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.