A glimpse into what it is like to be in our family just this moment.
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| photo cred: Gigi |
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| photo cred: Jenn V |
Intentional Outdoor Hours: 552+ hours (of 1000)
Our seedum has transformed into Bee-tropolis again! It makes me so happy to see them all buzzing around happily. And fall is bringing in the big guns for the sky in the mornings and the evenings...like, honestly - okay showstopper. Reason eight million why fall is the best season of all - sunrises and sunsets slay everyday.
Reading Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score which was the book Violet bought for me with her own money for my birthday. It is pretty spicy (which is really hilarious considering it's a gift from our 8yr old) but it is an easy read and interesting plot - plus it makes her so happy to see that I'm reading it. I took a little pause on my other two books so that Vi could see that her book took priority.
Moving the guinea pigs into school! Toffee and Queen Barb headed back into my classroom for the year. My students will be so happy to see them and I'm sure the pigs will be happy to get extra snuggles from them and our custodial staff who spoils them with veggies every night!
Working on finding a school season rhythm. Right now what has been working for us is a family notebook that sits in the kitchen that I write two lists everyday - an AM list and a PM list. It includes all the must-do things that we need to accomplish for the day to work. Things like emptying the dishwasher, feeding pets, making sure sports uniforms are packed and cleaned, and prepping meals. Mostly the tasks are completed by Brandon or me - but the kids have been looking at it and knocking things off the list too because they know if the list isn't done, we are going to be held up to wherever we need to go (school/games/practices, etc). So we have the family notebook, the family calendar (on the fridge), the extended family email that goes out every Monday, and then my personal planner...that's how I can usually make sure everything gets crossed and dotted. LOL
Thankful for 'pinch hitters' who were able to come to the babysitting rescue when Miss Emma had a college visit on Tuesday (my first student day at school). Kuma took the first shift first thing in the morning (thank you!!) and then Pappy and Gigi had the babies at their house for the rest of the afternoon (thank you!) They had such a good time with everyone and it all worked out - but it is always worrisome to switch up the normal routine. Miss Emma - we love you and are so proud and excited for you!!
Celebrating with cousins. On Friday night, we stopped by my Aunt Lisa & Uncle Matt's house to give hugs and kisses to our two newest cousins. Baby Nora was celebrating her baptism while she was in town from Montana and Baby Lennox was there to celebrate from Florida! I was so happy to give them squeezes (and to Nora's big sis Gracie too!) On Saturday, we celebrated cousin Ben's 9th birthday at the Que with pizza, cake, and swimming!
Playdays! Grey had a sleepover at the Valentines to celebrate Gabe's birthday and then hitched a ride with them to the Varsity game on Friday night (thank you!). I got to have lunch with B and three of the kids since they only had a half day on Friday! Rusty and Violet spent the afternoon with Abba and Chum on Friday too (thank you!)
Feeling that first week exhaustion, hah. That first week back teaching is no joke and I took full advantage of the opportunity to sleep in on Saturday morning. We all did! Between adjusting to the new routine, and all the sports, and the late Friday night lights...we all needed some extra time laying around. We took it pretty easy on Saturday and did what was needed in terms of chores and otherwise just tried to rest.
Teaching for the first week of school. We had an in-service day on Monday and had some great presentations from United Way and Action Driven Education. Seriously, I am the nerd who is taking notes because I just love people with passion and ideas. On Tuesday, our students were back in the building and it is so good to see them again. Spanish 1 started right in with Me llamo and choosing Spanish names, Spanish 2 did some review and did some baseline writing, while Spanish 3/4 read about Tomatina and even had a (tissue paper) tomato fight! We got in all three of our weekly traditions: Música Miércoles, Mental Health Thursday, and Baila Viernes too! It is so nice to be back with my kiddos again.
Sporting with two flag football practices for Rusty, one cheer practice for Vi, two cheer practices and two soccer practices for Gemma. Grey had three football practices and then a scrimmage at River Valley on Thursday night. Coach Daddy had team dinner & film, four football practices, and an incredible game at Portage on Friday night - truly the game came down to the final 6 seconds, it was crazy (we lost, but what a great game to watch!)
Making the decision to become a member of 5 Dinners in 1 Hour because I just cannot FOOD right now (hah). I seriously stared at my planner for several minutes with a complete blank mind like I don't even remember how to buy or make food...LOL. So how 5D1H works, as a member, you select your five weeknight meals and then it gives you a grocery list and the recipes including all the prep you need to do on Sunday night so that each weeknight you literally just cook. Everything already ready to go and minimal clean up. Not only do I need food to be mindless right now (after a whole summer of making 3 meals a day for 6 kids) but I also need some new recipes in my rotation because I am bored to death with our regular meal options. So far, I was really impressed with their meal choices, and with pretty standard ingredients - I had plenty of supplies already and nothing I couldn't find in my Walmart pick up order.
Our meals this week included: Slow cooked beef & cheddar sammies (5D1H), crunch rosemary chicken (5D1H), slow cooker pork tenderloin with potatoes & carrots (5D1H). I also made potato soup, we ate take out pizza on the car ride home from Grey's scrimmage, and I made cabbage roll in a bowl too.
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