School's out!

School is finished!!

Last week we tied up the last of the assignments, Google Meets, and farewells for the school year.  We had goodies for the assorted teachers who have adjusted and put in so many extra hours over the last 3 months as the shift to home learning was enforced.  We had a few distanced meet-ups to say goodbye to staff, catch up a little with friends, and enjoy the first days of summer break.

Sunday evening we started a new end-of-school tradition - we took all the papers from school that didn't need to be kept and we took them to burn. Cathartic and symbolic :)

Monday we started a major shift in the house. With the end of school, the return of living space as living space and no longer doubling as learning space, we put ourselves to the task of moving things around.  The idea was Hubby's.  In order to help make our space work for us longer term we needed to do some serious culling and downsizing of toys (don't judge me, I've been holding on to baby toys).  Hubby and I have moved our bedroom to the basement for a while so we shifted things this week so the boys finally, for the first time ever, have their own bedrooms!  The girls are still sharing, but they now have the larger of those rooms.  And are no longer in bunk beds. 

The change feels good.  The littles are more able to have their space and organize it the way they want without things falling underfoot.  We are now just over 24 hours after completion of the task and it feels amazing!

Tied in with that is that report cards went live recently.  Reading the teachers' observations about this crew, seeing the growth and development through the upheaval of lockdown and having life so significantly shifted.  We have such a terrific group of children.  Their personalities, their strengths, the way their wit and humour comes out in the class setting, it makes my heart smile.  They aren't perfect, we certainly have our struggles; but the smile I got reading those report cards, seeing the way they are growing into adults that I want to spend time with, I feel incredibly blessed and fortunate to have these 4 sharing space and time with us.  I might be feeling a little sappy.  And happy.

There are 10 or so weeks until the beginning of September, and it will likely be an interesting time.  I anticipate low key, some day trips, some fishing, some lake time.  Lots of walks and bike rides, Pokemon Go walks too.  Depending on travel restrictions we may get family visiting time in as well.  Really hoping that will work out for us.