Mid-Late June

At the end of April I had an appointment with my tattoo artist.  I added on two flowers for my grandparents.  A magnolia blossom and Queen Anne's lace.  Both of which make me nostalgic for my childhood summers on their farm.

In May there was a carnival at Bert's school.  I think Bron enjoyed it more than Bert did.  But they both had enough fun.  Bert was hoping the snow cone truck would come, but it didn't.  There was a churro truck, which was a good consolation.  

The next day was Scout-o-Rama.  Bron got over-stimulated.  Bert had a good time.  

The kids participated in some online research for eye-tracking related to autism.  They both got a gift card for amazon.  They both like participating in research projects (the gift cards help).  But I always sign up for various research studies too, something my mom instilled in me.

We went to the Makers' Fair the weekend after Scout-o-Rama.  It's where local people sell local-made goods.  We went to one before Christmas as well.  I really enjoy them, and the kids get bored.  Next time I think we'll leave them with the grandparents.  It's hard to look at lots of things with them.  They both do pretty well when we go shopping, but I guess this is different.

Bronwyn's school had young author's fair.  She, originally didn't participate.  The teacher worked, and worked with her.  She even offered to write, if Bron would dictate.  No dice.  So I wasn't going to go to the presentation, because she had nothing to present.  Aaron took her to school that day, and told me I needed to come and be with her, she was starting to freak out.  So I came to school to be with her.  And she was starting to melt down.  But I found out, that she did write the book, in her speech class, so she had something to present.  She was worried that so-and-so was in her group and he'd be mean to her.  It turns out so-and-so wasn't in her group, so she calmed down.  She read her book to the group of bigger kids without issue.  I was so so proud of her and told her as much.  Writing is the hardest thing for her.  

Around this time, my older sister came for her annual visit.  She and my dad went to Vegas, and a few other more local places.

Kids finished up the school year.  

Bron had a field trip to the park with her class.  I volunteered to go along, mostly to keep an eye on her, because situations that are different are hard for her.  She did fine.  Until we got back, then she was melting down a little.  Hitting, and being mean.  But she rallied.  At the end of the year, the whole class got awards for various things.  Bron got the Reset Award for being able to reset her emotions when she gets upset.  That is a well-earned, hard-worked for award.  I think she was able to finish up the school year without getting send home.
We were originally hoping that Bron could switch to Bert's school after kindergarten.  But her school is a better fit for her, and she in able to get more services there.  So she'll stay.  It's rough having two kids at two schools. But we do what we have to do.

Bert did a presentation on How to do Scratch.  I went and recorded it.  He did a great job.  The kids really liked it, and were very interested.  He did pretty well at the end.  His report card only had a couple of 2s and Ns.  

We went to the tide pools with the scout troop.  I think the kids really enjoyed it.  And I like the anemones.  I hadn't been to the tide pools in a long time.  We stayed at the beach for a bit after.  But Bronwyn got run over by a wave, which was our cue to head home.

I had 2 unsuccessful blood/platelet donations in a row.  The first time, they couldn't get a good vein (and they're only allowed to stick you once).  I think my draw-er was new.  I went back a couple weeks later to donate platelets, but my red loss was too high, so I wasn't able to donate.  

Bronwyn started Summer school.  It's just 8-11am, short days, which are nice.  The first day was a little rough, but she found her groove after that.  

On June 1st, Nanny passed away.  She had been ready for a long time, well over a year.  I got to see her in January, which was good, but she didn't remember me.  I bought last minute plane tickets for her memorial (June 17th).  I flew on Breeze for the first time.  It was a long flight, but having a direct flight was really nice.  I had to leave from SFO, but that wasn't a huge deal.  I got to spend a lot of time with my mom, which was awesome.  I got to see my sister and nephew a bit too.  Little Eddie isn't so little anymore.  He's not a huge fan of me.  My sister and I got mani/pedis.  The only time I ever do that is when she takes me.  I enjoy it, I should do it more.  But I have  hard time doing those things for myself.  The memorial was kind of weird.  Like really Jesus-y.  And very focused on being saved.  Which is fine for some, but she wasn't really like that when she was a live.  She was a devoted Christian and "knew" Jesus.  But, aside from meal-time prayer I do not remember Jesus ever being mentioned. My sister enjoyed catching up with the cousins at the luncheon.  She was like, you can talk to them too.  But I don't really have a relationship with any of them.  She does.  I think a lot of that is the fact that she lives there, and I don't.  But my social anxiety was on high.  

For my 40th birthday, Aaron did a Rachel day.  I got a nap, we went to Target and bought things I want.  We got what I wanted for lunch.  And we had a fancy (expensive) dinner.  Aaron ordered me a piece of jewelry, but it wasn't delivered until the 12th, actually the 15th.  So I got it when I got back from my trip.  

We also celebrated our 18th Anniversary.  But on that day, we found out that Bronwyn had covid.  So we ordered lunch in.  

Sick Bron

At the tide pools

The park field trip

My 40th Birthday

Painting the sidewalk

Bron's book for Young Author's Fair

Presenting her book

Bron and my sister

Bert's presentation

Bert at Scout o Rama

The magnolia tattoo

Now it's July

 The gym is going well.  I'm mostly enjoying it. I do BodyPump 3-4 times a week.  It's like circuit training that turns into cardio.  Sometimes I do yoga.  The other thing I usually do is the treadmill.  I do an hour, either slow (2.8ish mph) with a 6.5% incline, or 3.8-4mph with a 1% incline.  I generally get to t he gym 5-6 days a week.  Now that the kids are home, it's been more difficult.  On days that Aaron goes into the office, I get up really early, so I can get it done before he goes to work.  On days he's home I can usually go whenever.

At the very beginning of the summer, both kids did swimming lessons.  Bronwyn started Summer school a couple weeks ago, and had this past week off.  I've been doing school type stuff with Bertram as well.  He has a workbook, we do spelling, flashcards, paragraph formation etc. He doesn't mind it too much.  He did a science camp last week in the afternoon. 
(The first day, I drove over to the community center.  And we looked on the schedule of classes but didn't see the science class.  So we went to the lobby and asked where it was.  It took a little bit of looking, but they found the science camp, which was at the other community center, right near our house.  Bertram was freaking out because he's an anxious kid, and like me, hates to be late.  He was going on the whole way there.  Then started in with "Does this make you feel stupid mom?  I'm not calling you stupid, but do you feel stupid?"  We made our way back across town, and went to pull into the parking lot.  But the parking lot was closed off, for painting.  We drove around to the front, which has a horseshoe driveway with no parking.  But we parked there anyway, because we were already 10 minutes late at that point.  Oh, and Bron was with me too.  And she and Bert spent the time that he wasn't worrying, fighting over a toy.)
He enjoyed science camp.  This week he had Minecraft camp in the mornings.  He enjoyed that a lot too, and had a lot to tell me everyday when class was done.

 Since Bron was off school this week, we enrolled her in another week of swimming lessons.  She is doing way better than last year.  She would barely get in the water.  Now she'll get in, and blow bubbles and practice kicking.  Bertram moved up a level in his class.  But he is overly confident in the water.  He doesn't swim nearly as well and he thinks.  Bronwyn is still overly cautious, but gaining ground.  The both have one more week of lessons the last week before school starts again.  

We were expecting Bronwyn to go to the same school as Bertram, and had enrolled her there.  But after an IEP meeting about her transitioning, it was decided that she would have better access to services at a different school.  (There are not enough RSP teachers at Bertram's school to allow for the hours she needs.  And they'd have to pull her from class to work on things (called "pull out").  At the other school, the RSP teacher will be able to help her while she's in class ("push in").  The other school is rated highly, and is our other neighbourhood school.  (The two schools are just about equidistant from the house).  That's all good.  The intention is that once she is used to a classroom with a lot of kids, she'll transition back to Bertram's school.  They think this process with take one school year or less.  The other school has uniforms, which isn't a huge deal, I started stocking up.  The real sticking point is that the two school start and end within 5 minutes of each other.  Right now, Aaron is working from home three days a week.  Those days, he can help out getting one kid to and from school   The other days my in-laws will help out, or someone will likely be late.  Not sure how to swing the afternoons on the days my in laws can't help.  But I guess I'll figure that out when the time comes.

In a week and a half we fly to  Virginia to spend time with Nana and Papa (and aunts, second cousins, etc)  I'm very nervous about flying with the kids.  Last time we flew, Bron was a year old.  She didn't have any of the ASD stuff that she has now.  And noises is one of her big things.  Planes are loud.  The bathroom especially is loud, and she's only been potty trained since January.  The other thing I'm worried about is flight cancelations.  There are been tons of cancelations this summer, And while getting stuck on one end or the other wouldn't be the worst thing, getting stuck at a layover would be pretty bad.  And I'm thinking about all the extra stuff I have to bring in the carry on.  A change of clothes for everyone, things to entertain them, a ton of snacks. I realized last time I flew, I only need my phone and a sudoku book.  But, on the plus side, I got the TSA pre-check so we won't have as long a line at security.

June post

 The kids finished school two weeks ago.  Bron made good progress.  And Bert got all 3s (the highest) except on the spacing for his writing. In-person school went well for both kids.  Bert had one so-so day and one bad day, but all the rest were good.  Bron had good days across the board.
He had his first non-cousin playdate the Saturday after school finished.  Seems like he did pretty well.  I don't know if playdates are hard for all ASD kids.  I was relieved that it went well.  He's having a friend (the same friend) over here presently.  It's going ok.  He seems to forget that he needs to pay attention to his guest too.  I guess maybe it takes practice.

Bron started Summer school today, half-days 9-12.  I tried to sign Bertram up, but I only wanted half-days for him (partially because it's Summer, he doesn't need to be in school from 9-3.  And partially because he has ABA daily at 3).  Half-day programs all filled up, so full day was the only option, so we are skipping summer school.  I found a gymnastics camp for Bertram.  It's also from 9-12, which isn't the best in terms of timing, but since Aaron is working from home, most days are not an issue.  Tomorrow Aaron has a lunch meeting, so my MiL is going to pick up Bertram, and I'll get Bron.  Bron seemed to have a good first day.  Bertram just complained a lot, it was hot, he ran out of water, he didn't like it.  He has another 4 days.  If he changes his mind, I'll sign him up for another week later in the summer.  Otherwise, I'll have to see what else I can find.  All the Parks and Rec swimming lessons filled up, so I need to look into some private ones.  For Bertram anyway.  Since Bron has school from 9-12 and ABA from 3-7 she doesn't have a lot of time for other activities, but I don't want to spread her too thin.

Bron going to Summer school

A week ago, I got a tattoo.  (Sorry mom, feel free to skip this paragraph).  I've been wanting one since I was 14 or 15, and since I turned 38, I figured it was time to take the plunge.  I got three flowers on my upper arm for my sisters and me.  (Sunflower for Rebecca, hibiscus for Jessica and a California poppy for me.  And I included 2 bees on my poppy for the kids(because the kids names start with B)).  I got the outline a week ago, I got back in two weeks for colour.  I didn't hurt too badly, manageable, mostly.  A couple spots were more sensitive, but I didn't need any breaks, so I kind of felt like a badass.  Haha.

An odd angle but you get the idea, I'll post another when the colour is done

We went to the aquarium for the first time since February 2020.  Normally we go every 2 or 3 months.  Bronwyn was really excited by everything.  Bertram was sad because his favourite exhibit was gone.  But it was a good day.  We got lunch at Carl's Jr and played at the park before headed back.  We stopped at Sonic on the way home (Our closest Sonic is 30 minutes away, so we don't go often).  

I've been exercising most mornings.  Like real exercise, hard cardio and weights, usually for 45 minutes, sometimes more.  I've been doing this for about three weeks, and so far I've gained 2 lbs.  :eye roll: I have an appointment with my GP for a physical next week for a physical, so i'm going to talk to her about it then.