I have about 6 tomatoes on my two plants out back.
We have 1/2 day of school on Monday. No more waking up at 6 a.m. to catch the bus for Graysen and then lugging home her bookbag, computer, and sometimes her flute every afternoon. Kate doesn't mind school except for the girl drama and has about risen above that. Maybe the summer will do both of them some good being away from it.
We're still working on our daily plans. Graysen has wanted to have an organized home school, and Kate is not as excited about it. We'll do some review, of course, as much as they will stand for, but lots of reading and library activities. We're going to get out some board games and card games and try them. If they aren't fun anymore or someone can't stand losing, we'll give them away.
Once it gets warm enough, the pool will be a nice option just a block away. There are so many children here right now that there should be someone to play with, or they can invite one friend at a time if they are good swimmers. We have a new splash pad within walking distance. So far, they haven't shown any interest in that, but it's free, and there might be a day when they get hot enough to enjoy it.
Today after a lot of indecision and listlessness, we took off for the library and a milkshake and fries. We drove to North Bend Library because we were going to North Bend anyway for Burger King, and I like the library there. It's big and quiet and has quite a few more books than the little Snoqualmie one. I can request any book we want, but I have to have them tell me what they want, and they don't really know unless they hear about it ahead of time. They just spend a lot of time opening and closing books.
I asked for a picture before we went in because I'm not taking as many lately. This is probably why!
Pre-teen doldrums. So tired, grumpy, and just weary with the world. TODAY! No matter how many times I've talked about this age coming, it's still hard to see. Yesterday she was open and smiling and sat in my lap for a few minutes while we talked on the porch. She has to decompress from school and eat and just be quiet for a little bit.
We picked up the Summer Reading Club registration, which they may well be too old to enjoy any more, but it will give them an organized record of what they've read. They're not so much into the prizes, but the little journals they gave out last year were cute and useful. I got them a little plastic clip board with storage for a notebook and pens, so they can write book reviews when they finish one and also keep any of the work sheets we might do.
I went off on my own in the library for a bit and left them. When I came back, Kate had picked out 3 or 4 books and was sitting at a table absorbed in a graphic novel. They do love those, and I don't mind them reading them as long as they read more chapter books. It's just hard for her to like a book that doesn't have cats or some sort of fantasy in it - preferably both!
I was tempted to get To Kill a Mockingbird when I saw it on an end display but was afraid it was over their heads. Graysen seemed receptive to it when I told her about it, and when we looked inside, it was a graphic novel. That seems like an easy way to introduce them to it, and maybe they will read the book later on. We're kind of excited about that.
Graysen was missing for a few minutes until I looked over to what is a new TEEN section. They're rearranged a lot of the library since I was there last, and I had to get used to it again. My reading lately has been mostly requesting audio books and listening to them when they download.
Those are Y books, for an older audience than the J ones, where she found none that she wanted to read. After looking at them carefully, I let her take one home to let her parents approve of them. Frankly, all of them seem too old for her, but that's not surprising. I still want picture books to show them, sitting in my lap.
We got all our treasures checked out, with only a little grappling over who was going to scan what, and that was that. I had promised them French fries and a milkshake today, and they didn't forget. First they had to put up with me. I turned into Taco Time instead of Burger King because they're not readily identifiable from the street but behind bushes and on side streets. Burger King was right over the fence, and I headed that way on a little street, which unfortunately turned out to be the drive-though line for the taco place. I just bypassed the speaker but had to sit in line while about 5 cars picked up their food, with no escape. They were too tired or distracted to be embarrassed, but I think they were over my antics by this time. Just as we turned in, Graysen asked if she could get a milkshake at McDonald's across the street since they have strawberry. Ordinarily, I wouldn't care, but I do know what the traffic is like, especially at 6:00 on that little stretch of the 4 fast-food restaurants and a grocery store. I would have had to wait to turn right and then go to a light and go almost back to town and make a circle - with McDonald's being right across the street. She graciously agreed to wait until next time and just get a vanilla shake. That didn't perk up that glum expression - at all - but they know everything is not always roses. We ended up going in to find someone who spoke English or use the kiosk. The speaker is one of THOSE speakers and hard to communicate on. People are always nice though.
After all that, I dropped the girls off at home with all their school books and bags and library books and treats and headed home. I think tomorrow they'll be more rested, and we'll have more fun. I had mentioned the No Kings protest tomorrow in North Bend to Emily, and she was for it if they didn't have something come up they needed to do. Graysen and I talked about it on the way home - Kate was buried in her book - and Gray was totally invested in it. She couldn't believe all that money being spent on a birthday party for one man, disguised as a way to honor our military, which he disdains, and for just his followers - money that belongs to us. She asked all kinds of questions - whether it was legal and whether it was dangerous, because I had expressed some concern about what might happen in DC and some of the bigger cities. Then she said, "But he can't get all the way to Washington from Washington DC tomorrow, can he?" Just heartbreakingly sad that a child has to worry about what the leader of her country might do. There is nothing that would surprise anyone and much to fear. I'm so scared for their future.
Anyway---we'll see about that. Emily said we would figure out a way for me to go, but I know I can't stay on my feet for long, and it would be a little tricky to get my chair placed with all the traffic. It's a really small town, and I doubt parking will be good. We're waiting to see what we think tomorrow, but I hope they'll go with our community and make their voices heard.
This is what Graysen was working on since Wednesday that was due today. A geometric topiary. She added a drawing of a cat once she got to school.
I just finished 4 relearning lessons of MahJongg and really enjoyed it. I met a few new people, and we can hopefully carry on with a beginner table every week. I'm not ready to be thrown in with the ones I used to play with. I still have to get a little better.
I've listened to two books lately that I've enjoyed. One is The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I felt sure I read it before I saw the movie, but maybe I didn't. The book seemed so much sadder than the movie, but I did enjoy the voices of the characters. The other I just finished last night and read the whole thing in two days - and nights. Dealing with hard subjects - earthquake in Portland, OR, an 8-month pregnant woman left alone to find her husband or get home, an already failing marriage, children trapped in a crushed school - the writing was so good that I didn't abandon it. It sure did dampen my spirits last night and most of the day today. I can't find any funny or amusing books that don't try too hard and end up being silly, but I do have a huge booklist, so I'm still trying!
Hoping I can keep up a little better with recording this summer.
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