Final Days of School

Friday was the last day of school.   That really hit me, as I was driving home from town on Friday. 
It hit me that we have a graduating Senior and a graduating Kindergartener.  Talk about emotional! 

Eric had taken the day off of work, so I had run in to get what would be the last bags of food that the school would provide for the kiddos.  I got two; one for Ramsey and one for Connor.  Lots of tasty vittles!

Three times per week, the school prepared two days' worth of food for students.   These prepared foods (turkey sandwiches, hamburgers, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, fresh veggies and fruits, milk, treats, etc) were amazing time-savers for me, working my full-time [ridiculously busy] job, trying to home-school, etc.  I was very appreciative getting these types of food bundles three times per week. 

 Ramsey had his very last Zoom meeting.  On the last day, all three of the Kindergarten classes came together for a final call, where they chatted a bit, but also played a scavenger hunt game.

As the kids said goodbye for the last time, I may have been a bit more mournful than Ramsey was.  I suppose it was just another day to him, but to me, it was as another chapter was ending, and a new one would be beginning.

Connor had finished his schoolwork at 2:55PM the afternoon before.  (It was due by 3:00 PM - just made it!)   His Friday was 100% free.  That day, his summer started and his high school career ended. 

During this time of COVID-19, many days seem to just meld together.   This quite momentous one nearly seemed to do the same.   The emotionalism of it was bittersweet.  We no longer have a senior and a Kindergartener.  We have a 1st Grader and a college Freshman!

Our Bird Friends

Last year, our bird friends had made it in time for Mother's Day.  This year, Mother's Day was a wee bit early, so they didn't quite make the date.   The Orioles, Grossbeaks, and Yellow Finches just rolled in and have been tearing up the feeders ever since!

At one point, we had four male Orioles on the feeder, with the females close by always.  We figure we have maybe 3 or 4 sets of Grossbeak also.

The Orioles are twitchy... and certainly NOT easy to get pictures of!

Not Shabby

I'm a bit of a proud Momma.   Ramsey and Connor have both been diligently doing their school work in the midst of this crazy pandemic.

Today, Ramsey continued in his Math workbook for Grades 2 and 3.   He did really well!   I don't know Common Core Math, so I'm still wondering if I should try to teach him the way I learned; how to "carry the 1" and "borrow" from the next column.  I might mess him up for the years to come!  Or, maybe the state will realize Common Core isn't cool and revert back to "the old ways".  *cheesy grin*

And, we continue to work on his sentence formation and learning punctuation.

I'm finding that he doesn't need my help with spelling, which is quite impressive.  If I try to help, he gets upset with me. :-/ 

As I came into my office from helping Ramsey this morning, Connor was doing his homework assignments.  His advanced math BLOWS MY MIND, but he is terrific at it!  Theorems, Rotational Symmetry, coplaner points... oh my!  

It makes me more relieved that my math class days are in the past!

The "last day of school" is May 15th.  

Visiting Nana - COVID-Style

To say that we've been missing our family through the COVID-19 pandemic is an understatement.   Nana Karen lives by herself in a sixplex of all older ladies.   They have all been, for the most part, self-quarantining, due to age and health conditions (making them "high risk").   So... Nana sees her nurse once per week and a cleaning gal once per week... and that's it.   She's been very lonely and we've been missing her too!

We ran to town for errands and decided we'd do a "window visit" with Nana, just to cheer her up a bit.   We also returned her Kindle that wasn't functioning properly. I finally remembered the WiFi password that had gotten erased!  I have no idea how she's survived so long without her Kindle!

It's certainly not ideal, but hey, it's something!  It's getting to see her face and wave to her and let her know we love her and are thinking about her.   

Ramsey picked Nana some flowers too.  We left the flowers and her Kindle at her door step, but got to see her when she opened the door (we social-distanced, of course). 

This pandemic is keeping people who live close together - very far apart indeed.   There are going to be a LOT of hugs to family and friends when this has blown over!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day - COVID-19 Style!
Well, I have to admit, this Mother's Day was a Catch-22.  On one hand, I was sad and emotional that we weren't able to do most of the things we typically do on a Mother's Day; go to church, have a yummy brunch out on the town, visit Nana Karen, etc.  Those were because of the [bleep] virus (which seems to take a toll on some days).  We really couldn't do much outside because it was COLD and WINDY.  Dang it!
On the flip side, I have my one mainstay - I have my family.  When things get emotionally tough, I have to check myself and remember that.  I have so much to be thankful for!

Earlier in the week, these gorgeous orchids were delivered to my door from the boys!

The colors are dazzling!  They're still holding up, so I'm hoping they can last through the rest of the upcoming week (or more)!

So, what DID we do on Mother's Day?  I slept in.  (Yay!)

Ramsey and I drew pictures and colored. 

"Candy World" didn't quite come to fruition.  Ramsey had grand ideas of chocolate rivers, cotton candy clouds, lollipop trees, coconut grass, and a beautiful unicorn with wings, flying through the sky.  

 And I'm not quite sure what he was doing here, but he had quite the lengthy explanation that he rambled off.  ...something about sword-fighting!?!

 And, I got lots of hugs and cuddles, which were very much-needed.

 At one point, Eric and Ramsey went outside to try to get the lawn mower working.  While out, Ramsey picked these "beautiful flowers" for me.  Aww!  He was so proud.

 And, much of the remainder of the day was avidly watching (er- binge-watching) a new show I found on Netflix; The Great British Baking Show.  (Which, incidentally, I am now addicted to and will continue to watch the remaining 6 seasons Netflix has!)

"This too shall pass" is what I keep telling myself.   It is difficult, when it's already been months and it appears that it'll be another month or two before the state's cases supposedly peak.  I wonder if I will have a COVID birthday, if we'll get to go to the cabin for the 4th of July.... lots of "ifs" and wonderment.   But again, in the midst of it all, I'm grateful for my boys and for another beautiful day the Lord has given us.

Happy Mother's Day to you, Moms, who are so very special and so loved.  We love you and miss you!  And, we cannot wait to see you soon!

Mother's Day Q & A

Ah yes, the yearly Q&A time with Ramsey.... all about his Mommy.  :-)

I may have to start tweaking these questions as he gets a little older.  But, for now, they're the same as last year.  A few of the answers are the same, many are different.  He's such a little sweetheart!!!

1) What is something Mommy always says to you?
Ramsey: "I love you"

2) What makes Mommy happy?
Ramsey: "When I listen!!"

3) What makes Mommy sad?
Ramsey: "Um.... umm... I don't know?!?!?"

4) How does Mommy make you laugh?
Ramsey: "You're always joking."

5) What was Mommy like as a little girl?
Ramsey: "You showed cattle."

6) How old is Mommy?
Ramsey: "40... no...no..no...um.... 46!?!?"     (eh... no! lol)

7) How tall is Mommy?
Ramsey: I am going to see how tall you are.  Maybe 500 lbs?    (LOL!!!!!)

8) What is Mommy's favorite thing to do?
Ramsey: "Spend time with me."

9) What does Momma do when you're not around?
Ramsey: "You keep sleeping."

10) What is Mommy really good at?
Ramsey: "Walking."

11) What is Mommy not very good at?
Ramsey: "Crouching."

12) What does Momma do for a job?
Ramsey: "...work at Communication Elevators."

13) What is Mommy's favorite food?
Ramsey:  "Hmm... sandwiches."

14) What makes you proud of Mommy?
Ramsey: "You help me.... If there is a difficult job you gave me."

15) If Mommy were a movie or cartoon character, who would I be?
Ramsey: "Princess Leia"

16) What do you and Mommy do together?
Ramsey: "We sit with each other."

17) How do you know Mommy loves you?
Ramsey: "...because I am family!"

18) What does Mommy like most about Daddy?
Ramsey: "Um.... I don't know.  His cool style?!?!"

19) Where is Mommy's favorite place to go?
Ramsey: "McDonalds.  Ice cream?"

20) How old was Mom when you were born?
Ramsey: "37"

21) If Mommy would become famous, what would she be pretty for?
Ramsey: "Her prettiness!"

22) How are you and Mommy the same?
Ramsey: "We love each other."

23) How are you and Mommy different?
Ramsey: "We look different, but we have the same skin."

24) What is your favorite thing to do with Mom?
Ramsey: "Hang out.  Storytime."

25) What's your favorite thing about Mommy?
Ramsey: "Your heart... because it's the prettiest!"  

May the Fourth Be With You!

Happy Star Wars Day!  

In anticipation of Star Wars Day (May 4th), we read that the latest Star Wars movie (The Rise of Skywalker) was to be released early, for the special "holiday".

 It was a gloomy/windy evening, with no chance of fishing or outside play.  Ramsey and I sorted through all his Star Wars figures to find his "Galactic Heroes" action figures, space crafts, and vessels.

We also had some light saber battles.  Ramsey wore a pair of his Darth Vader PJs.

 We'd seen Rise of Skywalker in the theatre, but it was such an amazing movie that we glued to the flat screen watching it in amazement all over again.

May the Fourth Be With You!