School in Vermont was released for summer break on June 15th. Our elementary school here in Arlington starts August 5th. That's not quite eight weeks of summer to account for this year, versus the usual eleven or twelve. We're three-quarters done with summer; just two weeks to go! Ok, I'm done with the remedial math games.
But where has the time gone? The first week was largely spent in Quebec on a family vacation. What? I didn't write a report here? Sorry. I did write something on my computer about it, but it ended up being 4 pages long and I thought I'd spare you the intricate details of our lovely stay north of Quebec City. It was really nice, not least because I didn't plan it! Q did a great job with the rental house, all the food and activities, not to mention packing for 4 out of 6 of us. Kudos to him for a wonderful trip. Maybe I'll post the pictures on flickr.
Next, we got serious about all those last play dates with friends, held a birthday party and packed up and moved. Whew! Following that, we have been swinging between total exhaustion from all the fun activities here (Zoo! Fireworks! DC Temple! Parks! School registration!) and friendless boredom as we adjust to our new home. My mother and sister have been extremely accommodating and supportive, allowing us to take up all kinds of time in their week that was probably reserved for something else.
This week so far... Monday: Quinn's first day at State, errands, laundry, my right ear hurt. Tuesday: drove myself to Urgent Care at 5:30am for a serious ear canal infection, Kari took girls peach/blackberry-picking, eight kids here (including 2 new friends!) in the afternoon for Camp Ladybug- the 9 year old's invention, blackberry cobbler for dessert. Wednesday: Mom's house for errands, lunch and play, girls stayed till dinner, peach freezer jam batch #1, me to Urgent Care in the evening. Thursday: sudden weaning of the 1 year old due to my new medications (it was going to happen soon anyway, but, Darn It!), playground trip in the morning, Mom here to help in the afternoon, peach freezer jam batch #2, purchasing of school supplies using two detailed lists (what?! I miss Mary Hogan School!). Friday: Kari to take 3 kids for the mid-day while the baby and I rest... I hope. Weekend: visit to Mom and Dad's cabin in West Virginia.
Next week is fairly open, but I'm hoping to get up the guts to take the kids downtown one day to hit some of the museums during light tourist traffic. We'll see.
Q got on the ball and registered our oldest for Saturday afternoon gymnastics through the County Rec Dept. It's a pretty intense class; we're not in Middlebury anymore. Not to be left out, L takes swimming in August. This has also been the summer the girls learned to ride bikes. Well, the older one has got it down, and the younger one is really excellent on a tricycle and will be ready to ride when we give her the old bike and buy her sister a new one. (Oh, the plight of a middle child!) The boys are getting used to our steep little triangle of a backyard. Bubbles and small dump trucks are used most every day.
People are beginning to adjust, although we still have plenty of progress to make on that front. There's anxiety about starting at a new school- especially one where so many students are native Spanish-speakers and our kids aren't, but everyone will take Spanish language courses each week. We try to get over to the school playground once a week to give them a chance to get familiar with something there.
Summer has been a flash of light this year and it's nearly gone. I miss my hammock, my neighbors and friends, my gardens, my house, Quarry Hill School summer play group, local food, Lake Dunmore, roads with no traffic, and all that other goodness that makes Vermont home to me.
Hope your summer is a little bit lazier than ours has been.
2 comments:
Maren - sounds like you soldiering on well. Did the ear infection start to clear up? Hilde has only 6 weeks for summer vacation, she just got out of school last Friday. They essentially go year round with a couple of longer breaks during the school year. It works out well, but the short summers are hard, especially this one where we can't really go out and do too much. Once the kids start making new friends, that will help you as well. Wish we could be there to help out as well!
Thanks- we miss you all. But I wish I was there to help you!! I know the transition can be tough adding a new person to the household. But it gets easier! We're thinking we might like this "modified calendar" school year since it allows us some family trips in the region that we would otherwise not be able to take. Quinn's got it all planned out.
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