August Videos

 

First Day of School 2021-2022

Back to school! We had an 8th grader and a 6th grader. They are at 2 different middle schools. When Nathan was starting 6th grade, out local  middle school was doing an all online curriculum that was created by the owners of Facebook. I wasn't too thrilled with that so we had him go to the OTHER middle school that is still pretty close. However, this year, our local middle school got a new principal and they are doing away with the online program. Therefore, Elizabeth is now going to our local middle school. Her best friend was going there and it's closer than the other school. Both schools are close enough that the district will not give us a bus. Nathan's school is 1.25 miles away and Elizabeth's school is 1 mile away. 

It will be the third school year in a row that will be disrupted and hard. This year, all kids go back to school normally with no real social distancing. They are supposed to be sitting 3 feet apart, but that is not really likely to be happening since the classes are huge. The only abnormal thing is wearing a mask but they are used to that by now and it's not a big deal. We are all happy the kids are wearing masks for a little more prevention and less sickness in general! Elizabeth did not catch ONE sickness at school last year for the 6 months she was at school! Go masks! 

However, as I type this, we are 3 weeks into school. Elizabeth just had to miss 4/5 of the last  week of school on quarantine. She's missed 1/3 of the school year! She had an exposure at school the previous week and they told me on Monday when she got home from school. We had to go take a covid test for her. It was negative and I brought it to the school Wednesday afternoon and they said they could come back to school Thursday. An hour later, they called back and said they were terribly sorry but she had had another close contact and would have to stay home Thursday and Friday as well. Sigh. I had to take time off work to stay with her on Tues/Wed and luckily Jeremy had time off on Thurs/Friday to stay with her. She can go back to school Monday. It's frustrating they have to quarantine, but unfortunately the rule is if they are closer than 3 feet, they have to quarantine if they've been sitting next to a kid with covid. It's impossible to social distance with the amount of kids they have. The principal told us that the masks must be working great because so far since last spring, NONE of the "exposed" kids have come down with covid after their tests. She hopes eventually they will drop the quarantining rule because the masks are working to prevent the kids from contracting the virus.  

We wonder how much of school she will have to miss due to this quarantining? Luckily, this will not happen to Nathan. He is fully vaccinated and (as of right now) they don't make you quarantine if you've had your shots. It looks like the shot might be available for Elizabeth by Halloween. She can't wait and neither can we! 

Our big 8th grader! 

Our big 6th grader

Elizabeth and C are heading off to middle school! 

 

New Middle Schooler!

We have a new middle schooler! I can't believe she is in 6th grade already.  Here she is standing in front of her new school! 

She got a back to school haircut. 

She thought it was just great! 

 

Visiting Moses Lake and driving lessons

We drove up to see Auntie Laura's house. We hadn't been there in a year! 

Auntie Laura had some new furniture that was very nice! Here we all are posing on the new furniture. 

Elizabeth and I liked her side chairs. 

Jeremy had the corner chair with Ottoman (that Pippa will probably steal) 

Pippa had some squirrels on her back. Auntie Laura was nice enough to clean my teeth. In exchange, Nathan mowed her lawn and Elizabeth swept her driveway! 

We swung by Papa and Gram's on the way home. Nathan had his first real driving lesson in a car (rather than a Kubota or tractor) 

Elizabeth got some Kubota driving lessons from Papa Norm. 

Taking some walks. 

 

Elizabeth swimming

 

Elizabeth loves to swim at CBRC. 

Waiting for the bucket dump....

Here it comes!

She loves this for some reason. What a weirdo!

Climbing wall fun. 

Her jump back down. Funny face. 

Nathan Wakeman at 14

Nathan is 14! He is 5'7" tall and weighs 137 pounds. He's quite a bit taller than me and wants to catch Jeremy but we will see about that!  

When he grows up, he wants to do something in the septic or water facility business due to his lack of smell. 

His favorite books are Sylo and Ranger's Apprentice.

His favorite TV shows are The Mandalorian and Star Wars the Clone Wars. 

His favorite movies are Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Bourne Identity. 

His favorite subject at school is science and his least favorite is Language Arts. 

His favorite game is Google Earth. 

He dislikes school. 

He likes to run, throw darts, watch rocket launches, and read. 

Nathan's allergies are all the same. The doctor did another blood test last month and nothing has changed. He is still allergic to milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, and kiwi. However, he has been taking allergy shots for 2 years and it has improved his oral allergy syndrome so his mouth doesn't itch as much when he eats certain fresh fruits and vegetables. He can now eat  melons, peppers, plums, peaches, apples, and baby carrots without making his mouth itch. We are so glad he's tried eating these foods and can now eat them comfortably! He's tolerating ragweed season very well right now whereas Elizabeth is having a rough time. His grass allergy seems to be quite a bit better as well. 

He is still wearing his permanent retaining on his top teeth. We will be starting his phase 2 orthodontics in a few months. He does not want to do it, but the doctor said due to some grinding they need to make sure his permanent back teeth are in the proper positions. 

He starts 8th grade next week! He did online school all last year, so being back in a school building is going to be a bit of a shock for him. He wants to stay home and do online school again, but we think him going back will be for the best. 

He also starts Cross Country next week! He's been running almost daily to run a little faster and a little further. He did track last year and enjoyed it quite a lot. This will be his first cross country season due to covid last year canceling sports.

Nathan's 14th Birthday Party

We had Nathan's birthday party at Papa Ray and Kim's this year!  The smoke has been HORRIBLE this August and unfortunately it was horrible on his birthday. 

Eating some burgers

The dogs were staring at Papa Ray

Brady made an appearance!

Muppy really wanted Nathan's cupcake

Opening his presents! He got his shirt and then a WHOLE lot of money. He put all the money in his savings account. 

Elizabeth and her little dumpling. That's what she calls Brady. 

Brady standing and doing some cruising!

More birthday cupcakes at home.