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.