"Beach" and the Break

It's been what I like to call "Virginia hot" for what the meteorologists are saying is a record breaking time, so last week we took a little adventure to a place I have wanted to go for a long time - Leesylvania State Park. I had heard they had a little beach area a few years ago, but it is a bit of a drive for us. I finally decided to go, and bonus I finally got to see my teammate for life and her new baby (who I seriously felt like was half mine). Quinn had a great time splashing around in the water.

Other than this adventure, we've been doing the same old. Painting, hiding, and moving rocks, finding new trails, playing, and reading some books. I have also been working virtually about once a week. It's helping to get a little better acclimated to my new job, but it's rough not being in person and trying to learn new things. We've also been listening intently to the hot debate over reopening schools this fall. Last week my district pre-voted for a 50% hybrid model. I was surprised when late last night it was voted down. Around 2 a.m. they motioned to open virtually for the first quarter.

We drove through a Vacation Bible School supply pick up last weekend, and we left a rock in the growing piles at our church/Quinn's school. We still miss getting to come here everyday, and now we have to decide what we will do with Quinn next year. Such a hard decision. 

Earlier this week, I drove halfway to Pittsburgh and met my parents, so that Quinn could go visit them for a few days BY HERSELF. She has been asking to do this for months. I was moderately worried she would freak out at the exchange point, or at bedtime, but she is having a great time. This is only the second time in 4.5 years that Quinn has spent time away from us, and her first ever time away from her house by herself. I miss my friend, but it's been nice to not have to be in constant entertainment mode the past couple days. The parents also got ice cream during this momentous occasion...something that never happens around here due to food allergies. We are also watching Hamilton and not starting it at 10 p.m. Living large. 

COVID Summer

It's been an exciting week around here. I'm officially done with school which is a moderate relief, but I have quite a list of to do's to prep for next year. I decided that I'm taking a few days off from thinking about that.

Quinn has recently started placing phone calls mostly to me or my mom. She taught herself this and sometimes I don't even know it's happening until I hear her talking to people. 

Monday I got a very fun end of the year surprise when my friends and coworkers stormed my street with a car parade. I was so happy to see everyone and wish we could have hung out. I am going to miss my people so much. We also had a fire Monday night...both Monday and Tuesday were perfect weather here in the mid 70s and cool in the evenings. So much better than hot and humid Virginia summer.

Tuesday we were up and at the newly reopened playground before 9:00 to try to get there and have some time before anyone else came. It was short lived, but still fun. While organizing our bathroom vanity that afternoon I busted out the hot rollers and put them in Quinn's hair. She thought it was so fun. We then drove a bus route, in her newly styled hair, delivering signs to the front yards of my 5th grade students.

Today was a weird rainy day (in the 60s) but we still got a walk in, did some math, played in the garage, played Uno and Sorry!, and found the missing remote so that we could turn on Disney+ this evening to watch the Bears version of the nature movies. These movies really show you how brutal nature is man.

Weekend Twelve

If there is anything this pandemic has been good for, it's our outdoor time and an exercise routine. Weekend twelve was mostly filled with those. Friday Matt worked at his office in DC, so Quinn had to tolerate me on two meetings, and she had her own Zoom dance class. Quinn cares very much about her wardrobe. I don't know how it got to be this intense, but she was really mad about having to wear that pink leotard (her fave black one was in the laundry). It was a very big issue in our day. Other than that we went out early for a walk before it got hot and then did some of Quinn's school work. We have been trying to keep on a bit of a schedule during the week, but we are chilling hard on the weekends.

Saturday was unbearably hot here. We walked on our closest trail for shade, but it was still rough. We also walked past the flamingoes on the way home. They work for Amazon now. The rest of the afternoon was spent in the pool/on the porch, and then our typical Saturday movie night. We watched African Cats on Disney+ (another Disneynature film). Quinn is super into the concept of predators and prey. It's actually alarming how undisturbed she is watching the whole stalking, chase, and kill thing. Every time I worry she's going to get upset and every time she doesn't. Not sure what this means.

Note the other family pool partying in their driveway.

Today was a great balance of fun and productivity. We found a new trail that is just a half mile walk
from our house. It was so pretty. I can't believe we have never done it before. We saw a bunch of cascades, a fox, a baby deer that still has it's spots, and the typical fish, turtles and other wildlife. We finished up a game of Skip-Bo today too...it's a current fave and it's pretty addicting if you haven't tried it. We spent some time cleaning various things and I went into Home Depot to pick up some paint. I'm pretty certain this is the first store I have been in since April.

Note the hiking outfit. I don't even fight about it anymore. 

While I was cooking dinner I thought about how typically I would be excited and stressed about ending school this week. I am excited to see some kids this week as they drive through to pick up their belongings, and I am definitely stressed with no plan for what comes next. It is an ending to school that no one will forget for sure.

Down on the Boardwalk

Today is Wednesday, and I'm having a hard time remembering what Monday was like around here. I suppose we worked on math that day because it's the only picture I have from the day. I also worked Monday night so I could get a project done, because I wanted to take a little field trip Tuesday morning. We drove down to the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk. I had been wanting to visit here for awhile. I decided a trip in the middle of the week, on an overcast morning was probably the best time to go currently. The drive wasn't even that bad since the Northern Virginia traffic is minimal these days. For any of my local friends, I would highly recommend this adventure. This is a relatively new park with a boardwalk trail that was built over marsh and wetlands, so there is lots to look at. I think there are other trails that go off of it, but we only went a little way on one of them. We saw lots of wildlife too. It was a great morning.

Today was super hot. We got the pool out and I did some work on the porch...just trying to tie up loose ends for the end of the year, and trying to get things a little more orderly before I leave my current position. After lunch on the porch, I did join Quinn in the pool for a little bit. We are enjoying a movie night tonight - Born In China - on Disney+. The nature series is really good. Tomorrow should be no less than eventful as I return to school in the morning, and have three Zoom meetings with my 5th grade friends in the afternoon.

Suggestions Needed

I missed a day yesterday. Maybe because this is now the new normal and it's pretty much just everyday stuff at this point. I think I am going to start spacing posts out a bit more. I do have a couple things to mention from today and yesterday, and I need some opinions!

Yesterday, I finished my first book on Audible. I was listening to Before We Were Yours, which I definitely recommend! I wasn't 100% sure I would be really into an audio book, but I will say that it was more motivating to get out the door to exercise once I was into the book. I didn't like how I couldn't just be reading it whenever I wanted the way you can a paper book. I mean I suppose you could, but if I ever get to read when Quinn is awake, she's usually asking or telling me something every few minutes so that's better for a paper book. Now I want a new Audible book, but they are so expensive! Now I need your opinion on what I should read or listen to next...I still have a copy of Where the Crawdads Sing on my coffee table, but I need more. I also just finished Such a Fun Age, which was kinda eh for me, but still decent.

Quinn reading to her kids.

While you are thinking of books...also think of TV and movie recommendations for us. Yesterday the possibility of Star Wars came up because neither Matt or myself has ever been into it. Quinn and I were shopping online for summer clothes and there was a Yoda shirt she wanted. So random, but then we watched Star Wars clips and she had a lot of questions. So then there's the question of how to do watch Star Wars...what order do you go in?

Star Wars

Matt and I have been working on some projects around our house, and getting various issues fixed. One of the things next on my list is painting our dining area and living room, mostly because I want our living room to be lighter. I need paint recommendations. I think it's going to have to be a "greige" color. Help us, friends!

I think that's all I need in the way of suggestions right now. Our main events the past few days include the regular academics, time spent accumulating steps and miles, Zoom meetings, picking up an order at Target, and returning the power washer. Quinn did get a special gift today, her own watch to track her activity. It also has a chore tracker which I plan to use as well. Oh and I cannot forget that we met the flamingo owner yesterday. She told us the schedule for upcoming movement. Today they are working out at the gym.

Supermarket Sweep

It was a much better day on the behavior front today. Hallelujah! Quinn did have more screen time today alone than in the whole month of February, but whatever. I went to Wegmans at 7:00. I think I almost cried three times. I was tired, hungry, no coffee, wearing a mask and gloves that made me hot and my glasses foggy, it was terrible. I do not know how medical professionals wear those masks ever, let alone all day. I saw one of my coworkers and we stood over six feet away talking for a few minutes. It's honestly crazy and it's a little bit like Supermarket Sweep. I had a massive list because I hadn't been to the store in over two weeks and I don't intend to go back for another two, hopefully three. The selection was better during this trip, so that's good. I got almost everything I wanted and everything we need really. The procedure to check out was different. In addition to cart distancing lines on the floor all over the store, they have a line where you have to stand to unload your cart from and you are not allowed to cross it until the checker calls you when he is finished. The checker also stands behind a shield attached to the lane and comes out to sanitize between customers. I was never so glad to get back into my car.

Note: I am not hoarding N95s. This is leftover from our kitchen cabinet redo a few years ago.

We have been cleaning everything as soon as it comes home so it took us forever to unload the car, clean food, sanitize packages, organize, etc. Then wipe down the kitchen, change clothes, etc. I finally quit at 11:00, and still have to deal with bulk chicken breasts before I put them in the freezer. So that's four hours dealing with grocery shopping. I told Matt to never let me complain about grocery shopping in the future. 

After all this I made Quinn do some reading and sight words, then go out for miles with me, and then we came home for lunch. I set Quinn up with her new paints while I did a few things for work. Then we went out on the porch so I could read a chapter of my book and she wanted to do math apps. It sounded fine to me. 

We are finishing out the evening with our bonus pandemic movie night. We are watching Onward...thanks Disney+

The Weekend

Church on the couch

I would call this weekend productive if nothing else. I feel like it was really no different than most weekends, except there wasn't the pressures of Sunday afternoon and Sunday evening. We don't have to do all that prep work to make the week run as smoothly anymore, which is so nice. And when we spent ALL day Sunday trying to get our landscaping in control I wasn't as mad about it. What I am mad about is the amount of time we spent and our yard still looks like a hot mess. I guess this was the periodic reminder that I need to not upgrade my house or yard.

Yard trash...and it still a mess

Saturday we did a lot of miles. It was great weather for running, which I am trying to do more of with our current situation. Quinn is getting super close to her 26 mile goal. She is also LOVING some card games. We might be taking her to Vegas when this is all over. Current favorites include Go Fish, Old Maid, and War. We have also been enjoying some quiet reading time in Quinn's room. I get to read a little bit while she looks at books in her sleeping bag on the floor. Then we read a book together.

Reading time

Naturally for movie night we watched Frozen II. I've been developing a theory that this movie is actually the predictor of the Pandemic. Also, I'm serious. Think about it...there's people trapped in an enchanted forest, they couldn't go anywhere for 34 years, 5 months, and 23 days. Then there's Olaf singing When I am Older. Just google the lyrics to that...if we haven't all felt that way in the past few weeks, I don't know what to tell ya. Then there's the lyrics to Into the Unknown and The Next Right Thing. Honestly...tell me I'm wrong. Elsa is one powerful queen. And if I remember correctly she really set fire to the winter after the original Frozen was released too. Let's just hope it's not 34+ years until we are released back into the real world.

Sunshine

Today was the most beautiful day outside. I really can't even remember what went on this morning besides the fact that we must have eaten breakfast and I had a virtual staff meeting. The many pieces of Connect Four were also laying around for most of the day, so we probably did that too. The afternoon was pretty great though. We went for a long walk and then played with sensory bins (rainbow rice and kinetic sand) outside in the driveway. Once Matt was done with work he took over and I went for a solo walk/run, and when I came home Quinn requested reading time in her room (she 'read' to herself while I got to read my book) while Matt made dinner.

Tonight was a bonus movie night. I worked on my work while Quinn was watching the Cat in the Hat. I am able to get a few things done during the day work wise, but I have been doing the bulk of anything I am attempting to do after Quinn goes to bed. I have actually broken down and downloaded some apps for the child. She thinks the apps are super important in her life now. It's pretty funny. Prior to this, I would say technology was almost non existent on a daily basis for Quinn. While I attended my meeting this morning, Matt covered the day's reading and sight word practice upstairs. Thankfully, both of us are working from home so we can tag team when needed.

Just a side note on the distance learning. I think it goes without saying that this is not ideal. Teaching is hard work. And doing it online, on the spur of the moment, with limited resources, and not much technology expertise really complicates the matter. There's also the fact that sometimes we can't even get kids to do their work in school, in our presence. I could go on about all the factors here, but I won't. I do think we need to think about the fact that the parents working from home with multiple children at multiple levels, who are not teachers, are trying their best to do everything. Educators are also trying to figure it all out on the home front and the 'school' front. Everyone is working hard here, and right now it's hard just to go to Target or Wegmans and hope they have what you need/want. It's a stressful time. I hope that everyone is able to find a balance in our current situation.

100 days of Summer, Week 6

This week the pictures are a little Quinn heavy...I guess that's what happens when it's summer and we get to spend all day every day together. In other exciting news, this is my 500th post! That really blows my mind a little bit. Even though my blog has gone a little downhill since Q came along, it's still up and running 5.5 years later.

{Day 36:July 4}

Best smile on the 4th of July!

{Day 37: July 5}

My new training partner...I think she heard all my whining on the miles and started whining herself.

{Day 38:July 6}

Happy in the high chair. We were going through major hard times with the high chair...but I finally figured it out. She just wants real food and to feed herself...no purees for this chick! 

{Day 39:July 7}

Total creeper...always climbing all over me. She loves to pull up and go between me and the couch.

{Day 40:July 8}

Meeting Matt for lunch on the hottest day EVER! 

{Day 41:July 9}

Watching a movie on Netflix...first time in a long time. Spotlight...recommend it!

{Day 42:July 10}

Q loves the pool, she's definitely a fish! I love her tongue in this picture.