Mid-Year Review

 Wow, am officially the worst blogger! Today is the last day of the school year, so might as well catch up Uncle Barry (hi Uncle Barry!) before the kids are around this house all day, bothering me with their needs and wants and video games. It feels like we don't have a ton of stuff planned this summer, and yet it'll probably feel full and wild and scheduled to the hilt and we'll be relieved to get back into the school routine come fall (or rather, late summer - they go back in August.)

They've both had a good year, and running the PTA has proven to be mostly rewarding for me. I started the year with the attitude of "we'll do what we can, and not stress about the things we can't do." We started the year without being able to have volunteers on the campus AT ALL, and as the COVID restrictions changed, we were able to welcome all the families back to campus for a taco truck on Open House night, and last Monday we were able to host the family picnic, where parents and loved ones can come and share lunch with their kids. The PTA provided popsicles for everyone, and we had our outdoor book fair set up. I ran the register and sold about $1600 worth of books! It was so great to see everyone, and as a jerk, I enjoy yelling at the kids I know "oh, sorry! We don't allow popsicles for people named [insert kid's name.]" Adam's baseball teammates were especially confused to get hollered at by me, out of context. 

This was my sentiment last week, after being on campus volunteering, and coming to speak at a school assembly, where all the kids were sitting on the black top patiently listening to the speakers and performers, their little faces just rays of light (and sometimes, boredom.)

I spent most of the past week volunteering on my kids' school campus. The ending this year feels so bittersweet and fragile. To have started the year sending them back with new masks, along with new backpacks. To end the year with thankfulness that they've survived COVID, that our school has stayed open, and also that they haven't been slaughtered at their desks, made martyrs to the Second Amendment. It breaks my heart on so many levels and makes me want to cup each of their little faces in my hands and bestow whatever blessing I can upon them. Some of them are wonderful. Some of them are weird. Some of them are sweet little nuggets and some of them are rude little menaces. But they all deserve to feel safe and learn and grow and LIVE within the bounds of the school (and the grocery store, and church, and the movie theater, and and and and and...)

I want us to do better for all those sweet babies, and for every person who deserves to be able to navigate the world safely.

So, what else has been happening this year? We went to the UK over our spring break to reunite with our Quaranteam, who moved there in the fall for new jobs and the ex-pat life. It was so good to be with them again, it was like no time had ever passed. They can try to put an ocean between us, but they're my family for life!

Me with all three of my babies.

The kids were remarkably good international travelers - our main difficulties surrounded trying to get them to eat non-boring food, and look at exciting, one of a kind things (they said they didn't have to learn anything because they were on spring break, so I nearly had to do a murder when they refused to take even a second to appreciate the Rosetta Stone.) I am hoping that as years go on, we can meet up with our friends in various cities worldwide, and hopefully, if they come back to California, I will have pre-built a basement bunker to lock them in forever. I mean...

A funny thing about tourist Adam - he will point out something fun or pretty or scenic and say "you should take a picture of this!" and then he insists on being in the photo and posing, so you know what you're supposed to be looking at.

Tourist Ellie loves doing a cartwheel in historic places

The biggest spring activity for Adam has been Little League. He was fortunate to be on a good team with fantastic coaches. He hits well, and he's in training as a pitcher, but overall the season was a lesson in helping him become a better teammate, and less of a rage-quitter. Highlights from "Jesus Take the Wheel" parenting moments include him striking out and then, when I wouldn't let him immediately quit the team, having him sticking his head out of the dugout to yell at me in front of everyone "YOU DON'T EVEN LOVE ME." He was on a team with some kids who were younger than him, and would throw fits about how "I shouldn't be on a team with these babies!" but had no response when I pointed out that no one else was acting like a baby and throwing a tantrum on the field. Thankfully, all the coaches and other parents supported us through it - and the kicker is, when he was having a good time, he was having a GREAT time! He just can't let himself give in to loving it.

Here he is, warming up on the mound, 2.5 hours into what would turn out to be a 3 hour play off game (his team ultimately got third place.) It's obvious how unhappy he is as a player, right? You can clearly see from this that I DON'T EVEN LOVE HIM. 

The end of fifth grade has been busy busy busy for Ellie. They've spent the year learning about the American Revolution, and finished up with a Colonial Day presentation for families. Ellie asked me about buying her a colonial costume and I said hang on, let me show you one thing I have in my closet that might work before we buy something.

And lo, Ellie turned the bridesmaid's dress from Gigi and Grizz's wedding into a halter neck colonial gown. 

They might burn her at the stake for her bare shoulders, but she looked great and performed well. It's so great to see her having a good year and blossoming so much at school. She's so fearless in her style and confident in who she is - I absolutely love her.

The last adventure for this spring has been their first piano recital back in quite some time. Videos below! And hopefully more to come (further updates even!) as we get into our summer fun.