First Apartment

In between AB leaving and AB coming back to quarantine, our firstborn headed back to school.

This time was different because instead of moving in the dorm, he and his roommate got an apartment that was walking distance from camping.

In the summer between both our efforts, we rounded up furnishings for his new apartment.

My Man and I were headed to East TN for the girls soccer tournament and had lunch with him at his new place and got the grand tour.

 

Surprise Company

After just one week of pre-season practice at college, COVID attacked the soccer team and infected 15 players and sent the team home for a 10 day quarantine.

While AB had just test positive a few months back, she came home with 3 other girls to quarantine in our barn.  They all 4 tested positive although 2 of them had zero symptoms and 2 of them had short, mild symptoms that could have been mistaken for a cold.  We kept them away from the others and they killed time by hanging out, enjoying the Fish Farm and binging on Netflix. 😀

Here are a few photos of Leah and Ruth in a varsity soccer game.

(#28 and #3)

 

Keeping Home

My days were busy keeping up with the garden...

attending soccer & football games (and preparing in the day the meals we would be eating at the games)

and taking care of my furry babies at home.

 

Phase 2

Phase 2 of return to school...

On August 15, we drove AB back to school to start her preseason soccer camp.

This year her roommate of the last 2 years became an RA so she has a new roommate who is not a soccer player but is a sweet friend.

We helped her set up her room, made a Walmart run and said goodbye.

She will be missed!

 

Best Friend Play Date

The first week of school each kindergartener had a shadow day.

Then they started full time the following week.

During one of the school days when MQ did not shadow, her best friend, Josie, invited her to hang out.

They had a great time together!

 

Football Photo Dump

With the start of a new school year came the craziest season in the history of the Fish Family.

We had 2 girls in high school soccer.

3 boys in middle school and intermediate school football (2 teams)

immediately followed and overlapped a bit with 2 more in middle school soccer

plus all 6 signed up for club soccer (which we missed most all of when it overlapped with school sports)

My calendar was complicated!!

But here is a great photo dump of the twins football game taken by a parent who is a photographer!

We sure do love watching our Fish Sticks compete!

 

On Your Mark...Get Set...Go!

This would be the first time in 21 years that I had every weekday without children in the house.

What was I going to do?  Everyone kept asking me.

Start watching soap operas and eating bon-bons was NOT on the list.

I had a list of "to do" items that I planned on conquering.

We started the day in our GCA tradition of family prayers to commit the school year to the Lord.

She loves school and was so excited to start kindergarten.

Such a sweet group of friends my boys have!

Totally exhausted!

So glad to meet our canine siblings after school was over.

I know the Fish Sticks were missed by Ruger and Chelan!

 

First Day of School 2021

And just like that, the first day of school arrived on August 11.

Can't believe it's time that we had another senior in the house!

And a junior falling right at her heels!

8th grader - the year I met My Man!

He's shooting up and getting a deep voice - we barely recognize him! 😀

7th grade - that. makes 2 in middle school

And 2 more in intermediate school (5th)

The year they transition into changing classes, getting lockers and having various teachers....

And they get to participate in school sports teams!

And one in elementary...kindergarten here we come!

(she's attempting a "K" in sign language for kindergarten!)

Off they go - 7 in school 5 days a week