Around Here Week 47: 11/16-22

 A glimpse into what it is like to live in our home just this moment. 

photo cred: Shelly R

photo cred: Jackie F

Lol, our classmate Jere was absent on Friday

Intentional Outdoor Hours: 569+ hours (of 1000)
Our little key-keys (what we call the kittens, hah) are master hunters - we've had mice, moles, and chipmunks (!) as sacrifice gifts on the back porch everyday this week! B and Gemma cleaned up the goat pasture this week; fixing the roof and filling all the structures with hay. We also culled the rooster from the flock because it has been harassing our whole family and everyone is afraid to do farm chores because it attacks and chases all of us and then it chased our grocery delivery person and that was the last straw! 

Reading and finishing Strange Pictures by UKETSU. It was good but I prefer mysteries that I have enough information to figure it out on my own if I'm clever enough. There were clues in this stories that were kept hidden or really arbitrary and weird that a reader would not have been able to figure out on their own. I do like how everything got all tied back into together, but I would have liked to be able to figure it out on my own first and then had my suspicions confirmed rather than get a bizarre piece of the story told to me outright that put it all together. 

Listening to When Things are Alive They Hum by Hannah Bent. We had our Lit Ladies book club at The Fifth on Friday night and always it was great book discussion, delicious food, and fantastic company as we laughed and caught up. We take a break from selecting a book for December but have a little Christmas dinner lined up with a Secret Santa exchange next month! 

My favorite weekend ritual is to be the first person awake, come downstairs, walk by all the littles sleeping together all over the couch before making coffee and sitting down to get myself organized for the week (planner, blogging). The sight of all my kids draped all over the living room, blankies and pillows piled high and their restful, safe faces. The most peace I can feel as a momma, honestly. 

Two more with norovirus! Grey and Violet both got hit with the stomach bug and missed school on Monday for it. Brandon is officially the last one standing and he feels like it's just a shadow looming over him now waiting to strike without warning. I am very grateful that all my kids were so good at learning how to throw up - hahhha. I put in a lot of work and patience talking through puking over the years and everyone is very calm and rational while throwing up over here. Brandon and Violet are the "worst" at it and that just means that they fight it until the very last possible second (sometimes not making it to a  bucket/ toilet, and that's rare but they are the only two). Here is my general speech (spoken in a calm and reassuring whisper) if the kids are throwing up that I've used since they were toddlers (and still talk them through it still): You're doing so good, get that out of you. That's all the germs getting out - our body is so good at taking care of us! Your body is trying to make you better and you are doing an awesome job getting it out. You're almost done, couple more. You're going to feel so much better after this, you just have to do this part to start feeling better. Great job, honey, that's it - almost done! 

Finding "Dad" "Mom" and "Olive" written everywhere and anywhere - including a little girl's leggings. Proud of her great writing, but um - would rather like to see it on paper only. 

Proud of Grey who shaved his head to a buzz cut in honor of his basketball teammate Ethan who is battling T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma . Ethan still attends most practices and all games but will not be able to participate this year (his senior year!) due to the treatments he has to receive to fight his cancer (prognosis is excellent, but a hard, long 2 years of treatment to make that happen). The whole varsity basketball team went buzz cuts - even the coaches! in solidarity with Ethan. Grey looks great and actually loves it for basketball season because normally his hair gets so poofy with sweat. Their teammate motto this year is One Team, One Heartbeat. (thank you to our friend and barber Lamont from Ambitious Cuts who always has my fellas looking handsome!)

Happy for Violet as she and her reading competition team earned second place at their meet. Violet worked hard since the beginning of the year, reading 12 books - earning her a captain position! They left school early and then took those long bus ride to the competition where they had three matches. She had loved it and came home and already confirmed that she will be participating in the spring competition too! 

A happy half birthday to Loopy - she was so proud to be four and a half this week. She picked peanut butter powerballs for her dessert and we measured her height (she's about an inch taller from 6 months ago!)

Smiling about Gemma's recap of the dance this week. She sold tickets all week to the middle school students and did all kind of persuading students to buy tickets (great job, Gemmi! It is a soccer booster fundraiser). And then after practice, we picked up her bestie Abby and they danced and laughed their night away at the blacklight dance. Everyone had a great time and it was a successful fundraiser so a win all around! 

Dress clothes shopping with Grey. He needed a suit for the upcoming Christmas semiformal dance and dress clothes for away basketball games. I bought him all new dress clothes last year, but he tried his pants on and couldn't even pull them up over his quads (LOL). It's hard to imagine two people that hate clothes shopping more than Grey and I, hahhaha, but we suffered through it together and we got him everything he needs (ouch to wallet, duh). He's ready to go now and I'm relieved to have that off the to do list! 

Time with family and friends. Violet and Rusty each got to go hunting with Pappy separately this week. We went out for wings at Tollgate with Pappy for Brandon's belated birthday (football season is too crazy to try to squeeze it in! Thank you Pappy!) I got to have a coffee date with Katie at our half way meeting spot since I forgot my purse at her house Saturday night after Sophie's party (lol). It is always nice to see her and then B and I got a grown-up only grocery trip together at Aldi! I had lunch at school with Heather - she picked us up Yamato for lunch (best school day pick-me-up ever!) and got to chat in my room for the period. 

The mental gymnastics in the administration (and its supporters) is astounding. Backbones are so rare today. What a shame. 

Teaching about the Dominican Republic and then learning some Thanksgiving vocab before the break (and everyone is a little wacky anyway) and we played Bingo. We practiced Familia (family), Banquete (banquet / feast), and Desfile (parade). Spanish Expo took their Map test and started their classroom vocab practice. Spanish 1 read chapters 1-5 of Capibara con Botas and had a snowball fight review day (always a favorite). We also had the annual capibara disguise project competition and there were so many creative and detailed ones that were made this year! The winner though (of course) were the four students who did the four Clash Royale characters! Spanish 2 continued practice with personal belongings vocab and then did class presentations for What's in My Bolsa? 

Sporting Violet had an indoor Sparks soccer game at Turfside, Gemma had six basketball practices and Grey had five basketball practices, football equipment turn in, and a massage with Miss Emma from Peak Performance Therapy (we love and appreciate you Emma!) 

Making buffalo chicken dip with veggie dippers, Grey made homemade French onion dip for the Steeler game! I made chicken, veggie, and stuffing casserole, chicken fajita rice bowls, kielbasa and parmesan noodles, I made a double batch of peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter power balls for Olive's half birthday, and on Saturday morning, I used up our overripe bananas by making banana gobs.

Around Here Week 46: 11/09-15

 A glimpse into what it is like to live in our home just this moment. 

photo cred: Jackie F

photo cred: Becky C

selfie cred: Gemma

Intentional Outdoor Hours: 569+ hours (of 1000)
Saturday was the perfect day for jumping in leaves - it was mid-50's and tons of leaves everywhere. I found another chicken egg-laying hiding spot! They've been laying eggs under one of bushes in the front of the house (found about 2 dozen) and I cleaned out the cat house where they've also been laying (another half dozen there). Literally an egg hunt every week!

Reading Strange Pictures by UKETSU. I sadly missed my teacher book club to discuss My Friends by Fredrik Backman because of the norovirus. I didn't finish the book yet, but there were so many insightful snippets about teenagers (definitely as a mom to teens but also a teacher to teens) that I appreciated and found valuable reflection from. I don't love Backman's style/ voice, but I did appreciate the characters, story, and the powerful points about young people. I sent my notes and love to the book club girls though - I'll keep those germs away! 

Listening to When Things are Alive They Hum by Hannah Bent which is my pick for my Lit Ladies book club. I also set my date for hosting book club for later this month! 

Oof. stomach bug descended upon our home early Sunday morning. I didn't leave our bedroom for 24 hours. Kids carrying around puke buckets, the laundry piled sky high, I placed the most 'we have the norovirus' grocery order of all time (crackers, Pedialyte, bananas, and bread). I called off on Monday and kept the babies home. Thankfully, the other four kids already had a day off for Parent/Teacher Conferences. We all just hunkered and endured. When all was said and done- the virus claimed 7 of the 8 of us! Only Brandon made it out unscathed! 

Prepping the outside for winter weather. We added straw to the cat house on the back porch and got Bullet set up in the downstairs den.  I got some much needed time in the side flower bed (trimming back all the plants) and the littlest kids (Red, Olive, and the nephews) all helped clean up the cuttings.

Proud to have my little sister, Kitty, as the guest of honor with Red and Olive at our elementary school Veteran's Day program. Our two elementary schools put on such a sweet program, I was glad to be there to see all the local veterans (but especially my sister) stand up at their own branch's song being played during the ceremony. We love and are so proud to be yours, Aunt Kitty! 

No luck on viewing the aurora borealis this week. We kept checking on it the night of the solar flares, but didn't see anything here in western PA. The night sky sure is always lovely anyway - so no complaints from us! 

Worried maybe that Reddy's cheekbone is broken (?) About 2 weeks ago, he fell into the ottoman playing football in the living room (typical) and his cheek was black and blue for a couple days. But now, when he smiles there is what looks like a dimple (or an indentation) where he hit his face. When we touch that spot, he says it "doesn't hurt hurt", but there is a clear difference in how it feels on that side compared to the other side. Almost like a ridge. Ugh, the worries never end. The internet (LOL) says there's not much to be done anyway - unless he would need reconstructive surgery (!?) but it's not bothering him...but also - like, what the heck? Good grief. 

Smiling at Grey in his Letterman jacket. It came in this week and looks great. 

Proud of our community that came together for the volleyball tournament and Shave it or Save it event. (Bravo Mrs. Buckham - the kids' health teacher who organized the whole event!) The proceeds for the whole event and basket raffle all went to fellow classmate, basketball teammate, and friend Ethan Matera who is battling T-Cell T-lymphoblastic lymphoma. Grey and Gemma both played for volleyball teams in the tournament all day and Grey and his team made it pretty far into the event (one of the last 3 teams at the end). There was an incredible turn out for the Shave it or Save it event - many students and many teachers/staff participated. Most of the participants just shaved their beards - but basketball players shaved beard and heads in support of Ethan, including even Coach Lesko the head coach! The whole basketball team is planning on shaving their heads for the season in solidarity with Ethan (Grey has an appt scheduled with our barber Lamont next week!) 

Receiving our 2024-25 family yearbook! It is a labor of love that takes over a year to complete but I secretly love doing it and it is really cathartic for me to organize and design a whole years' worth of our family memories. I go full nerd and hand pick each photo and design, crop, and organize every single layout. (It is actually a form of psychosis, I'm sure, like some way to give me a false sense of control over the passing of time? LOL) but I am so happy with the way it turned out and everyone in the house loved it too. It is our 15th family yearbook and they are all treasures in our home. 

Overwhelmed (like this time every year) with the state of our home. Since June (football pre-season) until November (end of football season) it is absolute mayhem around here. Back to school, summer with 8 people at home, and fall sports - it is a mad dash everyday...so by November, when we are finally able to come up for air - B and I look around at the house like - wtf happened here? Everything unorganized, a million things just left wherever they were last used. So B and I had a long morning chat, wrote a list, and got started on tackling the list of things that need attention. It will take a several weeks, but we usually can get it under relative control before the holiday season (just to ramp up the crazy again!)

Cousin Day! At our house since Uchie was the next one to get hit with the stomach bug and she was solo parenting while Uncle Drip is in Montana hunting elk! It always feels like the best kind of party when the fella boys are here - so we spent the day playing and snacking and Violet even took everyone for a little hike around the treestand loop! 

Celebrating Sophia's 16th birthday with Gemma and Peyton. I can't believe our Soph is sixteen, gah, a little part will always just be that teeny two year old of my best friend. I just do not understand time in any way. Katie and I were chatting and Peyton was staring at us and then said, "you guys talk exactly the same" - not the first time we've heard that - but that's what happens when you're best friends I guess! The party was so cute - Gem and Peyt spent almost the whole time dancing to the most fun playlist from the DJ (Katie's cousin Sam who is an adult now but who I've known since he was eight years old?!) So glad we could be there to celebrate Soph - love you forever my darling. 

Time with family and friends. Rusty went to the Thomahawk hockey game with Liam and then had a sleepover at his house. Violet went hunting with Chum and also got to have a sleepover with her friend Kaylee. Vi and Gemma both had a dentist appointment and Pappy too them (thank you!) Gemma went to the movies with Cooper, Peyton, and Devin. Grey got in his tree stand a few times this week 

Praying for Gaza. Praying for Sudan. Praying for all victims around the world to be heard, believed, and find peace and receive justice. 

Teaching about the Dominican Republic in elementary school. The students were excited to learn about all MLB players that come from the DR (including Oneil Cruz, a current Pittsburgh Pirates player) and they watched how to make a baseball glove out of a cardboard box like many Dominican kids do. Rusty and Reddy made them at home with cereal boxes and played with their cardboard mitts all week; playing catch with an orange. Spanish Expo started their geography week and Spanish 1 got into the capibara disguise project (always a fan favorite). I had some really creative ideas this year and they all got so into it. Spanish 2 started Somos 12 with personal belongings vocab and target structures like 'no conoce a nadie' and finishing the lyrics for Shakira's Sale el Sol. 

Sporting with an indoor soccer game at Turfside for Violet and her Sparks team. The two oldest kids had the tiniest window of a sports break this week until Friday when the winter sports season officially opened with practices. Gemma had two jr high basketball practices and Grey had two varsity basketball practices. 

Making chicken teriyaki noodles, chicken quesadillas, kielbasa and pierogies, sloppy joes with mac and cheese, Parmesan garlic sheet pan chicken and veggies (thanks Instagram), and meat sauce spaghetti. It was a lot of crackers and pedialyte around here while the stomach bug worked through the house. 

Around Here Week 45: 11/02-08

 A glimpse into what it is like to live in our home just this moment. 

calavera design: Grey

photo cred: CTHS

photo cred: Megan M

photo cred: Michael O'Ship

photo cred: Michael O'Ship

photo cred: Daily American

photo cred: Stacy B

photo cred: Michael O'Ship

Intentional Outdoor Hours: 568+ hours (of 1000)
The chill is officially in the air! Winter is starting to make her way to us. It is hot cocoa season! 

Reading and finally (!) finishing The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. It was a good read - different than I was expecting but I did enjoy it. Poor Eleanor and I could relate to her in some ways myself and could see my students in her too; in the way she would work herself up into delusions just from focusing too much on imagining what others thought of her. And because I love trees and think they are so wise and old and incredible, this quote stood out above all the others - 

“Around her the trees and wild flowers, with that oddly courteous air of natural things suddenly interrupted in their pressing occupations of growing and dying, turned toward her with attention, as though, dull and imperceptive as she was, it was still necessary for them to be gentle to a creation so unfortunate as not to be rooted in the ground, forced to go from one place to another, heart-breakingly mobile.”

Listening to My Friends by Fredrik Backman

Unpopular Opinion: I actually love Daylight Savings Time and the clocks changing. You don't have to tell me twice to put on my jammies and have a hot tea at 6:30p when it's dark! Hello bedtime, call it a day! LOL I do love the long hours of summertime sunshine, but when winter comes - it is time for rest and healing. I embrace early bedtime with arms wide open. 

Compromising with the babies that they can pack their lunch once a week. So we look at the lunch calendar and decide which day has the 'yuckiest food' (hah) and they pack that day but eat hot lunch every other day at school.

Putting together a raffle basket for Gemma's volleyball team with her. We tried to make it something that teen boys would like so we loaded it up with weird chip flavors, ice tea, donuts, and a Fortnite gift card (hahh!)

Another massage and cupping visit for Grey with Miss Emma from Peak Performance Therapy. We are so lucky to have her and Grey always feels so much better and more loose afterwards.

Afternoon double date lunch with Uch and Uncle Drip! We left all the kids under the supervision of Gemma and Violet at our house and went out to dinner at Woodside just the grownup parents! Then we all hung out at our house into the evening just hanging out and chatting. It was the slowest, longest goodbye (like always! our favorite!) but the kids even know now that when Tia and Uchie say "okay, we're going home" that it is a lie and we are definitely going to have 40 more things to talk about and Uncle B and Uncle Drip are definitely going to find another 40 more topics on top of that.

Time with Family and Friends. Rusty played at his friend Jase's nerf gun birthday party and then hag out at Chum and Abba's house after his dentist appointment (thank you for taking him, Chum!) Gemma went to Peyton's birthday party (happy birthday Peyt! We love you!) and she had her confirmation class this week too. 

Grateful for election day. Grateful for the opportunity to vote and have a voice. Grateful for all the voters who used their voices as well. Always grateful for the poll booth workers who spend all day there so that we can all have voices. I love those poll booth grannies who hand out candy and stickers fueled by coffee and the belief of democracy. 

Teaching about Costa Rica in the elementary school and bringing the students' pasaportes back out for learning. They all loved seeing the photos and hearing about my time living in Costa Rica during my study abroad experience. I also taught them about the natural hot springs around Arenal volcano and their minds were blown. Spanish Expo started week 2 and practiced camina/corre and translating some sentences in musical chairs style. Spanish 1 got started learning about Ecuador and capibaras as we prepare for their first novel of the year. Spanish 2 took their final assessment on El Silbon (including a speaking portion) and then started watching Coco to celebrate Day of the Dead. I ordered more tissue paper because these kids are obsessed with making paper flowers - so we did some more of those during the movie! 

Sporting with equipment return of the youth football and cheerleading (thank you to the volunteers who were out until after dark collecting all the stuff - you are appreciated!)Violet had her first indoor soccer game at Turfside with her Sparks team. Gemma had two basketball open gyms and it was another week of Varsity football because we made it to the district championship game! It was rainy and cold but an incredible game that truly came down to the final seconds. So proud of this team - 2nd place team in District 5! Every person in my family cried a little bit for the last game and to lose our senior players - how they have been such a big part of our family over the last three years and how they have loved and laughed with all of our kids. We love you Cohen, DJ, Dawson, Barty, Baker, Kaden, Burnie, Brennan, Liam, and StevenStango! On our way out of the game, I looked at cousin Becky and we both took a huge sigh and then laughed about how only just at that moment at 10:30p on Friday Nov 7th did we realize how tired we truly were as coaches' wives from June-now. What an incredible season but sheesh - this momma is T.I.R.E.D. 

Making baked ravioli, Korean beef and rice with roasted broccoli, Pioneer Woman skillet lasagna, chicken and biscuit casserole and chicken gravy over mashed potatoes (both at 10:45p on Friday night - because I can't take away the heartache of the last football game, but I can make comfort food to warm their bellies before bed). I made a batch of cowboy cookies too.