Saying Goodbye to July

We saluted July a farewell at the lake. 

And we're ready for August and everything it will bring. 

Jiggedy Jig

The kids and I took a little trip to visit my parents. We hadn't seen them since March pre-COVID lockdowns. Even though we didn't do much while we were there, the change in scenery was so nice! 

We played outside in a different setting. Scootering around the cul-de-sac. 

We pitched a tent in the yard to be a little clubhouse. That was a fun treat!

We visited my old elementary school's playground and had the place to ourselves. We went to another deserted playground and we were there about 30 seconds and C got stung by a wasp. So... we went home. 

I spent a lot of time reading on the patio with these lovely flowers. I really liked this hanging basket! 

It was a super low-key trip and that was nice. The weather was mostly perfect for spending time outside. It's nice to be home however!

Science!

We've been doing some science lately. C got some kits for his birthday so that has been fun when it's hot in the afternoon. 

I am also at war with a squirrel who keeps trying to eat my birdseed. I do not like squirrels. They're gross and creepy and they have little squirrel thumbs which made all the news stories about being attacked by a squirrel and all the "funny" commercials freak me out more than anything. 

Anyway. There's one squirrel. Easy to observe, because he is black with a weird reddish band on his tail. Our feud will be long fought. But I promise you, I will win. 

No seeds for you! 

And that is practically like life science so it's educational as well. 

Have a terrific weekend. 

It's Been A Week

Holy Moly. 

I haven't written anything in a week. 

Probably because we are in the lazy days of summer and there's nothing much to report. 

We spent some time with friends. They moved in April and we finally got to go over and see it! We have all been very cautious but it was time. We still mostly played outside which was wonderful. 

C's sunflower from Earth Day bloomed. That's pretty exciting. It's always satisfying to grow something from a seed. 

We went swimming on Saturday just as a family. That was very nice. It's just amazing how much they've grown as swimmers this summer!

The biggest news is that my Adirondack chairs and table came! I have ALWAYS wanted these, the Polywood kind. Every single summer I debate whether we should buy them. They are certainly an investment. 

And this year, with all the staying home I decided it was now or never. And they were back-ordered. Like a lot. But I remained patient and they arrived yesterday! I put them together all by myself with only a little help from M. (Who was quite eager to help initially and then got bored.) 

I am SO excited. It's obviously raining today so I can't actually use them but... soon! 

What's Exciting?

Okay, that title is frankly, misleading. Since there really isn't a whole lot interesting or exciting going on. But nevertheless, the past few days have been good. 

We've been reading. And we got some bundt cake! (My favorite!!)

We've been watching Hamilton a lot. 

Husband and I had a date night fire. 

My kids made me breakfast in bed. (Which was very sweet. If not fancy or complicated.) 

We got our garbage and recycling bins cleaned. And you know what? It was amazing and 100% worth it! They have been sanitized and the deodorizer actually makes them smell good! 

I was ridiculously excited for them to be cleaned. 

They look so good now!

We met some friends at the park and had a really nice time! 

And the kids have started a new online math curriculum that they really love. I appreciate their brains aren't turning to mush. 

So sure, nothing really exciting at all. But it's all good. We're enjoying summer and hoping that our return to learn plan doesn't change. Fingers crossed! 

Hey Summer

I wish I had a lot to tell you. But I don't. 

We've been enjoying summer. 

Friend's pools. Playing outside. Playing inside. Reading. Ice cream. Watching Hamilton.

So, even though there's nothing interesting to report, I like it that way. Have a fantastic weekend! 

The Holiday Weekend

Our weekend was spent super low-key which was excellent. 

Friday night, like everyone else it seems we watched Hamilton. We did strategically serve our cookie pizza during "Say No To This" which was exactly as distracting as I wanted it to be. 

Ultimately... we appreciate it. Seeing it live is 100 times better of course, but this is a real gift to have the show on my television whenever I want. There are some shots I disagree with, but since Thomas Kail directed both the stage and the film I will just go with it and know that they're proud of it. 

I am consistently overwhelmed by the details of the show. It's just so well done. It's possible I have pretty much been watching it since Friday night. I am obsessed with the second act. 

Saturday we swam with some friends.  

For some reason, they were out of blueberries so our flag cake is pretty much a plague cake which somehow seems appropriate for 2020. 

We had our traditional Macy's fireworks and glowstick party! And it's still fun! 

Yesterday we finally got to go back to Mass and it was so good. A little weird. But good. 

I hope you spent your weekend well! 

A Few Things Before the Holiday Weekend

So swim lessons wrapped up today. 

This is the only one of my terrible pictures that captured them both. And even then, it's their backs in the water so not super helpful. 

I am 100% properly impressed by how these lessons went. My kids learned so much more than they ever have. We may never go back to regular lessons. 

Last night we (like Husband and I) wrapped up watching Alexa and Katie on Netflix. 

We came to this show kinda by fluke and super late. But the 4th part just dropped a few weeks ago. And I just loved this show. It's so wholesome and sweet and funny. I honestly laughed and cried many times. I really think that when M is a little older we will watch this show together. 

In other big news this kid right here, not only learned to swim but has finally crossed the bridge into actual reading. 

She can read the whole first box of Bob books. And for that, I am so very thankful. I just wanted her to have a running start on reading for school. We don't even know what that looks like yet, but I know that these early reading skills are so important. 

The other day C asked me a very important, impossible-to-answer question. So let me ask you... 

"What was the first color people named?" As is, as humans were developing language, which color was named first? 

I honestly didn't know how to answer that and I have no idea how his brain wrapped around that idea. But there it was. 

And with this mishmash of randoms we are kicking off our holiday weekend. Hamilton on Disney + tonight for family movie night and more fun tomorrow for the 4th! Yay! 

July Jumpers

Can you even believe it's July? No. Neither can I. 

This gal was so excited to try on some jumpers after swimming lessons. Some friends let us take two sizes to see which ones we will need. I am going to get a new jumper in the bigger size and look for used in the smaller. 

Well, we are just taking it one day at a time and I am going to keep believing that they will go to school and she will actually need a jumper. (It is the thing she is the MOST excited about.)