The Daily Hailey

The first day of school was a GREAT success!! I had beautiful intentions to go pick them up and take happy pictures of them, but a morning appointment in Saskatoon took foreverrrrr and I got home just barely before the kids did. So, it didn’t quite play out the way I had hoped, but such is life! The only person who was upset was me 😅

Anyway.

Dekker LOVED his first day of high school! WOW! He was SO thrilled with the level of freedom he was offered. He told me he felt like an adult. He was oddly excited about the SRC. And he definitely got a kick out of having some teacher rollover with me, hahaha! He loved his first day so much 💜 He asked me around 8:05 if it was too soon to head to school. Yes, son. It is too soon.

Laela also loved her first day. She liked her teacher, and being around her friends again! She loved playing outside, and reconnecting with her close friend. That was her highlight, for sure. Oh and her locker!! Win!!

Rowan was probably most excited about his boot room being so close to Wavy. That nurturing side of him is SO beautiful when it comes around 💜 While he insists thats the best part, he was also VERY excited that some of his closest people are in his class. He was really pumped as he ran into people and learned that they were in his class. It was nice to witness.

Solomon doesn’t say too much about school, and he tends to feel overwhelmed if I ask too much. That being said, he was VERY happy to go to school and VERY happy when he came back. He told me his teacher is very nice, and that he likes his friends. “There are a lot more things, too, but thats good for now,” he told me when I asked about his favorite things about his first day. So there you have that, haha!

Waverly got lumped into going into the city with me yesterday for an appointment, and while she is aching to start school, she was also really content coming along to Saskatoon with me. She honestly aced the day yesterday, being incredibly patient and polite while we sat through a much longer wait than expected. She crushed it, and I am SO impressed.

Today is the one day this week that isn’t booked up. So I may actually *gasp* rest a little!!

Or I’ll do laundry. Or prep for camp. Or clean up the mountain of mess thats come from getting school going. Or really any number of things that need doing that aren’t resting…

I am HAPPY to say that everyone was HAPPY to go to school today!! We all walked together 💜 Look at those huge backpacks!

We found appropriate boot rooms, classrooms, etc. We found friends and met teachers. The bell seemed to ring unceremoniously quickly, but the kids rounded up for hugs and took off to begin their days!

At least thats how it went with the kids still in elementary school 😳 One of them is in HIGH SCHOOL now!!!

Dekker met up with a buddy and they walked together, adult-free. But I can say with 100% certainty that he was really looking forward to his day at the new school!

Laela is next up as the MOST excited for school! She loves the routine. She loves the learning. And she loves her closest friend. She was told in the last few weeks that he was in the other class, but upon meeting up this morning, found out they’re in the same class!! SUCH a win!

Rowan surprised me by being excited for school! Because, up until a couple of days ago, he wasn’t. But he is ready for routine, and to see his school friends again! He happens to know a handful of his closest people are in his class, also!

Solomon was my last holdout for being excited for school, but he was super happy and handsome this morning! He is my one child going into a classroom with a teacher we have never had before. So while he feels unfamiliar, we have only heard the best things about her, and we anticipate zero issue there! When the bell rang, Solly was furthest from his door, but he game hugs and took off in the right direction 💜 Thats new confidence since last year!

I’m VERY proud of my beautiful children 💜 Every last one of them! Brady and I walked/rolled home with Wavy and the morsel in a stroller. It was peaceful and refreshing to be out in the crispy weather. Brady has since left for work and here I am, blogging mid-morning. Things are low key. We’ll be out and about in a little bit, but for now, music is going, and I’m already getting a blog done ✅

I will tell you all about how the first day of school went tomorrow 💜

It’s feeling very final out there. And I understand why. Many people are packing it in this weekend with school starting up. We still anticipate some fall camping through September, but with everyone around us starting to bring things home, I have it on the brain as well. 

As I sit here and type this out on my phone by the fire, I’m very grateful for my surroundings. Both of the BIG “getting out the door” jobs are being well managed, and I have been offered a break. So I’m taking it. 

The fire is burning nicely. The weather is nice enough for me to wear jeans and shoes and be a comfortable temperature. I can hear wind blowing through the yellow leaves, which I swear sounds different than when it blows through the green ones. Kids are working without fighting. It’s peaceful. 

We’ll pack up shortly for home. Earlier than usual. But I say again – school. Baths. Lunches. Backpacks. Plus unpacking and laundry. 

Never a shortage. Ever. We are so fortunate 💜

It’s true that it could be nicer out. The entire season has been so so smoky. I know there’s always some, but this is excessive! I have taken waaaaay fewer sky pictures in comparison to last year. Because, well…

Ya. It’s a drag. 

Yet, the weekend has been oddly quiet here. Way less populated than we anticipated for a long weekend. But the people who are here are really good people 💜 We have spent hours visiting around the fire with friends. Drinking coffee. Eating meals together. Crocheting and playing guitar. The camper has rocked with children playing rowdy games with friends old and new. Playgrounds are populated, but not as populated as fire pits. It’s just been sweet. Smoke aside, I am loving our weekend. 

Tomorrow closes off the last weekend here before summer closes and school begins. Time for more change in our household. Lots of new things afoot over here. This week alone carries much weight. 

I am very grateful for this weekend 💜 Praise God. 

It’s been a really lovely day. It promised to be super hot, but it did not deliver beyond a reasonable point at all. It was comfortable to spend time both at the beach and around the fire. 

The highlight of the day was hitting up the farmers market! There was an invite for people to set up tables in an outdoor arena and set up garage sales. I won’t lie. It was a bit disappointing. There were only two or three sales set up in there. But it didn’t stop our kids from making themselves at home. 

I even found a win or two. I did not buy the book, but I’ve sure kicked myself about that choice.

Accidentally bought cabinets. Whoops! 

Everyone got an ice cream and we packed it up and headed back to camp. We carried a few extras with us, but lost one to to the other group. 

Zero regrets buying the bus. ZERO.

It’s been a very lovely day, and I anticipate more of that tomorrow and the next day 

I’ve become an expert prepper. Not in every way, but in the few ways I need to be.

I prep for camp every single week, and this one is very much the same! The longer this list sits on the island, the more art gets added to it. Note to self: Don’t forget to pack Minecraft Steve. Whoever Minecraft Steve is…

I also figured I’d get ahead of school lunches a little, and on top of a quick stop at Walmart for some lunch things, I made a couple batches of granola bars!

Its still not over. Still lots to do. But we’re on our way.

And it wont all stop when school starts, either! Forward we go, come what may 💜

I promised a weekend recap and then I didn’t do it! Not yet, anyway! So here it is!!

Our trip last weekend came after a Saturday that Brady worked, so we got on the road a little later than usual, but it still worked!

Its becoming more and more fallish out there.

Cozier. Lazier. Definitely feeling more and more like the end of the season 💜

Still enough sun for some beach days, though!! I feel like we didn’t get enough of those this year.

Not warm enough for me to be in the water, but I have different priorities.

As I sat down in my chair on the beach to crochet, I happened to notice a hint that I had possibly sat there before with the exact same goal.

It was a successful project, if you were wondering!

The beach is good, and the campsite and fire are good, too. Beautiful people at both.

Brady finished up a wonderful renovation in the camper, making the bathroom more spacious and the toilet and sewer system work better! Win! His tools got a little confusing, but he made it work.

I believe that was also the day that Rowan figured I’d run through our camper screen door. It did not go well.

But we did have a small giggle…

And he rallied 💜 as he does.

I think the next day was when Solly got stung by a wasp?? I’m not sure. I don’t have a picture. But he got it right on the neck and BAWLED, which was completely justified. He got to cool it off with an orange crush, and then dropped it enough that it popped a hole so he got to drink it 😆 Good move, Sol.

Anyway. Everyone remains to be crazy cute, and I remain to be absolutely delighted by our family and the setup we have at Kinasao 💜

Whew! The next few days are NUTS. I think I’m ready for it, though. I think. I’m mostly organized. Maybe I’m not. Never mind.

Tomorrow there is a really important appointment I have to get to with one of the kids. We’re all going to go in, though. But its a big one that I’m really anticipating.

The next day is another big test that is less exciting and more daunting 😬 At least that one got moved up from the evening to the morning.

If you are the praying type, I do ask for prayers for our family for these next couple of days.

On Friday, after test #2, Brady will head to work and I will get us ready for yet another weekend at the lake! Our happy place 💜 We will remain there through the long weekend and come home Monday.

Aaaaand school starts on Tuesday!!! 😅

We’ll have to come home a little bit earlier on Monday than usual in order to get everyone washed up and organized for school the next day. Also waking up earlier will be an adjustment, haha!

I think we’re all ready for it, though. At least our kids are. We are needing some structure and routine back in our lives. Friends their own age. Using their brains. Exercising their bodies. Its time.

Dekker has rocked his kayak all summer, every weekend since he got it. However, he finally saved up enough money to get the rest of his goal met – an otterbox case for the phone he was gifted, and a bluetooth speaker. This way, he can go on longer treks and listen to tunes.

This weekend was his first go 💜 And it went over very well!

I’ll let him tell you about it.

💜

I’ve been kayaking all summer, but only recently I got my speaker and phone case, so I wanted to go farther. It’s really fun going all the way to Bells beach, because its a far trip and it takes more energy.

The first time I got to Bells, I docked there. I looked around, took a couple pictures, and I kind of just sat there to cool down.

The dock was coated in seagull poop! I almost got pooped on! 💩

And then I continued back going. I unhooked my kayak and continued going back to Kinasao.

Along the way, I saw a pontoon plane. On the way back, I watched it take off.

I noticed how many people own several boats and seadoos. Lots of people have pontoon boats, and the closer you get to Bells beach, the more bougey the boats are.

I listened to music the whole time. I got through about half of the playlist I used. My playlist consists of 2.5 hours of Minecraft music, Andy Grammer, Moxy Fruvous, and other random corny songs.

When I got back to the beach, I asked mom and dad if I could go north to the other round of cabins. I continued listening to music until I got back. I came back to shore and felt really tired. My arms were noodles.

I really liked being able to be on my own, and listen to music. I could pick where I went and had a lot of control. It was really peaceful. It felt really good to dip my hat in the water and wear it.

It was definitely worth the work, and I really enjoyed doing the work to earn the kayak and speaker.

Thank you, grandma, for helping me do the cans. Thanks to the Dahlsjos, and Scott, Aunty Sandy, and everyone else for providing the cans. I couldn’t have gotten my kayak and speaker without you guys. Thanks so much.

💜

I could not be more proud of this boy. Or more grateful to the people who gave up their recycling stuff for this project! Its been pretty amazing to witness him work up to this goal.

Whew! So today was a bit of a rough one, I won’t lie. Its good to be home. Home is easier than camp oftentimes, and today was one of those days. That being said, I’ll give you a highlight reel in the next day or two. There were definitely some good times this weekend. But today… today had bumps.

With those bumps, however, came a special discovery.

Float on the go.

Yes, you heard me. A float on the go. I had already determined I was getting a milkshake. And then I decided to throw all caution to the wind and get a big root beer. Don’t come at me. I NEVER get TWO big bad-for-you drinks. EVER. But when I realized they were the makings of a root beer float…

It was the right choice.

Anyway. Welcome to my wisdom.

Sleep deep, friends 💜