Around Here Week 46: 11/08-14

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

Intentional Outdoor Hours:  529+ hours (of 1000)
Up 4 hours this week thanks to an afternoon outside helping Brandon set up our ShelterLogic Shed. We are going to keep the tractor and the goats' hay in there this winter so that we have space for the vehicles in the garage. We are hopeful that someday we will build a proper barn - but for now this seemed like the most feasible and cost effective solution. It looks good and wasn't terribly difficult to put up- Grey and Gemma helped too. 

Reading Outlander by Diana Galbaldon.

Letting the kids sleep in and camp out in the living room two "school nights" this week since they didn't have school on Parent Teacher Conference day and Veteran's Day, which is customary every year for them. I found Gem and Vi snuggled up on Wednesday morning on the couch and it was so sweet. Miss Hannah stayed with the kids on Tuesday. (thank you!) Rusty was overjoyed to have a special day with his Chummie boy (my dad) where they played ping pong all day long. (thank you!)

Checking in with the kids' teachers on Parent Teacher Zoom conferences. Everyone got good remarks and we really just have the very best teachers in all the land. So grateful for them and how they support and cheer on our kids. 

Feeling so much gratitude for veteran's, especially my little sister Aunt Kitty (National Guard vet). We have numerous friends and family members who are veterans including several family and friends who are currently enlisted and stationed all over the world. How lucky we are to know and love real life heroes.

Taking Gemma out to an eye specialist (Dr. Moon) to be seen to maybe shed some light on 'the mystery that is Gemma.' We had a special day just the two of us (I had scheduled off of work) and we drove an hour and half one way to visit with Dr. Moon who checked her eyes, her eye muscles, and some other cognitive stuff to see what we can figure out. The appointment went good and we grabbed lunch afterwards before heading back home. Fingers crossed that we get back some helpful information when the full report gets sent to us. 

Shouting Bravo for my students who participated in a local musical production of Disney's Descendants. I had four students who acted in the show and they did so great. My sister Uch and my two girls went to the show with me on Friday night. We had a great time and my students were so proud and sweet. Gosh, I am just so proud to be their teacher and see all the ways they shine!

Reading up on owls because we are pretty sure we figured out that's what is killing our chickens! Brandon and Grey saw a huge owl near the driveway one night right where we have been finding feathers that clearly show a chicken has been kidnapped/murdered. Time to order a big fake owl for the yard to keep our girls safe!

Smiling at Grey's nature pictures. Since he already got a deer, he's been heading out to the woods when Brandon goes to the treestand to spot for him. He sits himself up way at the other end of the fields and texts Brandon on my phone to let him know when deer is headed up his way. (It's hilarious to read the text messages between them when they return later as Grey is learning how to use GIFs). Grey is actually a pretty good photographer/videographer and he's snagged some cool videos of birds migrating, deer hopping, and always the hilariously adorable selfie shows up in the camera roll. Grey goes out from about 4:30p until dark by himself and finds his way home with the help of my phone flashlight! Soak up those outdoor hours, little man. 

Winter Sporting with a basketball practice for Gem and a game on Saturday night for her. Brandon and Grey took her to the game while I stayed home with the littles because it was too close to Red's bedtime and #pregnancyearlybedtime 

Teaching the last week of pre-reading for Capibara con Botas in Spanish 1 which included creating our capybara designs to be displayed in the room and playing Gimkit to practice for our upcoming vocab quiz (TEACHERS: if you have not tried Gimkit yet - get with the program! Students LOVE it). Spanish 2 finished El Silbon and Spanish 2 Honors started the Spooky Stories writing unit. Spanish 3 read chapters 3-5 of La Llorona de Mazatlan and Spanish 4 finished the Chica Ideal unit including the Spiderman reading and Ratón en Venta animated short. 

Making buffalo chicken dip, pot roast in the instant pot. I was deeply grateful to visit with Heather on Sunday when she and Caleb stopped by to drop off taco lasagna and multiple other surprises for us (including Pie Shoppe snails! my favs!) Thank you so much Heather, everything was delicious and you are the most thoughtful person - I am so grateful to have you in my life.