or will those buildings fill back up as soon as we're allowed, and people proceed with more fervor because everyone will have missed Community? I don't know.

Deep thoughts on a Wednesday.


*Wendy's for lunch, chili for dinner; working/watching Liv & Maddie reruns; and feeling fine-ish/whatever.

Friday again, thank goodness!

Fall is rolling along so fast -- yesterday was the end of the first quarter of school for Kate, and here we are, nearly mid-October. Finally, the weather has shifted into "Tolerable" status; it was even chilly this morning, and I'm wearing jeans and long sleeves (3/4 sleeves, technically) with sandals, one of my favorite combos. I should be perfectly dressed for football tonight.

It has been one heck of a long week, starting last Saturday night. I had a work event downtown -- breast cancer awareness month, y'all -- at 4:00 pm. Alex had started his day even earlier with a mini-camp band practice from 8:30 until 4:00, and then they got into uniforms and went by bus to their first competition of the season. (We've learned there is such a thing as Band Competition Season.) I left my event early thanks to the kindness of Shan, offering to pack up our exhibit all by herself, and zooooomed up the interstate to make it for Alex's 9:00 pm performance time, and I made it, JUST.... and then they were delayed for possible weather. Ha!

In the end there wasn't enough weather to cancel, so they performed at 9:30... and were awarded the Grand Champion trophy around 11! (We didn't think we could possibly win! There were some other good bands. We (the band) didn't even do our whole show, and didn't use our full set of props!) IMHO, our band's musicianship -- they definitely sounded the best of all the bands -- and the level of difficulty of their show, gave them an edge. It was suuuuuper exciting when the awards were going out. I was all tense, hands clasped in front of me, eeeeeeeee..... and then yay!!!!

And that was just Saturday! The following Monday, another performance -- the county marching band exhibition (not a competition). That went until 11:00, probably, ending with a rousing performance by the guest band from Georgia Tech, which was awesome. Shawn took Kate home to bed, but I went to pick up Alex after the bus returned him to HHS, and after he helped unload the equipment truck (ooh, there goes my heart swelling again)... and we didn't get home from all that until probably 12:15.

Got up and went to school/work like normal the next morning, Lord have mercy and thank you for coffee!

So the week started out a little tired-y. We noticed a water stain on the kitchen ceiling on Tuesday or Wednesday. Something must be leaking upstairs, oh goody. Shawn and I have been showering in Kate's bathroom, because we think it's our shower leaking. The plumber is scheduled to come tomorrow morning (Saturday). I'm hopeful we can do some remodeling around the issue, for instance, removing the terrible flourescent light in our kitchen, like we did in our last kitchen, since our kitchen ceiling will likely be cut up and open anyway. We'll see. Fun stuff!

At work, it's been a week of management meetings, and me trying to make it appear that I'm making a difference. Sometimes I don't feel I am -- like I'm just here to help Shan with whatever she asks me to do. And helping is fine, being a helper is GOOD and worthy -- but I'd like to contribute in a bigger way, sometimes. This whole week I've been conflicted about not being invited to the mangement meetings. I'm not a manager, and don't necessarily want to be. But I do want to be considered more than just a general flunkie. Bah. I don't know. It's just background noise for my real work of Life With My Family, anyway. But it can make those 8 hours a day kinda challenging, especially when the task-load is light.

Tonight is a football game with our nearest rival, so it should be fun, and good weather for the FIRST time all season. I'm hoping to eat nachos LOL. Happy Friday. :)

Big Kids

A sophomore in high school, 15 year-old boy, who has a learner's permit to drive. And a sixth grader -- middle school, who does her own hair and definitely does NOT want to wear clothes from Justice anymore.

These are big kids living in my house and it's surprising sometimes. They take care of themselves (mostly). They manage their time and homework (pretty well). They shower without being asked to do so.

They both have such great personalities. You know what's awesome, with bigger kids? Joking around. When someone comes up with the perfect sarcastic one-liner, and everyone gets it, and it's FUNNY. We have some of the best laughs around the dinner table lately.

I have to share a photo that I just found on the Band parents' FB page: 

Newest marching clarinets C. and Alex

I just need to get one of him in his shako and plumes, with his instrument, so you can see the full pomp and circumstance. But THIS KID! I am so proud of him. C. next to him is a freshman, who looked like a deer in headlights the first few days of band camp. I think (hope) that Alex has been able to welcome and guide him along as he gets to know high school, just as a kid named Nick did for Alex last year. I hope that these two will be good friends -- the kid behind them is the only other male clarinetist, a senior. I bet the 3 of them have fun.

We have had fun. From the first home football game, when Mom and Dad visited and went with us, to the most recent Saturday band camp days with mini "performances" at the end for parents, to the first away game last week, we are learning the ropes and sitting on a lot of metal stadium benches. I've volunteered as a chaperone a couple of times, a seamstress a couple of times, and just last weekend, a concessions server (and Shawn was a Grill Dad). Hoo boy, it is a lot! But it's the best lot -- I'm having the time of my life. 

Guess what starts this week? Kate's middle school Drama Club. They are producing Aladdin, Jr. in January. I already have a volunteer title for that, too! And I'm feeling not stressed, but "BRING IT." I'm so excited for these two, and just love watching them do really impressive things.

New Routine, Fall 2019

We have settled in to the fall routine, I think, with a switch-up in our evening plan for most nights. Since Alex has band practice Mon, Tues, and Thurs until 7:15 (he arrives at home by about 7:45 after putting his instrument away and finding his ride), we are eating dinner like the Europeans!

And snacking a lot between 5:30 and 8. ;)

I haven't quiiiite figured out how best to manage MY time in-between, besides snacking and reading the daily newspaper/working the crossword and sudoku. If Kate has homework, she does that (or more likely, goes up to her room with her iPad to FaceTime a friend while supposedly doing homework). It's interesting that 1), she is in her room, away from me (she used to hate being by herself upstairs if I was downstairs), and 2) she is on the phone like a proper tweenager, right on time. She really gets most homework done in Aftercare, and that's fine with me. We have set wi-fi timers on her devices, so after 7pm she doesn't have access. But last night she wanted to learn a song on her ukelele, and the way she does that is via YouTube videos. I can't not encourage learning! Musical learning, at that! So I let her use my phone (after MAKING her practice piano first, which she was not happy about. I told her I PAY for piano, so that takes priority. She was unconvinced and will make a great lawyer one day).

It's a weird time-interval in the day, at any rate.

I have been known to get in a workout during that time, and it's useful to have an extra half-hour there, in case I just CAN'T get out of bed at 5:30 a.m.

What I really need to do is invite my neighbor over for WINE ON THE PORCH every evening. We've been wanting to do that for ages. Lately it's just too hot, but fingers crossed the summer will wither here shortly and we can enjoy the outdoors again.

I have had time to make meals. And banana bread. And salsa. This week:

Sun - Spaghetti, caesar salad, garlic knots
Mon - Sausage, broccoli, potatoes roasted on sheet pans
Tues - Taco night! with homemade salsa! We have friends who keep giving us giant bags of jalepenos and banana peppers
Wed - Baked chicken thighs, green beans and wild rice
Thu - gotta go with fast food - it's Meet and Greet night at both schools, plus band practice pick-up and one other thing that we're skipping!
Fri - first football game! Hot Dogs at the game, I hope! :)

Let's Go Out for Drinks

You guys, I SO do not want to do my work today. Good thing it's "fake Friday." Two days off for Easter, hooray! So instead of work let me tell you what I did FUN last night: I went OUT. After choir practice ended at 9:00pm. To a Taphouse.

!!

So rare are the occasions of me going out for beer after an event, that I can't even think of the last time it happened. College, probably. I'm not much of a beer-drinker. In my 20s I drank beer, because pitchers were the easiest and cost-effective option at Manuel's Tavern and at Melton's App & Tap, two places my friends and I frequented in those days.

But then I guess I grew up and started drinking wine instead. Beer had too many calories, back when we counted calories. Lately we barely even drink wine. If I open a bottle for one glass on a Friday night, the bottle sits, corked, for at least a week on my counter, sadly not being drunk (drinken, as Kate still says). Not for lack of wanting to, just lack of time, really. During dinner at home, there's no guarantee that I don't have to go out in the car again for some activity. And when I get home from said activity, when it would be nice to sit down in front of TV with a glass, it's already bedtime (9:00 pm! We are so old). Bah. I know I'm not really missing anything.

ANYWAY. Last night was the 60th birthday of my friend who does not look 60, so her husband texted me early in the week with this: "Drinks after choir for bday." I didn't know he had my number, and wasn't certain whose bday, but figured it out fairly quickly and decided I would join them. Turned out to be a great (small, thankfully) group of people I genuinely like and yet rarely spend time with, outside of choir. I would love for Shawn and me to go out drinking with them again. (We have been, one other time, when we were all invited to a wedding and pre-partied.) Also, I need to have Chris and Lisa over to dinner sometime, because apparently that is a thing I think I need to do to express "I like you." They're great.

It gave me one little glimpse into the future, and I said, "Sometimes I can't wait for the kids to be all grown up so we can do what we WANT again." Immediately I wished I could take it back, nearly slapped my hand over my mouth, because I know, I KNOW that we will be so sad the day they're all grown up and gone. (Unless they come out drinking with us!) Chris said it takes about 6 minutes to get over it. HA! But I know that statement is also false. Life is funny, isn't it? And Time Marches On: This week, we went to our first end-of-year Band Banquet for the high school. END OF year. Alex's first year of high school just began, and is nearly over. He walked away from the 3 of us quickly after we walked into the banquet, off to sit with his lunch-table friends. Praise Jesus.

Sooner than I think, he'll be the one going out for beers with his friends, heaven help me.


P.S. I had one glass of Atlanta Hard Cider and a taste of a friend's Lord Grey Sour Ale, and they were both delicious. So head's up, DH: We will be visiting this Taphouse again, probably while the kids are at camp in 7 short weeks.

My lunchbox vs. your lunchbox

Since this blog is mostly private, I feel okay sharing my honest thoughts, and after spending a weekend with 8 other moms, I'm feeling ... I don't know, weird... about What We (Collectively) Pack Our Kids for Lunch. I hope this won't offend anyone.

I think I'm a normal mom, but I know I'm more lenient about food than most moms these days. It was so apparent to me this weekend.

One mom on our trip made a big deal of telling us, "I haven't bought Pop-Tarts since Ana was BORN." She had brought 2 big boxes of them to share because we were all assigned to bring something for breakfasts in the house we rented.

P.S. I make sure we never run out of Pop Tarts at my house.

Another mom, with whom I drove tandemly (is that a word?) made her daughter choose between getting a small soda at one of our road trip stops, or having any dessert after pizza that night.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, but... it's a road trip, isn't it supposed to be fewer rules, and little treats and snacks along the way? Isn't that what makes it fun?

I was just reminded about all of this, reading another mom's post about a school lunch. She wrote, "Seeing what was offered by the school -- chicken nuggets, rice with about 2 pieces of vegetable, chocolate milk (skim, filled with additives), juice, and cookies!? Yeah, we’re going to keep packing lunch for the foreseeable future."

Look, I get it, chicken nuggets are not that healthy, and vegetables are, but... they're kids. That seems like a pretty decent lunch to me. I feel like the school is probably also trying to manage its waste, and if they give a big serving of vegetables, it might all get thrown away. (I mean, I have no idea, I've never cooked for a school.)

So, in her situation, what is she going to put in her kid's lunchbox that's so much better? Kale chips? Carrots and dip, of course, but in my house that would be Ranch dip, not beet hummus (which one mom brought to the house this weekend), because kids don't eat hummus in my experience. Lightly salted nuts/raisins? My kids turn up their noses at the very idea and would trade that for chips if they got the chance. A sandwich cut into stars on 9-grain bread? Sure, go for it, but know that the bread might get peeled off and thrown away, and now you're headed into Bento Box territory, my friend.

I do/did try to make sure my kids have fruit in their lunch if possible (I don't pack Alex's lunch anymore, he's 14). Kate is a fruit lover, so she's all for it, apple slices, grapes, clementines, berries. She'll even do carrots and Ranch once or twice a week, and she loves a good Caesar salad. But otherwise, it's a deli-meat sandwich on Whitewheat bread, chips or crackers (usually chips), 2 cookies, and a drink, which is Gatorade these days, because juice boxes and Capri Suns are too babyish and they don't like plain water. We buy "Fun Food" when we can, and it's pizza with salad, or a burger with chips, or (gasp!) a Chick Fil A sandwich with a Welch's fruit snack. I don't feel bad about it.

I don't know, Kate and I had a talk after our trip and the Pop Tarts comment. I think if you deprive your kids of ALL the yummy snacks, you're setting them up to binge on them when they're finally independent. Freshman 15, anyone? We talk a lot about moderation, and I try to include veggies with dinners most nights, but it's difficult when they only like broccoli, corn and green beans. And while we're at it, my kids eat candy, and sometimes they sneak it up to their rooms and... I don't punish them for it. Do I wish they wouldn't do that? Yeah. Do I think it's worth fussing about? Not really.

Maybe I've got it all wrong, but I guess I'm not planning to change my lunchbox ways. I think we're fine. Guess what? When Alex buys his lunch at the high school cafeteria, he chooses a side of broccoli on purpose, to make sure he gets his vegetables. I just find it interesting that so many moms want other moms to know how very healthy they are.

Activities!

It has been so nice, this first month of school, without too many extracurricular activities to attend. SO. NICE.

Children's choir, first of all, is on a year-long hiatus, and all I can say about that is YIPPIE! Forced break and I will take it.

I had talked with Kate about maybe not signing back up at her gymnastics academy ("academy") this year, because... many reasons. Long story short,

1. She didn't always have fun or want to go.
2. She left class hurt several times. Nothing serious, but still. Back hurting. Neck hurting. Doesn't seem so good.
3. Lack of progress. 

Yes, she has learned to do a back walkover and her cartwheels have certainly improved since she was 5 years old. But to pay actual money every month and not really see her gain new skills or experiences from it...? I don't know. I feel like it has stalled out.

She and I had a kid-sized discussion about it earlier this summer, and I thought she agreed with me. So when it came time to register, I just... didn't. And now she has asked to go back. Luckily I guess, there's room in the class. It's not that expensive, and if she wants to do it, I want to encourage her. But when I asked if maybe she wanted to step it up and try a different studio (she'd mentioned cheerleading/dance as possible activities, too), she declined.

Anyway, that will start up again on Thursdays.

And basketball registration was this week, and practices will begin in October. I'm okay with basketball. It's school-sponsored and I do love Team Spirit. :)

Both kids are taking piano lessons, Wednesday nights right before bedtime (7:45-8:45). I feel like Kate's heart isn't in it. I think Alex's still IS. Neither one of them practices like I think they should. But let's talk about Alex for a minute...

Just how easy do I let him take things, now that he's in high school? I don't want to be a pushy Mom, but I need him to put in a little effort and get involved in something. (Not to mention those pesky college applications, which the high school counselors already won't stop talking about.) It's not news to him; we have told him all along that he'll want/need to join at least one club, simply to meet people. Well, we're a month in, and he hasn't really even thought about it from what I can tell. He sits alone at lunch, we've learned, and has come to some peace about that. But I am NOT at peace about it! Every time I mention clubs to him, though, I feel like a nag.

Parenting teenagers isn't as easy as it looks!

I just checked a couple of club pages on his school's website. So, okay, I didn't really see anything that was too interesting. He can be a Wrestling team manager. Or a videographer for the football team. Or a Young Democrat/Republican. (No.) Bother. What can I get him jazzed about? A/V production (the school 'TV' broadcast)? Service Clubs? History Club?

He's taking the Band class, but he isn't in marching band. Not sure I WANT him in that, frankly; it's super expensive and time-intensive, although the camaraderie can't be topped, from what I understand. We'll see, I guess, where this year leads. I know he's enjoying the challenge of it, compared to middle school band.

What did you do in high school? I was a cheerleader, and was lucky that tryouts happened just before school began, so I came in with a couple of new friends immediately. Also, my school was 72% smaller than his (gigantic public) school.

Update: Not good. Then, better.

Wednesday dawned and we sent the boy off to high school, just as planned. It was raining. It has been raining for what feels like a month (really, 3 or 4 days), but I was incredulous -- come on, his First Day walking to the bus stop? That's just crappy.

Anyway, for all my nerves, he took an umbrella, found the bus, made it to school, (he texted me) and to his homeroom classroom, and things were off to a roaring good start. (Ok, honey, have a great day!!!) I worked from home a little, went to the office for 2 meetings and lunch with the girls, then came home to be there when he arrived home. My level of focus was extremely low all day, I'll admit.

I spent a lot of time on the Life360 app, following the bus. It's your basic "stalker" parenting app -- you can set up a "circle" or family members, and then you'll know where they are at all times, and what percentage their phone's battery has left (I guess if a kid's battery is low you can remind him to charge it, in case of emergency?) ... it feels slightly invasive, but also comforting. Naturally, on the first day, with rain, and construction going on at our particular school, buses were running really late. He didn't get home until an hour past when he should have. But that was okay, I understood it logically. It's the first day, there are kinks to work out. (So many parents online complaining! I laughed - really, people? Common sense says it's going to be rough on the first day.)

He came in the front door and graciously handled all of my questions (I tried to hold back), then went upstairs to start his homework. I was so relieved that the transportation logistics had worked out. That was one of my biggest fears/unknowns. Like I said, some glitches, but it was fine. (And even better the 2nd day.) Thankfully there was another kid waiting at the stop, so that helped Alex know he was in the right place.

Only later did we come to understand that things had been sad and lonely most of his day. He bent his head and had a little emotional breakdown under my chin. It is so, so hard to feel alone and unseen. He knows exactly 5 people in a school of 2,000, and guess what? It's hard to find those 5 in the lunchroom. So he sat by himself and ate pizza that he said wasn't any good.

Such heartbreak. So many things I could've said, but didn't want to overwhelm. Just, "I know, honey, it's so hard. I'm sure it will be better tomorrow. It's okay to feel this way." (In my mind: Think of all the positives. Count the blessings. We knew it would be a little unfamiliar. This is normal. Can you read at lunch? What can I do? Don't cry. You already did the hardest part. Everyone experiences loneliness, it's part of being human. Even Jesus. [Sooooo many things I wanted to say.])

I didn't sleep well that night. He woke up reluctant to go through a day like he'd had, again, but I tried to encourage him and say that every day, it will get a little better. Faces will get familiar. You'll be having conversations with people in class, and that will carry over into the social times of day, like lunch. I knew that to be true, but I know it's hard to believe it when you're the one feeling lonely.

Praise God, he came home yesterday (Thursday) with a smile. His words: "Much better." He actually FOUND his friend Will in the cafeteria. He also had another buddy that he was sitting with, from his homeroom. There's a sophomore in his band class and on his bus, who is Alex's height (unusual) and seems to be friendly to him. He likes his classes. He ate Asian orange chicken and it was delicious. Thursday when I got home, he was working on homework at the kitchen table.

He left today (Friday) with a little spring in his step. I pray it will really feel like a nice Friday.

And this morning, the rain seems to have ended.

The day in between...

Yesterday was a big day. Orientation for Alex at his new high school. HIGH SCHOOL. How do we have a kid in high school? A fourteen-year-old? I mean, it was NOT that long ago when I was fourteen. I remember it very distinctly, remember my first few days of 9th grade, where my locker was, what the combination was (31-1-15 whyyyyyy), all my teachers, the sounds and smells of the buildings... not long ago! Hahaha. Er, 30 years is short! A blink!

Anyway, I took Alex to Orientation and the first test of our fortitude was that the parking situation was terrible. Allll those parents and students, all at once, and guess what? It's a construction year! So half the parking places aren't available. Traffic was lined up to get into the lot, and even when we did, ten minutes late already, there were no spots. I had to let Alex out (good luck, honey! you're on your own!) and go down the street to find a grassy field with some room for my car. It all worked out, I think, and we got some good information during the morning's events. There was a moment later in the day when I could tell Alex was upset. It was after he stood in line and got his yearbook photo taken. He'd been waiting for his 8th grade friend to finish, as well (one of the three people he knows at the school), and waiting a long time apparently. I could see the very beginnings of tears in his eyes, and he said he was just "tired of having no one to talk to." Sigh. It's going to be lonely for a day or three, my boy. Until you meet some people and see them for a few days, and then know them. 

I have hope that his other known friend, Will, is going to have the same lunch period. There's a pretty good chance, and if that were the case, it would once again be God's hand giving us an outright gift. (There have been a few instances of that recently - other moms offering to keep Kate on days I just didn't know what we would do, babysitter-wise, etc.) I would accept prayers and crossed fingers on the lunch topic, from anyone who reads this. xo

Today is the day in-between. I'm at the office and I do hope he's working on his World History assignment -- naturally, the one summer assignment he did NOT complete yet, is his first period class. It's due next Monday.

I've been thinking about how nervous we all were when he started Kindergarten, and how that experience led us to this one. We've "started a new school" once before, and it became home. We can do it this time, too. 

Tomorrow's Day One. He'll take the bus for the very first time, and he told me not to walk with him to wait for it. He said it kindly, don't worry, and I get it. It may rain. :( More prayers for clear skies, at least at 7:40 am and 3:55 pm. He has money on his student lunch account, so he can buy something fun (pizza! nachos! chicken tenders! all the options we did not have in parochial school, for the low, low price of $2.60!). He has an idea of where to go. Shawn and I can't help but coach him; we both keep saying "just do..." and "just remember," and I'm sure it's driving him crazy. But here we are. 

Inside My Mind on a Quiet Sunday

I got myself into a little mental spiral yesterday, after leaving the kiddos at Susan's (MIL) for the week, and having 4+ hours of quiet time in the car trip back home. Here are a few of the things I was mulling over (and over and over and over):

1. When will it be our TURN, to live a more relaxing life? I don't mean winning the lottery  necessarily, or living a life of luxury. Because, as Shawn and I discussed last night, that would only lead to a different set of stresses. And we have a good life already. What I mean is, when will we be able to have a daily round that has more EASE? I feel like this summer has turned out to be very busy and slightly stressful day to day, after a school year which was also busy and stressful. I'd like to have the opportunity to just BE sometimes, and not always DO. To not have a tasks list. I'm grateful for this good life, but, you know?? Do we have to wait until we're retired? That doesn't seem fair.

1a. Am I allowing too many extracurriculars? Would cutting those back help me feel better? I have an opportunity to do so, here with a choir director leaving (again). Perhaps that's the first thing that should go - my choir commitment. And possibly Kate's. That's at least 2 nights of more ease, plus Sundays, so...probably. Yes.

2. Are we providing a good life for our kids? Is this life, which feels stressful to me, also stressful to them? Have they had a good, or a stressful, summer? (If it's been stressful for Alex, I can at least lay some of the blame on high school. He has an unreal list of summer homework and I'm mad about it.) We're doing our best. Is it good enough?

2a. Has leaving them at home alone so much this summer, so we can work, been the right thing to do? Has it made them feel abandoned? Or has it, on the other hand, helped them develop the skills of independence, time management, and self confidence? Taught them the value of hard work (seeing Shawn and I work hard) (and also helping with some chores every day while we're gone - simple things like litter box duty and laundry and loading/unloading the dishwasher)?

3. Do we need to move one grandparent or the other set up here closer to us? Will we, eventually? How will we even do that? How many weekends would it take to clear out and sell Susan's house? Or would she rather stay with her friends down there? I suppose the latter. I guess I started thinking about this because being in her house is so unpleasant, unfortunately. Wouldn't it be nice to get her into a nice, new living situation, for our sakes? 

4. How can we be better at communicating with family? We need to FaceTime with grandparents (and Aunt Jane) (and what about other aunts, uncles, cousins?) more often. We should do it during dinner, once a week, pick someone and call, so we all get to talk with them. Doesn't matter that dinner is supposed to be device-free. This would be better than NOT calling. Susan gave Shawn a little dig about not visiting more than once a year, and it hurt a little. We do the best we can. It goes back to #1, we're just always so busy. Even on weekends. When we do get a 3-day weekend, gosh, sometimes we just need a fricking DAY OFF. And I feel like this is not abnormal -- that every family with kids in school has this same schedule, this same level of busy. But I/we feel bad that we DON'T visit more often. (Nor do we visit Pensacola very often. Or, ever.) And it sucks that we NEVER seem have 2 full weeks -- or even one full week -- left at the end of the calendar year, for holiday trips. Never. We carefully ration our vacation days, and still, we can't get away for holidays in December. Also, we sometimes don't want to travel during the holidays, and then we're made to feel bad about it by some people.

I guess that's enough. My brain is tired. Overall, everything is fine, of course. Exactly as it's meant to be. But I got all thinky, and these are the things that bubbled up to the surface.

Survivors of May; 8th grade Graduation & Lots of Feelings

We did it. We did ALL the things and came out on the other side. Today is finally Kate's last half-day of school, and Alex has been graduated for 3 days and out for a week already, and my stress levels have dialed themselves back to "acceptable," for now. I do still have to get them packed for 2 weeks at camp in the next 8 days, but I think with a credit card that shouldn't be too difficult. (Aside: I know it's fun to have a different costume for every "Nite Life" at camp, Camp People, but I do wish you'd provide a BIN of costumes the kids can pick from once they get there, instead of making ME visit Party City for more junk after I've already spent very-many-hundreds of dollars paying for this camp.)

------

That was all I could muster on May 25th; but we also survived the first 4 days of June and got both kiddos dropped off at camp. Hooray, camp!

Let me return to my Feelings from Alex's 8th Grade Graduation. There were a lot of them. On his last day of school, I made sure to have the day off work so I could participate in all the send-off activities, like their "Last Carpool," where the kids decorate the parking lot (read: they TP it gloriously) and parents driving their younger kids to school honnnnnnk their horns and make a giant noise to celebrate -- for a continuous half-hour. Several groups of teachers ride through the carpool line, too, a few times, usually in convertibles, sometimes squirting the lined-up 8th graders with water guns and blaring their radios. It's like the Party version of carpool, for one day. And, oh, it was fun. I was teary-eyed when it started (we had to be there an hour ahead of time), at the sheer celebration of it all. The kids just revel in being the center of attention, and it's such a festive atmosphere, so different from the buttoned-up every day! Afterwards, of course, they have to clean up ALLLL the mess, which they did, quite well, and then they're treated to donuts, they rehearse for Honors Night and Graduation, they have a picnic lunch, and then, the big event: The 8th Grade vs. Teachers Volleyball Game.

I've never known a school to do something like this, but it's huge at our school. They make a big deal leading up to it -- even holding 6 or 8 serious practices for the kids, because the kids MUST WIN. ;) I think the teachers practice, as well. Everyone wears their class shirts (which they decorate or destroy especially for the occasion), there's loud music and an actual game with a ref and coaches and all. Best 2 of 3, and Alex's class won in 2. Alex actually SCORED a point! It was so exciting for our little non-athlete! I didn't cry at this part, too much, until the end if I saw some of the 8th graders crying, which I did. Got a little choked up there.

Finally, on that day, the kids do their Last Walk through the halls, and all the littler kids stand outside their classrooms for high fives. It makes me teary to think about it, but in actual fact it was anti-climactic, I thought.

HOWEVER. Honors Night and Graduation were Extra Climactic. The first kid I saw dressed in a cap and gown nearly knocked me over with emotion, before the graduation Mass started. And it wasn't even my kid! It wasn't even a kid I particularly LIKE! But I've known him since he was 5 years old, and I think that's what undoes me in this whole thing -- it's the fact that these kids have been in my circle and in my heart since most of them were practically babies. We all share them -- we all parent all of them through the 9 years together. So it feels bigger than just one kid leaving the nest -- it's all the ones you've grown to love.

We were super proud of Alex who earned (tied for) the highest GPA in Social Studies, an award for Principal's List all 4 quarters of 8th grade (that's a 93 or above average in every core subject), and the Presidential Academic Award, as well as some other nice honors. And we were so thrilled Mom and Dad could join us. There was lots of talk about high school and where everyone is headed next, there were special songs and slideshows (including baby photos!), the kids had a pool party, Alex and Brandon had a 2-day sleepover while Kate still had to finish her last week (she was not pleased), and gosh, it was all a whirlwind.

I was really glad it finally ended, to be honest -- in the meantime and while all of that was happening, work was also stupid-busy, ugh! But if I think about it, I'm still quite sad that he's finished at St. Joe's. What a wonderful place. I'm glad I still have 4 years with Kate there!

May

I said forcefully to Shan the other day, "I REALLY hate May," because of a work project that has been given to us (2 days of videography with breast cancer survivor-models), somewhat out of left field. Or rather, with an unrealistic deadline to get it all up and running on a website. Thankfully, most of the hard work is being outsourced to an agency, but the timing is just terrible. May is always a difficult, overly busy month, and this year even moreso.

But we're through one week already, and it was managed with a flick of the wand and a shared Google calendar, I suppose. Every day I'm grateful for our jobs close to home/school, and for a husband who always does more than his share. Any time I ask him to manage a (forgotten) doctor appointment or an after-school pickup, he says, "Sure." So I'm lucky. When I look at last week, though (and this week), even I'm a little baffled.

Maybe it's my fault for putting everything in the calendar -- Alex's stuff from 3:30-4:45, for example, doesn't affect me at all because I'm still at my office, but if I didn't, I might forget to remind him.

Last week I kept opening that Google screen and thinking, "How are we going to do all this? Just how?" Then I'd feel overwhelmed, add a reminder to my phone, get back to work, and try not to think about it.

But we made it through. Shifted piano lessons to Sunday so we could do the Art Show on Thursday. Handled late drama practices by ... not really cooking much last week (planned not to!). Mom and Dad arrived and, by the weekend, thank heavens, we'd landed at downtime. Saturday and Sunday were both VERY mild and obligation-free, and I appreciated that. I sat outside SO much! This week and weekend won't be quite as easy, but I love a good Drama performance weekend and a cast party. I'm going to insist that Alex go to this one (we skipped the last and did not regret it, but it's his last chance). I want him to soak up everything he can possibly get from SJCS in his last 10 days there.

Historian/diarist-me just wanted to save these two images because they're so crazy and impossible. Right smack in the prime of this life, aren't we? :) Thank you, God, for this good Life.

Doughnuts

There's no great way to get doughnuts before school. One of the privileges of being in 7th and 8th grade at our school is that, on Wednesday mornings after Mass, you get doughnuts. A different family is volun-told to bring them each week (ahead of time, thankfully). So tomorrow's our day.

• Option #1: I could get them tonight, but by 9:30 tomorrow morning they'll be dry and stuck to the bottom of the box.
• Option #2: I could offer to drive carpool tomorrow morning (Shawn usually does it, not me), and stop "on the way," in quote because there's no doughnut shop actually ON the way. The whole thing would probably ensure that we were one of the last cars in the carpool line and stress the kids out. I would also get to work late but I hardly care about that. 
• Option #3: I could ask Shawn to stop tomorrow morning on his way (also not really "ON" the way), which would stress him out more than it would me, and make him late to work. 

My gut says to go with Option #1, because 13-year-olds will likely eat doughnuts whether they're dry or sticky or not.

Documenting Summer

Today's the last day of summer vacation. Poor kids, it seemed really short this year! I guess it was 9 weeks total (but we used to get at least 12 when I was in school). Anyway, I gave Carli the babysitter a gift card to Bruster's ice cream shop and told her they're free to have ice cream for lunch today if they want - it's also her 20th birthday so that works out well. Told her on the card, "Sorry you have to work on your birthday -- adulting stinks sometimes!" Because it's TRUE! hahaha I am so funny.

Anyway, what I wanted to be sure to do was make notes on all the amazing things these kids did over the summer, mostly at my parents' house in July 2017:

• Monday -- They got up early and drove to Marianna, FL, with Tom and Dominique and Angie and Scott and their kids, to see the Florida Caverns State Park and go caving. They'd never been inside a cave like that before, I'm so glad they did it. Afterwards they went to Ponce de Leon Springs State Park, and swam in the springs! Cold water - only reaches 64 degrees in the summers I think! But of course, kids don't mind. Apparently they were very brave to swim over a large, deep area and just had a blast in general. That was just the first day!
• Tuesday -- was July 4th. So they went to Aunt Lorry and Uncle Paul's had hamburgers and the usual fireworks and a party, including swimming, with their cousins again. It's basically always a party there.
• Wednesday -- I think they played all day but in the evening they did an Escape Room! All the rage. I have never gotten to do one, myself, but I hear they're fun! The cousins all worked together really well, I'm told, and they got out with 13 minutes to spare! Then went out for ice cream. 
  

• Thursday -- Since the across-the-street cousins went out of town on Thursday, Mom and Dad took Alex and Kate to Pensacola Beach, to other-cousin Angie's condo where they watched the Blue Angels practice for their weekend air shows. I mean. Awesome, right?! Lunch, a perfect view of the show, plus they didn't have to actually be out ON the beach where it's hot and sticky and crowded. Perfect! And they'd never seen the Blues, I don't think. Maybe Alex did once, when he was around 4. 
• Friday -- Friday might have been their only "unplanned" day, actually, and I think by that time they were ready for one. But what's better than hanging out at your grandparents' house? Not much, I'd say. By the way, they both also finished their summer math packets while they were in Florida, and I think they both read one summer reading book (out of two required). NOT TOO SHABBY. The kids always say they LIKE doing summer math at Mom and Dad's kitchen table, after breakfast, while the adults do their crosswords. My parents are miracle workers. 

2016 was just as memorable, if I remember correctly. I don't find a blog post about it, so: They went to see a play (Shrek, Jr.) at the theater, visited a bird sanctuary (odd but fun, I was told), toured the Guy Harvey exhibit at the Pensacola Museum of Art (loved it - they're both big Guy Harvey fans now), they had swimming parties, played with their cousins, I feel like there was another somewhat epic activity but I can't recall what it was...maybe fishing? Mom, help me remember it so we can record it for their descendants. ;) 

Hiking every week at Kennesaw Mtn. Nat'l Park
or Pine Mountain in Cartersville

Carli has been amazing again this summer on the weeks at home. She's taken them hiking at least once every week that she's been with them, and to the pool twice a week. She's taken them to piano lessons. Dropped them off at friends' houses. Enforced piano practice (a little bit) and reading. Played Monopoly at least once. Some days, she's taken them to Target or Justice or the bookstore, just to look around, or I'll give them money for lunch. One day I said, "Here's $20 - spend it on lunch or divide it for shopping. They chose shopping, and each got something small/silly. She washes the dishes they use for lunch by hand, and even empties the dishwasher if I've run it the night before. Kate told me the other day that sometimes Carli "disciplines" her -- if Kate whines or doesn't want to take a shower or something, Carli gets firm and Kate doesn't like it. Neither kid likes it that she makes them use sunscreen lotion instead of spray. But I'm okay with all of that. I'm unsure what to do next summer. Alex will be nearly 14, and then will turn 14 in July. Does a 14-year-old need a babysitter? No. Pretty sure none of his friends has one any more. Kate's another story, of course, and gets bored without some kind of entertainment... We'll have to talk about it. 

Yesterday's Meet the Teachers went really well. Kate's desk is in between Calli and Reese, her two besties. Prayers answered, a dream come true! The troublesome girl IS in her homeroom, so that's not great, but I hope it will work out. The teacher is a friend. Alex's locker is on the end, near his friends, too. It's going to be a great year. 8th grade, his last year before high school. How did we get here so fast? I'm trying not to think about it.