Monarchs and Back in School

 These pictures uploaded out of order. Oh well.
Will being silly in the pickup line. He was listening to songs on the radio and then telling us what they mean. It was hysterical. He's a pretty funny kid when he's in a good mood.

Tyler came down with a runny nose and cough the first weekend after school started. For a moment we were afraid it was COVID-19, but it's not. Our doctor confirmed it was just a sinus/allergy type thing. But Lee wasn't taking any chances since his classes start this week, so he wore a mask around the house. 

My Monarchs. (heart) I have about 23 chrysalids right now. It's pretty fun. And the most I've ever had!

I love watching the kids get interested and check on them all the time.

I laughed outloud when I saw this meme. Oh 2020. You have been a year.

I finally hung up my hammock swing and I sat there for hours one Saturday. Like hours and hours. I read a book, took a nap, it was just perfection. And of course I could overlook the monarchs. haha.

Oh Amy. On her 2nd to last day of distance learning, I realized I hadn't heard from her in awhile. She usually came out of her room between classes but I hadn't seen her. So I went to go check... well, she missed those classes! ha! Luckily her video wasn't on, and they had to complete assignments to be counted there, so it didn't really matter.

For a youth activity we held a drive thru root beer float thing and asked for donations for our local Veterans hospital. We got so many donations. It was so awesome.

I got my official Monarch Waystation sign! Woohoo!

Will sometimes writes music. It will be interesting to see if this progresses!

And Will... oh Will..... he has been listening to the staff at school say if you feel sick, have a runny nose, have a fever, etc you cannot come to school. Well, he didn't want to go to school, so he decided he had a runny nose. He wasn't sick at all, of course. He tried to get out of it at home but we told him he was going. Well, an hour into school the nurse called. She said, "I know he isn't really sick, but we have a zero tolerance policy this year and he's been sniffing, so you will have to come get him." I was livid. Not with the school, I understand their policy. But with him. So when I picked him up, and would hardly speak for fear I would say something I would regret, he decided he better say a quick prayer for his safety. I made him work hard all day at home and let me tell you, he will NOT be pulling that shenanigan's again. Good grief. This day and age he cold have created an entire school shut down! I laugh about it now, but I was not laughing about it that day.

Now the kids are all back in school. Amy had her first full day and had a great time. Kids adapt really well and don't seem to care about wearing a mask. Who knows if school will get shut down again. It probably will. But until then, I'm going to enjoy my solitude at home. :) After 5 months, I think I deserve it. ha!

School Starts and a Family Fun day

Uncle Stratton gave us a huge tv and after we hung it up, the boys used the box to create their "own" tv and video gaming set. It was pretty funny. Ah, cardboard boxes just never get old. 

Just some of the celery I grew this year. I had no idea it would do so well! But it did excellent!

Will in his new glasses. He hasn't gotten into the habit of wearing them all the time yet. The boys got to sleep upstairs before school started. So they brought their drawing books and stayed up late doing who knows what. 

Tyler started piano lessons! Our teacher doesn't like to start until they are 8, and since he turned 8 back in April, well, it was time to start. He's loving it. 

The start of school was a little different this year....  

The boys started like normal. (the pictures below.) At Amy's school, they had a few staff members test positive for the coronavirus so her school went online for the first week and a half. I got photos of the boys but Amy didn't want these to be her "first day" pics because she wasn't gussied up. But oh well. At this point it's all I've got. 

Amy is starting the EIGHTH grade. (How is that possible?? Next year is HIGH school) 
Will is in 5th grade. 

Tyler is in 3rd grade. 

They actually think wearing a mask is fun.

This sums up how Amy's first day went.....

Marty LOVES the car. We couldn't get him out after a little ride. 

I helped the Master Gardeners prune the grape vines in my new garden hat :) 

We had a family fun day one Saturday. It was rough figuring out where to go when so many things are closed down and it was so dang hot out. We finally settled for a place about an hour away that had a waterfall (that you really couldn't see because of the tree overgrowth.) 

But we got ice cream, so that's all that matters, right? 

 

Lee's New Building, Meme and Papa Visit

Lee's department got a fancy new building so he took us all over for a tour one night. Masks are a requirement, of course. 

Will decided to put his hands in paint. Yes, we all checked to see if he had been cloned. (He has never liked having his hands dirty!) 

Lee took a nap and the dog crawled in right behind him. Marty LOVES Lee. 

Boys playing a game called Dicemasters. 

Amy and I learned how to make pasta a few weeks ago and then made more to freeze. 

This summer's YES day included a trip to Nachos (of course.) And Nachos is really all that the boys require. 

When we walked in I happened to also see my friends Mitzi and Demetra, which I was pretty excited about. 

Meme and Papa came into town and we installed the upstairs floors! Dad and I mainly worked on it and mom was on the cleanup and snack crew. It was SO much fun working side by side with dad. I really had a great time. 

Did anyone else know that my mother owns this accessory???? She said," I knew I should have hidden that! I just knew you would make fun of me for it!" She knows me well. 

The floors turned out just beautiful. 

I grew some perfect looking tomatoes. These are Costuluto Genovase. 

Dad installing an attic fan because it just gets so hot upstairs. Luckily this and a new shot of Freon seems to have done the trick! 

I had to laugh one morning seeing Amy sleeping on a deflated mattress. Now that the upstairs is done, we finally have an extra bed avilable for when company comes.