And we're off

 Well as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Last year when we spent a week here in July, the weather was ideal. It wasn't ideal this week, but we still had a very nice time with Aunt Janet. The kids swam at least once each day as they swam in the outdoor pool 5 of the last 6 days (every day except for Wednesday) and swam at the beach on 3 days (Mon., Wed., and Thurs.). Yesterday the kids swam in the pool for 3.5 hours, played with Oliver's new Paw Patrol toy, used his new hoverboard, watched some episodes of Mandalorian with Aunt Janet, and watched some episodes of Paw Patrol. We all played a game of Apples to Apples. Oliver was the least enthusiastic about that activity, but he actually won the game! This week we played Bubble Talk, cornhole, Bananagrams, Pit, Quiddler, Apples to Apples, and Suspend with Aunt Janet. Five of those games were ones Aunt Janet hadn't ever played before. We're so thankful we've been able to spend a week at her home four years in a row. Hopefully in 2021 we'll be able to return without bringing any face masks along. 

The past five days have been relaxing here on Long Island. Today will be an exhausting day for me since it will involve driving to NJ, spending several hours at Six Flags, and then driving another 3 hours home. Nadia and Ian will be in a theatre workshop Monday through Friday. Our schedule will go back to being one where we stay home most of the time starting on August 17 because the swimming pool that we joined in June is closing on August 16 and we don't have many other plans after August 14.  I received more information about the theatre workshop yesterday. The kids were grateful to hear that they only need to wear masks when entering and exiting the building. They won't have to wear them during the four hour workshop each day. Their temperatures will be taken every day, and I have to fill out a COVID-19 questionnaire every day. Those attending their performance on Friday at noon will also only have to wear a mask until seated in the sanctuary. We can take it off during the show. I'm thrilled the actors won't have masks on during the show because #1 it means we can see their facial expressions and #2 it will be easier for them to project their voices. If the Towfighis, Benners, or my Dad/Margie wanted to attend the show, they wouldn't be allowed to because if you've spent more than 24 hours in any of 35 states on the list, you have to quarantine for two weeks before the performance. We haven't spent more than 24 hours in any of the states on the list so we are fine. I'm also thankful that they are limiting the audience to 25% of capacity rather than just six people (the maximum allowed to attend each of the two Cinderstein performances last week).Nadia and Ian will have auditions on Monday morning. I'm looking forward to finding out what parts they will have! 

The homeschool gym class they've done in the past is for ages 9+ only this fall. In the past it was ages 5+. We didn't participate last fall or winter because they were in the Susquehanna Valley Youth Chorale in the fall and Upward basketball plus ice skating lessons in the winter. I had signed them up for homeschool gym in the spring, but it was cancelled due to COVID-19. Even though all choirs have been cancelled for this fall (Youth Chorale, Soul Patrol kids choir, and the adult choir I usually sign in at church), I'm not signing them up for the gym class if Oliver wouldn't be allowed to participate. I also am not signing the kids up for art or chorus at Meadowbrook until it seems more of a guaranteed thing that school WILL be held in person all the time. Knowing that life will be much simpler after August 14, I can power through a long day today. I'm thankful that despite COVID-19, we were able to go to Six Flags at least four times. We're hoping to make a fifth trip with Paul to the one in Maryland later in August. It will be his first trip to Six Flags this year. Considering that two of the Six Flags parks that we planned to visit in August still haven't opened (Darien Lake in NY plus the one in MA), I'm thankful that it still feels like we got our money's worth out of four of the five memberships. We lost money on Paul's membership as it would have been cheaper to buy him one ticket than pay a monthly fee for his membership, but all things considered we made out okay even though we didn't go to three of the Six Flags parks I thought we'd go to this summer. The third one (La Ronde) is open, but Americans aren't allowed into Canada. We might possibly have a membership at Six Flags again at some point, but I'm not planning on renewing ours whenever our commitment ends. I do believe we'll be able to go to Six Flags for free for part of next year because the parks didn't open until July this summer.