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Post by duskymonkey on Jul 23, 2022 0:00:33 GMT -6
I think we're all so busy now with the kids all grown up! Where has the time gone???!!!! Drop in when you can and tell what's been going on this summer and how are you staying cool!
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Post by duskymonkey on Jul 23, 2022 0:07:38 GMT -6
Another BIGGGG news!!! We finally completed lil fella's vax yesterday evening! and DS got his booster as well! With everyone falling like flies around us, even our germ pod friends who have been careful have succumbed, we're not waiting. Heck even my sister's family caught it last month from my nephew getting it in school. In about 2 weeks we can breathe a little easier. Now I am feeling left out with a newly vax and boostered, even hubs is double boostered. We've also been so busy and had DS' birthday bash last weekend which I'll share soon. More later. Also Taitai you must be here already and I owe you a list of books for your DS! Just haven't had a chance to sit to post. PDQ  |
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Taitai
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Post by Taitai on Jul 25, 2022 20:33:46 GMT -6
Hey duskymonkey !! Yay that you, your H, and the kiddos are all vaccinated and doing well. We indeed are back in the USA, and DS2 received his second dose of the vaccine today. We did Moderna, so he’s fully vaccinated now, which just feels great. We got DS1 boosted at the start of our trip. H is double boosted, and I should probably get double boosted before we go back to Southeast Asia. We’ve really been enjoying our time in the states. Lots of visits with family and fun activities for the kids. We also have been taking full advantage of access to the local library! I wish we had community libraries where we live. Judy Moody, Dog Man, the Bad Guys, Geronimo Stilton, and Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol have been very popular with my boys this summer. I’m sooooooo going to miss the library when we have to head back. Judy Moody I really like a lot - good lessons and fun to read, especially for ages 7 and up. How is everyone else’s summer going? curmudgeon CoachTsWife danvers August Blooms - hope you all are enjoying the school break! |
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Post by curmudgeon on Jul 26, 2022 11:44:28 GMT -6
Hello! We are just trying to survive the heat and the drought down here.
DS1 (9) has started seeing a therapist for anger/emotions. I don’t know if I like her, but she was the only one with openings and covered by insurance. I also have him on a months long wait list for another place.
Summer has dragged. I think from being so hot and miserable. DS1 has been in camps nonstop. But 3 weeks til school starts! Thank goodness.
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Post by duskymonkey on Jul 26, 2022 21:07:20 GMT -6
Taitai Hooray!!! for boosters and vax!! and I am so glad your timing was perfect to get them. I am waiting for them to authorize 2nd boosters for under 50. I read in the news that this could be a possibility in coming weeks. Cases are on the climb again here. Lil fella's class has 2 cases last week and I was/am anxious all of last week and this week because he was getting his 2nd Moderna and he had close contact with his class mates. I had to stop driving myself crazy because there isn't much we can do about it. In about a week, he'll be immunized at the very least even though Omicron doesn't give a squat about vaccine, it's a whole lot better than nothing. I am so glad you are having a good trip and able to enjoy time with family. I owe you a list of book recos. So far, DS has been enjoying the Treasure Hunters series - Jimmy Patterson too. He's been reading a lot of his books. Laugh out loud and the I Funny series have been huge hits. He has 2 more books left in the TH series gah! He's blown through them the last 3 weeks it's insane how fast he reads. I honestly gave up prereading, just cannot keep up. I need danvers help! for suggestions. danvers where are you! How have you been doing?!!! Thanks to her, The Judy Blume Fudge series has been great too and I enjoyed reading them myself especially since DS can relate to having a force to reckon with in the shape of his own little brother. Oh my! lil fella seriously is like an epitome of Fudge. Gets into everything DS is into. They are both currently obsessed with Dinosaurs and the galaxy. They've already watched all the Jurassic movies save for the newest one. Also there is a really wonderful series of books - Welcome to the museum. I am such a sucker for illustrated books and these books are beautifully designed and has interesting content. Both the boys love them. You should check it out if you haven't already done at the library before your departure back to SEA and maybe even secretly purchase a couple for Christmas presents! I am certainly planning to except they've already read all the titles in the series. Another set of books I want to intro DS to is Narnia! he's not big on fiction but this was one of my fav as a child. The Borrowers - Mary Norton is also a good series and I am going to start him on that after he's finished with Treasure Hunters. I've come across Judy Moody, now I have to get a hold of them and see if DS will get into them.
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Post by duskymonkey on Jul 26, 2022 21:21:43 GMT -6
curmudgeon OMG! We have a mega drought here and have been for actually several years now. We are currently on water restriction which has been tough on my lettuce, peppers and tomatoes. A dozen seedlings became crispy a month ago when temp went over 100. I am really glad our lawn in the back is a cool weather grass which goes dormant in the scorching heat and tolerates drought. I am also glad a lot of my chosen plants are xeric and I have not bothered much with a great number of them and they are happily blooming away in the dry scorching heat. Hugs to you about your DS and that you were able to seek help for him. The waitlist for therapist is insane. Because of insurance, we are having a lot of trouble finding DS one and is on a waitlist too. A couple of intensive ASD camps I signed him up for this summer got cancelled due to staff shortage and I was hoping we could fill the gap but to no avail. It's draining and exhausting but you just gotta do what you need to do and take it day by day and celebrate the little accomplishments they and ourselves make.
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Post by duskymonkey on Jul 26, 2022 21:41:14 GMT -6
So our summer has been really busy, we've been going up to the mountains to hike, picnic because it's been so hot down here. Lil fella went to the zoo a few weeks ago for the first time ever! 2nd time for DS. The boys absolutely loved the Nature and Science museum which we went with DS' cub scouts so much so we obtained a membership there. I am very impressed with how well curated the N&S museum is. We also had a birthday bash for DS and decided to hold it at a park so he could invite more friends and heaps of room for them to just play. He requested for a bizzare cake lol! and made everyone of his friends guessing. Can you guess what's on his cake haha! I didn't get good pictures. I was rushing and had to do the final assemble at the park! oops!  The creature in the middle lost it's legs Oy!  Inside of his cake. It was a blueberry cake and frosting to get a base start on the blue color.  |
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Post by curmudgeon on Jul 28, 2022 9:12:38 GMT -6
duskymonkey please never stop posting your cakes. I am blown away each time.
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Post by CoachTsWife on Aug 4, 2022 15:41:49 GMT -6
Hello friends. I have the best intentions to stay up to date here and then I blink and it's been weeks since I last checked in.
I am NOT ready for school to start. DS2 starts preschool on MONDAY and I'm sad. We pulled him from daycare (due to a host of reasons) after my MIL retired in May from teaching K/preschool and she helped us out over the summer when DH was at football camp/practice/weight lifting. I'm still working from home so it has been challenging but I have loved the mornings not being a crazy hustle out the door and the extra time I've had with the boys. Don't get me wrong, at times all I wanted was a quiet house, but I know I will miss them when everyone goes back to school.
So DS2 goes to preschool on Monday and DS1 starts first grade two weeks after that (I don't know how I already have a first grader!!!). Football has been going all summer with camps and such, but practice officially starts on Monday, so I'm mentally preparing for that as well. The next few months are a busy, busy time in our house!
We are in a drought here as well - it has been SO bad. I don't think we mowed the lawn during the month of July and that just does not happen here.
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Taitai
Opal
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Post by Taitai on Aug 4, 2022 18:14:06 GMT -6
duskymonkey - That cake is amazing!! If I had to guess, maybe a baby creature hatching from its egg and going to the ocean? It looks so cool and delicious though - I bet everyone loved it. And I’m so glad he was able to have his birthday and the park and celebrate with everyone! As for books - thank you so much for the recommendations! Funny that DS1 picked out Treasure Hunters from the library and read 2 books in that series this summer! Fudge books are also popular with us. I will definitely check out the Welcome to the Museum ones - I love nicely illustrated books too!! CoachTsWife Glad to hear that things are going well, and wishing you luck juggling back to school and all the football stuff this late summer/fall! Also, did I tell you that I started watching Friday Night Lights on the plane, now that I’m traveling again for work? Almost done with season 1, and I love it. I think of you when I watch it! Lol.
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Post by mommabakes on Aug 7, 2022 15:52:11 GMT -6
duskymonkey love the cake! Is it a waterbear/tardagrade on top? My middle kiddo actually picked a very similar cake for his 7th birthday, and I'm excited to make it! We're doing black cocoa instead of blueberry though. I did a trial run and had issues with my planets floating up in the batter. Did you experience that?
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