It has been a year.

Reflecting on the past year.

Early March 2020.... 

I had just gone to a STE(A)M conference with several hundred other educators from schools across the county.  The next day, I took a personal day off work and went on a field trip with Mercer's class - riding on a grimy school bus with 40+ kids and teachers.  Isabella and I didn't feel well Sunday. I was so sick Monday -- that I actually made an appointment to go to the doctor after I took care of my classroom / prepping for a sub.  I was out the next day too, but went back in Wednesday.  I could barely talk.  I remember being grateful that we had a 1/2 day at school that day. But, I worked sooo late after our 1/2 day looking for some supplies for a specialized piece of equipment (that I found / that was buried under years worth of supplies from a previous teacher) in the back room to use for our next STEM project.  When I went in on Thursday morning, we had a "standing" meeting.  I was whisked aside by a colleague and then an administrator.  They told me to go home.... that the 1st case of Covid had occurred in that school system on Wednesday and that they were making preparations the next day - Friday - to close down for 2 weeks.  They said b/c I was already sick they didn't want me to catch it. 

That was Friday the 13th.  The (then) President announced Covid as a national pandemic.   I was in my school for a total of 1 day -- I was only with students for a "1/2 day" over 7 school days... 4 of those were sick days.  (Which - may have been a blessing that my admin sent me home, as I honestly needed that time on Thursday and Friday to prepare a portfolio for my interview at my current school where I'm working now.  I met with them after school ended that Friday.  They were all frantically prepping for the "2 week closure" as well.  We met in person, but we didn't shake hands.  Obviously, the meeting went well and the rest is history.)  

All weekend, my colleagues and I collaborated so we could figure out how to transition our work to a virtual platform.... which we launched on Monday, the 16th.  We were in unchartered territory like millions of other teachers across the country!   IT WAS INSANE doing virtual school for the 1st time ever and working at home with our kiddos who were also doing virtual for the 1st time too.  It was a tough juggle.  Isabella wasn't responding well to the closure. That spring was so, SO hard.

Above is the map that I posted March 16 2020.

     182,405 confirmed cases and 7154 deaths.

Below is the map that I am posting today - March 20 2021.

     122+ Million confirmed cases and 2.7+ Million deaths.  

Wow.  Just..... wow.

There were so many things that we did not know a year ago.  (There are still a ton of things we don't know about this disease a year later....  it may take decades to figure out the full impact of SARS Covid-19.

(Todd - says he thinks I had it back in March of last year.... clearly if so it was not a bad case - but I was certainly exposed to hundreds of people the week before from different schools - possibly the one in that same school system where the first cases showed up?!)   My colleagues urged me to go get tested, but there were no test kits in March.  Later when the antibody tests came out, we thought about it... but they were deemed to be pretty inaccurate.  Who knows?  (I know that - after being sick in March, I got an appointment with a pulmonologist in early April -- who -- wouldn't say yes or no if he thought that my symptoms were Covid.  It was just too early in the scheme of things.  (I don't think it was - for the record.)  :)   At this point, poor Isabella is the only one in our family to have gotten tested.  (Late 2020)   I didn't think she needed it, but school nurse sent her home / to the pediatrician for a strep test... they did flu... and - why not throw in a 3rd - they did Covid.  All negative.

Summer. 

Things haven't been easy since that spring, honestly.  The summer was wrought with learning and processing the Black Lives Matter movement.  Then - end of summer - starting a new job at a new school system and teaching new content.   It is so strange to look back on that time period!    But, this whole thing started A YEAR AGO.  It feels really, really, really long!!  

Fall.

(I'm still living in the "working at a new school system... teaching new content.... during a pandemic" chapter.  This chapter feels really, really, really long too!)  I should add to the craziness:  "finishing a teaching program" during this ridiculous chapter. 

I just submitted an E-Portfolio of 2 years worth of work for the teaching program.  There are 139 items on this list.  I didn't submit 100% of it... there are still 2 items that I have to do / that are in progress.  From my understanding, this was the first submittal.  It will be reviewed and then I will have a chance to submit the other 2 items - one of which is my "exit" meeting.  I can't remember if I wrote on the blog how much I worked over Thanksgiving break on this thing... and Christmas break.. and Winter break... and the past several months of weekends.... and... UGH.  

Even though it was not the best time to make so much change in the ol' teaching career (who knew back LAST March that this thing was going to last more than a few weeks ?!?)  

Overall, though, I am grateful to be in the new school system -- making one change (to school system OR content is hard).  Let alone BOTH.  But, I am working in a more progressive school system where the administration is doing more for teachers than in the previous system.  I am still grateful beyond measure that they offered "teacher camp" when school was virtual.  They have been working directly with the CDC through all of this pandemic.  They more recently set up a relationship with the local pharmacy to schedule vaccines for teachers (and we just got an email that they'll also get them for staff family up to 2 members) !!  

Before the vaccines were open to teachers (the governor moved a large group ahead of teachers in our state contrary to the CDC recommendations).... I took matters into my own hands.  I took a day off of school and drove over to Alabama for my first shot on March 1st.   I got to sight-see for a short bit to take in a waterfall.  It was an easy pull-off park from the road I was on and a very short walk from the parking lot to the falls.  

(not sure why the water looks yellow on the sides - maybe a bit muddy?  It had just rained.)  You could feel the spray from the observation deck and the noise.... almost deafening for the loud constant crashing of the water.  (but - that one is a good sound)

Also, while doing a slow drive-by, I snapped a photo of the statues of the band members from the group Alabama.  Apparently where I went for my vaccine was where that band was from - Ft. Payne. 

There was an interesting puppet display in a glass enclosure across from a beautiful stone train depot building too... but unfortunately, I did not have time to get out an explore because I had a lot of "teacher class" work to submit when I got home.... using up the rest of my day off.

I was grateful that everything went without a hitch + I got to see a little tiny bit of something interesting to boot. 

For my 2nd dose, I'll be getting through my school system now that everything is up-and-running. I'm within the window of time for the 2nd dose (close to the end of the allowable window).  It will be easier NOT to have to drive back over to our neighboring state!  About 1/3 of the cars in the drive through line were from Georgia.... I wonder, now, how many people will be headed over again?

March 6th was baseball "opening day."  There was no parade this year, no main event where ALL of the teams gathered on the big field at the back of the park.  No presentation to the 12 year old players who were moving up and receiving their award for playing at EMNLL all of their career in little league since T-ball.  (M just had his ceremony "before closure" last year.)  Hopefully they did some sort of small ceremony for those 12 year old boys this year!

Here are the line-up pics from Isabella's game 

They say the pledge and take a Little League oath to always try their best, have fun, have good sportsmanship, etc. 

They call each player by name and they tip their hat.

Isabella had a good day.  She was the 2nd hitter in her team's line-up and they were guests, so they went first.  The player in front of her struck out.  She went to bat and got a hit -- the first hit of the season.  Following her hit, a teammate knocked her in;  she was also the first to cross the plate that day!  She was so excited.  She had several more hits.  I can't remember if her team won or not, but she had a great opening game!   

(Since then, however, her batting stance has changed dramatically and she's not hitting anymore.)   But, here's a nice "action shot" from opening day.

Here's the line-up and ceremony at Mercer's game that was later in the afternoon.

And a great action shot of him pitching. 

Mercer did not have as great of an opening day.  He walked a number of people before they put a different pitcher in.  (But he has since done better since opening day a few weeks ago, thankfully.)

Todd was extremely busy that day -- and will be for many Saturdays this spring because he's an assistant coach on both teams!

He had to stand on something to get to the same pose he had with Isabella earlier in the day.  :)  

There was a remembrance of Blake (Mercer's teammate who passed away last spring) at each game on opening day.  They painted a #12 on each field and put a #12 patch on each jersey.   The season was dedicated to him.   Also, they retired the number and hung #12 in the field where he played his last game.  There was a celebration of his life that night at the baseball field.  They invited teammates and family members.  They said it could have been much bigger, but they limited it due to social distancing.  We were honored to be a part of it.

Todd spoke as a former coach.  So did several of the other coaches.  Some of the team members told stories through one of the moms who spoke on their behalf.  (They would come up to tell her their story and she would convey it.  It's a lot for a 12 or 13 year old boy to speak in front of all of those people!  Many talked about the memories of going to Savannah for 12 y.o. All-Stars the summer before last.) 

The principal of his school spoke as well as his aunt who is a pastor.  She said she's seen a lot of "coming together" and remembrances in her church, but this baseball family was as tight as any church family she had ever seen.  I would say this is true for Todd and Mercer... they're always at the fields.   Blake's older brother played at the same park (and now plays on a high school team).  The mom and the dad were both involved throughout both boys' time at East Marietta.  

They renamed one of the fields to "Mahoney Field" too.  The baseball park did a lot to honor Blake.  There has certainly been an out-pouring of love and support for this family.  There was a scholarship set up by the family to fund 12 baseball players for 9 seasons, I think -- gifting his love of baseball and passing it along to others in the coming seasons.

March 7th was our anniversary.  I worked - literally - all day on my teaching program submission.  The only time I took off was to order food for a nice dinner @ home.  (Todd had to pick it up~)  My mom sent us some dinner money so we put that towards a 4-course meal for four.  Salad, apps, entrée and dessert.  It was delicious and decadent.  And nice not to have to cook.  Todd and I had left-overs for lunch the next day AND we stretched the meal into another dinner the following night (by adding asparagus and sauce).  It was low-key, but - hey - isn't everything over the past 12 months?!  

I was just remembering how we totally juggled to have a family bring Mercer home from a rescheduled game so that we could go out to eat at a swanky restaurant.  It was our last "really really nice meal" before the pandemic!   It was "too" nice, honestly.  You know -- that really fancy food that is small and beautifully prepared and you're not quite sure of the ingredients?  :)  This meal that we had to celebrate our 23rd anniversary hit the spot!  (and we had a guest chef who made us dessert of strawberries, graham crackers and Nutella.  She "plated" it and made sure to watch us eat it after we were totally stuffed by our dinner.  :)

It was as perfect as it could be during this strange time!   

(We have 2 years to plan a really *big* celebration for our 25th!!  I sure hope things are more back to normal by then!!)

February Milestones

I'll start with Covid and get it out of the way.  The US hit a (bad) milestone in February.... over 500,000 (half a million) people have died of Covid.

Vaccines ARE rolling out (although slowly).  My mom has gotten her 2 vaccines. Todd's mom has gotten 1 of them so far.  I scheduled to get a vaccine in Alabama in early March because Georgia is really really (really) slow to get teachers in line for the vaccine.  There was a surge after the Christmas Holidays that seems to be decreasing a bit.

Mars Perseverance landed.  This mission is supposed to be more robust than the Mars Curiosity Mission that began 9 years ago.  It will have better imagery, will be able to navigate farther each day and it has microphones and drilling equipment aboard.  The possibilities are exciting about what this rover will discover!

And, Mercer turned 13!  We now have a teenager in the house.  Eek.   He keeps talking about "what is 2 years from now?"  (He's referring to starting to drive a car!)  DOUBLE Eek.  

Here are photos pulled from each birthday (or within a few days +/- of his past birthdays)

1st birthday - frog birthday theme

2nd birthday - animal birthday theme

3rd birthday

 

 close to 4th birthday

5th birthday - LEGO party

6th birthday was a pirate theme, but I think he did something else here in this photo where he dressed up again!

Close to 7th birthday - dinner at Peace Love Pizza

8th birthday

(party was at Andretti with a few friends the previous weekend, but had to share the measurement on the wall instead)

9th birthday

A couple of days before 10th birthday.... in Colorado.

Also in Colorado... on his actual birthday.  This is the same shirt as the year before amazingly!  :) 

He looks so different from the other photo / had to include both.

11.  His actual birthday was a small bey-blade party with a few friends (we didn't want him to think we weren't doing anything), but the real present was a Disney reveal... that we packed and left for the next day!  (Here he is with his icon - Goofy!)  ha!

12.  He had a one-friend celebration at a Monster-truck event... but we had to measure him on the wall, of course.  (This seems to be the highlight of the kids' day -- when we officially take their new measurement!)

A couple days before 13.  We had a party for him at the historic Strand theater.... 15 people cap.  Masks required.  

Name on the marquis.  No smile though.  

One word "teenager."

Here are more pictures from his party.  There were several friends from baseball, a couple of friends from school and one from church.  There were a few siblings there as well.  Inside the theater while eating the concession food that was provided as a part of the package... you could take off masks.  

They asked that you socially distance inside, but didn't mandate where people sat.  It was a little unusual to sit so spread out in a theater, but it went well.  (Isabella did sit with a friend though they seemed to keep their masks on and would shove popcorn up under or the straw from the drink.  ha!  I sat near her across the aisle.)  

Mercer chose the movie:  Detective Pikachu. 

 

The kids didn't have cupcakes.... instead, there was a take-away bag of pre-wrapped Japanese treats such as cakes, candies and savory snacks.  And - some Pikachu info including his Japanese roots.  

It was different, but hopefully memorable!

On his actual birthday, he asked for pizza from Peace Love Pizza.  He had cupcakes from Peace Love Sweets - as it turned out!  (total coincidence)   

His gifts (from us) consisted of tee shirts -- one was a practical joke about etiquette school... one had a little bit of a practical joke in it about a Beet wearing Beats (there was a can of beets in the box + some gaming headphones too.... but NOT Beats brand!)... and a Japanese Pikachu tee + comic book and bubble tea to complete the theme.   He got giftcards from friends a new watch, a foosball set and a little bit o' money (like bit o' honey.... ha!)  

He even had cupcakes with Grandma in NJ who face-time called M that evening.  Uncle Jim dialed in too.  

And - of course - there's the annual marking-of-the-wall....

All-in-all, we think he had a good "MILESTONE" birthday!

Here are some other things from this month:  

Isabella enjoying her "birthday" gift that came from Grandma in NC so Isabella would have something to unwrap with Mercer...

Drawings that Isabella has made lately - 

She's been on a bird kick.  :)  

And heart drawings for Valentine's Day.  

Even though it says Love you mom and dad.... we all know who she loves the most....

Notice that mne and Mercer's percentages were scratched out after we protested.  She bumped us up to 99%.  

D is Dad.  Mom.  Me is Mercer.  H is Hip Hop.  L is Lizzy.  C is for the Hermit Crabs.  F is for the fish. 

Mercer (under Todd's guidance) worked on a pretty impressive self-portrait for his art class!!  

LOVE THIS!!

Todd worked hard on making a Valentine's Day dinner (ham and mushroom crepes with chocolate and raspberry crepes for dessert)   He let me work on my teaching classwork which is due in a couple of weeks!

We had winter break and did NOTHING exciting (except for M's theater party).  The kids literally played on computer games the entire week while I worked on my teaching classwork.  I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THAT TO BE DONE.  

A random shot of his size 14 kicks... (which is actually from January, but forgot to post...)

and a wrap-up with 

More pictures with the dog this month...

Her happy place - inside a crate with the dog?  

(well, Hip-Hop DID get 100% on the love-meter at first....)