School year 2020-21

Well, we’ve finished week 2 of distance learning, and have what feels like eternity left to go. It’s not easy, it’s disappointing and frustrating and difficult and sometimes maddening. 

But we’re doing it. 

There is a silver lining, we are learning a new way of going about school work, and we have experienced more family togetherness than we have in the last 14 years (....is that a good thing!? haha!). 

Bonus, the toy room got a little cleaned out! 

We rearranged the toy/game room to accommodate this table set up for Lincoln and it’s working quite well. 

He knows when he sits there, it’s time for school. 

We aren’t perfect, we’ve missed a google meet (because whoops!) and sometimes his assignments don’t get finished until late in the day. But he’s in first grade, and he needs a lot of help to understand the lesson and so I give myself grace. Having 2 parents working full time means we don’t have the luxury of sitting beside him 6 hours/day to provide instruction. So instead, life becomes a lesson. 

For example, Regan took him on a bike ride the other day, he asked about a yard sign with MLK’s picture. She gave an excellent (first grade) lesson about MLK as they rode home. 

The girls pretty much hang out in their rooms for their "school" day, participating in their video classes or doing assignments. They appear to grab breakfast, lunch or ask a question, and then disappear back to their rooms. We are incredibly blessed that they are self-starters, self-sufficient and just get it done day after day. We know they don't love it, and would much prefer to see their friends in person. Although on mornings like today, where Regan missed her alarm and rolled out of bed at 9:05am and still wasn't late for class, I think she sort of appreciated it :) 

 

Labor Day 2020

Labor Day 2020 is one for the books. 
COVID19 prevented Ben/Jon/Hope from traveling and joining us. 
Regan had to stay back to play in a showcase softball tournament, which meant Ryan did too. 

Grandma Jan and I debated for months whether we should go, considered cancelling many times over again, and ultimately decided to give it a go. 

It was a much needed break from the isolation of home, and considering the gorgeous weather, we were able to spend every waking hour outside. It was heavenly! 

Grandma rented a pontoon for the weekend and we ate lunches on the boat, went swimming in the middle of the lake and cruised around having a blast. I became a pro at docking that monstrous thing :) 

Lincoln was exhausted every night, sleeping in the last day til 8:30am (that's a record!). 
He played so hard all day that by 9pm, he would announce he was ready for bed and then say "I love sleep" as he passed out. 

And who wouldn't be tired after cruising around on the tube in the afternoon. These kiddos pick up right where they left off each Labor Day. They love spending time together and creating new memories. They're getting more daring on the tube too so it's fun to pull them and watch them fly through the air! 

The girls took out the bike one evening when the waters were super calm. Apparently the bike is hard to navigate because they didn't venture too far. But the giggles were heard throughout the resort. 

We watched the most beautiful sunsets on Nest Lake. I love a good sunset after a fun day.

Grandma and I taught Lincoln how to bait his own hook. 

He even uses a swiss army knife to cut the worms shorter, then hooks them. 

Win for Grandma and me! 

Because this boy loves to fish. He's working on his patience, but he sure loves to cast and sit and cast and sit. 

Jumping from the pontoon was so much fun, and an excellent social distancing activity since it was only a few of us on the boat. 

Dock fishing, where we could spot the sunnies sometimes; too bad they would nibble off the worm and leave Lincoln with an empty hook! 

Each night, Lincoln and Lila went out frog hunting while the rest of us sat around the fire. Every time they would come back to the fire, they would show us more and more frogs. It's like they were multiplying! At one point, there had to be more than 15 frogs in their white pail. 

(now you know whey we taught him to bait his hook?!) 
This boy loves fishing. 

Why yes, it was chilly in the early morning cruises, and I had to wear my ear band to stay warm. 

And in true COVID pandemic style, there's a canister of wipes in the picture. 

Sunset tubing, we tore up the lake one night. It was so calm and peaceful until the kids got out there and screamed in delight with every figure 8 we turned! 

Our crew was smaller this year. 
But the memories will last forever. 

I love to kayak on a warm summer day. 

With Lincoln being old enough, I felt confident to take the kids out a little further than we have in the past. His little arms did quite well paddling away on his own. 

We missed having Regan in the annual photo of cousins. Hard to believe we've been doing this trip for as long as these kiddos have been alive. 

Peace out grandma, where's my fishing pole. 

Grandma lost her hat in the wind during a boat ride. This made for quite a good story! As I quickly whipped the pontoon around (PS: those things don't whip around!), Sidney changed Lincoln into a swim suit. We tried to get close enough to grab the hat out of the water, but no success and we nearly ran it over before I kicked it into reverse to avoid it going through the motor. Instead, Lincoln jumped in and swam to the hat, saving it from drowning! 

Throughout the weekend, I "watched" Regan's games online; thankful to be able to "see" how she was doing. 

More jumps off the pontoon. I love how these pictures turned out! What a fun afternoon. 

Meanwhile, Regan was back at home getting to know her new team having just formed teams again 2 weeks ago. 
I'll have to play catch up figuring out their names! 

We had massive storms one night. I knew they were coming but there wasn't much I could do. So just as I fell asleep, I started hearing hail and it got louder and louder. I pulled up the radar and knew it would be a while before it passed! 
Good thing we didn't seem to have any damage to our vehicles, but it sure made for conversation the next day. 

Thanks again Grandma! 
We had the most fabulous time creating memories and finding some joy in these crazy pandemic times. 
We love you! 

 

Start of a new school year

I keep hearing to give ourselves grace during these unusual times; so I'm trying. But failing miserably. This whole distance learning is giving me a run for my money. And we're only one day into the school year. Sadly our kiddos won't even get to meet their teachers in person, seeing as though our district moved us to distance learning before we even started hybrid. 

We started today off and within minutes (literally), I was in tears. It was no fun. Trying to work and teach is nearly impossible. Yes, I am a teacher to Lincoln; there is no other way to put it. These little kids can't navigate these platforms on their own, nor get their work done without instruction and help from a parent. So I teach. And I work. And I cry because it's a lot to manage. 

So here is his first day of school picture, because I failed at taking a real one. 

He looks like he's loving it. (insert eye roll)..he's not. He hated it. Rolled around on the ground, refused to listen to the (pre-recorded) story and only finished his assignment because I told him he couldn't go to hockey if it wasn't complete. 

It's going to be a long year. 

Sidney had slightly fewer tears, but they still rolled down her cheeks as she tried to navigate these new middle school platforms. She was eager to get online, but her excitement faded as she became overwhelmed with needing to go from one google meet to the next. We later joked that she will still have to raise her hand to use the bathroom, even though she's in her own house! 

Regan scored the best of them all today. Her distance learning started, but the assignment was to go to the school, pick up her materials and have her school picture taken. 
Wouldn't you know it she coordinated a time to meet up with some besties because "you can't show up alone mom!". 

I guess since I got one decent picture I'll call it a win for the day (even though I forgot to take a solo picture of Regan). 

And thank goodness for awesome friends who show up at softball practice with a special "beverage" in hand to help me celebrate just making it through the day. 

Cheers to the start of this most unusual school year.