barrett: 88 months old

Look at this second grader!  Tomorrow is the first day of in-person school (the last three weeks have been online for everyone), but Barrett won't be there - we've opted to continue virtual schooling for the next grading period, at minimum.  And it has been working out well, if only because we hired a fantastic retired teacher to help Barrett out for three hours every morning.  After lunch, he's still got some work to do, but the hubs and I trade off overseeing those assignments, depending on who has meetings and deadline work. I know Barrett misses seeing friends every day, and for sure he misses recess (walking the dog at lunchtime just isn't the same), but he also understands, as well as a seven year old can, that this isn't forever.  

Barrett has been obsessed with Legos lately, and Memaw and PawPaw have gifted him many sets (Flintstones, Marvel), which he puts together with lightning speed.  He's taken over the formal living room, and I just gave in on that because fine, and the Lego table gets new themes weekly.  This weekend it became the setting of "Mulan" after we watched the new live action movie!

Barrett also has his first orthodontist appointment tomorrow! His teeth are spaced out and won't let some adult teeth come in, so I think he may be headed for an expander like Britton had.  We shall see!

Likes:  Legos, dressing up like a cowboy, Marvel anything, Peppa Pig, drawing

Dislikes:  steak (really?!)

 

133 months old

Britton is now three weeks into school, and officially a middle schooler!  I have a quick story.  Our local library does pick up, but doesn't usually have newer publications available.  And the school libraries aren't open.  Britton was getting to the point of re-reading books again, and I didn't know the best titles to buy from Amazon.  Aunt Jessica, middle school librarian, to the rescue!  She emailed me a ton of titles, with a synopsis for each book, and Britton and I went through the list to pick out what interested her.  For a kid who loves to read, and currently has way more free time to do it, Britton was so excited to get a fresh supply of new books!  

One new class this year - band!  Britton was originally going to play the flute, but her band directors thought she'd do better at the clarinet.  So, the clarinet it is!

Other than the huge change of not actually being in a classroom this year, everything else seems somewhat normal.  Unfortunately, Britton can't really participate in dance or volleyball (which she really wanted to do this year), swim team, or her local theater group.  For the first time in what feels like forever, neither child has fun extracurricular activities, and both are missing them terribly.  Of course, when you live in Texas, where covid is still flourishing, this becomes the new normal to stay safe.

Likes:  being able to dye her hair red because she isn't actually in school, snuggling with Nella

Dislikes:  when Nella doesn't want to be snuggled