Goodbye July, hello August! July was a good month ’round here, but we are ready to move on, too. (Dear summer 2020, you were really long.)
June was a bit of a drag, but July restored our spirits. Though things were different, they were also a good different. And, as stated in previous posts, in all things of importance, we are well.
July 4th is usually a giant and big to-do here, complete with fifty+ people, lots of food, fireworks, music, bounce houses, and fun in our cul-du-sac. Though we missed the chaos, we also enjoyed our quiet. We picnicked at one our town’s beautiful parks and had our own little show at the end of the driveway. We snacked on s’mores and roasted hotdogs. The weather was lovely. We couldn’t have asked for more.
We filled this month’s quiet time with a little of this and a little of that. Harper opened an in-home beauty salon:
We read books:
We played football in the backyard:
We took lots of neighborhood walks and found these (People are exceptional – thank you to whoever this rock artist is. You made my day.):
We did schoolwork:
And we had our fair share of boredom:
We also took advantage of Colorado’s backyard. We did more mountain exploring this summer than any summer before. For this, I am grateful. I certainly feel fortunate to live where I do. We spent an afternoon horseback riding near Rocky Mountain National Park. Such fun!
Then we stole away to Vail for a couple of nights. We packed our masks and Lysol spray, rented a condo with access to a pool (praise hands!!!), and went up to enjoy the mountain air. Though Vail’s scenery is hard to beat, Harper and Jameson hardly looked up from their chlorinated water heaven. They hadn’t seen a pool all summer, and they were in deep for hours and hours. Honestly, is there anything better than swimming for kids? It is pure joy.
We wrapped up July in a bit of a goofy way. But, why not? Quarantine summer called for upping our goofy game. And so … Christmas in July! Anyone else celebrate this holiday? We nicknamed it “Coronamas.” On July 24, Coronamas Eve, we made sugar cookies, decorated a small tree, made a feast for supper, and enjoyed a delicious pecan tart for dessert, made by a dear friend (Elisabeth and Henry Bakehouse: elisabethandhenry – instagram). And on “Christmas morning,” we opened LEGO sets and built all day. Though a little silly, this was definitely a sweet memory.
Like June (and May and April), July also provided heartburn, restless nights, school meetings, and a sudden search for childcare. The future is unknown. What will our lives look like in just a couple of weeks? Will we stay healthy? Will we still love school like we did before? Will we go to school? I am struggling with what’s ahead or, rather, not knowing what’s ahead. I’m nervous and a little scared.
However.
Let’s do this August thing! I am also excited. We have school supplies to buy and new teachers to meet. I have a class list with the most wonderful names on it! I nave a new plan book and super cute stickers. I have a classroom ready to be set up and a bulletin board to cutesefy. Yes, that’s a word. We have first and third grade ahead, and these are two of the BEST grades. Our fingers are crossed, and our hearts are open. We continue to be in it together, all of us.
Be safe. Wear a mask. Air hug your family. Tell your friends how great they are. Give your teacher some sanitizer and, yes, even one of your hard to come by Clorox wipes. Right now, that says love and gratitude. And add a sticker to your August calendar. It’s the little things, you know?
