Together Again

My BFF...I've never NOT known her. Our mothers grew up together, got married around the same time, were pregnant with us at the same time and even though we've spent 37 of our 45 years living 2,000 miles apart, we talk almost daily (sometimes multiple times per day!) and work to raise our kids and live life together with Jesus as much as humanly possible, including regular trips back & forth to see each other.

Then life happened.

Then a global pandemic.

It's been six years since we were physically in the same room together...until this week.  Finally, together again. 

It was a quick visit squeezed between school drop offs and pick ups, but we found some new places to explore:   Cherry Blossoms at University of Washington

Tibbitts on Fern Hill, one of America's top brunch spots--it did NOT disappoint. 

My goofballs got to have some Auntie Ange time too--the first time Mila has met Ange in person <3

Our moms were having their own weekend together.  What a legacy of two teenagers 60 years ago in Green Bay, Wisconsin <3 

I am so very thankful our enduring friendship.  She'll be landing safely in Minnesota soon; she'll text me on the way to Trader Joe's and I'll send a voice message of things she should pick up when she is there and she'll probably check in with me tomorrow to see if I remembered to do the thing we talked about when she was here.  The relationship will continue unbroken until the next time we are together again, full of laughter, tears and prayer. A friendship bound by Jesus and time (and chocolate, let's be honest).  

Fifth Grade Camp

I've spent the better part of seven years fighting to keep Isaac (and Mila) educated with their general ed peers.  The needs of every child are different, but Isaac has consistently shown that with with right supports he is quite successful in a typical classroom. He loves learning with his friends and his wildly motivated by them.  This school year has been particularly hard in safely keeping Isaac where I have felt he learns best and there was discussion early in the year as to whether he would be 'able' to attend the annual Fifth Grade overnight camp. Of course he can!  I took the appropriate time off work to be able to drive him to and from every day and be there to give him as authentic day-camp experience as possible.  

Day 1: Dropped off at school and took the yellow school bus with the rest of his friends and his sweet para.  I think he was most excited about the bus!

He legit CLIMBED a mountain, his little legs keeping up with everyone else. I lost track of the actual steps we took, but whatever the number is I'm trippling it--it was a MOUNTAIN. 

Isaac opted to lead the Zip Line Cheerleading Team.

Helping coach a teamwork activity:

Can they work as a team on the 'whale watching' teeter board?

With his buddy B.  B turned around and said "Mrs Isaac's Mom, did you know Isaac is my BEST friend?"  💓

This took me by utter surprise. Generally, Isaac does not appreciate anything small that moves, that includes wind up toys, small animals and/or toddlers. ;)  He sat and observed quietly while his friends enjoyed the reptiles then asked if he too could touch the snake....say what now??  (uh, no. WE are definitely 100% scared of critters, there is no need to touch, hold or otherwise be near them, thank you very much). Um, sure bud. 

He wasn't too sure about holding this reptilian thinga-ma-jig but he was happy to observe. 

He CRASHED hard less than 10min into the ride home.  

Day 2: We were up early for the 45min drive to meet his camp friends in time for breakfast. 

Squid dissection!  Again, I did not think Isaac would be up for this but he surprised me. He was fully engaged identifying squid anatomy and carefully dissected the abdomen/mantle to find the ink sacks.  He even got to write his name with the squid pen and ink!  (This was a special moment for me. For 30min I got to nerd out with my boy and share my medical life with him AND he fully understood. I didn't think I'd ever get to have that with my precious kids 💕)

Helping his para touch the squid--she was scared to death!

FOUR grilled cheese sandwhiches and TWO bowls of soup later, he whopped his friends at arm wrestling. 

Back to the reptiles! This time an albino corn snake, a gray nope rope, and a bearded dragon. 

Before any of us knew what had happened, Isaac KISSED the dragon!  That's seven years of good luck or something, right??

We left after his group tested a hypothesis about hermit crabs in the marine lab and he again CRASHED hard in the car. 

Day 3:

We didn't quite make it through the half last day of camp.  His little legs just couldn't keep up any longer. "No more walking, Mom. All done walking!"   That was ok with me, we had two FANTASTIC days at camp and I counted every minute a success.  I loved being able to make these memories with my 5th grader. <3