Taitai
Opal
Posts: 8,305 Likes: 54,853 
|
Post by Taitai on Jul 2, 2020 21:04:27 GMT -6
It’s July! Happy Canada Day 🇨🇦 (belated) to August Blooms and doodlemommy (and other Canadians I might be forgetting). Happy 4th of July to the Americans! 🇺🇸 I know lots of festivities are probably cancelled, but I hope you all have a great start to this month   No home firework injuries for any of you, okay?  |
|
danvers
Platinum
Posts: 1,924
Likes: 6,087
|
July Fun
Jul 3, 2020 12:51:54 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by danvers on Jul 3, 2020 12:51:54 GMT -6
No big 4th of July party here. SIL is having a a giant party. We are not going but I’m sad for the girls because we won’t be letting them see their cousins after that, probably for the rest of the summer. SIL has decided this is all a hoax and she is going to “live her life” - just as our state has started to see an small uptick in cases lately 🤦♀️
In a surprising turn of events, my MIL and FIL are pissed at her too for her lack of social distancing and are not going to her party. We will just do a small cookout with them tomorrow.
H and I want to watch Hamilton on Disney+ tonight and get take-out. We have one month till school starts and are trying to get the most out of summer.
|
|
|
|
Post by August Blooms on Jul 3, 2020 17:51:35 GMT -6
Happy 4th American friends! May you enjoy your social distancing celebrations!
It was so weird on Canada Day to be low key because my H’s friend usually has this huge party up in the country on their property with 100 people and theirs a ton of kids running around and a live band and professional fireworks. It didn’t feel like holiday.
DH took 2 vacation days after Wednesday’s holiday and we took the girls strawberry picking yesterday. It was super fun and I made jam when we got home and angel food cake. My stand mixer broke just as the eggs were getting into peaks and it was so hot that they wouldn’t cooperate with all my mixing so the cake turned out tasty but way more dense than it should have been. I really have leaned into this stay at home mom life with all my time off work. If only I could collect a paycheck to hang with my kids.
|
|
|
|
Post by duskymonkey on Jul 3, 2020 22:45:11 GMT -6
Happy belated Canada day and almost July 4th. doodlemommy  - thinking of you and your family. August Blooms - my heart dropped when I read in the other thread you felt sick. Thank goodness it isn't CV. Hope whatever it is, you're feeling much better. Also yeah, apart from I think track and field, I think most sports can be costly. You can certainly get a road bike for the same price as a new car. I have an Orbea and it's only the entry level and it's already 10 yrs old but after riding my clunky city bike, it's so smooth and a dream to ride miles and miles with. I think Specialized Rubaix is decently priced so maybe keep looking if you know your size. Hubs and I miss our riding days! BTW we don't have Disney channel either and kids only watch whatever's on PBS kids but we got the old Disney movies from the library. Lady and the tramp is also a favorite. Taitai I could be wrong but they do have a pro cycling annual race in Thailand? I know a few people that rode their bikes around Malaysia and Thailand but they're X-pros so they are adept at navigating all the pots holes. I am so glad you were able to get away for a little while and it's insane ( not surprised ) that the rest of the world is doing so much better than the US. It's an embarrassment. I am certain the local business was so happy to have you. I remember when hubs and I were in Samui, we went to see a traditional Thai dance and dinner performance and we were the only people in attendance that day! We felt so bad that we gave them all our Bahts after. It was crazy - it was like white glove service and all but you know what I think of Thai hospitality anyways -top notch and IMO best in the world. |
|
|
|
Post by duskymonkey on Jul 3, 2020 22:54:52 GMT -6
No big 4th of July party here. SIL is having a a giant party. We are not going but I’m sad for the girls because we won’t be letting them see their cousins after that, probably for the rest of the summer. SIL has decided this is all a hoax and she is going to “live her life” - just as our state has started to see an small uptick in cases lately 🤦♀️ In a surprising turn of events, my MIL and FIL are pissed at her too for her lack of social distancing and are not going to her party. We will just do a small cookout with them tomorrow. H and I want to watch Hamilton on Disney+ tonight and get take-out. We have one month till school starts and are trying to get the most out of summer. Bravo! to your ILs for having common sense. I am so pissed off at all the selfish assholes that are undoing the last 3 months and making this drag on. Anyways a quiet g2g sounds like a better time anyways. I am hyperventilating over here thinking about homeschooling my G1 this coming school year. I've lost all trust in people these days. |
|
|
|
Post by duskymonkey on Jul 3, 2020 23:15:52 GMT -6
|
|
Taitai
Opal
Posts: 8,305 Likes: 54,853
|
Post by Taitai on Jul 4, 2020 8:08:39 GMT -6
Gorgeous pics duskymonkey! Yes - there are some cycling events here in Thailand, but between the horrible roads, poor AQ, and the heat....cycling isn’t really that big/common in Thailand. Too bad, because I used to love biking when I was a kid. August Blooms Awwww - strawberry picking and jam making! That is one of our USA summer family traditions - I miss it so much. I bet everyone loved that cake - even if it was a bit dense! danvers Your SIL! The more I hear about her - yikes! I don’t think I’d get along with her at all 🤣. Glad to hear you and your ILs are being responsible at least. |
|
|
|
Post by CoachTsWife on Jul 6, 2020 8:05:53 GMT -6
We went to my mom's for the Fourth and had a GTG at my brother's farm. Our boys LOVE going to my brother's so much. They got to see week-old baby kittens, barrel horses, cows, and there's so much space to run. Both boys have been really scared of all the fireworks going off the past week in our neighborhood but they both ended up embracing it by the end. My sister's and brother's kids are much older than our kids (age range of 12-26) and the boys ADORE THEM. It's really sweet. We are attempting to PT DS2. We timed it poor, with the trip to my mom's on day 2 but he did pretty good until his first (and only) BM, which was an accident and seemed to really upset him and he's been reluctant to sit on the potty since then. I'm really hoping we can get back on track today; if we can get one BM in the toilet under our belt I think it would really help. He's doing good otherwise. We have our last daycare tour tonight and then we will decide where we will be sending DS2.
PT Update: DS2 pooped on the toilet this morning!
|
|
danvers
Platinum
Posts: 1,924
Likes: 6,087
|
July Fun
Jul 6, 2020 17:11:05 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by danvers on Jul 6, 2020 17:11:05 GMT -6
duskymonkey the trail looks beautiful and uh... I’m glad you saw no mountain lions! Coyotes are our biggest threat here and they usually just avoid humans. CoachTsWife good luck on the PT! Is your H coaching this year? Are you all allowed to start sports? Football was allowed to start today and three of the players got back from a vacation in Florida so.... this probably won’t end well 😑🤦♀️
|
|
danvers
Platinum
Posts: 1,924
Likes: 6,087
|
July Fun
Jul 6, 2020 17:13:11 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by danvers on Jul 6, 2020 17:13:11 GMT -6
Our school announced their plan.
-100% in person
-masks optional for everyone
-busses run like normal, lunch in cafeteria like normal, recess like normal...
I’m not sure the little changes they’ve made like “no community or shared school supplies” or “desks instead of group tables in the classroom” are going to make a huge difference.
😳😳😳😳😳😳😳
|
|
Taitai
Opal
Posts: 8,305 Likes: 54,853
|
Post by Taitai on Jul 6, 2020 23:43:17 GMT -6
CoachTsWife Yay for poop in the potty! The day at your brother’s farm also sounds wonderful. Glad the your boys can see their big cousins danvers Yeah...that plan is not going to work. What’s with the masks optional - especially when the cafeteria, buses, and class sizes will be normal? I just don’t get why it’s such a controversial thing in America. Masks are so common place and normal over here 🤷♀️
|
|
|
|
Post by CoachTsWife on Jul 7, 2020 7:41:06 GMT -6
duskymonkey the trail looks beautiful and uh... I’m glad you saw no mountain lions! Coyotes are our biggest threat here and they usually just avoid humans. CoachTsWife good luck on the PT! Is your H coaching this year? Are you all allowed to start sports? Football was allowed to start today and three of the players got back from a vacation in Florida so.... this probably won’t end well 😑🤦♀️ Yes, he is coaching this year. They were delayed with their summer program but started mid-June with socially-distanced conditioning outside (instead of weight lifting in the weight room). They were able to have football camp (like practice) with some modifications a couple weeks ago. The school opened up the weight room last week. However, numbers in our area are starting to go up again so who knows what will happen. Masks are not required in our state, but they are required in our neighboring counties. Our county (outskirts of a major metro area) has said they will not mandate masks because it is unenforceable, but is asking everyone to wear one. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Our county hasn't had high numbers over-all, but we have seen an increase in the last 2 weeks.
So far there have only been a couple players self-quarantine while waiting on family members tests to come back due to exposure. So far no players or players family members have tested positive. It's only a matter of time, though.
|
|
|
|
Post by mommabakes on Jul 7, 2020 12:42:11 GMT -6
Our school announced their plan. -100% in person -masks optional for everyone -busses run like normal, lunch in cafeteria like normal, recess like normal... I’m not sure the little changes they’ve made like “no community or shared school supplies” or “desks instead of group tables in the classroom” are going to make a huge difference. 😳😳😳😳😳😳😳 This is pretty much our schools plan also. I am strongly debating keeping my daughter home and teaching her myself. Which I always said I would never do. Life is bonkers right now. |
|
|
|
Post by duskymonkey on Jul 7, 2020 22:39:45 GMT -6
August Blooms dunno how I missed your post. Strawberries have been soooo good as well as cherries and we're literally gorging on them now! Can't remember if I mentioned but our strawberry plant has been producing except the Robins have discovered it and they are getting to them before we are. Because of CV, it's been hard to get to HD to get supplies to built a net so they get to enjoy our first crop. DNW to stand in line with the herds. Pitting the cherries for the kids is no fun too and I am thinking of getting this cherry pitter for the kids. link I also know they are going to fight over using the pitter Oy! BTW hope you're feeling much better. Sucks! about your mixer and angel food needs those stiff peaks. I've had my KA for almost 15 years now and it is actually a refurbished unit an XBF gave me. So far it's still going but I dread every time I use especially kneading dough and making buttercream since I keep the machine running straight for close to 10 minutes.
|
|
|
|
Post by duskymonkey on Jul 7, 2020 22:49:47 GMT -6
CoachTsWife hooray! for poop in the potty. Ahhh! the little things. We were going to go hardcore PT this weekend but then we decided to go biking and hiking then on Sunday, we went to a drive by Bday for DS' buds from preK so we had to put him in a diaper to ride in the car and between letting him play outside in the sprinkler and water table, peeing in the potty wasn't happening. He did poop in the potty though but it wasn't him initiating it but us catching him "about to go" and rushing him onto the potty which is what's been happening the last few months so I really dunno. We really should just buckle down one weekend and PT hardcore.
|
|
|
|
Post by duskymonkey on Jul 7, 2020 23:16:08 GMT -6
danvers hah! no coyotes where mountain lions roam but we do have them roaming in the field behind our house. Hubs encountered a mountain lion by the side of the cliff on one of his bike rides in the same area and luckily he was going downhill so he just kept riding downhill as fast as he possibly could  Oh my! with your school reopening plan. That cannot be final? You have a Teacher's union? Can you voice your opinion? We got an email yesterday and they will make a final decision in August so : Elementary is FT with kids staying in the classroom throughout the day. Middle and HS are alternate online and in person days. Masks are mandatory. Hubs and I had like a 10 second convo and looks like I'll be a G1 teacher come August. It will mentally break me but there's no way I am sending DS to school with the way people are selfishly behaving. It's going to be rough and depending on DS' testing and eval which I am in the process of finding a Neuropsych place and dealing with insurance and all the other good stuff. I'm hyperventilating thinking about what his learning structure will be and what the hell am I going to do since I am no teacher plus if he does have a disorder I certainly am not equipped to handle that.
|
|
|
|
Post by duskymonkey on Jul 7, 2020 23:24:23 GMT -6
Our school announced their plan. -100% in person -masks optional for everyone -busses run like normal, lunch in cafeteria like normal, recess like normal... I’m not sure the little changes they’ve made like “no community or shared school supplies” or “desks instead of group tables in the classroom” are going to make a huge difference. 😳😳😳😳😳😳😳 This is pretty much our schools plan also. I am strongly debating keeping my daughter home and teaching her myself. Which I always said I would never do. Life is bonkers right now. So good to see you pop in! How is it going? What have you been up to besides staying at home! Come talk. A lot of us aren't checking in that often including me and we're smaller but we're still here and check in from time to time. Did the school provide an option for homeschooling? Ours did which was why our decision was essentially a no-brainer. It isn't critical for lil fella to go to preS even though it would do him good so since I can't work due to that, the choice for us was to just keep DS at home too. We also know we're extremely fortunate to be able to make that decision. |
|
|
|
Post by duskymonkey on Jul 7, 2020 23:32:44 GMT -6
duskymonkey the trail looks beautiful and uh... I’m glad you saw no mountain lions! Coyotes are our biggest threat here and they usually just avoid humans. CoachTsWife good luck on the PT! Is your H coaching this year? Are you all allowed to start sports? Football was allowed to start today and three of the players got back from a vacation in Florida so.... this probably won’t end well 😑🤦♀️ Yes, he is coaching this year. They were delayed with their summer program but started mid-June with socially-distanced conditioning outside (instead of weight lifting in the weight room). They were able to have football camp (like practice) with some modifications a couple weeks ago. The school opened up the weight room last week. However, numbers in our area are starting to go up again so who knows what will happen. Masks are not required in our state, but they are required in our neighboring counties. Our county (outskirts of a major metro area) has said they will not mandate masks because it is unenforceable, but is asking everyone to wear one. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Our county hasn't had high numbers over-all, but we have seen an increase in the last 2 weeks.
So far there have only been a couple players self-quarantine while waiting on family members tests to come back due to exposure. So far no players or players family members have tested positive. It's only a matter of time, though.
Same here, coaching and training has resumed outside. Masks aren't mandatory but suggested since it's outside with "social distancing". Honestly I cannot imagine having to train in a mask. I ran the full length and up and down HD aisles with a mask on a month ago with my mask and breathing was very very hard. I hope our DH has his mask on and is staying safe. |
|
|
|
Post by duskymonkey on Jul 7, 2020 23:45:01 GMT -6
CoachTsWife Yay for poop in the potty! The day at your brother’s farm also sounds wonderful. Glad the your boys can see their big cousins danvers Yeah...that plan is not going to work. What’s with the masks optional - especially when the cafeteria, buses, and class sizes will be normal? I just don’t get why it’s such a controversial thing in America. Masks are so common place and normal over here 🤷♀️ Me neither! I am so absolutely despicably disgusted at people now that I am totally ok not interacting with them. How obscenely selfish and ignorant they are and that's all I got cos like you, I just don't understand. Healthcare workers wear masks 8-12 hrs daily and they cannot wear them for even 10 minutes in a store like WTF is wrong with your GD broken mind! Yeah! I am so angry and don't even get me started with the buffoon in office now.  Crikey! a developing 3rd world nation like my country can take necessary measures to mitigate the pandemic and are so far doing well and we cannot even put on masks is a bloody embarrassment. |
|
|
|
Post by mommabakes on Jul 8, 2020 4:29:20 GMT -6
This is pretty much our schools plan also. I am strongly debating keeping my daughter home and teaching her myself. Which I always said I would never do. Life is bonkers right now. So good to see you pop in! How is it going? What have you been up to besides staying at home! Come talk. A lot of us aren't checking in that often including me and we're smaller but we're still here and check in from time to time. Did the school provide an option for homeschooling? Ours did which was why our decision was essentially a no-brainer. It isn't critical for lil fella to go to preS even though it would do him good so since I can't work due to that, the choice for us was to just keep DS at home too. We also know we're extremely fortunate to be able to make that decision. It's going ok! We're definitely blessed in that this pandemic has affected is minimally, as I already stayed home with the kiddos and DH had a secure, minimal contact kind of job. We've got a large yard with lots of play equipment which had helped, for sure. We've been busy with outdoor things all spring and summer. Kayaking, hiking, and (unpopular) beaches. The kids are getting big (6,4,&2) and are busy busy. Our school is providing online only learning as an option, but their spring virtual schooling left a lot to be desired. So even if we opt to do that, I'm sure we'll be supplementing quite a bit. My daughter is going into 2nd grade and really needs the social aspect of school, but man it's such a hard choice to make! There's still just so much unknown about the effects of this virus, especially long-term, and on children. It kind of feels impossible to make the right choice! |
|
Taitai
Opal
Posts: 8,305 Likes: 54,853
|
Post by Taitai on Jul 8, 2020 7:43:30 GMT -6
CoachTsWife Yay for poop in the potty! The day at your brother’s farm also sounds wonderful. Glad the your boys can see their big cousins danvers Yeah...that plan is not going to work. What’s with the masks optional - especially when the cafeteria, buses, and class sizes will be normal? I just don’t get why it’s such a controversial thing in America. Masks are so common place and normal over here 🤷♀️ Me neither! I am so absolutely despicably disgusted at people now that I am totally ok not interacting with them. How obscenely selfish and ignorant they are and that's all I got cos like you, I just don't understand. Healthcare workers wear masks 8-12 hrs daily and they cannot wear them for even 10 minutes in a store like WTF is wrong with your GD broken mind! Yeah! I am so angry and don't even get me started with the buffoon in office now. Crikey! a developing 3rd world nation like my country can take necessary measures to mitigate the pandemic and are so far doing well and we cannot even put on masks is a bloody embarrassment. It really is embarrassing for our country. I just think that between the past 4 years and the handling of this pandemic, America has lost quite a bit of respect from the rest of the world. It’s very sad to see, because I know America stands for a lot of very important values (freedom of speech, democracy, creativity, entrepreneurship, rule of law, etc), but then when I see the news...it’s like we’re making fools of ourselves. Sigh. I can only hope that things improve. |
|
|
|
Post by CoachTsWife on Jul 10, 2020 12:01:59 GMT -6
It is looking like DS2 is getting the hang of potty training. We haven't had an accident since Sunday but we were at my Mom's so I don't fault him too much on that. He's had a bowel movement in the toilet twice now where he came and told us he needed to go, so I feel like we're definitely over the hump. He's been waking up dry, as well, which is totally shocking because we've been putting those Sposie pads in his diapers for months because he's such a heavy overnight wetter. lol. We're really relieved because he was so stubborn about sitting on the toilet at first.
|
|
Taitai
Opal
Posts: 8,305 Likes: 54,853
|
Post by Taitai on Jul 11, 2020 7:09:34 GMT -6
CoachTsWife Yay! That’s awesome news about the potty training! Hope things keep going this way. It’s so awesome not to have to worry about diapers anymore...which reminds me that I have to donate my diaper bag...
|
|
Taitai
Opal
Posts: 8,305 Likes: 54,853
|
Post by Taitai on Jul 11, 2020 8:19:36 GMT -6
Another lazy weekend here - the schools have started early over here this year (the idea is to get schools in session as long as covid local transmission remains 0), so probably no more traveling for us for a while. It’s so nice to have the kids back in school - they are happy to see their friends again, and it really helps with everyone’s routine. So over here, things are actually going pretty well.
Seeing the numbers in the USA and hearing about the hospitals filing up in Houston is filing me with dread. I’m hoping and praying that our family/friends - as well as all of the O17ers - stay safe and healthy. My family is okay so far, but I worry about my parents/grandparents, especially since we are so far away and are just limited to video chats. Sigh.
|
|
|
|
Post by CoachTsWife on Jul 11, 2020 10:28:42 GMT -6
Yeah, it's a hot mess here. I'm happy things are looking better over there Taitai! |
|
danvers
Platinum
Posts: 1,924
Likes: 6,087
|
July Fun
Jul 11, 2020 16:44:56 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by danvers on Jul 11, 2020 16:44:56 GMT -6
Routine... what is that Taitai 😂 Seriously though - it’s gonna be rough in the Danvers household when school starts in four weeks. H and I usually stay up binging shows and then get to sleep in till 8:00 or so the next morning because we have taught DD1 how to “get up” in the morning without us and it is wonderful!!!! DD2 loves sleep so she’ll sleep as long as you let her or until she hears someone. Our sunroom is a disaster or toys and we’ve just given up because the girls will occupy themselves for hours in there so 🤷♀️ Yep. We are living our best quarantine life here but it will all end in August. 😩 |
|
|
|
Post by August Blooms on Jul 12, 2020 20:17:23 GMT -6
I don’t know where all of you live but I’m assuming a few are near some of the hots spots in the US, please stay safe! I can’t believe how your government has abandoned so many people by not taking things seriously. We are about to go to level 3 and I just hugged my mom for the first time last week and went in her house. They just mandated masks here indoors. We don’t eat out on patios, no people over, I went to the mall and the splash pad for the first time. The mall was a quick visit.
In other 2020 is the worst, my mom got diagnosed with Parkinson’s this week. She’s about to start meds this week and we will go from there. They are supposed to get rid of they symptoms, hopefully it works because she’s been seeming more frail and cautious lately but she’s only 63 and is otherwise healthy. I suspect she has thought something was wrong for a while but she only brought the possible severity of it a few weeks before her appointment.
|
|
|
|
Post by August Blooms on Jul 12, 2020 20:24:49 GMT -6
duskymonkey I inherited this from my mother in law who didn’t want to move with it, it’s probably 15-20 years old at this point. I still haven’t tried to fix it. Cherries just started here, I really don’t like buying them out of season there’s something so great about fresh cherries. Peaches should be next. I’m looking at some materials on learning how to teach DD1 reading and sight words but it’s so overwhelming. There’s a reason it’s a profession. I hope you can figure it out, it sounds so challenging.
|
|
|
|
Post by CoachTsWife on Jul 13, 2020 7:58:52 GMT -6
danvers SAME! When DH goes to school and the boys start preschool/daycare next month, it's going to be ROUGH. The boys and I are going to have to leave the house at about the time I'm currently getting up. DNW. At least I get to come back home and work in the quiet. I'm also dreading having to pay for daycare again. This hiatus, while it was really hard at times, has been very nice money-wise. August Blooms so sorry to hear about your mom's diagnosis! I hope the meds are successful in helping her symptoms.
|
|
Taitai
Opal
Posts: 8,305 Likes: 54,853
|
Post by Taitai on Jul 13, 2020 8:52:56 GMT -6
August Blooms Oh no - I’m so sorry about your mom’s diagnosis. I hope the meds start working quickly, with minimal side effects. How is she taking the news? So hard to have to go through any serious medical issues during these times.
|
|
- thinking of you and your family. 
DS was disappointed he didn't see a mountain lion.
Crikey! a developing 3rd world nation like my country can take necessary measures to mitigate the pandemic and are so far doing well and we cannot even put on masks is a bloody embarrassment.