Around Here Week 41: 10/05-11

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

photo cred: Jenilee L

photo cred: Stacy B

photo cred: Michael O'Ship

photo cred: Michael O'Ship

photo cred: Stacy B

photo cred: Stacy B

photo cred: Shannon L

photo cred: Uch

photo cred: Uch

Intentional Outdoor Hours: 530+ hours (of 1000)
It's never dull, that's for sure. On Sunday morning, Olive and I found a opossum asleep in our chicken coop (I think he probably ate about 9 chicken eggs and was in a food coma). Brandon scooped him up and that little rascal could not have cared less; he had a full belly! B transported him to the woods and sent him on his way (hopefully never to return!) The kitties are catching mice and eating them full everyday (we only know they are catching them because we see them play with them first). Then they caught and ate a rabbit!?!? Like what even is this country life? 

Reading and finishing Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I started two books after that - Strange Pictures by UKETSU and The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (for my book club). As for Carrie Soto is Back - I loved it. I generally do love TJR but the athlete and hard-on-myself girl in me had me locked in for the whole ride. By the last match I felt like I was getting out of breath myself! I literally know zilch about tennis, but it is written in a way that it didn't feel like a hinderance. I very much enjoyed it!  Some of my favorite quotes below - 

"Every match you play, you are one match closer to becoming the greatest tennis player the world has ever seen. You were not born that person. You were born to become that person. And that is why you must best yourself every time you get on the court. Not so that you beat the other person - '...but so I can become more myself..."

"My ambition has long felt oppressive. It is not joy - it is a master that I must answer to..."

"The whole stadium is going wild...But I cannot hear anything as clearly as the sound of my own voice, begging me: Let this be enough."

"What a gift it is, to be able to guide someone to a point and then let them finish it themself. To give someone all the knowledge you have and then pray they use it right." 

Listening to The Life of  Showgirl by TSwift. (my favs: Wi$h Li$t, Opalite, and Father Figure)

Celebrating our nephew Heath on Monday night - his third birthday! Uch and Kevin brought over pizza from the new brick fire place near their house (Iannai's at Pickin' Chicken) and I made some brownies and we let the kids run wild and free in the backyard while we huddled around a fire. Basically perfection. Happiest birthday to our Heathy - how you are loved and adored babe! 

Watching Art for Kids Hub after school each day with the babies while I finish up in the classroom. They love watching them and Reddy has started to incorporate some of the techniques into his own drawings (like drawing eyes and teeth!) 

Shaking our head at a hen who has decided to be broody under a bush near the garage door. She's been sitting on this pile (literally 15+ eggs) for over a week and a half and refuses to get up. I really don't think any of them will actually hatch - she's a new layer and her eggs are so small yet, but she's determined. We started delivering her food and water directly to her bush residence, because - sister, what the heck?! I mean, how did we become these people? LOL. In other chicken news, our little homegrown chickies are growing well and strong in the tub in the basement still. A few more weeks and we will be able to move them out to the coop! 

Happy half birthday to our biggest baby Booboo. Fifteen and a half - and even a teenager can get excited about that one because it means only 6 more months until a driver's permit! He picked banana bread for his dessert, we had his favorite dinner (Pioneer Woman lasagna), and I had to stand on a chair to mark his height on the doorframe. 

Knocking out a lot of little random tasks that needed done this week. I needed to reschedule Olive's dentist appoint, pay for my Be Kind neon shirt for the elementary school spirit week, remember some soccer booster deadlines, donate fruit snacks for the JH student council who babysits teachers' kids on early dismissal day, edit a letter of recommendation for an awesome teacher, and bring in snack for Olive's pre-K snack day! Thank goodness for my planner, my literal lifeline out here. 

Afterschool downtown Somerset visit with the babies. We stopped by the Chubby Chipmunk for desserts and a tea and then visited my friend and book store owner, Renee, at The Laurel & Leaf bookshop to pick up my copy of The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson which is my book club's pick for October (and Renee is in that book club!) 

Grey's biweekly sports massage and cupping is going great with Miss Emma. He looks forward to it every other week and his body definitely needs the attention after the games. We are going to keep the massages coming all the way through basketball season too. Emma is wonderful if you are local and especially if you have an athlete in your house! You can find her at Peak Performance Therapy on facebook! 

Proud and grateful to this football team and community who rallied together on Friday night for the Lime Out. A senior student, friend, and basketball player (Ethan) is battling  T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma and in his honor, the football game on Friday night was a lime out to raise money to support his journey - and to show him that we are all beside him in love and strength. Our boys wore green socks and shirts, our coaches all wore lime green shirts, both teams' cheerleaders were in lime green, and the whole stadium was filled with lime green fundraiser shirts too (amazing job to Katie of Lilac Graphics and Designs who took on the enormous job of completing our fundraising event!) Ethan took the field with our captains to participate in the coin toss and stayed for most of the game in the Rowdy section with our student body. It was such a display of community and kindness and support. Makes me so proud to be part of the Township community. And huge shout out to the opposing team, Cambria Heights, who took the field in lime green sports tape (I could cry at their gesture!)

Blessed to have our kitties Nova an Blaze. They are such sweethearts and love being held by anyone - even Louie who holds them in the most ridiculous ways. They purr so loudly (especially Nova) and it feels like the vibration of that purr can heal things inside my chest. They are just so loving and gentle to all people and so sweet with Bullet. At 16+ years old, Bullet is in the the twilightest years of twilght...and yet, he loves those kitties. They share space and after the kitties come back from hunting adventures, they come over and touch noses with him. It's so cute I could perish, honestly. Speaking of perishing - I think the kitties may have added time to Bullet's life which is actually crazy. 

Some time in the woods for Grey. He went out in the tree stand with Pappy again on Friday and was a happy fella in camo. 

Time with family and friends. Another morning with my nephew boys as they slept over on Saturday night. How I adore having their sweet faces here. My little sweetie boys. Rusty went to his friend Jace's nerf birthday party, Gemma got a day with Abba on Sunday. Always grateful for family and friends on the sidelines of our kids' games. It matters to show up and be the encouraging face when a kid is doing something they love. We are so lucky to have so many people who show up for our kids. 

So very thankful for the ceasefire in Palestine. Thankful for the frogs in Portland. Thankful for newly elected (yet to be sworn in) congresswoman, Adelita Grijalva, of AZ who will be the 218th vote. Thankful for Heather Cox Richardson and her daily briefings with historical context. 

Teaching about Day of the Dead at the elementary school as we start that unit. The students learned about the difference between Halloween and Dia de muertos, colored calaveras (skulls), and started to watch Coco. Spanish expo (Group 2) finished their week 2 learning about corre/camina and we did a modified translation activity that worked well, so I might continue to use that moving forward. Spanish 1 completed Somos 3 and practiced new target structures: abre, cierra, nunca. Spanish 2 wrote summaries about El Cucuy (always makes everyone feel proud) and then got started on their short spooky stories. Red and Olive enjoyed 'babysitting time' with the JH student council during our early dismissal (teachers stay a full day) - thank you to all those middle school kids who laugh and play with all the teachers' kids! 

Sporting with two minors football practices and one game for Rusty. Violet had one cheer, two soccer practices, she cheered at the majors football game, and watergirled at the Varsity football game. Gemma had three soccer practices, two soccer games, took yearbook photos at the JH football game, and was asst trainer at the Varsity football game. Grey and Coach Daddy had team dinner and film, four football practices, and a varsity football game. I did some Team Mom soccer tasks (concession stand duty reminders, requests for sizes for the end of year gift, making Buff Chicken Dip and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies to donate to Soccerfest concession stand). I also volunteered by working in the concession stand for Soccer fest during the boys' game.

Making Smash burgers, order in pizza for Heath's birthday party, meatloaf with roasted veggies and parm noodles, Pioneer Woman's skillet lasagna, take out turkey subs from Thomahawk, meatball sub sammies, and chicken Philly cheesesteaks. For Heath's birthday I made a doctored up brownie mix box with candy corn on top and for Grey's half birthday I made a loaf of banana bread. For Soccerfest concession stand I made a big crockpot of buffalo chicken dip and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. 

Around Here Week 40: 09/28-10/04

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

photo cred: Becky C

photo cred: Abba

photo cred: B

photo cred: B

selfie cred: Gemma

photo cred: Jeri H

photo cred: Michael O'Ship

photo cred: Michael O'Ship

photo cred: Michael O'Ship

photo cred: Steph M

Intentional Outdoor Hours: 516+ hours (of 1000)

Reading Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Whew, this week was a doozy! It was homecoming week at Township and that means all.the.things!! Dress up days every day (even dress up day at Red and Olive's school too for "fall" week). But we layered on even more things than just regular hoco madness - like Rusty and Violet had marathon fun day on Friday. We helped honor soccer seniors at their senior night game, Grey had to attend the Varsity girls' game for his video production class and the truck got inspected just to name a few things that we were also managing that made this whole week feel like an absolute dead sprint from start to finish. 

To top it off, we had some sick kids. Olive was the one I was most often worrying about this week because poor little thing had a fever. I had to pick her up early from preschool on Tuesday and thank goodness for our secretaries and my administration that just allowed her to sit in my room and color for the last half hour of the day. Liv's fever was completely manageable with Tylenol - like she would bounce back to 95% after she took it, but she was very sleepy and runny nose and I hate kids' fevers more than anything (maybe in another life I was a mom during a time period when fever managing medicine didn't work? because the irrational stress I feel about kids' fevers is legit crazy).  Reddy had a gross phlegmy cough all week, Gemma's body finally said no to her constant-go-go-go and she got really light headed and dizzy at soccer practice and needed to leave early to hydrate and go to sleep at 7p. 

Dryer appointment and we've discovered that we are under warranty (yay!) but the part we need won't be ready to be installed until Oct 16 which is very annoying. We did get the green light to use the dryer (like it shouldn't catch on fire...lol "shouldn't") but we are advised to only use it while we are both home and awake. That sounds like common sense - but when you live in a house of 8 people (4 of them athletes) having the washer and dryer running almost 24 hours a day is almost necessary. So I'm working with the situation, it just takes extra thought and planning (2 things I have plenty of...LOL). 

Grateful to attend Teacher Appreciation night with my student Abby who picked me as her teacher guest! The volleyball boosters hosted a little picnic after school for all the teachers selected and it was so nice to spend time with Abby and the whole team. Red and Olive loved being included too since they were with me and Abby even had them stand in our official photo together (hah!) I love all my kids (actual and students) so much. What a blessing it is to be involved in the raising up of young people. 

Celebrating Reddy's half birthday! He is five and half (and very proud of that half!) We had strawberry crinkle cookies for dessert and measured Reddy on the height door frame. He was pretty excited to be a little older because that means one step closer to playing organized sports (LOL). Literally, he said, "I can almost play flag football and baseball now, right?" Yo, slow down Reddy Sketti - you're just my little fella yet (always?) 

Updating the fridge calendar and getting it all color coded and organized to keep everyone on track! I doodled a haunted house in some of the open space and had such a relaxing time doing something creative and unnecessary. 

Participating in all the homecoming traditions because we love community so much! We had the homecoming bonfire on Wednesday night and since Gemma is in student council, she helped organize and put on the hoco dance after the bonfire too. Grey, Coach Daddy, and the rest of the team spent the whole day volunteering at the elementary school on Thursday. They read books to the classes, ate meals with the little kids, and volunteered at the K-2 Marathon fun day helping the PTA parents with the games. We got so many compliments and thank yous from the staff and parents - we are so proud of the team for doing such an incredible job with the little kids. Gemma volunteered on Friday all day with student council decorating the school and local buildings with window paint to get ready for the parade and football game. Rusty, Violet, and Gemma all participated in the homecoming parade and Red and Olive loved cheering and getting so much candy from all the parade people! Congrats to our new CT Homecoming King and Queen Julian and Andie! 

Annual Color Run on Saturday morning. Violet and Rusty ran in the race while the rest of our family (except Grey who needed sleep after the Friday night football game) volunteered to throw color. We always pack our big speaker and blast music and dance and cheer on the runners (one of my all time favorite activities in life is cheering on racers!) Rust and Vi both did awesome and Vi even slowed her pace to stay beside her teachers' young son to be his buddy the whole time. After the race, Rusty and Violet then went and played football and cheered later that afternoon in their games! Oh, to be young and full of energy!

Nephew sleepover two weekends in a row! and thank goodness because they make us all so happy - the only thing better than six kids in the house is nine kids in the house and if you know me, you know I am being for real. Last weekend was for an out-of-town wedding for Uch and Kev (congrats Michael & Matt!) and the following weekend was for the YIFC 10th annual Zombie Crawl (which Uchie organizes and plans!) We took the little fellas to the youth football game and then played all day at our house. When we got to the football game, Heath gets out of the car and Gemma says, "Heathy, where are your shoes?" and he answered like it was obvious, "At Tia's house." Hahhaa, so in true Studer fashion - Heath spent the day running around in socks! The boys weren't supposed to sleepover initially but then they all fell asleep and I was like, um - we do not have to wake these sleeping babies, so "Uchie and Uncle Drip - be safe and have fun; this Tia is going to sleep too!" Very few things in life are more delightful than being an aunt.

First day of archery and Grey was happy to go with Pappy on Saturday afternoon. I know these fellas won't shoot anything until the last hour of the last day (lol, long standing joke in this family) but I am always grateful that they have this time together. It will be camo, trail cam pictures, and boots from here until mid December around here now. 

Fun with family and friends. Reddy and Olive got a day with Chum and Abba because they stayed home from school with fevers and coughs. And truly, what is better than being at grandma and grandpa's house when you're sick? They were loved up on and taking care of and I am so grateful they got a much needed day of rest from school (thank you Mum and Dad!!) Miss Heather brought home the babies after school on parent-teacher conference night when I had to stay and then also watched Gemma's soccer game (thank you, so grateful for you!) Rusty got off the bus at Chum and Abba's once this week and got to go to the driving range and do a little fishing with Chum. Aunt Kitty came to the rescue when Rusty needed an EXPRESS ride to football practice after a soccer game because I forgot what time practice started (eek! thank you!!) Violet had her special day for her birthday with Chum and Abba after school this week too (out to eat at her pick of restaurant - Primanti's and a shopping trip!) Gemma got to swing by Dunkin Donuts with her friend Danika on Friday morning before all the Student Council homecoming volunteer day. Grey went to Lily Oakes' annual homecoming fire too (he hitched a ride with the Huffmans and Conns - thank you!!)

If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times. I have read this book before and it was historical (not dystopian or sci fi). A cringeworthy address to military top brass, accusations that one HALF of the country is a threat to the other half, blatantly obvious propaganda...it's all already been done. Spoiler alert as always - it does not end well for any of us; even if you think you're on the side that is favored...friend, there is no favored side. There is only power and greed and all of us are potential collateral. The genocide continues in Gaza and the flotilla to give aide to Palestinians has been sieged. 

Teaching about Mexico in elementary school, the kids loved learning about cenotes and Chichen Itza. In Language Expo I got a new group of students which means we are officially at the half way mark of Q1 already! Spanish 1 got ready for their Unit 1 test and then learned to dance the Cumbia. As always, everyone was really nervous to do boy-girl partner dance because they thought it would be cringe, but again, as always - everyone loved it and realized it is not weird but fun! Spanish 2 worked through Somos 9 and we learned about Hispanic legends like el Chupacabras and el Cucuy! We had our first (of 2) Parent Teacher Conference night this week but I didn't have any parents visit me - so I took advantage of the time in my classroom to get caught up on a lot of things that have been on my to do list from the start of the year. It made for a long but productive day. 

Sporting with two football practices and a minors football game for Rusty. Violet had one cheer practice, one soccer practice, and she cheered at the Majors football game. Gemma had two soccer practices and two soccer games. Grey and Coach Daddy had team dinner, four practices, and the homecoming game vs. Penns Manor (we won!) A few of the team also volunteered at St Francis Sharing and Caring this week to organize and unload their food bank donations. I worked the concession stand for half of Gemma's soccer game and got Gemma a case of orange soda to donate to the Hoco bonfire dance for student council. We also needed donation candy for the homecoming parade which Gemma, Violet, and Rusty all marched in before the football game. 

Making buffalo chicken dip with veggie dippers, homemade little noodle soup, peanut butter siracha noodles, sloppy joes and roasted broccoli, crack chicken sandwiches on Hawaiian rolls, chicken fajitas, spaghetti with meat sauce, pierogies-kielbasa-cabbage on the Blackstone, roasted bacon-ranch-cheddar potato fries. To celebrate Reddy's half birthday, I made a batch of strawberry crinkle cookies and on Saturday I made peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.