Recharging at Grammy & Grandpa’s

 We had a week gap between the end of school and the beginning of summer camp. Our school holds summer camp - 6:30am-6:30pm - which is so wonderful for working families. So I took the week off and we went to my parents for a couple days. The first day was beautiful - we went to a local Nature Center where they had animals in rehabilitation. Until birds starting cawing and Hannah saw the animals and noted right out of there. Grammy sat with Hannah until we enjoyed all the animals; coyote, owls, crows, fox, hawks and even a bald eagle! 

The Center was cute and gave something for the girls to explore. Then we hit Fulton Farms in Troy as well - it’s probably been decades since I’d been there - adorable market inside the barn.

Day 2 was super rainy and slow. We did hit my Mom’s favorite primitive decor store which was closing (retirement), the local five-and-dime where the girls picked out some toys, and then my Mom’s thrift store where Nora hit the jackpot! 

Making lemon scones w Grammy

Nora’s dime-store find

Nora’s sweet taco-cat find

End of School Year & Re-Entering

We have been ramping up our social dates lately - with family and friends - it’s been really great and needed on all fronts. 

We mostly stay outside because the kids aren’t vaccinated yet. I feel like the entire culture thinks we’re back to normal but forget the kids are not vaccinated yet. 25% of COVID cases are children now. 

 We’ve already had lots of water time at home. And Hannah got new glasses! Now she has a nose piece! She also lost another tooth!

We made it to the end of the school year - Hallelujah and Amen!! Weird emotions - I made sure to send thank yous to the teachers who taught our remote children. The kids made it through this odd and difficult year. 

We had an emotional thank you with our sitter/aide who helped Hannah with her school work all year. Hannah thrived thanks to the 1-on-1 attention. Hannah even attended Field Day with Miss Hannah and had a blast. 

Because Nora stuck with her assignments, nothing was late, and she agreed to working on her multiplication and reading chapter books, we got her an IKEA loft bed. She loves it and feels less scared at night now - I guess because she’s away from the “scary” things down low??

We hit a local Farm, Berries & Blooms - it was beautiful but Nora is having trouble being around crowds anymore. This started before the pandemic and just seems to be getting a touch harder. She doesn’t like being around people she doesn’t know. We are trying to nudge her out because she has to acclimate a bit - we can’t just stay home all the time. 

Nora also joined about five other kids in the neighborhood with some historic crafts - one Mom took two days to teach them how to make Possible Bags and Sun Sandal Moccasins! Nora even has a beaver pelt on her bag! 

Easter 2021

 Easter 2021 was a bit brighter than last year when we were all solidly locked down. This year Tim and I were fully vaccinated and it was a beautiful day so we could still sit outside while some of our family weren’t fully vaccinated yet.

Earlier in the month there was a nice weekend so the Battys also got together outside - it was so refreshing! 

 

My New Nephew!

Calvin Paul Johnston was born Sept 17th, 2020 to my youngest sister, Katherine and her husband Chase. Our family was so extremely excited, and Nora is excited to have a cousin on the Batty side. Hannah loves “Baby Calvin!”

The bittersweet part is that we’re in a pandemic - so the visits aren’t often, and we stay outside, and I can’t really hold him .... so hopefully later in 2021 we can try and get some more family time so we can enjoy Calvin’s 1st year : )