Austin turns 12!

 

Austin turns 12! We have celebrated several times his birthday while we have been on vacation. This year was celebrated with his fave-Mexican. We had tacos and cheese dip at a restaurant while in vacation because his actual birthday was the day we were leaving to come home. He also celebrated at a friend’s house whose sister has a birthday on day before his. He wanted cheesecake so that is what he had. I was able to find that Sara Lee makes a cheesecake with strawberries on top. On Sunday after church, we celebrated with grandma and pappy at a local Mexican restaurant (he wanted Olive Garden but the wait was long and we had movie tickets). All of us also went to the movie theater to see Fast and Furious 9. I teased Ashleigh about watching with us via FaceTime but she had a meeting to attend. We are so blessed with Austin. He is carefree and easy going. He is constantly growing and I am so grateful to be his mom. 

Vacay

We had a nice relaxing vacation in Myrtle Beach. A lot has changed since we have been there. Chris has had his phone off with out of office messages for it and messages for his email. This truly is the only way to relax for him. We stayed on the beach side and was able to enjoy seeing the waves (and full moon) late into each night. We visited the aquarium, went putt putt, had an evening at Family Kingdom, and enjoyed breakfast each morning cafe style across the street (free-well included with our room, but excellent and homestyle) ice cream, and milkshakes. Fortunately, we also have a great pet sitter for Chompers. We sure do miss our girl, Ashleigh. We were able to FaceTime with her early in the week. So nice to see her face and hear her voice. 

Nothing like riding the Hurricane. I can’t believe Austin rode this! We did advise him to sit on the inside so that dylan would not completely smash him. 

This cone tasted like a nutty buddy’s cone. 

Once you get Dylan there , then he enjoys the beach! He is probably the only one that doesn’t care if sand is everywhere. 

Crazy Mason...where calories do not count. 

Last Day

 So the last day of school of the l o n g e s t and MoSt CHAllengING year teaching 25 students some online/ some in class.... then teaching 24 in class with quarantine for several students which means only one online while all the rest in person, teacher (me)  quarantined and reading from kitchen table masks, social distancing, temperature checks, hand sanitizer, hand washing, sanitizing desks, lunch in the classroom, special area except for PE in the classroom, different playgrounds each week, protective dividers for desks, attendance for each subject area. There were also lessons I learned and smiles and community building within our class, and technology to communicate, to learn, and to use for all sorts of projects, Classwork, and tests. There were laughs and eventually there was the no mask waiver and then CDC lifted masks. For Austin, his last learning day at school was May 21. The next week was testing, but I opted him out. He went back to school on May 28 and was able to have enrichment learning at home. Basically he completed four projects from home and submitted. He worked on these with complete fidelity and quality way above standard. Then he didn’t even have to sign in online the last four days. Dylan, on the other hand, went to school each day until the last day in June 17. I finished up on June 18 and thankfully was able to sign on June 21

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Food Trucks

A couple weeks ago we decided to adventure to the Food truck festival. It was at the waterfront that was once Navy ships and Navy base. We enjoyed seeing the houses, the waterfront, and some food. 

Missing this girl in yellow 

Ashleigh goes to MH

 Before leaving on a road trip to Ca, Ashleigh surprised the boys and checked them out of school.  I came home and walked in that afternoon to them watching Home. Earlier they had pizza and drinks at Bennys and had fun  playing soccer and basketball at the park. Other evenings included making paper and cookies and hot chocolate  with packing and lots of hugs and worship with songs at MC. She and 3 friends (Anne, Reagan, and Chris) left on May 21 and took a road trip across the country to California before serving and working at a family camp this summer. Some places they stopped and visited were in Nashville, Hot Springs, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Petrified Forest, parts of Route 66, and other places. Last week was training for she and Chris and the rest of the staff arrive soon. Anne and Reagan will begin training soon. . The days of training are long. Pray for their strength and endurance as well as time to spend with friends and Christ.