back to seattle, back to school, labor day weekend

 we were all exhausted at the beginning of last week after a busy month of travel. monday and tuesday were spent getting the kids' school supplies including some new clothes and shoes. we also caught up with a couple friends we hadn't seen since july. on tuesday i treated the kids to 'end of summer' mcdonalds for lunch. they are easy to please :) we also had fall-like weather a few days last week and it was fun to bust out some different clothes.

wednesday was their first day of school. it's the earliest their district has started since we moved here. there was some nerves, some excitement...for all of us. i had to wake up azalea for school, which is rare! we took our annual '1st day of school' photo by the front door. azalea is starting 5th grade (her last year of elementary school), and ashford is starting 2nd grade (which means he hardly knows school without covid). ashford got azalea's teacher from last year (he switched grades), so that is really cool.

 

azalea's friend simone's mom texted early that morning saying that simone was wondering if azalea would like to dress like twins (they happen to own a few of them same clothing pieces). azalea was thrilled, especially because they are in the same class.  

drop off was a little chaotic and crowded on the playground because parents are not allowed in the school due to covid, but every one was masked. half the students get dropped off on the playground side and the teachers meet their students out there and bring them in. they both had a good first week, which is a relief. masks are required for students, teachers, and parents, all teachers are vaccinated, lunch is outside, air purifiers in every room.

azalea had her first two soccer practices of the season last week. she's been playing on the same team for a few years now and i'm happy she has stuck with it. this season's practices are the most convenient we've ever had - starts 30 minutes after school gets out, on the field right next to the school. so nice! we have a little while until her first game. 

it was a funny week because after the first 3 days of school was the 3 day weekend. we went into this weekend with zero plans. friday night we watched 'school of rock' with the kids. saturday morning azalea and i went to the greenwood library and goodwill. they kids played with simone and thelonius outside all afternoon. we got thai take out for dinner and watched another movie saturday night.

sunday we hung out at home all day and in the late afternoon we decided to drive a ways out of the city and pick up dinner and eat at a state park. we ended up going all the way to birch bay (north of bellingham). we picked up chipotle and took it to the state park. it was such a a beautiful night. most of our drive home was in the dark. you can tell summer is slipping away. 

our labor day will be spent hanging out at home, running errands, and preparing for week #2 of school.