Around Here Week 07: 02/11-17

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

photo cred: Coach Bryan

Intentional Outdoor Hours: 10+ hours (of 1000)
meh, nothing new for me. 

Reading and finishing Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell and really got wrapped up in it! I made lots of predictions as I was reading it and um, they were all incorrect (hah). Because the plot was so brutal (especially for a momma's heart) I don't know that I would ever recommend it to anyone, like, 'you gotta read this' but it was good writing and held my attention and kept me guessing. 

Designing, printing, and making the kids' valentines for the school parties - with a few extras for Olive and Red to gift to their friends too (looking at you, Miss Emma, Miss Baylee, Wells, Heath, and of course - Beau Maurer - hah!) I used Canva (aka my boyfriend) and made koala cards for Vi to match her Valentine box theme and Ninja cards for Rust. The kids wrote all their classmates name on them (there should be an educational aspect, right?) and then attached a lollipop to each and voila! good to go for the Valentine/Lunar New Year party on Wednesday!

Out to lunch with Heather and so grateful that she's the kind of a friend to last minute change the date/time because she can see that I am zapped of energy but still holds us to a lunch date because she knows I need that to recharge too. (you're my zero!) Lunch and mimosas were delicious at Stonebridge Brewery and we had great conversation and laughs (like always!) Love you!!

Ripping up carpet on the stairs. I mean, exactly what we need right now - a big project (LOL, not), but it is something that really needed done and these elderly dogs are making us nuts with their inconsistent digestive systems (ugh forever). We were pleasantly surprised to find finished floors underneath our very outdated carpeting - B did an awesome job and ripped, sanded, and cleaned up to the landing so far. xxxo thanks babe.

Cheering on the Chiefs and Taylor Swift at the Superbowl! #girldad #getyouaman

So many winter holidays to celebrate! We celebrated Mardi Gras on Tuesday which means Kings Cake for dessert! And then Valentines day included a surprise breakfast visit from Pappy&Gigi who brought us heart-shaped donuts. Then as is traditional - flowers from Dadda for all the girls and flowers and chocolates for me (my prince!) This week I also organized Staff Potluck at school for Mardi Gras and then my students had a Valentines/Farewell fiesta food day on Wednesday! Rusty & Violet celebrated at their school for a Valentines Day/Lunar New Year double celebration and came home with backpacks full of treats and crafts! 

Finishing up more paperwork for my new school and for leaving my current school. I scheduled by physical/TB test and completed my Mandated Reporter training.  I had to confirm with both schools' administrations about my plans for the upcoming ACT 80 day. Then at my current school I organized requisition papers for next year and ordered the prom fundraiser popcorn and finalized the prom posters. 

Don't forget (Tab of the future) that Red and Liv both say 'my turn' like "my churn" and it's so cute you wish it was actually churn instead of turn and maybe they'll never self correct and that would be just perfect. 

Snagging a #studerkidsinarow pic since I haven't had one for about a year. oops. I love looking at the hashtag of all of them on Instagram and marveling over how fast kids grow up (building up and breaking my heart always). 

Cleaning out some of my classroom and oh boy, the overwhelm. The amount of stuff to organize, copy, prep, pack away. And the amount of memories and years of being a person in this school community that has seen years of siblings and friends and kids I worry about and love and feel proud of. I've only cried like three times this week - so I'm counting it as a win #hotmessexpress 

Sending Rusty and Violet for a sleepover with Aunt Kitty much to their delight. They made clay pottery and did all the fun, spooky, silly, magical things that is Aunt Kitty (most fun aunt everrr). The three of them even went for a visit to see Abba & Chum at their mini getaway which included an indoor pool - so those little fishies were very pleased!

Teaching Spanish 1 about Carrie the dancing dog and reviewing AR/ER/IR verb endings. Spanish 2 finished their novel Ekeko and started watching Pachamama. Spanish 3/4 finished up their Imperfect verb endings and started watching McFarland USA (love this movie!) All levels had a farewell/Valentines day food fiesta day on Wednesday. We had great participation and so many delicious things to eat (I love me some cowboy caviar and chocolate covered strawberries!) And it is official! My last day will be 02/23, so I am trying to organize, copy, and clean up as much as possible in the next week and a half. Ugh, so physically, mentally, and emotionally draining right now in this transition period. 

Sporting with a basketball game and a Sparks soccer practice for Violet. Gemma had a JrHigh soccer open, 2 sixth grade basketball games, and kept stats for the Jr High basketball girls once this week. Gem and Violet were both announced at the Varsity girls' game as youth league players too! Grey had baseball pitching, QB practice, got announced at the Varsity game, and his last two Jr High basketball games this week. Brandon had the Ken Lantzy football meeting this week. 

Making take out burgers and fries in between basketball games, sheet pan broccoli, cauliflower, and cheddar brats (mardi gras!), take out pizza (Valentines day!), Pioneer Woman skillet lasagna, blackened tilapia, and hot beef au jus sandwiches. For the superbowl - I made Philly chicken cheesesteak sammies and twice baked potatoes! For Mardi Gras, I made Kings Cake (with canned cinnamon rolls) with 8 babies baked in it so that none of my human crybabies whined about not getting a baby in their slice (hah!) For our Mardi Gras Staff Potluck I made crockpot corn pudding. On Valentine's morning, I made chocolate croissants and Pap and Gigi brought us donuts too! I made honey/pb/cheerio bars with chocolate on top too!