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Back to School...Kinda?

The YMCA summer programs are all done...and Ava has officially aged out of going to any of their daily programs. She mentioned something about maybe working there when she's older, which is an interesting idea. I guess she's only a few years away from getting a job...hard to believe. It was bittersweet saying goodbye to the Y staff on Friday. The lead site director for Ava's program (for the last three years) is amazing. She's detailed, thorough, and communicative...all very important skills when dealing with a gajillion different families. Hopefully she'll still be there in four (!) years when G is ready to move into the older Y programs. 

We knew that G's site director (J) during the school year is going to be one of the staff G was with this summer (YAY!) and we just learned that when J needs extra help, it will be provided by the other staff that G was with this summer (double YAY!) We probably won't send G to that particular location next summer, and will keep him at the one that is here in our town. The staff did a great job, it's just that we don't want that extra 25+ minute commute if we can keep him closer to home. And now that we don't need to worry about where Ava will be (she'll be at home, cause she's old, lol), we have the freedom to move locations for G. Triple YAY!

Besides having to say goodbye, the kids also had to say hello...to school! Ava had two half-days this week, and we also went back to fill up her locker with school supplies. She was a little anxious, but now she knows who is in her classes, and is comfortable finding all of her rooms. She hasn't been in person at school (besides TKD last spring) since March 2020! But, she had fun this past week, so I'm hopeful for a good and healthy school year for her.

G had his 2nd grade assessments this week, and he was able to meet the new art teacher (the previous one had been there since Red Pine opened, I believe!) He was a little nervous before going into assessments, but when they were done, he said it was fun. It was a bunch of reading, which we know he's really good at.

While Ava was at Valley Fair (outdoor amusement park) and G was at Grand Slam (indoor play area with mini golf, arcade, playground, etc.) on Friday, I took the day off and treated myself to a massage. It had been over two years since I had one, so it was long overdue. Before that, though, I went to a local bakery and treated myself to a great scone and coffee. Such an easy thing to do, but we're always so busy that I forget to look for opportunities (for all of us) to do those kinds of things. 

So, while Scott was busy canning salsa and tomato sauce on Saturday, I took the kids to pick up Jimmy John's and attempt a picnic in the park. We were visited by a few wasps, so it was short-lived, but it was a worthy effort. Right now, the weather is in the 70's, with blue skies...and we had a bunch of rain recently, so we're slowly working out of the depths of the drought we were in. I looked at the precipitation map from early August and almost the entire state was brown (no precipitation), and now it's a healthy blue and green mix. Whew. I think we're going to enjoy this nice, cooler weather and sit around our new fire table tonight.

Scott also had his dad's car (1960 Biscayne) towed home on Saturday. He's going to clean it up a bit, and try to sell it. G was fascinated by the fuzzy dice that were in the car...I think he's hoping that he can have the dice before the car sells. (Of course he can!)

Scott's taking Tuesday off of work, so we've both bookended this long weekend with days off. Seems like a great way to say goodbye to summer!

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