Greetings, friends! I feel like I haven’t done one of these in a while, although I guess I only skipped one week. It’s been busy over here, juggling appointments for the kids, my work commitments, and our social activities that seem to be ramping up now that the weather has gotten nicer.
I have no complaints about the latter, that is for sure! I’m loving being able to see more of my friends, and yesterday I got in our pool for the first time this season. It was almost 90 degrees here, so I put on my swimsuit and went out and laid on the raft for about an hour. It was absolutely glorious.
I am so happy for warmer weather, but I’m having to adjust the way I schedule my mornings. I used to wait until it warmed up to go running, and now I have to try to get out early before it gets too hot. If I wait too late, it just won’t happen, so my daily emails may be going out later over the next few months.
I wish I could manage to have my posts ready to go the night before, and get my email scheduled for first thing in the morning, but I can’t seem to make that happen on a regular basis. Like even right now, I’m realizing that I haven’t even started on my post for tomorrow. I have the pictures, but I haven’t started writing it yet. I suppose I could be working on it right now, but I’d rather chat with you. Plus, it’s Sunday, so I try not to work on Sundays. But anyway, that’s enough about my work schedule.
Our school year is wrapping up over here, and it’s a bit surreal. While I’m more than ready to see this unconventional year come to an end, it also means we’re one step closer to sending my middle child off to college.
I got the email this week from C’s cyber charter school with the list of books and supplies she has to return. This was her 5th year doing the cyber charter school, so I’m accustomed to getting this email when the school year is coming to an end. Usually it’s a time for rejoicing that she made it through one more year, but this time it hit me like a sucker punch to the gut because it is the last one I’ll ever get. She will be officially done with high school forever this Friday.
I can’t even think ahead to leaving her at college in Massachusetts in just a few short months. D broke me in gently, since he went to college so close to home. At the time, it seemed monumental, and it was definitely a bittersweet milestone; but he was close by, and we were able to go down and see him perform in the band at their football games.
And then, of course, he ended up moving back home before his sophomore year was even finished, thanks to Covid. He’s here to stay for the time being and plans to commute for the remainder of his college career. He may be spreading his senior year out over the next two years, which is fine with us, since he missed a chunk of college life due to Covid.
All that to say, taking C away to college will be a whole new experience for us. I’m half dreading it, and half excited to see what the future holds for her.
And while I’m catching you up on the goings-on around here, I guess I shouldn’t leave R out. She’s finishing up her freshman year of high school, and is very excited for the summer, and then to hopefully have a more “normal” year next year. Marching band practices will start up in August, and they’re already planning the Cavalcade, so hopefully they will get to attend all of the football games and have all of their other usual performances.
So, yeah, I guess it’s safe to say that we are ALL pretty excited about this summer! I’m sure it’s going to fly.
We’re having a graduation party for C in a couple of weeks, and a pool party for July 4th, and then we’ll be taking our annual Maine vacation, which we skipped last year. I hope we can get to the Jersey Shore for a long weekend at some point, and then August will be all about getting C ready to go off to college. It’s going to be a blur, but I’m going to try to savor each moment.
Today we’re going to a Sixers game, speaking of things getting back to some semblance of normal. If you follow my Instagram Story, prepared to be bombarded with basketball today. As I explained in yesterday’s email newsletter, I splurged on tickets for Paul’s birthday last spring, and we were unable to go due to Covid. They gave us a credit to use towards a game this year, so we are going today! We are all so excited.
Philadelphia just announced that we’re allowed to have 50% capacity inside the stadium, and by mid-June, they’re opening it up to 100%. That will apply to any games, concerts, or other events. I’m curious to see what it’s like with 50% and kind of happy it isn’t 100% yet. I think that would feel kind of weird, after this past year of social distancing and only gathering in small groups.
Anyway, I need to get off the computer and get myself ready to go, because we’re going to church first. I wanted to get a run in this morning, but that may not happen. I did log 3 miles yesterday, so at least there’s that.
I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend, and have a very blessed Sunday!
29 Responses
What an exciting summer you’re going to have! Enjoy every moment. Being a blogger, you have such a nice record of what will be happening this summer for you to reread in the years to come! Many blessing to come for your family.
Yes, that is a perk!
Your days sound so normal. I live in Ontario and we are still in lockdown. Only essential stores are open. Schools are virtual and you can even get a hair cut. Can’t wait until things are back to normal. Got our first COVID vaccine in April and scheduled for the second one on July 22. Enjoy every day.
I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine still being in lockdown after all this time. I know your vaccine rollout has been slow up there, but why can’t you get your hair cut? Our salons have been open since last summer. Everyone just wears masks, and it’s been fine.
The restrictions sure vary from province to province. Here in Saskatchewan, our salons have been open for over a year, masks are still required. As well, nonessential stores have remained open, but supposedly at lower capacity. It seems when we’ve been to the greenhouses they’ve been quite full though, so I don’t know if anyone is actually enforcing this. When I read your blog, Jo-Lynne, life seems so normal there. We haven’t been allowed to have anyone in our homes outside of our household for some time, but that will lift as of the end of May when we’ll be allowed to have groups of up to ten. Yay!
Gotcha. Makes sense that the regulations vary depending on where you are. It’s the same way here. PA was very cautious at first, but once we opened up, they did it slowly and we never had to backtrack.
We went to a few Flyers games in March. Only 3000 fans allowed so it was kind of sad but I was so excited to go. Also didn’t help that they weren’t playing great then. I’m excited for next season – we’re getting season tickets and capacity will be 100
Fun!!!
I can totally relate to the kids finishing high school and going away. My son went into the military so that door to childhood was closed abruptly. When my daughter went to school in Philly, I thought I’d be okay because she was so close, but I cried the whole way home. I found that home had a revolving door with adult children – they’re home and then they’re out and then home again! I always felt like I slept better when all the chicks were in the nest so to speak! I think that part of it was aside from the fact that I was missing them, it made me feel so old! Somehow moms (and dads) do survive the empty nest and it does get better over time. Enjoy each stage.
I know what you mean about the revolving door. Once I experienced that, it did make the coming and going easier.
Boy, your family is going to have a fun and busy summer, with some emotional times thrown in. I bet Caroline is dealing with a lot of mixed emotions and probably will well into the Fall. David staying at home for the time being, while he continues his college education is a big compliment to you and Paul! I wish my body could tolerate the heat better, so that outside activities would not be so draining. I’m wondering if your area has the high humidity that we deal with, which makes it so stifling. This is a Blessed Sunday!
It can be very hot and humid here but we get some breaks with milder weather mixed in.
We will be moving our daughter from Florida to Massachusetts in fall for grad school. I can not imagine her being so far away. I guess we will need to buy her a winter coat and boots, LOL. First time seeing that amount of snow will be an experience, and living in it at that. I am excited for her and a bit nervous too.
Wow, that really is a distance!!! I hope she loves it. I did. I grew up in Virginia and went to college in MA. I loved experiencing a different area of the country.
It is hard when your child goes away to college. When my daughter left, I had been divorced about a year, so it was quite a change for me being alone in the house with just the cat and dog. But I was so excited for her, and watching her “grow up” has been a joy. We raise them the best we can, and we have to let them go and become “themselves”.
Before you now it, they are married, and they have children. Our first grandson will be one tomorrow, and the second is due in October.
Have a great day! Enjoy the game!
That’s exciting! I’m in no rush, but I do look forward to that next stage.
Whenever I hear about a parent getting ready to send their child off to college I get that weird feeling in my stomache. For me that was the hardest thing for me as a parent. I had to do it 3 times. My kids were all good kids and easy to raise so to let them go was very hard. I was a stay at home mom so my kids were my life for so long. I was fortunate they were far enough apart I could let them go one at a time, slowly. I feel for you. With her going off in August the Summer will fly, so yes soak it all in. Did Caroline pick a major? It’s neat you got to have her home with you for her Charter cyber school. Sounds like that was a good fit for her. Is she nervous at all about going off now? Enjoy your basketball game. So fun. Our team close is the Portland Trailblazers….. Alittle over an hour to the stadium for us. I’m not sure the covid rules for them. Things around here change daily.
Yes, she definitely has some nerves. Academics are a challenge due to ADHD and she worries about finding a social circle. She’ll be in a music ensemble so hopefully that helps her find her tribe. Her biggest concern is missing her dog. She is incredibly attached to Savannah, and Savannah is getting up there in years. The inevitable is hard to ignore.
Your summer sounds exciting! So nice to hear things are getting back to normal. Our son graduated university but our family get together is postponed until we are allowed to get together again in larger groups! Everything here is closed except what’s considered essential ( grocery stores, hardware stores, Costco, Walmart and stores that are doing curbside pick up so like Carol in Ontario no hair salons spas etc or malls open! Gathering indoors abs outdoors are max of 5! No church sports gatherings etc… we are hoping after the middle of June when our lock down is reviewed again we can start to re open slowly! We have a family vacation planned for PEI to the beach and our sons girlfriend ( who he’s not been able to see since November) due to the loss of our province’s bubble will be joining us fingers crossed!! Our son in law and daughter are expecting a a baby girl in September out first grandchild so there will be baby showers to get excited about! We are at 50% right now for our vaccinations based on population for our province and it opens up to 20 and younger this week so we will be moving in the right direction! I miss our trips across the border so I’m hoping there is light at the end of the tunnel! Enjoy your game today🙌🏻🙌🏻
That sounds promising. I hope things open up soon!
Right there with you on the can’t wait for the school year to end (especially since I work in a school) and aching for it to slow down as went send my daughter to college in the fall. My son will also be returning to school after being home for a year and a half due to COVID…instant empty nest. Such mixed emotions…lots of emotions here.
Yes, that’s a lot at once.
I feel the same about getting outside to exercise. Have to go earlier now. An adjustment. My grandson graduated last night. Happy \sad..Will miss basketball and baseball games. even Grandmas get sad.😐
I’m sure!
Your household is a going through an exciting season of change. It can be bittersweet at times, especially with Caroline going to college out of state. It is a real credit to you that she is choosing your alma mater! Thanks for doing your Coffee Talk today; it is a fun post that a lot of us look forward to. Enjoy your Sixers game. That sounds so much fun (and so much out of our reality). Let us know how that goes. For us Canadians, it sure feels like we are all living on a different planet up here with our harsh lock downs (#3, #4??? who can keep track? Sigh…….) Our hair salons were closed during lock down #1 back in March 2020, then re-opened last summer. Then we had more lock downs as cases rose up and hospitals were overwhelmed; salons have opened and closed a number of times. Sure do feel for salon owners and hairdressers. All provinces up here have mandatory mask rules. Salons have done a fantastic job sanitizing, spreading out appts, social distancing, etc….. Vaccines are being spread 16 weeks apart from dose #1 to dose #2 due to vaccine shortages up here. We are definitely behind the USA. Whatever you folks are doing, kudos to you.
It sounds like things might be looking up for you all. Hope it happens quickly.
Enjoy the game! I’m so happy to see things returning to “normal”! I, too, have 3 children. But I have 2 boys and 1 girl. We are a band family, though! My oldest plays trumpet in his high school marching band, and my middle is wrapping up his first year in band in middle school. He also plays the trumpet. My daughter is in first grade, but is already looking forward to being in band when she gets to 6th grade!
The band community is great! We have really enjoyed it.
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