Happy Quaran-TEEN Birthday!

Claire is a teenager!!  We celebrated her 13th during a pandemic by inviting family and a few friends at different times throughout the day to come hang out in our driveway!  

Our new-to-us elliptical was a hit with all the kids.  Claire, Fielder, and Samara made it 1 mile!

I decorated the driveway and had it set up pretty cute, but it was a very chilly morning so the first round of family ended up sitting in the garage away from the wind.  

After family, round 3 was with a few of Claire's closest friends.  It was so sweet of them to come and hang out - and I think the all enjoyed seeing each other since they rarely get to hang out now because of Covid.  They ran around the backyard, had pizza and ice cream cake, and were a silly goofy bunch!  

 Happy Birthday to my sweet Claire!  I can't believe I'm the mom to a teenager now!!

3rd & 7th Grade!

After a summer of wondering what will happen with this school year, we are ready to start.....virtually.  Our county is all virtual for now with the school board reevaluating each month.  At some point they will most likely return to a hybrid model (2 days in, 3 days on their own) and I'm not sure that option sounds very appealing either??  This year is certainly one for the history books.

Rob took the kids for a river day so I could run around getting everything ready.  I got both desks set up (and cleaned, and did laundry, and picked up groceries, and even recovered Claire's lampshade!)

Ready as we'll ever be!!  I scored a last minute desk for Fielder on facebook marketplace and I love it!  It was a late decision that I didn't want him a the kitchen table and I'm happy we were able to find this. Desks are as hard to come by as toilet paper was in March!

Last day of summer break!  We went to explore Maymont.

First day of school!!!  We are excited and nervous, but trying our best to have a good attitude.

Day 1 technology problems.  Canvas shut down for the whole county.  Fielder was able to log on about 2 hours late but at least had a chance to meet his teacher and get started.

Yesterday was much better, and today....oh my SO MANY PROBLEMS.  Everyone is frustrated but it's not just us having trouble so I guess that makes it better.  I know things will improve....RIGHT??

 

And there you go!!  I just caught up on the last 2 years for this blog.  My thought was to end it after Claire turns 13, but with Covid I feel certain I'll add a few more updates here and there.  

TOPSAIL 2020

Our beach vacation was different this year as Mimi and Papa made the hard decision to stay behind due to Covid.  We sure missed them and are so thankful they still let us go and have a week away.  

Wish we had the van (new car in February after the old van was totaled) - it was a TIGHT squeeze!!

Since there was an extra room, Clay and his kids joined us for the week!!  (Patti stayed home to prepare for a move and a new business!)

I had the best time getting to know Virginia, Olivia and Wade.  They were the sweetest kids and I have the best memories of our week together.

Fielder and Rob went to the fishing pier and watched someone catch a shark!

Spa day!  Samara planned so many fun things and brought lots of cute activities for the kids.  

Our last morning we went for a walk to see the sunrise.  I found turtle tracks!!  We thought that was exciting until...

we got to see the mama turtle!!!  She had gotten turned around and went over the dunes.  Someone found her in a vacant lot and called for help.  The fire department transported her down the beach where they helped her return to the ocean.  We spotted the lights and started running down the beach to see her!  It was so awesome.  (Fielder doesn't know about the turtle.   I felt so bad that he didn't get to see her)

All of our shark teeth.  Fielder had a lot of fun searching with me this year.