First days!

First Day for the kids!!!

AJ-6th grade middle school

Ryk-4th grade

Demps-2nd grade

Me: My 11th year

The highlights!

• AJ told me the entire play by play of his day, which NEVER happens. So yay for a good day! He did lose two things but good news is that he’ll be learning how to talk to adults in his new school tomorrow!
• Ryk got to play at recess with aLL his friends which was his nightlight!
• Demps is making new friends already! And tonight I taught her how to tie her shoes and she’s insanely proud. She even taught Russ how to do it too!
  
  

Everyone is growing up! I feel uber grateful that everyone had a great day and everyone wants to go back!

-Love

Momma

Hawaii-Can We Stay?

Holy moly-I could upload all the photos from this trip, because they were so good.  Here are some highlights from the trip.

• We had to definitely jump through some hoops (good ones) for COVID.  But we were able to have no problem submitting our paperwork for the vaccine, and getting the kids tested 72 hours before we left.  Hawaii was very much being careful and we masked anytime we were indoors.  As much as this kind of sucked, it also felt safe and got us in the Covid Delta mode that we are quickly moving into.
• Speaking of COVID/masks....the big island also happened to have a decent size wildfire during the time we were there.  It was pretty smokey-so we didn't get to see everything like we normally would.  We also travelled through some of the thickest smoke I've ever seen up close.  I had a few moments of feeling insanely sad that this is/was my kids new reality.  WILDFIRES/PANDEMIC.  And then I looked at them and remembered that they are so darn resilient and they didn't keep all these worries on their shoulders...and it's going to be ok!  
• Cliff Jumping!  We found this awesome beach that you were able to cliff jump at.  Fun fact Russell and Ryk went over first, and I had to admit I was a bit jealous that I wasn't going (the other two had ZERO interest) but also a bit grateful because from where I could see the cliffs looked INSANELY tall.  Russ and Ryk returned after jumping and I couldn't take it anymore.  I asked Ryk if he would go with me too.  Like a gentleman, he walked me over, showed me how to get up, and went first!  In the middle of my jump, I kept thinking, I seriously was so nervous that I actually made my 9 year old go before me.  LOL.  After this jumped I ended up losing my beloved apple watch, which turned into probably something really good for me.  I couldn't tell time/I couldn't set timers/I couldn't count my steps.  It was rough, but I made it through.
• I bought Dempsey and I matching swimsuits.  She is completely into matching things lately, and I feel so grateful and know that this is only a matter of time.  
• The Waves.   I'm pretty sure I commented on this before but I have always loved playing in the waves.  However,  with kids I have now really felt completely intimidated by the water.   I go through all the horrible scenarios and it takes me forever to get in the water.  When we first got to the beach, Russell went into the water and I stayed up and played lifeguard.  Luckily I have a great husband who coaxed me into the water, and then I had trouble staying out:)
• Manta Ray Diving.  Russell is a guy that likes to get places and then figure out what to do depending on what we feel like.  I'm prefer a bit more scheduled-not completely-but a smidge more.  I REALLY wanted to go snorkeling with manta rays and Russell (after getting over the idea of swimming in the sea at night) agreed.  It was one of the coolest things ever.  TRULY.  The sunset happens, you get in the water, swim to a floating board, hold on, lights are attached, plankton is attracted to the lights, and giant manta rays come up and feel, while you put your goggles in the water and watch the whole thing!  I was so proud of everyone-Russell included.  What a great family memory!
• Sea Turtles!  Dempsey learned all about sea turtles this past school year, and talk ABOUT timing.  It was so awesome for her to be the one to spot the first sea turtle snorkeling.  I think we maybe had 3 days in a row where we were swimming in the water and got to see sea turtles swimming beside us.   HOW COOL IS THAT?????
• We did this vacation adult style where we were constantly on the move.  We stayed in 3 different places, 2 different islands, visited 8 different beaches, and all managed to survive each other.  I was super impressed with the kids.  A couple of things that made it work well.  1.  I would sit in the back seat middle because that seemed to avoid fights between the kids.  2.  We allowed tech on the longer rides.  3.  We got this cool podcast that entertained/educated us on Hawaii as we drove around.  4.  We always got dessert, and always played in water.  5.  We had something to drink and ate seafood as our food rewards:). 
• Russell-will include a story about a hike that Dempsey and Ryk did with him!  Don't forget Russell!

The favorites:

AJ-loved Pearl Harbor

Ryker-loved parasailing

Dempsey-loved swimming with sea turtles

Russell-loved snorkeling @ shark cove

Me- snorkeling with sea turtles at the black sand beach and manta ray snorkeling.

We got back from Hawaii around 1230am, and then Russell and I both worked the next day.  If that isn't getting the biggest slap of reality-I don't know what is....:). In the meantime, I do get house recommendations from Zillow and I will consider what life could be like on the island.

We are definitely going back!

Momma

Summer 2021

I haven't posted since JUNE! GASP!  I guess this is the summer post.  This summer was a doozy.  It was a summer that I waited for pretty much all school year.  This past school year was full of insane "pivots" if you will, and left me insanely exhausted.  Summer started off crazy with both boys in baseball.  As much as I love my kids to be involved in sports, it does get super exhausting driving all around-and BASEBALL games are long!  At the same time, it was a time for me to just sit and watch and not be doing something other than supporting my kids-which was pretty sweet!

If I had to sum up this summer with 3 words I would say:  Basement, Outside, Water.  and lets add FRIENDS.

I'm already looking forward to next summer when we don't have a basement that we will be working on!  It seemed like the kids and I were constantly going out and doing something, and then when I got back home I'd work on the basement.  We had a goal to be done by summer, then we pushed it back to 4th of July, and we are still working on it. I guess that's just how it goes.

This summer I got to witness AJ being brave and trying new things at new heights-which was pretty cool.  He was uber social and once he got his phone, I didn't even need to coordinate everything!  AJ has turned into teenager mode-but truly it's fun because I get to see him venturing into a whole new person.  

Ryker really had a great summer of baseball.  He got to play with his 2 other great buddies, and I've never truly experienced a kid being ready and wanting to go to practice/games EARLY because he was so excited to play!  Ryk continually makes us laugh and I have seen more glimmers of niceness come through in how he treats Dempsey.  I think AJ moving over to the middle school will hopefully give Ryk and Demps more opportunities to connect.

Dempsey is a sassy joy!  She has had a few things that I must jot down so I don't forget.  Over summer, and of course I can't remember exactly what we are doing, Dempsey asked me to put my arms around her.  She told me, "Mom-when you put your arms around me it makes me feel so safe."   GUH. So sweet.  Dempsey also had this experience over summer where she had a band around her wrist at the swimming pool because she was under 8.  She had never had restrictions put on her for the pool and she didn't love it.  She could do a swim test to take the band off, but she had no desire to deal with that kind of pressure.  So although she did not do the swim test in front of the lifeguards, she did do it by herself.  I could hear her before she started, "YOU CAN do this DEMPSEY.  You can do it."  She often shares her inner dialogue out loud, and I just keep hoping she keeps this awesome rock star power woman dialogue.

The highlight of summer was definitely our Hawaii trip.  Stay tuned for another post!  Best thing was that we got Russell to ourselves for 10 WHOLE days.  

As COVID ramps up again, I keep thinking how much I appreciated this summer.  I got to hang with dear local friends, see 2 of my best friends from middle school, see my social work buddy and her family, and connect with other family that I hadn't seen in awhile.  

I noticed that I did take photos, but not nearly as much as I normally would do....nor did I blog.  I guess I wanted to be more in the present and less on technology.  It wasn't perfect, but it sure was nice!

Here's to another school year:)

Love,

Momma