Back to School "Virtually"

 Well, the 2020-2021 school year is starting off virtually for our four of us!  Scott is working from home in the computer doing Webex calls for elementary P.E., middle school P.E., and middle school health.  Sean and Evan are both set up in spots on the 1st floor to do their virtual learning, and I'm rotating between teaching virtually from my building and from home upstairs in our bedroom.  

Sean has Mrs. Nicklay for 4th grade this year and his friend Trey is in his class.  He's been working at a little desk we set up in our living room and has gone with me to my building once.  So far, it's been an adjustment, but he's trying!  

He will be going to religious education on Monday nights in-person at the church.  Even though the soccer season was cancelled, his coach is still running conditionings and scrimmages that he is attending.  He's also doing a golf league this fall on Saturdays at Maples in Novi.  It's a four person scramble for 8-10 year olds and he's loving it!  In fact, his team is in 1st place right now after two weeks!  He's also still scouting this year and is now a Junior Webelo!  He has his first den meeting next weekend and has started selling popcorn online.

Evan has Mrs. Barlow this year for 2nd grade and his best friend, Nick, is in the class along with a few other friends from last year.  Sean had Mrs. Barlow so we are familiar with her and her teaching style.  He's doing really well to start and is able to sit still through his Zoom calls!  He's working out of the playroom right now at a desk and has also gone to my building once with me.  Thank God we have my dad's help and my in laws' help a couple of days a week!

He will also be attending religious education classes on Mondays nights.  This year, he's doing an occasional soccer practice/scrimmage run by coach Daddy every other Wednesday night.  He's busy working on skateboard tricks, has guitar lessons on Tuesdays at 4pm in-person with Mr. Jeff, and has decided to not do scouts this year.  

It's been a weird and crazy two weeks since school started!  We are all trying to get adjusted to this new norm.  I think it's say to safe that none of us love teaching or learning virtually, but that's what our school districts are offering right now.  At least we are not rushing out the door in the mornings!

Happy 8th Birthday, Evan!!

 

Does this look like a big kid or what?  Evan turned 8 this week and had quite the week of celebrations!

We celebrated last weekend up north at Nana and Pops' cottage with Scott's side of the family.  On his actual birthday he woke up to some birthday decorations and rainbow pancakes that I made him before I had to log-in for professional development on Zoom.  He spent the morning playing at home with Scott and Sean and requested Panera for lunch that Scott went and picked up.  After lunch, while I was on a break from work, he opened his presents and spent the rest of the afternoon building his new Lego sets.

We invited his two friends, Nick and Ethan, from school to join us with the neighbors in having pizza for dinner outside and cupcakes.  Scott set up the bounce house and the kids each got an Avengers character mask and slap bracelet.  The kids enjoyed a Nerf war after Evan opened his presents.  They ended the night with a movie outside: Black Panther.  I'd say he had a great birthday!

We celebrated with my parents yesterday at our house.  I cooked Mexican food (now that Evan eats tacos...finally!) and we had cake from Heritage Bakery.  Evan got the Back to the Future trilogy on Blue-Ray so we watched the 2nd movie (Evan's pick) together and just enjoyed hanging out.  It was another nice day!

Evan has been obsessed with Ghostbusters, Marvel movies, and Back to the Future this year.  He's been enjoying watching movies from the 80's that Scott and I grew up on in addition to the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.  He's big into building Legos and has many of the Avengers sets and the Ghostbusters Ecto-1.  He's just taken an interest in comic books and luckily, downtown Plymouth has a cool comic book shop.  

He's staying active by giving me a heart attack with his sports preferences.  He's learning to skateboard and do tricks, has learned how to skimboard up north and water ski this year, and wants to jump ramps with his scooter and bike.  There's been no soccer this year with COVID, but we make the kids go outside and do things like jump rope, basketball, soccer, baseball, football, and roller blading as much we can.  

I'm not sure of his exact stats, but he claims he's weighing in around 54 lbs.  I know he's over 50" tall too.  He's wearing a size 6/7, 8, or small in shirts and pants and a size 13 in shoes.  We've made some strides in eating this year since he's added hot dogs, tacos, nachos, and salsa to his "will eat" list.  He still prefers buttered noodles, salami sandwiches (toasted), grilled chicken, or breakfast foods.  

He's learning to play the guitar and has resumed lessons with a new teacher over the past few weeks.  He still has quite the knack for being able to sit down on the piano or guitar and figure out how to play songs on his own.  I think he has an ear for music.  He loves to put on youtube and play soundtracks while he's playing toys and listens to his MP3 player at night.  

To my strong-willed, passionate, bright boy, happy birthday!!  We love you so much!!