I took a break from posting last week. I needed a chance to breathe and think. We've had some really great and fun times over the last two weeks, but there have been some heart wrenching and mentally exhausting moments, as well.
Last weekend, Scott and I stayed up late, watching the riots, looting, and burning of Minneapolis and St Paul. We watched the National Guard (deploying from Rosemount) roll through our neighborhood. We had conversations and debates about what was happening and why. We watched our cities go into curfew...and then have absolutely no traffic on our Nest doorbell cam. It was surreal.
We can't believe that the country is still broken in this way, and I can't believe that we didn't see that until now. It's time that we had real conversations with our children so they understand that racism is real, and it's all around us.
I feel like my eyes have been opened, and I don't want them to close again. My summer reading list has now expanded beyond the five books that I had already earmarked, and I will be doing what I can to learn more, and do better. This will make me a better mom to my kids so they can start to help make a change in this world. I don't anticipate us going back to "the way it used to be"...our new normal is here to stay.
On a lighter note...we did have some fun over the last few weeks. Ava had her final baton recital - she performed in the VFW parking lot. Kinda weird, but at least she was able to throw her baton without the fear of hitting the ceiling. She is going to take a break from baton this summer, and focus more on her drawing (and finishing up her baby-sitting certification.)
We were able to pick up the last of her stuff from her locker, and this coming week, we'll be participating in a parade by the middle school so she can say goodbye to her house teachers. She may not cry, but I probably will! Her official last day of school is this coming Wednesday. She has rocked this distance learning!
Ava also popped out two teeth within a 24 hour period. She lost eight teeth between 1st and 3rd grade, and then nothing until the last few months. Now, she's down four more teeth, and only has eight more to go. 'Bout time!
As for the little guy, G wrapped up his last week of Kindergarten! We picked up his yearbook and participated in a parade to say good-bye to all of his teachers. Luckily, we'll see his teacher again next week so we can say good-bye just to her. It's going to be an emotional meeting. He will be starting attending the Y Summer Power program for three days/week on Monday. I'm excited (for me) and scared (for all of us.) I know they will be doing their best to keep everyone healthy, but the risk is still out there.
We've also had the chance to hang out more with the neighbors, and even celebrated the last day of school with a pizza lunch party and water balloon fight. Fun! AND...he finally got his hair cut. He looks like a completely different kid.
Playing Sight Word Tic-Tac-Toe with me
Water balloons!
Where'd the hair go!
Red Pine Parade
Completely not related to anything...our cottonwood trees are leaving the neighborhood little gifts. So pretty, but really annoying when it gets in your food and drink while sitting outside...lol
We're going to celebrate my mom's birthday a little early this weekend. I'm so happy that she gets a real birthday dinner, and none of this "quarantine birthday" craziness that us spring babies had! Happy early Birthday, Mom!
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