Pandemic Year and a brand new school year!

What, where has the time gone? Since the last time I updated it has been almost a year and a crazy one to say the least. You started the 2020-2021 school year from home learning remotely from your room, ended the school year (3rd grade) from school wearing a mask...and now all of a sudden you are in 4th grade wearing a mask and going in to school with a brand new teacher. PHEW! Did I get that right???? Today is your first day of 4th grade. Now I need to back up and tell you how we got here. Well, as I mentioned before we are still going through a global pandemic of Covid-19. Vaccines have been created, but we are still fighting to keep people healthy and safe. Daddy and I both got Covid and were quite sick, you and Danica both were tested and were negtive. Dad and I wore masks in the house and kept ourselves away from you guys as much as we could to keep you safe. Since that we have both been vaccinated but there is a variant and people vaccinated are still able to get and spread Covid. I sure hope that we can beat this and fast, until then we are doing what we are told and wearing our masks to keep ourselves and other safe. It is carzy to think of all we did when we really couldn't do anything. The last normal day of your life was your birthday party on 3.14.20 then the world changed. You never went back to school that year. All your learning was done at home. Dad and I never went back to school for the next school year either. I went back from Apri 16th 2021 to the end of the year. You and Danica started the 2020-2021 school year from zoom in your room, went back to school, back to zoom, and thne finished safely back at school. But school does not look the same. It isn't just that we wear masks, but we had to socially distance 6 feet from each other. All desks are apart from each other, recess and PE we had to stay away from each other, even lunch. A lot of people were getting sick from not seeing other people and human touch. Luckily we were able to be with family and you have a brother and sister to play with. You might have missed not seeing all friends but I think you adjusted amazing. Restaurants were closed, no trips to costco or the grocery store. It was really a time were people stayed home, cooked, did things around the house, ordered out, and spent time with the family they could see. Doctors and dentists would have to escort you in and only one parent at a time. At 2:00 daily we watched the number of positive cases just keep increasing and waited to hear what we need to do- including the stay at home order-- JUST STAY AY HOME- crazy to think of, right? I cancelled our spring break trip to Florida in fear of the unknown. Know having had Covid I still can't taste and smell everything, so I do wish I could have protected myself more. When sports were cancelled, concerts, no spectators at anything world wide we just keep figuring it out,there was a toliet paper shortage, no more clorox wipes. People were losing jobs, places closing their doors permanently. talk shows were from the hosts homes. There was more zoom contact that physical contact. People need people and boy do I love my people! About life here we go: In regards to atheltics and activities you able to compete in your sports and at times there was a pause, just like with school. When Gymmanstics took a pause you then you started at a new club called signature and you are now a level 4/5 gymnast practicing 9 hours a week! You will have your first competition in October, I can't believe it! You excel at gymnastics. You actually excel at everything and that is not because I am your Mom saying that, it is the truth. In the spring you played soccer and your team was second place in the league, losing in the championship in penalty kicks. Guess who made their penalty kick, YOU! That game had some drama and on any other day I know your team would have won the trophy. You loved that team and made some really nice friends. In that league you were also the leading goal scorer. You have 3 games with hat tricks! It was then you learned what a hat trick is! You scored in every game and I believe finished with 15 goals! OMG! Yes exceling at soccer. Remember when you told me, "Soccer is a waste of time." We have come a long way with you now playing travel for a club team called sockers, picking your own jersey number of #21 and having just competed in your first soccer tournament. Oh and get his this- YOU HAD A HAT TRICK! and socred on a Penalty kick totaling 4 goals in 3 games with a brand new team. How about that, Champion CHARLI! Soccer completes your other 2 week days with 3 hours of training a week. At this point you are just a well oiled machine, you don't complain you just do and you do it WELL! You and I went and tried out for different soccer programs, I was so proud of your ability to try new things and jsut get out and work. You are a force, a kind hearted force, and we know those are the ones to look out for! School, you have always loved school and the work you bring home is outstanding. 3rd grade report card was the first time your received letter grades and you earned STRAIGHT A's! I am so proud of all you do. For PE we made a home workout tabata video and it was shared with your school during quarantine! You created art projects, hair styles, made pictures for your walls, bracelets for friends. Your ability to sew, eye for fashion, and creations are amazing for example but not limited to pillows, pants, book bags, purses, masks. Just you and your sewing machine. You even made a blanket for Reilly to cover her dog bed. You are the next life style brand CRC, you can do it all. Including making your own special banana recipe. You are an all american girl in the best kind of way. Blonde hair, blue eyes, stinky pitties (don't worry you have deodorant) physically starting to grow up, crazy teeth, so strong, beautiful smile, kind heart, athletic, smart, funny, serious. You check off all the boxes! Oh and guess what your same little crush from 3rd grade Adien, well he has the same crush on you and he let you know he likes you the first week of school! he said he wanted to tell you he likes you, because he "really likes you"...and you are in the same class! That made starting school all the more exciting! And you earned a paw on the first day! Welcome to 4th grade! Thinking back on the covid year I was able to see you learn from your room, be a part of your class from the hall, be with you all the time, spend time with our family that we will never get the chance to do again. We got to watch all of AJ's firsts together. I wouldn't trade that for the world. It was a terrible time in the world of all the people's lives we lost and families that were crushed... but it was also a time for us that I will never forget. We took our annual trip to Florida, masks on! We swam, we ate, we saw family & friends. We lived, we laughed, and we loved. We will continue to be a team, the best team, we can do anything and we are stronger together. I already knew that but this past year and a half has emphasized all of it! I couldn't love my family more, I am so thankful, grateful, lucky, blessed. My heart is so full it is crazy. I have to thank my 3 miracles for that! Thank you I don't want to shortchange all that happened so I will try to go in my memory and recap: March 2020- June 2021- school from home Summer 2020- perfect weather, no pools open, we went to Grandma's a lot, had people over, mostly outside, restaurants were closed, we bought a pool for the yard, a giant unicorn sprinkler, we hung out, we cleaned and organized. We celebrated milestones with family. School year 2020- started on zoom as I mentioned- went to school- then back to zoom- and back to school THE WORST NEWS CAME IN DECEMBER 2020- We had our annual night before Thanksgiving party and my side of the family came over and I am forever thankful we did. You and Danica played soccer in the basement with Mark and Bryan. Sadly, that will be the last memory of Uncle Mark. On December 6, Mark has a massive heart attack at home and passed away. My heart will forever be missing one of its greatest pieces. Just know that the joy you guys gave him made his life better and he loved you so. This is the same with Aunt Soph, she may not always get to see you but she loves you and is so proud of you! Winter break 20-2021- Florida, beautiful family dinner with Eric and Grandma New friends during covid, Ganas family, Cole, Reagan and Paisley Weddings postponed during Covid Spring- gymnastics started again and soccer Summer 2021- Soccer camp in Naperville, swimming, gymnastics, lot of sushi and weddings! This summer you Danica, and AJ were in Courtney's wedding in Milwaukee and you were beautiful. Aj didn't do his job they way he was expected but it was exactly as it should be. It was so much fun! You met cousins and danced and started to show a little of your teenager side. When we got back from Milwaukee after a stop at the outlet mall. We practiced songs and dances for your next flower girl gig in Christopher and Kayla's wedding. Another awesome wedding and beautiful job by you and Danica. We had such a great time dancing and you were so upset when it was time to leave. But as family we have to work on - all good things comes to an end and there is always a new day full of promise! The thing is that you all think every day should be a party... I wonder where you get that from LOL! It was trulu a great summer. Anotehr highlight being the lemonade stand you and Danica had with Rose where you made $150! Yes close to $150- you told Frank, that your "cuteness if really paying off!" Got to love it. Bike rides are a daily request same with going to cook in front of you. We met Mr. Sumo's family and Joanne even came to babysit you!!! It was so fun. Another highlight was meeting cousins like Brennan, and seeing Uncle John and Auntie MIMI. In July we went to Kentucky and you had your first hotel sleepover with Kensie. We went to the Lexington horesepark and keenland and saw lot of fireworks. We even stayed another night at Embassy Suites hotel and you can Danica rode the elevators for hours. It was our first long car trip and everyone was awesome! You both are the best big sister, although at this point AJ defintely favors you and loved to tell Danica, "NO DACA, NO SISSY." Believe me you love it!!! Your clubhouse is amazing so that really came to fruition during the pandemic. It is a girls dream and only members are allowed! Good thing there are only a few friends that came over and they are members :) We are just really back in the swing of things. The pandemic isn't over but we are adjusting the best we can to life as it is now. We go out to dinner, we hang as a family, we go boating with Terry, we look froward to waht each new day brings. We spend a lot of time in the car :) We walk to school. We just LIVE. I can't wait for allthe year brings. I love you Charli, I am so proud of you, 9 couldn't look better on anyone else! I will remember when you told me you want to live with me forever. I hope so, I love you!