A glimpse into what it is like to live in our home just this moment.
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| photo cred: B |
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| photo cred: B |
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| photo cred: B |
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| photo cred: Jackie F |
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| photo cred: Onara C |
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| photo cred: Becky C |
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| photo cred: Mr. Mike B |
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| photo cred: Violet |
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| photo cred: Gemma |
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| photo cred: B |
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| photo cred: Uchie |
Intentional Outdoor hours: 185+ hours (of 1000)
So happy it is officially summertime and we are racking up the outdoor hours all day long. I take on the farm duties in the summer, so even chores contribute to hours earned, hah! On the first day of a summer break, Olive came outside with tyedye, teeny shorts, and a bubble wand and shouted, "I'm a Summer Girl!" and I was like, YAS queen. This is the official vibe of the season. (Also, confession: I don't know what is wrong with me because I do actually love summer and want to be a 'summer girl!' - but for just a moment I thought about football and Halloween and had an actual ache in my chest for fall. Can I just be chill for like five minutes?!)
Reading The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E Harrow because it is one of my favorite books and I wanted to re-read to celebrate the start of summer. (Pausing Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner for a minute)
Listening and finishing Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez because I waited until the last week of school to enjoy it. And I did - I am really a fan of her rom-coms; they make me smile and get me swept up in their world. My commute feels quicker and I get so many chores done if I listen while I work! Big recommend from me!
Adding another 'braid' style to my repertoire: dragon braids! Our cousin Audra taught me how to do them while in Lancaster this past weekend. My braid count styles include: French, Dutch, Bubble, Dragon, and Fishtail (only in a ponytail for this one though, still mastering from the scalp). My favorite is Dutch because it stays the tightest. B and I joke that after braiding three daughters hair regularly my hands are going to be gnarled and stuck in permanent braid position and he will need to spoon feed me in our future (he says he will).
Super Fun School day for everyone on Monday. Violet and Rusty had outside parties at the elementary school and I got pics sent to me from generous and thoughtful mommas and teachers who were chaperoning the events. Grey and Gemma both participated in the annual SHOFCO soccer tournament at the high school on Monday. Both of their teams did great and they spent the entire school day outside playing soccer (they were tired and sunkissed!) At my school, we had carnival day in the morning and then Somerstock (outside) at the high school in the afternoon. Perfect fun days of community building to close out the school year!
Dropping Gem off for her first house-sitting job for the summer. She waters plants, empties de-humidifiers, checks mail, takes care of small pets, and does a general well check on the house. She had her first week long house sit and is always good about remembering (because you know I forget every darn day). If you're in the market for a pop-in house sitter while you're away on vacation - I know a girl! She's also babysitting aged and is happy to play with your kids while you get summer projects done without interruptions!
Celebrating our Rusty who had his 9th birthday this week! He doesn't usually get to celebrate in school, but this year he got to take ice cream sandwiches to hand out to his teachers and classmates. We also sang with his teammates at the soccer game and we took snack (juice bags and mini donuts) and celebrated with family at the fields too! He wanted his ears pierced, so he and his bestie Liam headed out for a friend ear piercing adventure with Violet and I on the first official day of summer (Hah!) They both were brave and no tears were shed! Rusty looks so cute and I love his earrings - talk about highlighting the sparkle in his eyes! We are going to plan a swim party with his friends when it is a little warmer outside!
Thank goodness for B who took Last Day of School Photos. I had to be at work before anyone was ready, and on top of getting all 6 kids dressed, ready, packed up, and to school on time - he also lined everyone up and got their photos taken for the momma who is a big ole sap about it. Thank you, B for pulling that off - SuperDad for real. I am so grateful. What a shock it is every year to see the difference in maturity and flat out growth between the first and the last day of a school year. Makes me so proud and so dang sad too. Time, I will never understand you.
Last day of school shuffle. Since the last day of school is only a few hours for students, we had everyone going every which direction (I had full day). Grey came home and slept (!hah), Gemma went shopping with Colbi, Violet went with Evaley (thank you Onara!), and Rusty went with Chum (thank you Dad!). The babies stayed until naptime when B was able to pick them up after his half day.
Checking in with our Financial Planner and finally setting up Red and Olive's accounts (# 15 on 100 Small Things list).
Impressed with Violet's formal presentation of why she should be allowed to get a Kindle. She sat me down and showed me a video on a review, showed me confirmation that there were no games or apps on it besides the reading, gave me examples of books that she would like to read, and talked about money she has saved that could go towards it. This is the kind of preparation I like! The girl loves making a PowerPoint presentation and I AM HERE FOR IT.
Planting some seeds in our mini garden and crossing our fingers. It is so late in the season, but honestly we just had a frost again - so maybe it's right on schedule. I planted some snap peas, kale, lettuce, broccoli, and onions. I want to plant zucchini and cucumber somewhere there is a little more room. I also put some marigold seeds in tire containers down at the chicken coop. Our potato plant buckets have some small sprouts in them already from a few weeks ago, so fingers crossed!
Celebrating my sister Kitty on her milestone birthday: 40! Kitty, Uch, and I had dinner at El Jalisco to celebrate her and were joined by Russel and Kim by perfect chance at the exact right moment to have the servers bring out a shot for Kitty it was so hilariously loud and chaotic with the noisemakers and singing that I am still laughing about it. My beautiful, atrevida (bold & daring), incredible little sister - I am so grateful for your life and can't believe I've been lucky enough to watch all 40 years of it unfold. SCF.
While the sisters are out, the boys and kids will play. Tell me how I get home from Kitty's birthday dinner to a yard full of husbands and kids setting off rockets, gnawing on pizza and wings, and blasting music. Actually, just kidding, that's my literal dream of a life.
Graduation parties this week: my former NS students Stasi & Shelby. Thank you for inviting me! I will always be cheering you on! Stasi will be playing soccer for Penn State in the fall at college and Shelby is headed to architecture school at Penn State.
All Eyes on Deck as I watch the Freedom Flotilla on it's way to break the seige in Gaza. God speed to the crew.
Teaching the last three days of the school year which was mostly just craziness. Carnival and Somerstock (field days) at the elementary and high school on Monday. Then it was the last full student day on Tuesday which mostly consisted of returning work and finalizing grades and then just two hours on Wednesday to say goodbye. I had a few students stop by to wish me a happy summer (so sweet). I attended my graduation (carpool with Heather, yay!) and the weather held out for the entire outdoor ceremony (it didn't even get too cold after dark!) And with that - the school year is officially closed. You can bet I had coffee on the front porch swing on the very next morning to kick off summer break!
Sporting with the last two 5U AYSO soccer games for Red, Olive, and Coach Momma. We had a little team picnic after our last game to celebrate a great season. I am so proud of our little Green Machine and all they learned this season! Rusty also had his last two 10U AYSO soccer games with Asst Coach Mom this year (he had a fun year but is adamant about going back to baseball next year. I think both he and Red will make the switch next season!) Violet had one 12U AYSO soccer game, a Sparks soccer practice, one AYSO tourney team practice, and on Saturday she played in the AYSO tournament. Gemma had one basketball summer league game, two 14U AYSO soccer games, and one Gators soccer game. Grey had one summer league basketball game, and two City Colt baseball games. I got Rusty registered for basketball camp and confirmed that Grey would volunteer at it and finally got Grey's varsity baseball pants cleaned as good as I could and turned in. B had the first offseason meeting with Coach Chad and Coach Dig to finalize the summer training schedule.
Making shredded bbq chicken sammies, chicken, veggie, and biscuit casserole (Rusty's birthday dinner request), pork roast and sauerkraut in the crockpot, kielbasa and fried rice on the Blackstone, burgers and parm pasta, For the soccer tourney, I made cowboy cookies at Violet's request.
Celebrina my sourdough is back out of the fridge and working hard already. I made two loaves of cinnamon swirl quick loaf and a proper sourdough loaf too.
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