Grammie and Pop got home around 5 pm and we just took care of ourselves for dinner. Millie had a great weekend and then somewhat put on a screaming show once Grammie and Pop were home. Lovely! I worked on the puzzle for a while. I seem to use the puzzle as my escape from life.
Monday I got up to walk. It was a bit cooler, so I was hopeful that the mad heat was on its way out. I got to school and discovered that some of my mistakes on my google forms were brought to the attention of more than just me. Oops! We learn from mistakes, right? Millie Came with me to school and was a bit out of sorts on Monday, but we still managed to get all of her work done.
After school we took the kids swimming. Grammie wasn’t feeling so well so I told her not to worry about dinner. However, she still whipped up some dang quesadillas when we got home.
This is my license plate that is on the way. It means it swear’ in Arabic. It’s perfect! All the kids used to say ‘Wallah, Miss’, which just assured us they were lying.
Tuesday was the first day of September and my principal came into my morning meeting, which is when I reviewed sentence fragments and run-on sentences. It couldn’t have been more boring. To make things worse, my students might as well have been asleep. In spite of the train wreck it was, my principal was very kind in her comments about me.
Millie had her first counseling appointment on Tuesday. She met Hanna, who was so sweet with her. Hanna is a bit older than me, I would guess, and was so soft spoken. I think Millie liked her. We are hopeful that we will all learn some coping skills from this experience.
After school we went to the dollar store to get a few things. We then headed to gymnastics. We were on a waiting list for the Tuesday/Thursday classes and got in for the beginning of September, thank goodness. She did so well and the coach spoke to me about her abilities after the class. She told Millie that she would have an assessment in a couple of weeks and that she would probably move up to the Yellow group, which is a step below the competition level. I got home, had a bite to eat and then took Jack to basketball and he worked a bit harder.
After school on Wednesday I took Millie down to Stuart. I went to a get together with my Bunco Babes. They really aren’t referred to as that any more, but they will always be that to me. I had so much fun catching up with them. I got home and Stuart and I watched the rest of the board meeting, where they determined we would go back to school before fall break. We had mixed feelings about the whole thing, but had faith our school board was doing what was best for the children.
Thursday at school we had a staff meeting and people kind of voiced their opinions about what was going on. I was really busy all day and forgot to check up on Millie until about 2:30. When I finally did look at her assignments, I discovered that she hadn’t done a few. She fell apart. When she did finally calm down, she admitted that sometimes she says horrible things to me and lies about things because she doesn’t know what else to do. I nearly cried. I know she’s overwhelmed and just hope we get some answers that will help her deal with her feelings very soon.
During the school day the swim club called and told us the kids had both moved up a level. This meant Jack was now in the Development 2 class and Millie was in the Development 1 class. They would both eventually be competing. Both kids were thrilled.
We went to gymnastics, but stopped in at Target before that. We went into the bathroom and Millie accidentally walked into a stall where there was another person. You would have thought she had killed someone. This grown woman was such a jerk in her reaction. Because it’s not odd or uncomfortable enough when something like that happens? She had to make it worse. When we got out of Target, Millie started crying and telling me she hadn’t meant to do it. I reassured her that the lady’s reaction was rude and uncalled for. I told Millie she was an absolute jerk for trying to make Millie feel badly for an innocent mistake. What on earth is wrong with people? We finally got to gymnastics. Her coach informed me that she would most likely move up a level in a couple of weeks. She ended the day on a good note.
Stuart took Jack to basketball while I got Millie fed and ready for bed. Grammie and Pop had their community group via Zoom.
Friday couldn’t come soon enough. After school we had a play date with two of the little girls in Millie’s class. It just so happens that one of the girls, Brooklyn, has three siblings, one being a 7th grade boy, so Jack loved playing basketball with him. We came home and Stuart and I showered. Millie changed her clothes, because she was wet from playing in the sprinklers, and we went to Ken and Maytee’s for dinner and to watch Mulan. It was really good. We got home late so the kids didn’t shower.
Saturday morning we were up and about by 8 am. My mom and I went to one of her friend’s house and bought some jewelry from her. The majority of the day was chilled. Then Stuart and I had a date night. We were going to go to Ikea but when we got there a line outside caused us to change our minds. We then decided to go visit some furniture stores before putting our names down for dinner at Cheddars. The wait was supposed to be 35 to 40 minutes. So we went to TJMaxx for a look around. The wait ended up being over an hour and at the 45 minute mark I went up and asked about why we were still waiting. The hostess said, ‘Well, because if Covid our wait times are longer.’ That was a load of crap. It’s not like a covid just started. By now, restaurants should know what the wait time should be, due to Covid, and should tell the approximate time to customers instead of saying 35 minutes and having it be over an hour. Thank goodness the food was good. We got home after 10 pm. Jack was still awake. We sat up and talked for a while, then were off to bed.
Sunday was church. We then went to Lowe’s to look at carpet and paint in preparation to sell our Gilbert house. We went to the grocery store then came home to chill for the rest of the afternoon. That evening we went to eat with Sue and Tim, in downtown Gilbert. Jack had such a great time visiting with Tim. They are such easy people to be around and don’t mind our kids, which is a bonus. We walked down the street after dinner and got prickly pear ice cream. As always, Jack and I couldn’t eat all of ours, but it was yummy!
Ice cream!
Monday, September 7th, was Labor Day. We got up and didn’t do a whole lot of anything. Stuart got me into some of the Marvel movies so we watched those until about 1:30 or so. Then we headed to Ken and Maytee’s for a swim and dinner.
Tuesday I went to school on my own. We decided that Stuart would take both kids that week because we had parent teacher conferences, which meant Grammie and Pop would need to pick the kids up from school two of the days. It was going to be easier with them both being at Ryan. That was fine by me. Stuart seems to handle them better than I do. They frustrate me when they don’t do their work or make too much noise through the day.
After school I went to Ryan to pick up Millie for gymnastics. We got to the gym a bit early so just sat in the car. Once we got into gymnastics the heavens opened up. It poured. Millie is doing so well in gymnastics and is working so hard to move to the next level. I’m so proud of her efforts. She is dedicated for sure. Once she and I were home, she showered and ate. Then Stuart took Jack to basketball.
Not the clearest picture, but a picture to prove Stuart went to practice with him and didn’t sneak off for a coffee. Although I’m pretty sure he did that as well.
Friday we continued getting ready to bring back children to school. We had a meeting at the end of the day which made me a bit late getting home and to the Gilbert house. We went in to see it and decided we would deep clean the house and then would tidy up the yard. But because of the way the market is going right now, we didn’t feel as if we needed to paint or recarpet the house. Decision made. Stuart Had forgotten how small that house actually is. We then went to have a beverage with Melinda and saw my old teammate, Justin, who is now a principal in Gilbert. The kids had swimming so Melinda brought me home and the rest of the evening Stuart and I watched Marvel movies in the bedroom.
Saturday morning we decided to clean out Jack’s closet and assess what he was going to need for school. I thought we had done that back in June, but apparently he has grown a few inches since then and his shirts are now a size schmedium. The ones we got rid of were like crop tops on him. So we went to the outlets and naturally to the Adidas, Under Armor and Nike stores. We were successful in our shopping endeavors. We then had some lunch and returned to the house.
Saturday evening the kids and I went to see Maytee, Gigi and Lexi. Maytee and I went to the White Rabbit in Gilbert. It’s themed as a speak easy from the 20’s. We just had a charcuterie plate and sat and talked for a couple of hours. We got back to the house and Millie and Gigi had a bit of an argument. It all got sorted out. They are very similar personalities, so often don’t get along very well.
Stuart, in the meantime, went to play poker with Ken, Maytee’s brother Rick, and some other guy friends of Ken and Maytee’s. Stuart ended up splitting the pot with Maytee’s nephew, so won $80. Since that’s about what I spent at the speak easy, we came home ‘even’. Ha!
Sunday we had lunch at the house and then headed to Ken and Maytee’s. The kids have been asking to do more ‘fun’ things lately, but we are still so limited as to what that actually is. Mainly, our ‘fun’ is time with friends, and not a huge variety of friends as to stay a bit safer. We had a great time but didn’t stay terribly long as it was a school night for the Telford family.
Monday Millie and I had to take Jack and Stuart to school because Stuart’s battery was dead in his car. We had our kinder through second grade students in school for the first time since March. We didn’t have a lot, but it was so good to have them with us. Millie and I picked Stuart and Jack up after school. Jack had his first team practice, which was all conditioning. He was a bit discouraged about not playing any basketball at all, which I totally get. We shall see what happens in the weeks to come. He still enjoys the academy and is so looking forward to his first game, whenever that may be.
Tuesday Millie had her second meeting with Hanna, her new friend who is helping her to deal with her emotions. She really likes Hanna and I look forward to the progress she is sure to make. Hanna said she would send some suggestions to me to help with Millie and Jack’s issues with each other. She sent a list of things they could do after they have a scuffle. I wrote the suggestions on popsicle sticks, so we shall see how it works.
Millie had gymnastics and then Jack had basketball. I took Millie to gymnastics and she got her first gymnastics report card. She has one skill to perfect before being moved up to the next level. Grammie and Pop volunteered to take Jack to his academy on Tuesday. Stuart stayed home and made butternut squash soup and Millie showered and went to bed. Stuart and I sat on the porch and had a couple of beers. The weather is starting to allow for the porch sitting without all the sweatiness, thank goodness.
Wednesday I got up and went walking with Sue. As always, she’s the cheapest therapist in town. Once I was at school, my team helped out in the cafeteria again for lunch. It was hilarious! The kindergarteners kill me. They don’t know their head from their tail. Millie was with me and I had her virtual doctor appointment at 2 pm. She has now been formally diagnosed with ADHD. Well, duh? She was then given an order to have her heart checked before being prescribed medication.
After school we dropped my car off for an overdue oil change. Stuart and Jack picked us up and we went home for a snack and to get ready to go swimming. We dropped Millie off and then headed to Applebees to feed Jack. We then dropped Jack and headed home for Millie to shower and get into bed. Stuart went to pick Jack up at 7:30. It seems like we drive an awful lot these days.
Thursday was gymnastics and basketball. Stuart took Jack to basketball while Millie and I stayed home, after gymnastics. Grammie and Pop went to their community group. I watched trash television once Millie was in bed. I love it so. It’s my escape. Everyone came home, eventually, and my party was over. Boo!
Friday I continued to get ready for the first in-person day of the school year. I felt pretty prepared, but I was still a bit anxious. Jack had stayed home for the day with Grammie and Pop. He didn’t have a lot of work to do and his class was going to watch a movie together, online. Millie spent her last day online with Stuart, while I had my last day online on my own. Once school was over, I stopped at the grocery store to get cupcakes for Jack’s birthday party the following day. We met back at the house and then headed out for swimming.
All ready!
After the kids were in bed, Stuart and I went to spend a bit of time on our own. We weren’t gone long, but were able to talk and start making plans for the next few months ahead. This will most likely be the busiest and most hectic year of our marriage.
We can’t lose touch with each other.
Saturday morning we headed to Top Golf for Jack’s birthday celebration. He was so excited, even though the majority of the guests were adults. He had a great time. We all ate, socialized and had food and cupcakes. It was a lot of fun. He also got some much wanted money and a couple of cool Nike shirts. It was a successful party. When we got home from the party, Stuart and I went out for some last minute birthday things for Jack’s actual birthday, which was Tuesday the 22nd. When we got back, Jack, Millie and I met my friend Debi at Jack in the Box for dinner and then went to the park so the kids could play. We got home just before 9 pm. Her boys have Jack a vbucks voucher, which thrilled him to death. He decided his birthday celebration was a success.
Gavin is Jack’s buddy from way back.
We rented three bays. Jack and his guy buddies were in one and everyone else was in the bays to the left and right.
Tim and Pop must have been analyzing their strokes.
Sue was a natural.
The four of us!
Jack’s cake was actually a Hostess cupcake. That’s what he wanted.
Millie slept until after 9 am on Sunday morning. After church, Stuart and I went out to get helium balloons for Jack’s big day. We decided we wouldn’t make it a surprise, but would get them a few days earlier so that he could enjoy them longer. We also ended up buying him a SIM card for his phone and putting him on our plan. We had done this Saturday afternoon as an early birthday present. He still begged to open something else on Sunday, but we refused. For dinner we ordered Chipotle because that was the request from the birthday boy.
Monday morning we were all up and out before 7 am. Grammie and Pop got up and sent us off to our first ‘real’ day, very similarly to when they had sent us off our our first ‘virtual’ day about 7 weeks earlier.
She was so excited to be back in school.
He was really excited as well.
We all had a good day, but were exhausted at the end of it. I had nose pickers and fidgiters and those who needed a break outside of the classroom. It was more difficult than I thought it would be. It was great to have a mask and a shield. The shield was good to have when I was giving our spelling pretest. The kids could see my mouth and knew what I was saying. The day wasn’t bad, just very strange and different with only 12 kids in class.
Millie was upset when she got home from school her first day. It was as if she had held it together all day and was just too overwhelmed. It doesn’t help that Jack pokes the bear and adds to her frustration. It seems that there were a chain of events that caused her to be angry. She had a complete meltdown and wouldn’t come eat dinner. She gets totally embarrassed when she feels she’s done something that is not right, but instead of just being embarrassed, she gets angry. Pop and Grammie took Jack to practice, while Stuart and I stayed home wrapping birthday presents and blowing up balloons. Millie finally chilled out, ate a bite, and helped me blow up balloons for Jack’s bedroom floor the following morning. Grammie and Pop has taken Jack to his basketball practice, where again, they just did conditioning. I do think we will look for a different club in the new season, but we shall see.
Tuesday morning I went into Jack’s room to give him my phone. Millie had wanted me to arrange a google meet with his buddies from Al Ain. So we woke him up early so he could speak with all of them. I think it was a good way to start his birthday, and Millie was pleased with herself. He also opened his gift from Millie which was Cuddles the monkey. Our friend John has sparked this interest in ventriloquism so of course he had to have a puppet.
The kids got ready for school and left with Stuart. School seemed less of a big deal on Tuesday. We got straight into academics and acted as if we had never been gone. Being out in the portables and having to figure out the bathroom issues, as we are so far away, is a bit of a challenge, but I’m sure we will manage in time. After school I met Stuart and the kids to take Millie to gymnastics. Once we were home, we opened presents. Jack literally got everything he had asked for and more. He even got an outdoor basketball goal from Grammie and Pop, which was by far his favorite present. Naturally his first question was ‘when are we going to set it up?’ He had a great birthday, I think. He went off to basketball practice and Millie showered and went off to bed. Once he was home and in bed, Stuart and I went to bed. We were all wiped out from the first two days of school.
I got up for my usual walk with Sue and we talked about our house sale coming up. I got super excited when she told me about a house that sold without being spruced up. It gave me hope that our house wouldn’t last long on the market. Wednesday was just another school day. These kids are amazing. They have been so good about wearing their masks and social distancing from one another. They act as if they have done this for years. Wednesday after school I went down to pick Jack up from his school. Stuart has decided it might be easier for him to take Millie to swimming and me take Jack home. That way we could both work a bit longer in our classrooms. Once Stuart was home from delivering Millie and I had harped on Jack for not getting his homework done first when he came into the house instead of playing with his puppet or something else, he got dressed and we took him to swimming. He claims he doesn’t like it, but I kind of think he likes it more than he will admit. Once he was home, it was shower, snack and bed, for all of us.
I didn’t get up to walk on Thursday as I had been dealing with a bad back and hip all week. Instead, I slept and extra hour. We had a team meeting after school to plan for the following week. It is amazing how much you can get completed with a classroom of 12 children compared to a classroom of 23 children. I also found out that after fall break I will only have one extra child join us in class. I do believe this will be the most amazing academic year for some of these kids because of the small numbers.
After school I met Stuart and the kids at Target. I took Millie to gymnastics and Stuart took Jack home. Millie likes it better when I take her because I will video a lot of what she does. Stuart doesn’t do that as much. She’s such an energizer bunny and often does more than is asked of her, like an extra cartwheel here or there. She does LOVE gymnastics. When we got home from the gym, Millie said she wanted to go home. I told her we were home and then she pointed down the street and said, ‘No, I want to go to THAT home.’ I know the kids will be a lot more settled once we can get back into our own house. We are so fortunate that my parents have let us stay with them this long, but we really look forward to the day when we go to our own house. I’m sure it will be here before we know it. Once we were home and Millie was showered, Grammie and Pop took Jack to basketball again. Stuart went out to get some needed groceries and I put Millie to bed, but not without a fuss. Everything between Millie and myself is a fuss these days. This too shall pass.
Friday I got up to walk and when I got back Millie was already awake, which never happens. Both kids were ready early because they were headed for donuts, it being a Friday and all. School was good and the kids seemed to be getting comfortable with their new normal. I ended up staying at school until nearly 4:30 on Friday to get some things ready for Monday. I then went to my friend Susan’s house for a get together with her and Brenda. We sat around and talked and played a couple of new games to me, which I decided I am going to have to get for Christmas for the kids. We had a great time. When I got home Millie was already in bed and Jack was headed that way. Stuart had taken then to swimming and Millie announced she didn’t want to do swimming anymore. She often does that when she is in a bad mood and we have had to force her into the car. It’s a control thing for sure. Once Jack was in bed, Stuart and I went out for some ‘us’ time. We have to do this now, as Grammie and Pop will be gone next week and our ‘us’ time will be spent at home.
Saturday morning we got up and had to nearly wrestle the kids to get them out of the house. We have created some pretty entitled kids who think they get to dictate what we do on any given day. It can be quite maddening. We told them this and that we needed them to stop behaving as if the world revolves around them, although we do so much for them and sometimes it seems the world does revolve around them. It’s such a difficult thing to balance sometimes. At any rate, we went to look at furniture and ran into Millie’s friend Mallory, which allowed her mother and I to exchange numbers. So it proved to Millie that sometimes doing something she doesn’t want to do can pay off. We went to Target and Ross and then kids got to spend some of their own money. Jack bought a skateboard and a basketball, while Millie bought a slime kit.
When we got home we were playing with her slime and I got a message from Mallory’s mom asking Millie to come over for the afternoon. We were heading to Jeff and Melinda’s for the evening, but I told Millie she could go for a few hours if she wanted to do so and we would pick her up on the way to the Reynolds’ house. So we hopped in the car and took off. Grammie rode with me and then on the way back home Grammie and I stopped at a home store to look around. It had some cute stuff in it and I bought a couple of things to store for a while. I’m not sure why I felt I needed these things, but they were cute. Their prices seemed a bit high, but they did have some nice stuff for sure.
When we got home, the basketball goal that Pop and Stuart had worked all afternoon on, was finally finished. Jack was supposed to have helped them, so I made him help clean up the mess that had been made.
The final touches.
And now the boy is really happy.
Stuart took a shower and then we headed to Jeff and Melinda’s for enchiladas and to swim. We had such a wonderful night. We made last decisions about the sale of our house, because Melinda is our real estate agent, and ended the day on a good note. Once we were home, Millie went straight to bed, but we made the stinky 12 year old take a shower before hitting the sack. It was a great day.
