Flowers for the teacher! (And hard seltzer.)
We have home-schooled for 10 days. Truly I am not sure if it is going well or is a train-wreck. (If I don't know, does that automatically mean its a train-wreck?)
I have actually enjoyed some components of the job. It's nice to be really intentional with the boys. It's awesome to see them learn and understand a concept better. It's fun to know what they are learning about and be able to talk about it casually throughout the day if the topic comes up organically.
I do not like that one of my kids totally loses their cool and screams at me at least once a day. That is something I could for sure do without. Also, the pay is terrible.
We have been learning about the four regions of Texas in social studies and learned about llanite, a pinkish granite found in the Great Plains region. The capital building in Austin is made out of the stuff and thus an afternoon field trip was born. (The following pictures don't really do the pink-ness justice.)
It was actually a super lame trip. The fences were all locked up and gates barred and we couldn't even walk on the grass. Sometimes covid regulations make no sense to me.
But we did stop by HomeSlice Pizza, further down on Congress Street, so that was definitely a redeeming factor of the trip. As I'm typing this, I'm realizing it was exactly like a real field trip where lunch with your friends is the best part. Really, who cares about dumb 'ol pink granite??
I kept Nolan enrolled at the elementary school that we can see from our backyard. I wanted to keep tabs on the school and wanted him to have a place once school re-opened as pre-k spots fill very quickly and are not guaranteed like other grades. He is on his fourth day of virtual and it is somewhat of a nightmare. Him and all his four-year old little buddies are expected to log-on to the "classroom" at FIVE different times during the day for live instruction from his teacher. The good news? You actually only have to log on once in order to be counted present for attendance purposes which is mightily more manageable. It does make me really glad the big boys aren't doing virtual though. It seems so unrealistic.
Nolan has also called his teacher Mr. Underpants, turd, and sucker in a joking and jovial way on these video chats. I played off the turd comment by interrupting and quickly saying, "she doesn't want to be called a turtle!". We are working on only using the name Mrs. Tiemann or ma'am. Oye.
Other happenings:
We have started decorating a bit of the house. Ollie is getting some Chiefs striping in anticipation of setting his room up for his birthday.
Jolly Mask Co. had a good run, but is already winding down. For these last few orders, its only been the J. Mask Co.
I mashed up the back of HotShot as I backed out of the garage with the tail gate open. It makes me infuriated.
Lots of outside time and trips to the park, track, or bike rides despite every day being right around 100 degrees.
Now it's time to gear up for some birthdays!
