Around Here Week 23: 05/31-06/06

A glimpse into what it is like to live in our home just this minute and during week 12 of Covid-19 (yellow phase -opening to green phase!)

Intentional Outdoor Hours: 120+ hours (of 1000)

Up 22 hours this week with a long day outside on Sunday when we brought home our first two goats! It was a seven hour day as we got them settled, chased Polly multiple times when she hopped out of the fence, and then sat outside in the yard to watch while they were adjusting. I got a walk in with dogs one evening to find the two meatballs (Vi & Rust) waiting for me on the path because they thought I needed found (heheh), we had a fire, went for ice cream on Krause's opening day (in a rainstorm!), and lots of beautiful summer time weather to enjoy in our yard.

Reading Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. 

Listening & Learning. I studied up on historical events like the Black Wall Street massacre (video) and the Rosewood massacre (video) and following a ton of new instagram accounts to amplify Black voices in my own social media feed (@bscott @embracingblackculture @andrehenry ). Since we weren't able to get out and attend the BLM protest happening in our own community on Saturday, the kids and I attended an online 'family friendly' protest with ParentsTogether Action and Moms Rising. During the BLM zoom protest, we danced and marched in place, listened to some poetry, and heard perspectives of people from all different ages, backgrounds, and locations. My favorite part was a momma named Angela who talked directly to the kids listening and said (paraphrasing) 'you may have already learned about people who tried to get equal rights for all people before, right? Like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. And you may be wondering why didn't it work that time? Well, my thought is that it didn't exactly work because we didn't have you! We need each of you - exactly as you are, to be part of this too; your voices and your passion for all people to make it work this time.' 

Bringing home our goats! Brandon headed out very early in the morning on Sunday to pick up our two yearling Alpines, Donut and Polly. The kids and I helped move them into the fence and it wasn't until later that evening that we realized maybe we should have done some more "bringing home goats for the first time" research. Polly hopped the fence LITERALLY 1 minute after we let her out of the crate. We had to search party for her three times that first day; half laughing, half crying, half considering returning them both and scraping the whole idea of raising goats. It got better each day - even though Polly still hops out whenever she darn well pleases. On Friday, Brandon, Grey, Gem, and Vi all took a road trip to pick up our three doelings (two La Mancha/Alpine and 1 Boer/Alpine). They were so tiny and cute (8 weeks old!) and they seemed to adjust much better than Polly. So far, so good!

Cheering on Red as he pushed through the rotten 8 as an official 2 month old! He loves tummy time and strengthening his neck muscles, he likes being in the carrier, and most of all coo'ing and goo'ing to anyone who will talk with him. He is really getting strong and can already roll from belly to his side (!)   

Heading to the pediatricians for well checks for Grey and Red. Both did great - they are growing and developing and my biggest and smallest boys are stark contrasts in how quick time moves. Red looks a lot like Grey when he was a baby and sometimes it gives me severe time lapse vertigo. 

Voting! 

Singing Happy Birthday to our four year old! The Rustman turned four on Wednesday and we had pancakes for breakfast in his honor. Abba brought over ice cream cake for lunch and we went to Krause's for ice cream later, but mostly for the tube slides because they're the best! After much discussion, we are planning a water battle party for Sunday (water guns & water balloons!) for our first actual party at our house following lockdown! 

Clapping and congratulating CT seniors in their graduation parade, including our cousin Morgan. (we are so proud of you!) I am literally incapable of watching a graduation or grad parade without crying. At least I'm consistent. 

Playdating since we are moving into green phase for the pandemic. The kids ran all over the yard with the Stephens girls while B and I got to catch up with Coach Mal. Kitty and Michael stopped over to play with the kids one evening and it was the biggest blessing to get some clothes folded and take the dogs for a walk just B and I (dog walk date, yes please!) Our neighbors stopped by to see the goats and bring our chickens some scrap watermelon (thank you!), Abba visited one afternoon for a cup of coffee, hugs, and a chat (my favorite kind of visit!), and B attended my Dad's old guy/young guy competition party for a day of outdoor activities like horseshoes and cornhole which meant Uncle Jonny had a sleepover at our house and that always makes the kids happy (and Bullet too! hah)

Summer sporting with the first baseball practice for Grey on Friday evening. He was pretty pumped to get back with his teammates again. He is playing Majors (a year early) but it will be a shortened season; playing through the end of July. 

Homeschooling for the last week of the year! The kids (barely!) finished their packets and we got everything turned in on the last day near the final hour - hah! By the end, I had taped up unfinished worksheets all over the dining room so they could each see how much they had left to do and could take them down as they finished them. The school had a sweet end of year car parade at the school that we attended. The kids got to wave goodbye to all their teachers and Violet got to tell everyone, "I'll see you next year when I'm in kindergarten!" She also joked to Mrs. Roxby, "We killed your frogs" with a straight face while Grey and I died laughing - because what the heck!? We did NOT kill any frogs, but Violet, man. She's ridiculous. 

Making hamburger casserole, turkey tacos, sloppy joes over Texas toast, buffalo chicken mac&cheese, frozen pizza, and take out pizza brought to us from Kitty & Michael when they came over to play at out house! Kitty also brought me a Dunkin iced coffee and it put actual life into my soul (love you!) 

Around Here Week 22: 05/24-30

A glimpse into what it is like to live in our home just this minute - week 11 of the covid-19 pandemic (yellow phase). 

Intentional Outdoor Hours: 98+ hours (of 1000)

Up 27 hours this week with plenty of summertime weather to enjoy outside. I am anxious to rack up even more time now that my teaching is officially done for the year too. Ending the month of May with 65 outdoor hours! 

Reading and finishing Untamed by Glennon Doyle and really grateful that I read it. It took a long time but it was only because I needed to pause (selah!) and digest all the incredible things to think and reflect on. I picked back up where I left on in Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. It is such a heartbreaking read but I am sick in the stomach about the murder of George Floyd and I know I need to keep my eyes and heart open to truth even when it is uncomfortable.

Working in the yard. Abba and Chum came for the day to work on the chin-up bars for the kids. Brandon, Butter, Pappy, and Chum all worked on finishing the goat fence. Gemma was such a big help all day too - she loves working with her Dad!- and they finished the whole thing and got the entire pasture enclosed. One step closer to bringing home the goatie goats! 

Honoring Memorial Day and those that sacrificed it all for us. We had a pretty low key day at our house and then had a cookout with our cousins on Monday evening. The kids got to take their first dip in a swimming pool for the season. 

Pumping and feeding Red with a bottle all day to see if that will help him with his gas problems. Red is my worst latcher and the poor little thing gets to burpy and farty - you can tell he is just miserable (he was so cranky at our cousin cookout). It was nice to have a day that everyone else could feed him, but it also had me hooked up to the pump all day - and it didn't really help the gas much either. 

Talking to our kids about the public lynching of George Floyd. I think it's important to be honest with kids - even at a young age about things that are happening in the world. We rarely have the tv on at all, let alone the news - but the kids can sense that we are distracted by something on our phones (the news). They can feel a heightened sense of worry and if we don't talk about it, they start to make their own assumptions about all the bad things that might worry their parents. We also already do a lot of talking about our own privilege and how we can stand alongside people who need their voices amplified. This specific conversation can be found on my instagram and facebook blog page.

Applying for my official teaching certification since I received my final grades from my college course (4.00!) and now I wait for the Dept of Ed to receive all my paperwork. So happy this is over and very grateful for my mentor teacher, Renee (hi!) and how helpful and inspiring she has been. So glad to be teaching alongside you. 

Visiting our favorite friends to celebrate the summer weather! We headed out to spend the day swimming and lunching with our Fiore besties and the kids were overjoyed. We had a great day for it and the kids swam, swam, swam. I was so grateful to get to spend time with Kate, but most of all I had free hands the whole time! Outside of nursing Red, she held him the entire time and it was such a gift (for both of us, I think! xxxo)

Caring for Gemma Rose who came down with a fierce fever on Thursday afternoon. This is no time to contract a fever, so we were very cautious with how to proceed. She only had the fever and was really tired - but I was scouring the web for the Covid-19 syptoms for children and asking her how she felt each time she woke up. The fever persisted all through Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning - by Sunday afternoon I had called the Pediatrician. They said it might be strep because it didn't sound like Covid, but if she still had the fever on Monday I was to bring her right in. (Spoiler alert, by Sunday night, she was bopping around and back to normal. Must have been all the hard work in the yard helping Dad get ready for the goats! Little girl wore herself down!) 

Spending time in the woods (well, the boys). B worked the Spring Bow Jamboree with High Ridge Hunting Preserve on Saturday while Grey spent the morning in the woods with Uncle Jonny turkey hunting one last time this season. No luck on a bird, but they did find an awesome shed that Grey was so proud of. 

Homeschooling with just a little bit of worksheets because we were doing so much natural learning! we were all learning math and STEAM as we built the goat shelter, science as we cleaned out the chicken coop and chickie cage (and then moved them to the coop too!), more science when we planted two new trees that I got for Mother's Day from Uch (thank you!!) And the kids tackled a project all on their own - they cleared out the loft in the garage and set up their own hideout. Complete with books (reading!), coloring supplies (art!), and snacks & drinks (fcs!)

Virtual Teaching for the final days of school. My students were done on Tuesday and I got my grades finished on Friday afternoon. I had my students fill out my End of Year survey via google classroom and accepted as much work as possible to give every student ever chance to pull their grade up before the summer. Our staff had our final Zoom meeting for the year and although it's not entirely clear how the fall will look - how eager I am to get students back in the classroom and in front of my face instead of this virtual learning. I miss my kids! But first - second summer! (hah)

Making it by with what we have left in our pantry and freezers, hah. It is time for a grocery run, for sure. I also feel so bleh about making food - like how many meals do I need to decide, prep, make, clean up after?! oh yeah, all of them because I'm the grown up....whhhhhhhyyyyy. I do feel super happy to make real meals (homemade bagels, blueberry cobbler for the Memorial Day cookout) but I haven't been consistent with meal planning lately so that makes it a last minute panic to feed the kids when they're near starvation. 

breakfasts: poached eggs, cereal (twice), toast (twice), muffins, and donuts from the store

lunches: hot dogs, leftovers (twice), frozen chicken nuggets and salads, homemade bagels, pizza at the Fiore's house, and snack lunch

dinners: take-out pizza, Memorial Day cookout at the Sleeks, taco pasta and corn on the cob, shrimp fried rice, baked Italian chicken over noodles, spaghetti, and Burger King

Around Here Week 21: 05/17-23

A glimpse into what it is like to live in our home just this moment (week 10 of the covid-19 quarantine - yellow phase!)

Intentional Outdoor Hours:  71+ hours (of 1000)

I'm up over 13 hours this week and finally starting to get into the temperatures that make it almost impossible to stay in the house because it's so beautiful outside. It was super windy though this week. The kids had fitted sheets outside on the trampoline holding them open to try to use them as parachutes (that's STEAM homeschooling, right?) 

Reading and finishing Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds (a very sweet YA, but since I've already dug deep with time travel/multiverse stories like Dark Matter and The Time Traveler's Wife - this one left me kind of like, #meh). I'm still also reading Untamed by Glennon Doyle. 

Goat prepping. That included goat fence prepping, researching goat raising, and purchasing our first five goats! We have agreed to get no more than 8 (!) Our first five are two Alpines (1 year olds) and 3 doelings: 2 La Mancha and 1 Apine/Boer. We were so grateful to have my Dad (Chum) and Brandon's Dad (Pappy) come out this week to help work on the goat fence. Brandon tried to use a post hole drill, but our tractor wasn't big enough to man it - so it ended up being 18 post holes dug by hand and at least 60 T posts installed. Both Gemma and Greyson have put in hours down in the pasture to help get the fence up. 

Realizing some very sound love advice while watching Brandon put in the corner posts for our goat pen: Can I just say, ya'll need to get yourself a partner who will operate a two-man auger by themselves to build your dreams with their own hands. 

Shaking my head (and butt! hah) as Red's favorite song is Wiggle by Jason DeRulo. It's incredibly inappropriate - for real- wildly lewd lyrics. But the beat and hook are so catchy. The kids crack up every time it says "big fat butt" and then we hold Red out and swing his body gently back and forth like he knows what to do with his 'big, fat butt' and he is quiet and content. every time we play it and dance. I know....our parenting is inspirational....LOL.

 

Swinging in the trees on our new swings that Abba and Chum got for the kids. Abba asked me if we had any playground thoughts for our house and I shared with her some ideas. We aren't interested in a traditional style playground, but play pieces that can spark the kids imagination and lead into all sorts of play. Abba and Chum spent an afternoon at our house digging through feet of rock (I'm sorry!) to put in the posts for some chin up/flip bars too. (thank you mum & dad!)

Attending my senior students' high school graduation. Our staff and principal put together a beautiful, socially distant evening that allowed our seniors to have as much normalcy as possible for their graduation. We held it outdoors on the football field with social distance spacing, face masks, limited participants, and no lingering afterwards. The seniors came into the event via parade through town (I cried) and then proceeded through graduation complete with speeches from the val/sal and class VP (I cried again). So proud of our kids and can't wait to see all they'll do in life! I will be rooting for you - always! 

Visiting Abba & Chum's house for the afternoon while Brandon worked at High Ridge hunting preserve as a guide all day. The kids were grateful to spend time playing in a new setting (because after 10 weeks of isolation, our house is SO BORING we have NOTHING TO DO and NO FUN TOYS...ya feel me, parents?) I was happy to spend the afternoon not making any meals, not cleaning up after anyone, and having adult conversations with my parents and my aunt Lisa (their next door neighbor!)

Homeschooling with a new and the last (!) packet of the school year. I am not going to lie - kids are OVER IT. (#same) and I'm struggling with getting them to sit down and work on it because I see how much natural learning is going on everyday. Grey has been asking such inquisitive questions ("if I shot my bow under water, how do you figure out how far it would go, ya know because it won't go as far as on land, right? what about in space?") They are baking and building the goat fence and building little dams in creeks and finding animal tracks in the woods. It's really hard to justify in my mind when they are so naturally curious and tackling learning on their own at home to then force them to sit down and do worksheets. It just feels like the place to learn naturally is at home and the place for worksheets and direct instruction is at school and we're getting through it but as always; I love and need you teachers. We miss you so much! 

Virtual Teaching for the last full week of the year. I offer my students an opportunity called Leave Me Alone Passes all year and usually they are meant to be earned to be exempt from the final. Since I couldn't ensure that a final given virtually would be secure - I offered the students an opportunity to use their earned LMA passes to be exempt from the last week of school work. Many of my students had earned enough and had a week free of work (!). Anyone else read a story about an alien on a mission and answered comprehension questions each day. 

Making lots of food for lots of hungry kids. 

breakfasts: banana bread, pancakes, homemade naan (my first time!) and berries, egg sausage casserole chocolate croissants, and breakfast quesadillas

lunches: lunchmeat sandwiches, chicken nuggets, salads, frozen pizza, leftovers, lasagna (delivered from our dear friends and preschool teachers Miss Kayla & Miss Janell - thank you so so much!!), and hot dogs

dinners: crock pot country-style porkchops, buffalo chicken dip, chili cheese dog bubble up casserole, crack chicken sandwiches, pizza (twice!)

Around Here Week 20: 05/10-16

A glimpse into what it is like to live in our home just this moment (and week 9 of the covid-19 quarantine). 

photo cred: Violet

Intentional Outdoor Hours:  58+ hours (of 1000)

Up 10 hours this week and I even got lovely morning for my ultimate favorite soul recharging activity this week. As I informed Grey when he plopped down in the porch chair next to me, I think my heaven will be a sunny morning with a warm breeze where I can sit on a porch drinking my coffee and reading while the birds sing the day to life. He responded with, 'Um, okay mom.' and then proceeded to hop up and ride his scooter all around the sidewalks. But a few minutes later, he scooted back around and said - 'what do you think my heaven should be like?' I told him that he might be too young to know just yet, but maybe standing in a creek with a fly rod like Daddy's will be. and he nodded, smiled, and scooted off again. 

Mindfulness exercise: what do you think your 'heaven' will look like (or what does your most joyful peace look/feel like)? I hope it is something you find time to do right now on Earth too. 

Reading Untamed by Glennon Doyle and The Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds. I snatched up a whole stack of books from my co-worker and bestie's English classroom while I was at school this week, including The Opposite of Always (thanks Renee!) Still reading The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo too with Grey.  

Celebrating Mother's Day with our Quarantine safe group. We had our Adams family join us at our house for a cookout around the fire. We planted hanging baskets, played kickball, chatted around the table while sipping special mother's day cocktails, and hoverboard'ed around the patio. It was a beautifully chilly, sunny, windy spring day. After, we stopped by to visit Gigi and Mimi each for Mother's day. Mimi got to hold Red (for the first time!) It was so wonderful to see and spend time with each other. 

Recognizing that I created addicts when I introduced the kids to Glee. We have been full on singing and dancing maniacs over here. Brandon and I watched Glee when it was on tv and loved it, but there are some mature topics - so the rule has been that they aren't allowed to watch it without a grown up (to talk them through questions and fast forward if necessary...hello Madonna episode with a lot of horizontal kissing!) but the kids have been majorly obsessed and all Alexa ever gets asked to play is Glee cover songs. So we're taking a Glee break for now - it's literally they only thing they've wanted to watch and they ask incessantly to watch again when it's time for a tv break. So - Glee is off limits for the time being until we can get this addiction to show tunes back under control. 

Feeling overwhelmed daily by about 4-6p, which not coincidentally is also the bewitching hour for children. Red has been very clingly and I've been sporting the baby carrier for most of the day. As a four time Babywise parent - I know he needs practice and guidance to create a normal napping routine - but also between virtual teaching and homeschooling and chores, it feels a little unmanageable at the present moment. So instead, his naps end up being in the carrier while I shuffle between my laptop and the other kids and the kitchen for the non stop cycle of preparing-eating-cleaning up. And so by 6p, I've been near tears for the past week. Also, it's been about 6 weeks of less than 4 hours of a sleep at a time, so yeah. Only two more weeks until the end of the rotten 8, I can do this! 

Discovering my spirit tree, Agnes. Brandon brush hogged the field next to our house last fall and as everything is starting to get green again this spring, the kids claimed a tree to climb. As I was checking out their hideout with them, I felt this huge rush of joy come over me. Looking up from the ground, through the branches and leaves blowing in the spring breeze, I somehow feel connected to the past and future while rooted in the present. I think of farmhouse kitchen curtains blowing and old time aprons and baking bread and falling asleep in the shade of a tree just like this on a summer day. The bark and the leaves and the twisting branches wake some creative part of my soul that has been dormant for so long in this momma-must-tend-to-all-the-other-needs-right-now bustle. A little ways down in the field is my Agnes. She is the same type of tree (pretty sure its wild black cherry) and she is my special girl now.

Listening to all the trees for their names. The big kids roll their eyes at me when I tell them that if you listen closely and ask the trees, they will tell you their name. But even amidst their eye roll they also still have the hope of believing in there. Grey and I stood for a long time listening to a pine tree in the goat pen. He decided that he 'heard' Bowie. We also have a Priscilla (apple), Abigail (wild cherry), Boris, and Spooks (two trees side by side that have twisted vines all over them). 

Attending my 6 week postpartum visit. It is always good to see my cousin/midwife/ob Megan and chat, but also a great visit to know that my body has made it through the six weeks mostly unscathed and well. I have been feeling better and more like myself in the last week and a half - so it feels like the official, let's get back on track starting line. 

Quarantine safe grouping - Gemma and Rust had a sleepover with Abba and Chum,Violet had a sleepover at Aunt Uch's house, and Grey got to stay at Uncle Jonny's house after turkey hunting on Saturday and he was overjoyed. It has been so incredibly valuable to their emotional souls to get some special one-on-one time with people they love. They all, but especially my girls, have been suffering from attention deficits during this isolation #bigfamprobs, but even more so because we've added a new baby to our family right in the middle of it too. Violet whispered to me the other day after she sat and watched me sing a lullaby to Red while he stared into my eyes cooing for 3 minutes straight, "Momma, I wish I was a baby again so you would do that to me." I did pick her up and pretend to hold her like a baby and sing to her and we giggled about it, but I hear you girl, we are all in need of a little special attention right now. 

Welcoming six new chickies into our home. I sent B and the two biggest out to pick up take out for dinner and get dog food and chicken feed from Tractor Supply...and instead they got the dog food, chicken feed, and brought home six little all white chicks. No take out though. hah! The chicks are already two weeks old and getting feathers, so the store was sort of desperate to sale them. So, Brandon got suckered in by the Grey and Gem's pleading (and the pleading of the sales ladies!) Third year in a row that we have the baby chick set up stationed in the dining room.  

Not turning away from the violence and heartache of our black and brown brothers and sisters in this country. I know I have the privilege of looking away because I am white with a white husband and white sons and daughters. But to look away is to give silent consent to the systemic racism that I have been soaking in (and subsequently benefiting from) all my life. My heart aches for Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor and their families; but also for all the black and brown families who are fearful and tired. How can I do better to promote human kindness? How can I be a better ally and example to my children, to my students, to my adult friends? 

Mapping out where we plan to install the goat pen. Yep, you read that right. Straight up farmette goals over here.

Zoom birthday party attending for Uchie's bday on Friday night. We chatted, virtually cheer'sed our drinks, did a Just Dance, played Notice the difference (thanks youtube!), and played virtual rock/paper/scissors Survivor style (if you lost, you signed off! HAHA). Afterwards, I cleaned up the kitchen while listening to the Live concert from The Evergreens (a local band) that played a request for Uch's birthday (!) It was a perfect Friday quarantine night. 

Homeschooling and finishing another packet in time for drop off (barely - we had 10 minutes to spare when we pulled into the parking lot, hah). More of the same around here - ya know, missing zoom meetings and arguments about finishing their work. I make mental notes all day long about how much education their getting otherwise to make myself feel better. Like, Grey cooked breakfast by himself, that's math, STEAM, and reading the recipe. Gemma helped pick out flowers from the nursery, that's science and math working out the price. I mean, the learning is happening - they just want to fight me on the worksheets.

Virtual Teaching with kids listening to music! We did a música focused week where students were to listen to Spanish (or Spanglish) music and answer questions each day with a little extension activity. We are down to the final two weeks of school for my students! I headed into school on Tuesday to clean out my classroom and the first thought was "oh Gosh, why do I decorate so much?!" Hahhaa, but for real - a rainbow threw up in my classroom. Thankfully, I stayed focused on the task and then Brandon came down from the admin building to help me and we got everything done! It was kind of sad to take everything down myself, each year the students help disassemble my room and it is such a comforting exercise in going back through all the memories and things we did that year. The students are always saying, "Aw, I remember this" or asking to keep work...but B and I were just like ripping things off the wall and closing up shop as quickly and productively as possible.  

Making

breakfasts: egg sausage casserole (made by Grey for mother's day), cereal (twice), eggs and sausage in a tortilla, egg and ham sandwiches, cupcakes (for Uch's birthday), and toast

lunches: Mother's day feast (church picnic chicken, shrimp, homemade strawberry shortcake including homemade whip cream (!), and Mother's day sangria), ham and grilled cheese sandwiches, leftover chicken over zucchini, salads and wraps, take-out from Tailgatez, and lunchmeat sandwiches

dinners: hot dogs, frozen pizza, fundraiser spaghetti take out (for my student who lost her house to a fire), buffalo cauliflower and burgers, korean style ground turkey and green beans over rice, pizza delivered (from the Vorndrans - thank you!!), and leftovers.