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!