On Monday the 3rd the kids start Rio Swim Club.
They loved it, although we kind of had to force Jack initially. He felt if he did swimming he couldn’t do basketball. Although he will have to focus on one sport in a few years, we assured him we would do the best we could to keep him involved in both sports for now. Hope we aren’t proved to be liars.
Tuesday Millie went to Gold Medal Gymnastics. She went for a trial and they said she would most likely be in the beginners class. Well, wouldn’t you know it? She was moved to the intermediate class. So we got her signed up for classes. She was so excited to be starting, as well as to have met Amanda Borden, the owner of the gym and a former Olympic Gold Medalist who was a part of the Magnificent Seven at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Georgia. She was on cloud nine.
She was meant to be involved in gymnastics.
Wednesday was our first day of school. The kids both went with Stuart. Grammie and Pop got up to send all of us off.
First day of school pancakes, of course.
The masks were ready!
Clearly Jack was motivated his first day.
Millie looks a bit more engaged.
After School the kids had swimming. We then came home and had dinner. I then went to get her helium balloons for her birthday so they would be there the following morning.
We also blew up about 30 balloons and laid them on her floor while she was asleep. Who doesn’t love a room full of balloons?
The table was ready.
And there were plenty of presents.
Thursday morning I was up early making cinnamon rolls. Millie opened some presents and then we headed off to school. The kids were still doing pretty well with Stuart at school. However, I assumed it was only a matter of time until I would have one with me and the other would be with Stuart. It was only fair.
We were home by 4:15 pm ready to open presents. The birthday dinner commenced at 5 pm because we had to be finished for Millie’s surprise ‘drive by’ from some of her (our) friends. It’s tough to live in a place and have a birthday when you turn nine, but not really have any friends. We did our best to make it special, spending about as much money as we would at Christmas. In the end, I think she cashed in.
Our friend Jenny made her cake, which she loved. John and Jen came early and John did magic tricks for Millie. They had masks on, but did come in the house. It was a bit awkward feeling so awkward.
Sue and Tim drove by and brought her some adorable unicorn things. She carries her little back pack full of doll clothes and her new make up that we got her is in the little unicorn make-up pouch.
Grammie and Pop helped with festivities and then Pop enjoyed cake.
John and Jen were the stars. Jen has an amazing flare with cake making and John is forever the comedian.
Maytee, Ken, Gigi and Lexi also made it, even though Gigi had to scoot off to archery, I think.
And naturally, it would not be a party without Gavin and Maddax, and of course Vicki. I think it was a successful birthday
Friday we finished up our first three days of school and we were exhausted. I got home and it was reported that Millie and Jack had been goofing around at the end of the school day. We headed to Ken and Maytee’s for the evening. On the way, Millie flipped out because she was mad that I hadn’t yelled at Jack for bringing his phone. I told her that I never said he couldn’t bring it. She claimed that the only reason I didn’t shout at him and I would at her was because she was adopted. That girl can cut straight to my heart. I know she doesn’t understand the impact of what she says, but hope one day she does realize that we love them both as much as the other.
We got to Ken and Maytee’s for dinner. They had a little birthday celebration for Millie, which surprised her. The kids went swimming at Laurie and John’s and we didn’t get home until nearly midnight. It was a late, but very enjoyable evening.
Saturday we got up and went out for a bit to pick up two dolls Grammie had purchased for Millie. She was so excited. We then went to Target for some needed accessories for the new dolls. Millie spent her own money on an outfit, and of course Grammie bought her an outfit. Then when we got home Millie used one of her Amazon gift cards she got for her birthday to order some clothes for her new boy doll.
Jack had basketball and Stuart, Millie and I ran some errands. Jack didn’t end up staying long because there were too many people at the gym. So he was home way before we got him. Later in the afternoon we went to Ryan and Vicki’s for dinner. Jack ended up staying the night. Stuart, Millie and I came home for a movie night. We watched the new Lady and the Tramp. It was so cute. Millie went to bed after the movie, and so did Stuart and I.
Sunday morning we got up and went to pick up Jack. We took donuts. We were home just after noon because we made a stop at Costco to get stuff for dinner. We did lunch on our own and then Stuart fixed a roast dinner. I spent most of the afternoon watching the show of my choice back in the bedroom.
Monday was my last day at school without a child.
This is the main reason once child had to come with me. It seems Millie popped into Jack’s class meeting the previous week. It also seems that Stuart was frustrated and the technology wasn’t cooperating. So it was decided that Millie would come with me the following day. Monday after school we took the kids to swimming and went to Pier 1. I found a rug I liked, but decided to think on it as we won’t be in our house for a little while. We’d just have to store it. Once we picked the kids up it was home, showers and dinner.
Tuesday Millie came to school with me. She just got on with her work, thank goodness. She has A LOT of work. It seems a bit overwhelming for a 3rd grader, but she is meticulous thankfully. Although she has some hyper activity in her, it plays in her favor with school it seems.
I took Jack to basketball and couldn’t help but yelling while he played. I was encouraging, but I just wanted to correct his bad habits. He is behind in skill at this point. But I do believe that the opportunities we have our kids in the seven years we lived out of the country outweigh being up to date on his athletic skills. Don’t get me wrong, I want him to be competitive and able to participate in sports in junior high, high school, and possibly college, but it’s not the end all. I just want both kids to enjoy anything he chooses to do.
Millie had a tough day with me on Wednesday and I told her she would have to go back with Stuart on Thursday, but in the end I decided that was a bit of a rejection to her and that wasn’t helpful.
Wednesday evening the kids had swimming again. Stuart and I just hung around the shopping area close by. It doesn’t seem like much, but that hour together helps us to decompress.
Thursday Millie came back with me to school. She had a much better day at school. We had a staff meeting at the end of the day that just threw a bunch of new things at us. It seems everyday something changes. It’s our new ‘normal’ I suppose.
After school we had a bite to eat and then Jack was taken to basketball by Grammie and Pop. Stuart and I were able to stay home with Millie. Millie was in bed by 7:30 pm and Stuart and I just had some time together.
Friday Millie came back to school with me. My team felt we had a better grip on our daily routine, now that we were 8 days into the school year. Since we had knew this would be our lives until at least the middle of October, it helped to feel more settled. We had to change the format of our Google Classroom to something more user friendly for our students. After school, Stuart and Jack came up from Ryan Elementary. We took Millie to her first official gymnastics class. She was so excited. We then went to Joe’s BBQ for dinner. We sat in a booth that had plexiglass all around it. It seemed relatively safe. The food was amazing.
Jack has a half rack of ribs.
Millie had a baked potato. She ate nearly the whole thing, and it was huge!!!!Saturday we were up and doing a lot of nothing. Millie had gymnastics, and Jack was supposed to go to practice basketball at the gym. Instead he and Pop came to Millie’s gymnastics as the basketball gym didn’t have an available court. Grammie, Millie and I headed to WinCo after gymnastics and Jack and Pop headed home. Stuart has the afternoon to himself. The rest of the afternoon was spent just doing our normal Saturday things.
Sunday we ended up going to Ken and Maytee’s for dinner and swimming. Stuart helped put together a couple of desks. He also agreed to go over after the kids swam on Monday evening to help put the trundle beds together that they bought for the girls. After swimming Monday we headed back to the Green’s house after stopping at Jack in the Box for a very nutritious dinner. Ken and I sat and chatted while Stuart and Maytee put beds together. I think Ken and I had the easy part. We got home quite late, which is never good for Millie, but Jack was the one who was still awake after 11 pm.
Millie went with me to school on Monday and Tuesday, then it was back with dad. We did our normal Tuesday night routine with Jack and his basketball academy.
On Wednesday I delivered materials to the students in my class. It was so great to see the kids in person. I felt it was the personal touch that was needed for me to connect to my class a bit more, especially in these uncertain times in history. It was hot and I found I had kids that live way out of our boundaries, but it was well worth it to see their faces.
We took the kids to swimming as is now our routine for Wednesdays. When we got back from swimming, the kids showered and ate dinner. Then it was bed for all.
Thursday it was school as normal. I then took Jack to basketball and it was pointed out to me that he is way behind the curve when it comes to his skill and knowledge of basketball. We stopped to get ice cream at Safeway. Grammie and Pop went in and I spoke with Jack about his basketball abilities. I assured him that if he decided he didn’t want to play it would be fine with us. I told him he was most likely a bit behind because we had not been in the states for him to play basketball all this time. But I also reminded him that the trade off was that he was able to travel all over the world and his life experiences will always mean more to me than a career in any sport. He assured me he wanted to play basketball and he would do the best he could to catch up with the other kids his age. Our main goals for him are that he is involved in some sport, no matter which one that may be, that he stays active, and that he has fun. If he can accomplish those three goals we will be happy.
Friday was school and then Jack and I met Millie and Stuart for a snack. I then took Millie to gymnastics while Stuart and Jack headed back to the house. Millie had another successful practice. We headed home and had some dinner before Millie took a shower.
Saturday we were up and went to the supermarket. The kids stayed home with Grammie and Pop. Millie had gymnastics and Stuart and Grammie went with us. At the end of gymnastics we went to Dick’s Sporting Goods for Grammie to try to find some new tennis shoes. As her feet have been feeling better, she has started walking again and needs some new tennis shoes. Millie needed a new swim suit for swim club and a new pair of flip flops.
We were home for the rest of the afternoon. Stuart and I hung out in the bedroom and then sat on the porch in the heat. There was a lightning show, which was kind of exciting. We went to bed shortly after Jack was in bed. We find these days that there are no real reasons to stay awake, so sleep is in order.
Sunday we were up for church. I then ironed my clothes for the week. It was a very different experience from the previous week when I burned a hole in one of my dresses. I clearly was never meant to iron any clothes.
Around noon, the kids and I went to lunch with my friend Debi and her boys. We had Wendy’s food before going to Uptown Jungle in Chandler, which is a trampoline, climbing park for kids. They had to wear their masks as they walked around the place, but then were free to jump without their masks. Debi and I had over two hours of catching up. It was so good for my soul.
When we got home the kids decided they wanted to order pizza. So we got Pizza Hut and then Stuart discovered that Jack had a ton of missing assignments from school. So much for being trustworthy with your assignments. It seems that Mr Jack would rather watch YouTube videos than do his work. Well, guess who lost the privilege to watch anything on the computer during school hours from now on? Shame! So I spent the rest of Sunday evening helping him catch up.
Monday Jack went to school with me. I was videoed for the Chandler Facebook page. Crazy post. Upsetting. Both kids had swimming. Home, food and bed shortly after.
Sue and I walked on Tuesday instead of Wednesday of this week as it was her birthday and she and her family were going on a trip up north, with all the Tharalsons meeting up for a meal and some time together.
School was better for Jack as he got all of his assignments finished. Millie had an epic meltdown after school. We are seeing family counseling next week as we are at a loss as to what we need to do to help her control her emotions. I pray that we will get some answers prior to puberty.
Jack had tryouts for the Reach club team. He was so excited. He did well and was to find out by Thursday if he made the team. I think he will, which just means more money out of our pockets. As long as he likes it, we will do it.
Wednesday at school I had a team meeting that I actually forgot about. When the meeting started I was delivering headphones to one of my students. Thank goodness I wasn’t out getting lunch. My principal is so positive and encouraging of our efforts, which is so good for our morale right now.
We got home in time to go to the swim club. On the way, I read an email and found out Jack made the Reach club team. He was beyond excited. After we dropped the kids off, we went back home to collect Grammie and Pop. We were given struck directions not to tell Pop that Jack had made the team.
We picked the kids up from swimming, they changed and we headed to the Digital Drive In Cinema in Mesa because Jack won us tickets on the radio the previous week. The game on KEZ was to ask a question of Beth and see if she could be stumped. Jack was very eloquent and actually stumped her by asking her what the Burj Khalifa was. He had to inform her that it was the tallest building in the world in Dubai. She had a really long conversation with him about school and how he felt about being online. He then proceeded to tell her our story of the last 5 months and how he didn’t really have any friends here. I nearly cried. The movie was Sing, which we have seen a lot, but he won’t the tickets so he was very pleased with himself. We took a picnic, which apparently was against the rules, but no one checked so we got away with it. We didn’t get home until well after 9 pm. I insisted the kids shower and then they went straight to bed.
Thursday was a difficult get up for all of us. It was business as usual at school and then home for a bit before Stuart took Jack to basketball. Millie and I stayed home and watched a bit of Madagascar 2. Grammie and Pop has left that morning for a weekend anniversary trip to Showlow. Jack has a successful practice and was very pleased to be a member of a proper basketball team.
Friday morning we were up and out for our Friday donut run. Jack and I tried Dunkin Donuts as they are now serving all pumpkin stuff. Jack wasn’t terribly impressed with his pumpkin latte, but I thought it was delightful. The day came and went and then we met Stuart and Millie in order to exchange children and I took Millie to gymnastics. She was so pleased with herself as she showed her class how she could walk on her hands.
When we got home we had went to Ken and Maytee’s for the evening. We didn’t get home until after 11 pm and the kids talked me into watching an episode of Fuller House before they went to bed. I stayed up until late, watching my trash shows. It’s what I like to do.
On Saturday morning we lounged around the house. Stuart made bacon, eggs and toast for breakfast. We then sat in the living room and watched television. The kids played in their rooms and it was a lazy morning. Millie and I went to gymnastics, which was her last class on a Saturday as she was able to get into the Tuesday and Thursday classes, which will be easier for all of us.
Once we were home, after a shopping trip to Old Navy and dollars later, we watched Jurassic Park. Our friends John and Jenny came over for dinner. John brought his puppet, Eli, and now guess who wants a puppet for his birthday?
He decided this was the best way to be a ventriloquist.
Another month is in the books. Sometimes it feels as if we live a version of the movie Groundhog’s Day. It’s definitely a monumental, life changing time in history.
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