The Great Maturation

After the boys were both vaccinated, they returned to in-person school 4 days/week. Wednesdays inexplicably remained "asynchronous days" where they were required to stay home each week. We were very surprised to learn how much both boys had matured  in contrast with their classmates. Not only did they each grow about a foot, and their voices changed while in quarantine, but their minds and attitudes grew up so much as well.

The difference upon returning to school was dramatic. Hamslice, who has historically not been a great student, started excelling! He raised his grades so much that he won awards for 'most improved' in English and Math. Hambone and I are gobsmacked.

Meanwhile, Little Ham rebounded from being caught plagiarizing most of his English and Math homework from the Internet during virtual school. He managed to recover well, and is registered for "algebra camp" over the summer. he learned a lot during COVID, but not about his school subjects.

As of now, school has ended for all intents and purposes, there are just a few 'makeup' days that are half-days consisting of movies and busy work. We are headed out to Michigan soon to stay at our new beach house. 

Everything is reopened now, and we feel very much like we are on the other side of the crisis, and we could not be more relieved.

Returning

 While the pandemic does not really seem to be over, every state and person seems to be moving on anyway. Schools have reopened, businesses are reopening... and the rapidly increasing case load of COVID doesn't seem to bother anyone. 

And so we emerge, battered and blinded by the sun, inch by inch back into real life. It was delightful in our cocoon of TV and telling time by the abrupt start of the robot vacuums every day at 2 (upstairs) and 5 (main floor).  At this point we have all had our first dose of vaccine and are becoming more brave. 

In an outright flagrant display of vaccination boldness, I registered the boys for sleep away camp this summer -- two weeks of independence might be just what the doctor ordered for these teenagers. 

I've noticed that I am unclenching a bit myself as well. I have started using different purses and learning Spanish again, and am becoming just that much more flexible now that it doesn't feel like the world is actively ending.

Life is good.

Beautiful Snowstorm

 We have had some lovely snowstorms roll through this winter. Last week was a snow hurricane and today is a nor'easter, each of which brought a few inches of snow. 

With schools closed down to virtual learning and office attendance optional, the snow has moved to its rightful place as a thing of beauty, instead an annoyance. I like this much better!

It has been interesting to see the details of life changing. For instance, this morning I spent some time putting movie titles on our family calendar so we can have quality movies to watch on Fri and Sat nights. We have watched so many shows that it is becoming a challenge to find something interesting to watch.  Good movie titles are like currency now.

I mark time by how many cosmetics I have used. Yesterday I noticed that I am coming to the end of my second compact of foundation since this all started. Yet... At the beginning of Covid I thought it was stupid to wear makeup at all while being quarantined. 

Tonight is the super bowl, and we are all in, primarily for the snacks. We are not sure who is playing. 

The goats are well, but because there has been so many rain and snowy days, their hooves are pretty rotted. I trimmed them yesterday and am a little worried about Charlie and Delilah. Hopefully some dry days are ahead. 

The boys are getting so independent these days, it's unnerving. They don't want to hang out all the time anymore and are trying to take charge of their own responsibilities. I am constantly amazed by them.