A New Normal

So I am currently so over that phrase, but that is what it has become. This summer has truly been different. We haven't been able to have nearly as many playdates. We haven't had VBS or camp. We haven't even had normal church activities. All in all it hasn't been THAT bad though. We have learned to live life slow. Since school ended in mid May we have slowed down a lot. We have seen a few friends and for that I am thankful. The kids started swim team after our trip to Tennessee and again I am truly thankful for that bit of normalcy. Even though it hasn't looked all that normal. Practices are only twice a week and several have been rained out. We have also only had one "virtual" swim meet. Anyway that's getting out though and seeing people so that has been nice. We also started back to church when we got back from Tennessee. Lindsay was baptized on June 22nd. It was such a sweet moment to be back in church after months. That was also Father's Day. It has been great being back at church even though that's a lot different too. No children's activities or Lifegroup...we have to wear masks. But its nice just to have normalcy. 
Anyway our summer has been very low key. We have had a lot of fun...but its been a slower paced fun. We haven't been to the Zoo or any big things. I am thankful for our trip to Tennessee and what we got to do there. We've pretty much just stayed home, run errands, or gone swimming. My kids have seen friends a handful of times. 
Starting back to school I think will be nice....I mean I will miss the laziness, but I feel like we need some start to a routine again. 

Friend And Work Time

This has been an unusual summer due to Covid-19. Since there hasn't been VBS or camps it really has just not felt like summer. I mean I guess in some ways it just feels like the never-ending quarantine. Thankfully we took the Tennessee trip...I think that felt the most like summer. 

My best friend Wendy has been gone a lot of the summer...usually she does travel a majority of the summer so time together is usually precious and we try to enjoy it to the fullest. So since our "last day" of school she left town and then I left town and then we were both finally in town for a bit. The Monday after we got back from Tennessee I asked her if I could bring coffee and hang out at her house. I really figured I would stay an hour or 2 maybe. Well 4 hours later...we were both sweaty and gross (We had coffee out by her pool thanks to corona). We had the best time though. It felt like we had a million stories and stuff to catch up on. We laughed and almost cried a few times. It was just so great to once again be together. 

The next week we had a meeting at my house for school to plan a graduation celebration for kindergarten and 8th grade. About halfway through the meeting though we scrapped the idea. Anyway it was Wendy, myself, Rebecca, and Marsha. Even though it was a "work thing" it was fun just to visit. Wendy got here a little early then she was the last to leave. She's truly like a sister. 

The next week on that Tuesday we did a ride around for the 7th graders. Once again it was Rebecca, Wendy, and I who rode together. I picked Wendy up though so we had a little extra time to visit. Between all the out of town trips and corona we really haven't been around each other a ton so each time we are together there is a TON to say. I also brought her home and went inside her house for a bit. I wished her well and goodbye as they were off the next day to bring her son to the Coast Guard Academy. 

So even though its been a different summer ---there have been some fun times thrown in as well. Oh and I also had lunch with Marsha one day last week. Its been nice to have some adult time during my summer. 

Tennessee Day 6

So our final day in Tennessee was a Saturday. After seeing the crowds coming into Gatlinburg the day before we decided we wanted to "get out of town" on Saturday. We opted to have a more "nature" day. We had researched some things to do outside of Cherokee, North Carolina. I had never been there before. It was about an hour and a half drive. We got into Cherokee and first found a place to potty. Bathrooms during Corona on a road trip are hard to find. Anyway after that we went to our destination which was actually outside of Cherokee and in Bryson City. We went into the National Park to hike a trail to see a water fall. There are so many hiking opportunities and now that the kids are finally big enough to hang we thought we would try one. Anyway the hike was about a mile round trip. It was mostly uphill though which made it slightly challenging. We got up there and just enjoyed the view and sights for about 30 minutes. After we went back down and found a quiet place by the creek to have our lunch. That was a sweet family memory. After we drove around a bit and went back into Cherokee. There the kids wanted to find water to play in. We found a lovely shallow river area. They played for about 30-45 minutes. I think our next trip we will be more prepared with swimsuits and such. Anyway after on the drive back we got ice-cream. The drive back was enjoyable. We got back to the cabin and rested a bit before cooking a big steak dinner. It was our final night in the cabin and we just enjoyed relaxing and being together. We turned in early and packed up our things. 

The day we headed back on Sunday...we got an early start. I woke up at 3am central time. I wanted to take a shower and get dressed. We left by 4am. The drive back went well and the kids were great. We stopped at about 6 or 7 for McDonald's breakfast. Another thing in the corona world we had to eat in the car. We made it to Hattiesburg by lunchtime. We picked up chicken and brought it to Austin's mom's to eat lunch with her. We visited and hung out for about an hour. It was nice just to break up the trip this way. 

We were back home by about 3. Our friends the Schifflin's took care of our pets and house while we were away. They left a beautiful snowball thing for our door. Such a sweet surprise! 

It was a wonderful vacation and so nice to get away!