Day 166: First Day and Labor Day

 This week has flown by, and with it my first 5 day week teaching, the kids' first three days of virtual school, and our first three-day-weekend of the school year.  We are under way! 

Pictured here:  Annual "night before the first day of school" portrait photo shoot.  The dog and cat are not starting school but still managed to get in on the action.  I love that picture of Winter keeping the cat under wraps.  With her face all like "What?  Nothing to see here!"

Here's my new eighth grader, along with alllll his hair....

And the new 5th grader!

And Nat, and Opus.

The kids' year started on September 2nd.  We went outside for photos but no backpacks needed this year...

Jack could not believe he had to hold this sign.

Here he is at his basement work station, which lasted about 20 minutes before we realized not much could be done to make our basement NOT look like a dungeon in the background of a Google Meet.  He moved upstairs, to his swanky room with the lights and gaming chair,  with the caveat that the Xbox controller stay on a different floor during school hours...  Jack's school day is a doozy, with two electives and 4 core classes, 40 minutes online apiece, all before lunch, then enrichment and mindfulness after.   I do think its a good plan to keep middle schoolers busy and structured, though, and so far he's not complained.  He did note that he's had good training at being on a screen for many consecutive hours. True that. 

Little one started one hour later.  Her school day is paced well with breaks and chances for independen work, while her teacher works with the 4th graders in her 4/5 split.  Ivy had been anxious about the new 4th grade students joining her class-- turns out in virtual-school she hardly sees them.  And out of our two kiddos Ivy is the one who can better pace herself and manage unstructured work time, so her schedule is going to work out well, I think.

She's learning in her room too, so while I taught from home on Wednesday in my office on the first floor, it was almost like the kids weren't in the house.  Super quiet, and super engaged, and except for a couple of log-in and volume hiccups, they didn't need my help at all.  Wild.  And OK.  If the first week of online school is any indication, it is going to be...OK.  I'll take it. 

When we've not been busy on Zooms and Meets this week, we've been at the lake. 

Thursday night sunset -date with my honey and my doggo.  Edgewater dog beach never disappoints. 

We've had fresh produce ripening in our gardens and lovely weather most of the week for eating outdoors.  Homegrown heirloom tomato and basil salad on my patio?  Don't mind if I do. 

Friday night sunset beach with my mom and the dogs at Rocky River.

We thought and thought about running off to Farley's for Labor day but in the end decided that it felt like a bit too much after this first week of school.  So we found sunshine and celebration closer to home. 

Saturday brought a trip to Holden Arboretum to visit the new Stickworks art installation.  And of course our favorite climbing tree. 

She had more fun on the canopy walk than this photo would indicate, though it was strange to have to wait in line for things at Holden!  Even with reservations and limited numbers of guests it was packed.  Pandemic-world means more people out enjoying parks, and while this is a good thing in the abstract-- really, people SHOULD be enjoying nature and all the magic our area has to offer-- its still frustrating to have our favorite "secret" spots get so crowded...

The stickwork was magical and we are looking forward to repeat visits as it weathers through the year...

Sunday Zoom church on my mom's deck is becoming a tradition.  This time, with spaniels!  These two are so sweet together. 

Sunday afternoon we celebrated Labor Day with Steve's family at Euclid Beach. We haven't seen them for most of the summer between all of our travels, so it really felt like a mini-family reunion. And a little bit like camping together too, sitting around the grill, playing guitar and frisbee, eating summertime foods.  The weather was not ideal for swimming, cool and cloudy with a few sprinkles, but it was nice to be by the lake even if we weren't in it, and we stuffed ourselves on burgers and IPA's and homemade guac and it was terrific.  Lucky to have this great family of mine!