Thursday, June 21, 2018

Summer Solstice 2018

It's officially summer! It's hard to make plans this year, with all the family health issues and our first serious summer sessions with middle school, high school, and the local JC. I keep having to use my PTO for my family instead of my, more so than usual. Nevertheless, summer is still going to be good. So far we've had:

Our local Raley's is closed for renovation. Goodbye 80s/90s decor ... hello???

Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival! Winds this year prevented launches, but still had fun with friends.

We picnicked on the Town Green, catching up while the teens ran about and had a gleeful spree through the candy store.


Boys and Girls Club again puts on a great series of summer activities. James has signed on for two field trips again.


Another get together with friends by a pool, with California rolling hills in the background, under blue skies.

Visiting local parks and exploring the outdoors. Happy summer, y'all!

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Slamming Into Summer

So seventh grade ended up badly. That's all I will say in this post. Suffice to say that come August James will be in a new school and new school district. Meanwhile, I am getting used to Teen James, who is now almost 5' 10" at 13 & 5 months. Still a picky eater, so he is a handsome beanpole. He no longer calls out "Help me! HELP Me!!!!" when I wash his hair, but hygiene is still a struggle. He's learned to do his own laundry at a coin-op facility and is learning to rule the vacuum cleaner. As for myself... after dealing with all the schtuff I don't post about explicitly online for way too many years, I am tired.



Meanwhile, this happens to be THE Best summer school he has had in well over over four years. First the classes are at the high school campus, away from the noise and confusion of the previous location (six years running). Second, the teacher is giving them all life skills: cooking, taking the bus,  filling out a job application, and buying things in the store ... what is not to love? Third, he likes the older kids and the teacher.

I am wrangling summer reading on the side.

Still dealing with way too much spitting and use of tissue and toilet paper. Also clogging toilets when upset about things. Trying to get ABA going. Still working full time. Still dealing with end of life and major health issues in my family. Still calling and writing those nuts in DC about how I feel about our current status for education, healthcare, and immigration. And that damned tax bill.

Thank goodness for good friends, good books, and Marvel movies!

And so it goes.