Mornings now

First visit to Longmont Rec Center

What to do to celebrate the beginning of week 4 in Colorado? Especially on a rainy cool evening? Check out the fun pool and watersides at the local rec center 1.4 miles away! Open by reservation only for 1 1/2 hour time frames, the kids realllly needed this fun break after Such a a busy month. We’ll be back. 

Wildwood Canyon Part 2

Wildwood Canyon 2020- Part 1

Delaney enjoyed Wildwood Canyon horse camp last summer with her friend Leah. We decided it would be safe for her to go again this year with Olivia. They had a blast. 







Delaney with Chic

LoBo Trail

 Delaney and I ventured out yesterday afternoon for some exploration.  I took her scooter; she took her bike.  She is currently the only one in the family who owns a bike; the rest of us will be looking to get one very soon, as we have set a goal to ride the LoBo trail before it snows.  The LoBo trail is a 12 mile bike/hike trail between Longmont and Boulder.  I had heard of it, but finding the start of it on our own yesterday was way inspirational.  We left the house maybe around 2:30, and headed to our closest park, Left Hand Creek Park.  Yes there is a creek. With water. and it's less than a mile away! We headed west on the bike trail, following the creek.  Soon enough, we came upon a section littered with grasshoppers! It almost seemed like they were playing "chicken" with us, because every few inches, we would need to swerve out of the way of one while they just hopped haphazardly just at the moment before contact.  There were quite a few dead ones too.  We joked that we needed to craft some "grasshopper crossing" signs along that stretch.  After crossing not one, but two big roads, Sunset and Hover, we came upon a more wooded area and the pavement ended.  A sign read "LoBo trail". Delaney and I decided to stop there and save that part of the trail to experience with Owen and Derek.  We turned back.  We had crossed Sunset on foot on the road, but the Hover crossing was a little tunnel under the road with the creek running beside it.  Coming back through the tunnel on our return, we noticed a blue heron not ten feet from us in the creek.  We stopped and talked to it for a bit, then continued on, chatting about our plans for the LoBo trail ride and what we would need to bring along.  In an unusual twist, I have no pictures of our adventure.  Scootering took both hands and all my concentration, and I hadn't even brought the phone along as I had no pockets.  Next time, we will be prepared with fanny packs! ha!

Prospect

Prospect New Town is a funky live/work style community within walking distance of our new home. It was built beginning in the mid 90’s and is an example of new urbanism, with a quirky mix of eclectic architecture, audacious street names such as 100 Year Party Ct. and Tenacity Dr. and small businesses such as Sugar Pine Market and Cavegirl Coffee. It definitely has that movie set feeling. Strolling  through the picturesque streets lined with mature trees feels peaceful yet jarring. Modern farmhouses sit next to mid-century ranches more likely to be found in Palm Springs. Community greens and a plaza playground invite residents to spend time outside together, while the local coffeehouse is always buzzing with activity, regardless of the current pandemic. Oh, I don’t mean to say that people aren’t cautious; masks and social distancing occur. Many restaurants, a brewery and other businesses in Prospect have not survived the pandemic; storefronts are quiet and dark. Those that have survived are specialized; artist galleries, bodywork studios, a gym, and a financial planner still operate. Many properties are on the market. It feels like people want the neighborhood to succeed but that it is teetering in this new world reality of 2020. I love that it is the neighborhood next door and gives us walking access to a coffee shop and more. We’ve heard Halloween there is a blast. Not sure if Halloween will shape up to be as usual this Fall, but either way, the originality of the place is sure to spark excitement all on its own. 

Shift

 If you would have tried to tell me six months ago that I'd be sitting on the back deck of a nearly 5000 square foot home in Longmont, Colorado listening to birds while my parents slept downstairs I would not have believed it. 

In February, I interviewed for, was offered, and accepted a position teaching dual-language TK this Fall. 

In March, I went to school on Friday the 13th not realizing it would be my last day teaching in person for the entire year (and perhaps my career?).

In April, Derek's company decided to close the LA office of Alfred Music by the end of this year and asked Derek to relocate to the area of Boulder, Colorado.

In May, we discussed the options with the kids and my parents, and together as a family we decided to relocate. 

In June, I took a leave of absence from my district, and during the last week traveled with the kids to househunt in Colorado.

In July, we started preparing for the move; sorting, discarding, packing, and working on our CA bucket list. I navigated the school information, and applied for open enrollment at two area schools for the kids.

This month, both our home and my parents' went into escrow, the movers came and packed our belongings, and we drove in two cars from CA to CO through the beautiful state of Utah.  

The whole process has been both amazing and exhausting.  Saying goodbye, (I prefer " 'til next time!") making decision upon decision, selling two homes and buying one, just all of it. 

Tonight we have been at our home for almost two days, and my body has recovered enough to begin mentally processing all of the change.  Of course, now there is no deadline but there will be more change. 

In little more than a week the kids will begin a new school year in a new state and in an entirely new way than most people have ever in the history of the world. Virtual School.  Distance learning. Phew! It's enough to make you want to lie down! Of course many kids have been doing online learning already; but this Fall is a bit different due to the global Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. 

When we came househunting at the end of June the plan in the new school district was to go back full time in person for grades K-5, grade 6, and grade 9.  7th, 8th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders would go back in a hybrid blended learning program. The reasoning for the 6th and 9th graders is that they would be in new levels and new buildings, so starting in-person would be beneficial.  Then last week, I tuned in to a simulcast of the local school board meeting where they shared updated information.  All grades would be a hybrid model, alternating attending between 2 and 3 days per week. By this time the kids had been accepted into our first choice schools, Niwot Elementary and Altona Middle. The kids were assigned to different groups, Delaney into group 1, attending Mondays, Wednesdays, and alternating Fridays. Owen was in group 2, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and every other Friday. But this week the plan was updated again. As of last Tuesday, August 4, all grades K-12 will begin online only, at least through September. So, the upcoming week is our last week of summer vacation!