First week of "school", 2020

 Last week, Norah started Pre-K (virtually) at Greenhill on Aug. 25th and Jackson started first grade at St. Mark's the following day (Happy Birthday, Grandma!).

Both kids have been attending virtually from a "pod" and the JCC.  Norah's pod consists entirely of kids from her pre-K class.  The original JCC program was not offered for pre-K students, but they happily agreed to arrange a pod if we found 5 kids to attend.  We ended-up with 6 (of a possible 32)!

The kids have been doing well adapting to the frequently changing environment.  If things go well, they will start in-person at their new schools on Sept. 9th.

Lake House 2020

Between the pandemic and Will's surgery, we chose to stay in a close by lake house for our summer getaway. I picked Cedar Creek Lake to check out this year. It is a neighborhood favorite on second houses.

Our biggest surprise is that we saw Milky way and shooting stars in the night. This lake is only about one hour drive from Dallas but the light pollution is quite low so we saw the starry sky. 

It was a relaxing trip for all of us. Kids loved fishing, water play and boating. We loved the quiet reading time while watching them play and the night time star gazing. The best thing is this house is only one hour and fifteen minutes away from our house and there was no mosquito near the lake. We also loved that it was almost a private lake for us as there was not much traffic during week days. 

Kids love water play

There is a small path of sand in front of our house gave us hours of sand play

We had a shady area to watch the kids play (Disclaimer: Will is holding my wine)

Breakfast on the dock. We even felt cold in August at Dallas!

We kayaked too. We brought the inflatable kayak but the kids were still not ready for this sport. 

Jackson caught the first fish!

Two kids fishing in the shade

A big catfish!

Setting up for boating

Tubing for the first time

Daddy tubed with skill 

Hiding from the wind

Four hours of boating felt too short!

Norah's birthday card to Jackson

On the Friday about 5 days before Jackson's birthday, Norah came home from camp very excited about a birthday card she had mailed to Jackson.  She excitedly ran out to the mailbox to see if it arrived.

Friday:  Norah, the mail doesn't arrive the same day you send it.

Saturday: Norah, the mail usually takes more than one day

Sunday: Norah, there's no mail delivery on Sunday

Monday: Norah, it's not here yet, let's check tomorrow

Tuesday: Norah, it's not here yet, let's check tomorrow

Wednesday (Jackson's birthday): Norah, distracted by birthday donuts doesn't notice there was no mail delivery today...

Thursday: Norah's moved on, but still no mail delivery

Friday: still no mail delivery

Saturday: still no mail delivery

Sunday: All our backlogged mail arrives, including the birthday card!

The Long-Awaited Card Arrived!

The card was super sweet.  Here's what her camp counselor transcribed for the text of the card:

Dear Jackson,

I love that you play with me.  And I like it when you sit in the car next to me.  Happy birthday to you, Jackson.  I love that you play Pokemon with me at home.

                                                                                        Love,

                                                                                         Norah 

 

Who's exactly seven? Jackson Leven!

The post title is what Jackson greeted me with on the morning of July 29, 2020.  I guess he hadn't forgotten his birthday ;-).  

Donuts for the local "street gang"

Kiddie pool

Diving? (He was fine)

New wheels

If this birthday had a theme, it was Pokémon

Cannonball Run

Slide Mania!  Thanks Aunt Julie and Uncle Dave!

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It's Good!

Grill Chief

The younger half

Gift Time