Whelp, it's the last full month (is it??) of summer, one that essentially started in March - ha! If you know me, you know two things are absolutely true: (1) I love routine. Schedules. Organization. This is who I am. (2) I love family time, more than any time. Clearly, with all that is Covid, these two things have been at odds. Our schedule has become unscheduled. It's probably been good for me, if I'm being honest. But also, I am ready for a schedule. I'm ready for a school schedule, after nearly six months of no structured school schedule. And while we've gotten so much beautiful family time, time that I will dearly miss, I also feel like we have made the most of it during this crazy season of life. I am ready to start transitioning into the next season, whatever that may be.
So. What does the 2020-21 school year hold? I don't know. I know that, for the first and only year of my life, all four of my littles will be in elementary school at the same time (albeit not the same elementary school, with Bels going to a different elementary school that is better tailored to her IEP). I know that, while I think the structure and routine will be good for us, I'll also miss them. I can already tell you: the re-entry is going to be hard for me. Before that begins, though, we found ourselves in the thick of a full, fun July. Here's a look at what July 2020 looked at for us. Buckle up, it's a long one:
We celebrated the Fourth of July with friends all day and night, kicking things off at the annual pool party and ending the day with a cookout that included a corn hole tourney (with a particularly poor showing by my hub and me) and an awesome fireworks display. It really was such a fun day!
And then, the next day, we returned to church for the first time in person (such an emotional experience for me!) and followed it up by heading straight to the most beautiful rock quarry at Carrigan Farms for a Sunday Funday.
We were thrilled to have some special time with grandparents, including solo grandparent trips for Harrison (to Bammy and Digby's!) and Raleigh (to Nana and Pop's!).
Sadly, our beloved Camp Rock was cancelled at the last minute (as in, less than 48 hours before Banks and Raleigh were set to depart). This sleepaway Christian camp has meant the world to our family: it's where Banks made the decision to follow Jesus two years ago. And this was to be the only year Banks and Raleigh would be there together, seeing as how it's only for rising 3rd (Raleigh), 4th, and 5th (Banks) graders. There were plenty of tears and disappointed hearts, but we were determined to make it a fun week. And we did!
There were a couple camps for Banks this month, too, including a running camp and a basketball camp, both of which he loved.
After a three year hiatus, I began playing tennis again! I had started playing the year before we brought Bella home but gave it up over the last three years so I could focus on making sure our littlest lady, and the rest of my Lu Crew, were adjusted and so I could soak in some extra family time. Now that they will all be in school for the full day, I've decided to start playing a little again. It's been so fun to get back out there!
We have continued to get in some great time with friends of all ages - a la happy hours, game nights, dinners, sleepovers, playdates, pool time, aqua park visits, the works.
And we have managed to squeeze in some good ol' fashioned family fun!
We celebrated Bella's 3rd Gotcha Day Anniversary (which just so happened to coincide with her first ever dance recital!). We also incorporated some of our Gotcha Day traditions, masks and all. ;)
Raleigh rescued a newborn squirrel after finding it at the base of one of our trees. Her sweet dad then proceeded to climb 30 feet up the tree to return it to it's home (which he ended up having to do again the next day after it fell out...again).
And, on a sadder note, we said goodbye to our sweet Cooper Lee, a much loved member of our family for 16 years. My hub and I received him as a wedding gift, back when he was just the cutest, rowdiest little puppy. He was there as we welcomed each of our kiddos into our family, and he will be dearly missed. Over the last few years, he has become blind and deaf, diaper-dependent, and suffered from dementia; but his heart never faltered. He went on his own time, taking his last breath while lying in the sun on July 25th, and we will remember him and our 16 years with him fondly.
Now, it's into August we go, with hearts that are grieving but also at peace that our Coop is finally no longer in pain. <3 Alright, second half of 2020, be kind to us!
