Zoom Learning

Second Grade over zoom is NOT the greatest thing ever. Collin really detests being on the computer all day every day. However, his teacher Mrs. Hemsley, gets pretty creative with trying to have them learning NOT ONLY on the screen. Here, she read a book (I think the The Three Little Pigs) and talked about the construction of the houses. The kids then had to go find something in their house that they could construct a "house" out of, and create the different things a house would need (ie. doors, windows, chimney, etc.) He was ALL SMILES throughout the project. Afterwards, he told me: That was my BEST DAY of virtual learning!

I absolutely love this quote.

Sometimes you need to sit in silence at the awe of the miracles in life...

Who’s Relaxing?

I needed to relax a bit, got my pillows all set up, my favorite (ratty but so well-loved) blanket, and put my feet up. Seems like someone else had a rough day and snuggled right in...

Matchy Matchy

Allie always helps us with our Summer Camps. I think she loves helping out (our summer camps are quite epic!!), and at the end of every summer, we do a Thank You Event (she prefers an outing over getting paid). This year we did shopping, movies, tie dying matching pajamas, sleepover, and going out to breakfast as her thank you. Their pajamas turned out super cute!!

Emotional Support Animal

Our emotional support dog is always there to help us get through the struggles of the 2020 pandemic. 

In fact, I think the BEST thing to happen to Wicket is the pandemic.

He gets his people and all the snuggles ALL DAY LONG. EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Pandemic life for a snuggly puppy is a great life.

The kids do like the fact that Wicket comes to virtual school with them every day. He'll just come in for a quick pet, or stay for longer (if you have snacks), and may or may not join your zoom to see what's going on.

Virtual School Feelings

We have a new saying in the house:

What's the first rule to Virtual Learning?

DON'T FREAK OUT!

Sometimes we have to say this a few times. Sometimes we say it after we've already freaked out. Sometimes I ask the kids: Whats the first rule to virtual learning? and they reply: FREAK OUT SOMETIMES!

I get it. We all need to freak out sometimes...

Virtual school is hard...really hard.

The kids don't get to see and interact with their friends.

The teachers have a really hard time teaching the concept over Zoom.

Kids are SUPER-SICK of spending all day long at a computer.

The online curriculum "Florida Virtual" is a STRUGGLE every day.

The kids are troopers!

The kids are trying their best!

We've had meltdowns every single day and we get back up and try again.

The kids are ROCKSTARS in a really difficult situation. I'm so proud of them!

Great Wolf Lodge

With all this virtual learning and frustrations that have happened this year, we decided to take advantage of not having to be "in school" and escape over to the new Great Wolf Lodge for a few days. We went with some of our good friends, the Pond Family, and had SUCH A BLAST!

This place is like a one-stop-shop for family fun! There is a HUGE waterpark that the kids could have played for days and days and days along with all sorts of other activities, AND a super spacious room where Shayne and I had our own bedroom (which made it even more enjoyable!)

We did some fun mini-golf.

The kids were all super-brave and did their first ropes course. It was CRAZY HIGH! Collin got a little scared of the heights at one time, but he bravely pushed on. He was the youngest there and finished the entire thing!

They even had an indoor rock wall that had 3 different tracks for the kids to try out.

Yes...all the kids...even Shayne tried it all out!

Having fun at the waterpark!

It was our first time mini-bowling and it didn't disappoint!

The Ponds introduced us to Bahama Bucks! We're HOOKED! So yummy!

We're so ready to go back again! We really needed a getaway and recharge and this was perfect!!