School Brunch

Mesmerizing

Sometimes vegetarian

And stuffed hashbrowns from the waffle maker. 

We're going to perfect this one with some trial and error.

All because discussing actual school will take a dissertation.

 

Happy New Year

Because everyone should go ahead and throw on a swimsuit on New Year's Day. 

And warm themselves by the fire after their polar plunge. 

And run inside as fast as possible after the show. 

Because it was cold in there. 

But even colder outside. 

Family Time

First Day of School 20-21

Like all the cool kids, we have first day of school pictures from inside the classroom this year.  Nick got started two weeks before the others this time. 

I was unaware that a fork was part of the school supply list. 

But the girls ate breakfast in bed nearly up to starting time before running off to their separate rooms to begin class together but not in the same room. 

And Ben was a mixture of smiling for me and looking sad to begin again, particularly like this. 

As the cafeteria worker, I had lunch ready.  Although this really only takes care of 2.5 days....

As the IT department, Patric and I failed at tech upgrade in preparation for five people in Zoom meetings daily.  Nick took his first high school exam on his iPhone.  sigh.  But we got it fixed within a day.  We're learning. 

As social worker, I am available all day, every day with open office hours since no one has a similar schedule to another.  With no friends to catch up with, the traditional passing in the hall is now switched for coming by and chatting with me.   When I am cafeteria worker, this schedule doesn't work at all--4 kids in 3 different lunch periods that span 2 and a half hours each day. 

After crashing all the internet by logging into Zoom calls separately and then getting on face time with each other during the first 5 minutes of class, we had to put some rules in place.  So Alida immediately started sending her sister pictures during class instead of face timing with her. 

And it took the first roll call for Alida to show her boredom. 

Summer is here

Jumping in. 

And when you learn you aren't a tennis star, put floats on the net and make it into a swimming pool game. 

Flying

Summer Camp Activities

Preparation for hunting season has begun. 

Helps with interest when you have an ogre to shoot at. 

School's Out!

All online learning, video uploads, Zoom meetings complete!  

Onward, to see what happens in August after a little summer break. 

Above Elaine had to teach someone to sing and sign the scales with her, and maybe more importantly agree to be videoed for classroom upload (or maybe also blog sharing...)

Home Hair Continues

Someday.

Covid is Not Okay

While We Wait for Spring

Alida Skis

And Ben Skis Too!

Science!

 

Sixth Grade Science class has changed so much since I was there. I received this from Elaine while working away one day last month. She was quick to tell me that her teacher said it was okay that she had her phone out in class.

 

 

And when I showed this to our lab director while I was at work this month, he was excited to tell me that he makes DNA with all of the same materials in his lab.  He also entirely got the double helix dance that was going on during the presentation without missing a beat.

Skiing to the Beach in March

Mid March was (sigh) still perfect weather for skiing in Wisconsin.

 

And the lifts were open, so off we went.

Nicholas may have first tried to put on a pair of skis that belonged to a man with a thick Russian accent, who was not a gentle soul. But Nick wound up finding the correct pair. We have a way with the other skiers of different ethnicities.  We've taken to packing our own lunches after getting into a bit of a row with a gentleman over open seats in the cafeteria last time we were there.

And, my crew was off. 

 

And, first time ever that we've found a single hotel room that had enough beds for all of us, never mind that Patric and I wound up in the bunk beds in the loft after reaching bedtime before the children.

 

 

 

More on the beach in a little bit. 

Oh, You're Funny Alright

The waterfall was beautiful, but Elaine pulling her trick on me (hatched surely while I was carrying her canoe on my head all over the place...), reminded me immediately that I should never trust the girl....

 

 

And Now the Actual Videos.

 

 

 

The Great 50 States Song

I was nearly beside myself when I heard the girls practicing this for their 5th grade show.  I remember performing this as a kid too.  Next I need someone to teach them to backward alphabet song.

Always, I Open My Mouth

We joined the Boy Scouts Sunday for skiing one last time before the end of the season.

And I think we're getting the hang of it!

Way Back 2017: Ice

That didn't take long.

 

That's looks almost as if it is being helpful to one another going on there.

It's not.

The boys pretty much hit the ice and turned it into a battle of some sort.

The girls, took to it immediately, had no learning curve, and giggled.

 

 

 

But don't say those girls don't have a sense of humor and are sweet to each other all the time.

The Girls' Show

A bit more in the spirit of the season.

 



Christmas in July

And We're Off Into 2014: Happy New Year!

Shrinky Dinks

Ben's Shrinky Dink project went straight into battle the evening we returned from our Thanksgivng break!