What a month we've had and gosh it went by fast! August was full of adventures in travel, camping, boating, visitors and lazy summer beach days. Next week school will start and we will miss all of the freedom we've enjoyed over the past few months. Freedom from school work and zoom meetings and homework assignments! But let's not get ahead of ourselves. We still have a few good solid days of summer left and I plan to take full advantage of the zero obligations I have on the calendar for those few remaining days. I refuse to let the stress of everything that lies ahead (HOMESCHOOL-ACK!) bring me down. In fact, I attended a two hour zoom meeting last night for Anna's homeschool program in which the teacher posted the following affirmations.
These affirmations resonated with me! We CAN do this! Our theme for the year is: Be the Good. There are so many negative things to dwell on in the midst of a pandemic. Especially during an election year. Especially when everyone is bitter and annoyed about distance learning. But we can be the light, the good all around us. We can bring people up if we see the positives and then reflect that attitude in all we say and do. One family can make a difference. One child can make a difference.... especially within our family! If we try our hardest to work together as a team and get our schoolwork done, this could be an amazingly GOOD year! Just takes the right attitude.
So.... that's our plan. We'll see how it goes!
But back to the recount of August. So many happy times. Highlights included an amazing trip to Yosemite with four other families who we love and adore. Sadly, Blake couldn't join us on this trip, so just the kids and I made the long journey up to the most beautiful place I've ever been in California. Yosemite did NOT disappoint. And because we were with four other VERY high adventuring families, the kids were pressured into doing some pretty amazing things they might otherwise not have tried. We hiked 4 hours uphill to Vernal Falls, we rock climbed in the Valley, we tubed down the river, and biked miles and miles and miles through the beautiful forests. We stayed out until 10pm every single night. It was truly an incredible adventure and probably one of the coolest things we've ever done. SOOOOO happy I didn't let my nerves get the best of me before the trip. I was worried about all the solo driving through the canyons. Worried about tending to the kids without Blake, the bear box, the bikes, the gear! I could barely sleep! But I overcame those fears and it turned out to be a once in a life time adventure for all of us.
Another highlight was our annual trip to Pismo Beach with the Paces! Because of Covid, we had to forgo some of our traditional adventures- like shows in the city and in door dining! But overall, it was just as wonderful and relaxing as always. A daily jaunt down to the beach, followed by shopping, eating, walking, visits to the barn, apple picking and movie nights. It's my favorite pastime on earth to sit and talk with Jamie for hours so this trip means the world to me. And love that the kids get to spend time with their cousins as well. And bonus, this year..... Jamie and kids came back to San Diego with us! We loved boating and swimming and bbq'ing and shopping. Jamie took our family pictures and they turned out amazing. SO grateful for her talent and generosity to always do that for us. It was a wonderful visit and I felt so blessed we could spend that time together.
Our best buddies- the Douds, bought a camper! This did not just change their life--- but ours as well! We have gone camping quite a few times this month alone because of their insistence that we join them on their adventures! I guess I'm a camper now???????? I actually do enjoy it and love that the kids' world has been opened up to so many outdoor adventures through the removal of soccer and organized sports. Our schedule has opened up and it's been amazing to travel and camp and boat and hike and bike in lieu of soccer tournaments every single weekend! We all bought used bikes and LOVE our biking adventures around the town. Covid has opened up our eyes to so many awesome experiences.
We loved our boating adventures this month. Super fun to take the Jones out, along with our neighbors- the Detlings, all of the Deacons Quorum, and even the Rustands who came to town for a short visit! Blake is SO much more confident in his boating skills these days and the boys are his little assistants. We are all pretty skilled, tbh. Ha! We love spending our summer days on the boat. It's a joy in every way. So grateful for such a fun bonding experience.
Though we are typically the party house all summer long, this year was different. We did enjoy having all of the kids' friends over here and there. Slumber parties with the girls for Evelyn, swimming and sports in the backyard for boys. We had all of our Yosemite group over one night for dinner and s'mores- since we weren't allowed to make fires in Yosemite and we struggled to experience camping with no smores- ha! We had a movie night in our backyard with a few select friends. But no big huge back to school party or summer gatherings. Just small groups and no fuss dinners. Next year I hope to be back in business!
In lieu of all of parties, we mostly enjoyed beach days and park gatherings. Loved celebrating Greg and Brigham's birthdays with a big game of family kick ball at the high school. Enjoyed horse back riding with all the girls for Sara's birthday and exploring the local skate park with Grant's friends. Dane loved getting to see all of his school friends at the beach to celebrate Jace's birthday. Crazy to think of that kid as an 8th grader! wow.
During our downtime, the kids have kept busy baking (see pictures of Grant making raspberry trifle with Elizabeth), listening to Harry Potter via Audible (Grant), whipping up Uncle Jason's mint lemonade (Anna), playing loads of card games, getting our nails done--AT OUR HOUSE by a traveling nail technician (Evelyn and I) , reading books together (about to start "the one and only ivan" because I personally knew Ivan from my youth visiting the B&I on a monthly basis), soccer in the backyard with Coach Conner always ending with a dip in the pool, swimming as a family, making tik toks but obviously never publishing them (Anna), building legos, grilling home made pizzas and steak, quitting piano (Grant- BOO), beginning guitar class (Evelyn), being the best helper in the world (Dane), losing our sweet cat Eddie, spending TONS of time with our other sweet cat Louie to help in our grief (me), making musical playlists (Dane), and eating way too much junk food (all of us), starting school two weeks before the rest of the family and being a super duper good sport about it all despite the fact that the new learning platform is ridiculously difficult to wrap your brain around (Evelyn).
It's been a full month and we've loved every minute. I will press ahead with good faith. Continue to read my parenting books for strength, and social media memes for laughs. I will smile when I feel like crying because I want my children out of my hair and NOT to be in charge of their personalized educational programs. We WILL have a good school year!
