August has been a month of paperwork around here: forms to fill out for my new job, forms to enroll the big kids in school, forms for Andrew to submit as he works on his chimney cleaning/installation training. I’m so tired of paperwork I could scream! And once again the pandemic has complicated things, because the forms I had to submit to various agencies for my background checks took FOREVER because the mail is delayed and most of the people at the agencies are still working from home. All I could do was submit the required paperwork and pray that things would continue to move in the right direction. So far our prayers and patience have paid off! Ryder and Harper began their remote learning on August 24th, and I finally started my new job as an assistant teacher at a Head Start program this past week. Of course as a new hire I still have some beginning-of-the-year trainings and paperwork to do, but that seems like no big deal now that I know I have a job! God has provided everything we need, and we continue to look for the positives in every situation.
A recap of August in pictures:
At the beginning of the month we went with Patricia and Stephan to pick a garden for an acquaintance who was out of town and told us not to let the fresh veggies go to waste. We watched a couple of horses roaming the pasture and came home with some delicious green beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, and the biggest zucchini I have ever seen!
The kids continue to spend most of their time outside, and Shepherd has developed a love for rocks, sticks, and all things muddy. Ryder and Harper still love to fish, ride bikes, and play in the creek.
Shep loves watermelon and corn on the cob!
Lego time with the big kids!
Qwirkle anyone?
The second week of August we got some majorly heavy rain a few days in a row, and the pond filled up and the creek overflowed its banks. Once the rain stopped, Andrew and the big kids rebuilt the dam in the creek for Tony since lots of the rocks were washed away.
E.J. is sitting on the grass near the pond, but after the heavy rain you can see how it ended up underwater.
This is what we call Shep's "silly face." Like me, he can suck his lips up to his nose. I'm so proud! 😂
After all of the extra rain this summer, Tony decided it was time to install a French drain to help prevent the standing water in certain spots of the campground. He recruited Andrew to help him, and they spent several days digging, measuring, and installing new pipe to direct the water towards the creek. Shep loved watching Tony on the digger, so this was free entertainment!
This boy loves mud puddles!
soaked and muddy
Garcia occasionally watches out the front window to see what's going on.
Back to School 2020
Obviously this has been the strangest back to school experience any of us have ever had. We enrolled Ryder and Harper in the local elementary school, but Andrew and I decided to do the remote option for now. With everything else going on, it's easier for us to know that the kids will be home each day and we can create a predictable routine for them. There have been some kinks to work out and tears of frustration as we all try to navigate the online databases and learn how to submit assignments and view grades, but as we begin week 3, we're feeling more comfortable. Since I'm now back to work during the day, Andrew has been monitoring the school work (while taking care of our busy little Shep!) and touching base with teachers when necessary. Oh how the tables have turned!
I had to do a "first day of school" picture even though the kids didn't leave the campground. Most days they go over to the campground pavilion (a.k.a. our one-room school house) where the WiFi signal is strongest.
Whenever the kiddos are at the pavilion, so is E.J. We joke that he is the class pet you don't pet.
Shep likes to check on the big kids while they are working. Harper let him try out her headphones, and he sat grinning while opening and closing his mouth like he was trying to copy the voice he could hear.
Once her schoolwork is finished, Harper goes right back to fishing.
Ahhh, so relaxed.
Harper took this picture of Ryder and told me he was just being silly, but it looks like he's had enough schoolwork for the day!
Shepherd loves to be "chased" but hasn't quite mastered the running technique yet. 😉
Andrew and I felt even better about our decision to do remote schooling when the kiddos' school shut down in-person learning at the end of the second week because of positive coronavirus cases.
Harper is taking after Pops--she loves to take selfies!
Overall I had a great week, but it is quite an adjustment to leave for work before the sun comes up and spend my day away from my 3 kiddos. We have been together as a family since March, so it will take some time to get used to this new routine. And spending my day with a classroom of 3-year olds is exhausting! Ryder and Harper look forward to hearing about my day when I get home, and so far there have been plenty of funny stories to share!
my little muddy buddy
This is Shep's "surprise" face...mud and all.
On Friday night just after dark, Andrew had started a fire in the fire pit out back and was walking back towards the Airstream door when his toe got snagged by a fish hook. We always keep the fishing rods propped up against the Airstream, but one had fallen down and he didn't see it as he rounded the corner. I knew it was bad when he got calm and quiet and said he was going to need my help yanking it out. 😧 Since it was a barbed hook and in pretty deep (all the way to where the hook bends), he started looking up videos on YouTube on how to remove it. He had me watch them too so I would know how hard to pull because he "only wanted to do this once." We laid supplies from the first aid kit out on the table, and although Shep was already in bed, Ryder and Harper stayed up past their bedtime to watch the "show". Thankfully it was a clean pull and Andrew bandaged it up, we got the kids tucked in, and the two of us headed outside to enjoy the fire.
trying not to dwell on the hook buried in his toe 😬
