Around Here week 17: 04/21-27

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

photo cred: Kitty

artwork cred: my 3rd grade student LP

Intentional Outdoor Hours: 55+ hours (of 1000)
Earth day! It was mostly spring sports that had us outside this week. Friday night was pretty (albeit windy) and the semi-formal kids were able to get beautiful photos outside (thank you Mitchell family for hosting!)

Reading and finishing High Achiever by Tiffany Jenkins and really being blown away by the first hand account of someone who suffered with addiction. What a look into the perspective of someone who is trapped in that life. Thank you to my cousin Heather for letting me borrow! Also continuing to read The Body by Bill Bryson and started The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

Listening on my commute to the Bruce Springsteen spotify playlist and also The Invisible Life of Addie Larue...but my gosh - the narrator's voice is so melodic and relaxing I am literally struggling to keep my eyes open every time I listen! It's actually kind of dangerous.

Meeting our new nephew, Baby Blair! Our whole fam (minus Grey who had a confirmation requirement) spent some time in the hospital on Sunday morning snuggling that sweet boy, whispering happy birthdays into his ear, and sniffing that heaven-sent that still lingers on newborns. See, this is the problem folks...I just love babies too too much. In my favorite book, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, one of my dog-eared pages is this part of the story when Francie gets to hold her baby cousin (which describes exactly my thoughts about babies too)

"She touched the baby's soft round cheek with her fingers as she had seen Joanna do. A thrill started at her fingertips, went up her arm, and through her entire body. 'When I get big,' she decided, 'I'll always have a new baby in the house." 

Moving the chickies to the coop What a relief to get them out of the house (hah, every year; and yet). We got them moved out to the coop and they seem happy and cozy in there.

Proud of B for working so tirelessly at his job; it's school budget season. This week they had an open house for the community to see some of the upcoming projects. It was a success and the kids and I stopped by to support Daddy and then ended up actually really impressed with all the new fun things to come. It's one thing to have B explain it to us in words, but to see the designs with our own eyes. Bravo CT! 

Smiling at Grey and all his friends who attended the JrHigh semiformal on Friday night. Their whole friend group went together but the girls all matched the boys up with one of the girls (hah, love teenage girls! they can get anything organized!) Grey and Mary were paired up and looked stunning in their lavender together. Grey said it was fun and then most of the friend group went out to eat at Chili's afterwards. 

So happy for Grey who harvested a turkey on Saturday morning. Grey, B, and Uncle Jonny went out early on Saturday (mentor turkey day) and had success almost right away. Grey was so pumped and those three together anyway is always a good time. Now we have a turkey freezing in our deep freezer that I'm moving around every time I go get meat for dinner, lol (#huntingmommaprobs)

Fangirling at the North Star Musical. Gem, Violet, Olive, and I all had a girls night - we even met up with my friend (and former teacher) Renee too! The students performed Annie and they did a beautiful job! I loved seeing them all up there shine and I got to catch up with them afterwards and let them know how proud I was. My girls all loved the show; Olive was dancing and lip synching the whole time! 

Kitty & Bryan update on the PCT: 400 milessssssssss!! They made it to Wrightwood (CA Section d) after 27 miles uphill with a 5liter water to carry and almost no shade. Kitty said it was the hardest stretch of miles so far. They got to take real hot showers in a hotel in Wrightwood and then had another 24 mile day to get to cold brews - hah! They are killing it and I am just so darn proud of them. 

Teaching next to nothing at the elementary school because its state testing. I had to administer the test to my small group this week and they were stars working through it even though by day 2 they were so over it. Spanish Expo (8th graders) were doing their state testing too, so we kept it really light and easy practicing Spanish colors and learning about the human towers in Tarragona, Spain. Spanish 1 started Unit 5B and Spanish 2 finished their movie review essays (300 words!) and then started Unit 5B too. 

Sporting with plenty of soccer practices (last week before games next week!) Vi and Rust (and coach Mom) had two 10U practices, Reddy (and coach Mom) had one 4U soccer practice, and Gemma had two 12U practices. Violet had a Sparks soccer game and one Sparks practice. Grey had one baseball practice, 2 baseball games, and a Chaos basketball tournament day. 

Making baked ravioli, sheet pan chicken fajitas, "crack" chicken sammies, taco rice bowls, frozen pizza. And I think lots of leftovers otherwise (?) I got nothing, I know these kids are eating though - HAH; thank goodness for Walmart delivery. 

Around Here Week 16: 04/14-20

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

photo cred: B

photo cred: Miss Baylee

photo cred: Becky C

our new nephew! photo cred: Kev & Uch

Intentional Outdoor Hours: 42+ hours (of 1000)
the blooms are blooming! my goodness, it is so beautiful. We had our first mow of the season too and it was nice to get in some time on the tractor; in the sun and smelling that sweet fresh cut lawn smell. 

Reading High Achiever by Tiffany Jenkins and The Body by Bill Bryson

Listening on my commute to The Invisible Life of Addie Larue and then on Friday, I celebrated Taylor Swift music release day. Cheers to all of you who celebrate! 

Appreciating Rusty's afternoon weekday ritual: Get out of the car, peel off his backpack in the middle of the yard, kick off his shoes, and immediately get on the trampoline. And then he jumps on the trampoline for a solid hour before he's ready for a drink, snack, and normal human interactions. Hah! 

Cleaning Grey's baseball uniform. Apologies if I say that every week from now until July, but honestly; soaking, scrubbing, and washing his uniform multiple times a week is basically a part-time job.

Prepping the spot for our storage container. We need a space for all our seasonal 'toys' (kayaks, bikes, etc) and a solution for hay. So Pappy and Gigi listened to B's hope and dreams and bought him a giant storage container for his Christmas present! (yay!) We got a delivery of stone this week and then B got to measuring and leveling it so that it will be ready when it gets here. 

Easing Osa into guardian dog life. We have been giving her more time in the goat pen a little by little each day. This week she's been going in after school and staying with the goats until dark. She's doing great - especially now that we have electric along the top and the bottom of the fence. When I was mowing this week near the pen, all the goats started to run away from the sound of the tractor and Osa got up and sat between the tractor and the goaties. So she's getting it!  

Singing happy birthday to our new nephew Blair! He was born late Saturday evening and already the cutest baby child this world has ever seen. (I'm his godmomma so I might be a little bias but actually not - he really is) So proud of my baby sis Uch who is a champion and now has 3 boys under 3. 

PCT Kitty & Bryan update and in with 342 miles! We got to facetime this week and to see her face and hear her voice! She looks beautiful and happy and so strong. They got to take a dip into some natural hot springs this week and even made it to the McDonalds at Cajon Pass which is a hiker favorite spot on the PCT trail (hah). Kitty was desperate to make it to McDonald's by Saturday so that she could have wifi to get updates on our newest nephew's birth! She was always telling us about the 'trail angels' who offer rides, food, drinks, and pick-me-ups all along the PCT. They got much needed respite and hot showers from a trail angel's house - Mama Tink, I don't even know you but I want to be you when I grow up!) What if we could all be trail angels for each other on the trail of life (I know that it is so cheesy - but seriously, that is what the inside of my heart feels like!)

Teaching and finishing up the fútbol unit at the elementary school. We will be in the PSSA state testing window for the next two weeks, so it will be more relaxed when I get to see my students, otherwise I will be proctoring a small group for the state testing. Spanish Expo completed their geography week and did awesome country infographs that I can't wait to display in class. Spanish 1 finished Brandon Brown Quiere un Perro while Spanish 2 finished the movie The 33 and got started on their summary essays where they will use imperfect and preterite verbs to summarize the Chilean mining accident.

Sporting with lots of soccer practices: one 4-U soccer practice (Reddy and Coach Momma), two AYSO 10-U soccer practices (Rusty & Vi and Asst Coach Momma!), and two 12-U AYSO soccer practices for Gemma. Violet had two Sparks soccer games and 1 Sparks practice. Grey had two Chaos basketball tourneys and 4 CT baseball games (!!). Vi & Gem also had a basketball fun day with games and competitions (thank you Coach Lisa!)

Making sloppy joes, shells&cheese, and air-fried green beans (so yum), copycat Olive garden chicken over pasta, chicken, veggie, & biscuit casserole, Pioneer Woman skillet lasagna, I made another batch of protein cookies this weekend to feed my bottomless pit children. 

Keto'ing. Still going strong and loving the freedom of a clear mind and restful nighttime sleep.  I am especially loving roasted broccoli and cauliflower, buff chicken dip stuffed zucchini boats, and chocolate cream cheese fat bombs.