June

Last weekend, we finally checked out Arcade Monsters. It is a large arcade we found after we had so much fun at the retrocade in North Carolina last year. It was fun, but very, very, VERY loud. I think they had every machine turned on full volume. Jack and Luke liked it the most and Luke is already asking to go back. It wasn't as fun as the NC one, which had a lot of older games and pinball machines. This one had a few, but it was mostly newer stuff. Thomas did get the high score on a few games. He spent a lot of years in arcades as a youngster. He grew up in Nevada and while his mom would gamble in the casinos, he would have to learn how to make quarters last in the arcade. And, I guess there are some skills that stick with you, because he can still kill it on the classic games! 

The work week was fairly uneventful. Luke went to camp at the YMCA, which he does not love, but is kind of necessary for Thomas and me to be productive working from home. Unfortunately, the family that Kara usually babysits for has COVID, so she has been home with us (unfortunate that they have COVID, not that Kara is with us). The older kids mostly hung around. Jack and Anna have been doing(ish) their online classes. Jack has also been practicing basketball daily. He is really hoping he can make the 9th grade team next year. Anna did her ice skating and Luke did his baseball. Thomas worked on learning to rollerblade.

Anna is clearly much more confident in her abilities.

We had a jam-packed Father's Day weekend. Thomas and I were off on Friday and we all went to the Brevard Zoo, then did some shopping. Luke has a hard time with sneakers. He likes them to fit a certain way, and was stopping to adjust every few minutes. He obviously couldn't achieve his preferred fit with the velcro sneakers, so we got him some tie shoes (he has been able to tie shoes since Kindergarten, but velcro was still quicker). Then, we had lunch at Steak and Shake. Friday night, we went to Lakeland and saw a Flying Tigers game.

Saturday morning, we went to the Orlando Regional History Center and downtown library. Saturday night we watched Harry Potter (Thomas and I are rereading the books). Sunday, we did a scavenger hunt at Leu Gardens. We did boys versus girls and the winners got to pick lunch. I was the only one truly trying to compete on the girls team. Anna and Kara weren't interested in running through the gardens, or winning apparently. Anna has never been competitive, but Kara used to be, so I was a little surprised. It worked out because I screwed up where we were in the beginning, and checked off the wrong "leaf".  After that, we never really got back on track. So, I don't think we could have won, even if we had picked up our pace. And, we still had fun and learned some new things (one of the rules was everyone had to read the informational signs before they could check it off). If anyone is wondering, the boys couldn't decide between Culver's and Dairy Queen, so we did one on Sunday and one on Monday.

Thomas sent us this picture to let us know they were the victors.

We sent this in response. How weird is it that Kara can only cross one eye???

Monday, we hung around at home. It was a really nice, long break from work. 

In other news, Anna has decided not to do band. I am frustrated with her decision as I think band would be really good for her and I am almost positive she would enjoy it. She hasn't played since 6th grade, and she didn't remember very much. But I played the baritone for many years and remembered enough to sit with her and work through the notes; I told her I was willing to practice with her every day this summer. The teacher knew that she was going to need a lot of work and was still welcoming her into the band. No one was expecting perfection. But, she decided she no longer wanted to make the commitment. When we were out walking the other night, she told me she wished that she had kept playing piano because she would probably be good by now. That is likely true. She wants to fast-forward through the hard part and get to the reward. It  reminds me of the saying, "don't wish for it, work for it." I feel like we are really good at the wishing and not so good at the working.

The band thing has taken up more of my mental space than it probably deserves this week. I mentioned last week that I was struggling with Jack and his online classes and now I am struggling with the feelings about Anna. We have mostly chosen not to have battles over "extracurricular" activities. But, I still feel like sometimes I am pushing too much and then other times, I wonder if I didn't push enough. Jack only tried basketball because we forced him into it and now he loves it. But, maybe that is the difference? We can make them try something, but we can't make them enjoy it or want to put in the effort it takes to improve. Regardless, it is frustrating.