The Nelson Narrative

 Today is the girls' first day of 8th grade!  Last year of middle school.  This time next year they will be in high school!  What the... Anyway, it went really well this morning.  They did a great job of getting everything ready last night, making their lunches, choosing outfits, gathering supplies, etc.  They also managed to get themselves up plenty early to not be too rushed.  We had time for first day pictures and they were out the door to the bus stop with several minutes to spare.  It was awesome.  I'm sure by the end of the week they will be back to me having to drag them out of bed and barely making the bus, but today was really smooth and stress-free. Kayley (she wore a hoodie over this, just not for the picture) Olivia

After 17+ months of working from home while the girls are home all day, with the minor exception of them going to in-person school two days per week for two months last spring, they are FINALLY going to full-time, in-person school!  I get to work from home in PEACE!!!!  I am SO giddy! Most years I take the day before school and the first day of school off.  In the elementary years, the day before was always "meet the teacher" day, and we would see their classrooms, find their desks, take all of their supplies and put them in their desks and/or with the communal supplies, etc.  Then we would usually go out for frozen yogurt our something, and then on the first day I just love seeing them off in the morning and then having the whole day to myself to do whatever, and then being there when they get home in the afternoon. Middle school doesn't have meet the teacher(s) day, so I just like to use the day before to take them to lunch, get our nails done or whatever.  Today I took

First of all, sad news.  Paul's dad passed away last Saturday (the 21st) after a month-long battle with Covid.  He fell ill around the 25th of July, ended up on a ventilator a few days later, got off of that a week later and was seemingly on the mend, but took a turn for the worse and passed away.  We were supposed to be on our Florida trip this week but had to cancel because of his decline and eventual passing.  He was a really great man and we will miss him immensely. But now it's finally time for part two of our Missouri vacation.  For part one (days 1-3) click here . Day Four - Paul and I left the girls with Aunt Cheryl and set out on our road trip.  We went to Bentonville, Arkansas, walked around the town square, had a small bite to eat and then headed into Oklahoma, stopping at the AR/OK/MO tri-state marker on the way. From there we drove up to Afton and stopped at a historic spot on Route 66, a chuck of road that is no longer part of the highway but you can park and walk

 In mid-June, we made some improvements to our backyard.  We extended our patio with all new pavers, replaced a portion of the fence, tore out most of the plants and replaced with mostly new (a few we salvaged and replanted) and laid all new sod.  I should say, we didn't do all this, we hired a landscape company to do it. Here is what it looked like before: Our tiny, long and narrow yard Over the years we had just planted a hodge-podge of things, no real plan, no rhyme or reason And here is what it looks like now: Patio extended past the gate (just past the house on the left) and all the way to the fence on the right side. Excuse the crap in the back corner there... That blueberry bush was existing, so probably doesn't look as nice as something else would have, but man, it gives good berries! And with furniture: We're going to get a bigger table eventually but haven't found one yet. During Construction After we got back fr