I found a new battery organizer! My only complaint is the tiny button battery storage area, so I still have to keep my basket with those. It is so much faster to grab what I need, and I really love the tester too!
We learned this year that chippunks climb bushes!
2 weeks after the little ones started, and one week after the big girls started, I had three sick ones home in one day!!! They all rested and recovered quickly.
Then, I went down. I was much slower to recover. Once I tested positive, Billy had to test, and he had it to. The Covid got us. = ( It wasn't awful, and we all lived, but it wasn't fun. It seems that Emily and William managed to escape completely or perhaps suffered the least.
Halloween decorations at Menard's make me curse my lack of outdoor plugs all the more.
We were at Menard's because Billy built me a raised bed garden to extend into next year!!!! I loved all of our cucumbers and tomatoes and onions and pumpkins, so we're going to do even more next year!
The ladybug colony loved sunning every morning when we were out on the playground waiting for school to start.
I found a heart shaped chip for Emily to present (the night before school started, judging by the pile of snacks on Juliet's computer cabinet.)
Once everyone had their lockers in working order at the big girls' school, students were no longer allowed to carry backpacks. This was a point of annoyance for Emily, since she had to carry everything loose. Apparently, this problem is prominent enough that 5 star makes a GIANT binder that can hold a chromebook, file folders, papers, and a pencil bag. Sadly, they were sold out, of the color scheme of Emily's preference, online everywhere (except for double price on Amazon.) I sent a plea to my mom and sisters and Avia delivered!!!
It wasn't the navy and pink request that she sent to me, but grey and pink was good enough, that on day one she even dressed to match! = )
As a footnote, Alice has been offered the same, but has so far declined.
Juliet was so sad when her hoodie, whose service has been appreciated for several years, was too short in the sleeves. We pulled out an old hoodie of Alice's, but there were still tears. So, this picture was the goodbye small jacket, we love you picture. The new hoodie has served her well so far. = )
As a family, we are rough on furniture. The last free recliner, that we were gifted, served us for many years, but was slowly decaying. It was to the point that the floor was more comfortable than the chair.
Once again, Avia came to the rescue and found us a new recliner. It is not nearly as fancy, but its comfort is far superior. After initiating it into our house, we put our old chair out for trash pick-up. Since it was around Labor Day, trash was strange, so we let it sit out for 3 weeks before I called the village office to find out what needed to happen to get it picked up.
Turns out, we had to pay a fee (not that big of a deal) but to even find out the price I was to create, yet another, account with the trash service*, which is a deal breaker.
So, I told William that he was on destruction duty, which was right up his alley. ; ) He spent many fifteen-minute rounds tearing up the chair, so that the pieces would fit into our trash can. He did a fantastic job, but after he exhausted the easy bits, and I took some scissors to the upholstery, Billy had to step in with his Axe and finish it off.
Speaking of our little village, we have had two new art installations this year! We missed the dedication of the first, though it is lovely, but we were able to go to the party that accompanied the second. Well, some of us did. Emily was at cross country, and so it was just Grace, and Billy and Me.
After listening to some live music, we headed to unveiling.
It is such a perfect piece, and I'm thankful that it was designed by someone who loves this village as much as we do.
I don't recall how Grace wanted her hair, but I recommended the clip going up against her skull, holding the braid. Much to my surprise, it was still in place when she came home!!
Once of the saddest days of my year: winterizing my sandals. I slather on the lotion, and it sits all winter, so that the water damage of the summer can heal a bit. Looks like it's closed toed shoes for me for the forseeable future.
We attended our first school skate night since 2019? possibly 2020? It was so.busy. apparently, this was the first one they've had since the shutdown, and everyone showed up for it! We were able to bring 4/5 pairs of skates**, share a pizza and have a lovely time. We'd forgotten so many of the details, that we can't wait until next time so that we don't' feel like such noobs!
I don't know if it's being back among people we've missed, or just feeling like we're 'vested' in Michigan, but it's been a wonderful couple of months, despite any hardships^. I'm feeling hopeful, despite the looming winter, I hope it sticks.
later days
*the village provides trash service, so we don't have an individual account.**I'm lacking a pair for Emily's size.
^like Emily's brutal afterschool cross country schedule, lol.
