Gemma Rose, eleven years old

Roie,
Eleven is silly, huge smiles, and bursts of laughter. It's the Mamma Mia soundtrack on the Alexa while you make up dances to every song with your siblings. But, eleven is also having big talks about the birds & the bees, and moon cycles, and internet safety. It's hating to see in real time how the world tries to tell you what is beautiful; how I already need to reassure you that strong is just as pretty as any other body type and calories on the label of that breakfast bar aren't important, and telling you that your natural smile is more beautiful than any fake head tilt/half tongue out pose that all the girls are doing in selfies these days. 

Eleven is sharing the same blanket and snacks on the couch with your head on my shoulder and it's also an eye roll across the dining room table when I ask if you've done your chores for the day. Eleven is teetering on the edge of my glittery-twirling-giggle-filled-little girl and my legs-up-to-your-chin-those-shorts-are-too-short almost-teenager. Gosh, it is so close to the cliff, I feel dizzy most days.  

At eleven, Roe, you've found your stride in school. You were on the honor roll all year (the first time in elementary school) as your learning development has finally caught up to your peers and you are confident using all the techniques and strategies you've learned from teachers and eye specialists and support staff over the last few years. You have grown so much, sweetheart; my heart soars to know that you feel proud and capable in your classes in a way you haven't yet up until this point. (I am so proud of you for never giving up!) 

You are the epitome of a role model student in terms of behavior and trust. You were responsible for getting multiple teachers mail, it was your second year on student council, and you are the bus 'mother' to many students. I know so many adults depend on you to guide and lead your peers. Grown ups are always stopping me to randomly say, "I'm so thankful my kid had Gemma to help them" on any given instance that I had no clue about because helping people is not something you even think to tell me about. You just do it second nature and move on with your day. Thank you, Gemmi, for always stepping up to that role.

Your room is always a mess - clothes thrown everywhere, trinkets piled high on dressers, and a bed that is never made. You are notorious for losing your sports jerseys (basketball and soccer this year!) and we have to scramble to find a replacement on the day of games?! But frequently, you get the overwhelming urge to deep clean and rearrange whole rooms; pushing furniture here and there until it is unrecognizable, loading up garbage bags with trash, and lighting candles and you call Dad and I in for a big reveal. 

You love cereal, yogurt parfaits, and salads. You are a great, adventurous eater - so although I don't like to share my shrimp, brussels sprouts, and cauliflower - I am grateful you let your taste buds fall in love with food that have been in the past reserved for the grown ups in the house. You are the kindest and most patient big sister. Olive and Red sometimes prefers you over me (especially when I'm trying to teach them independence) as you will hold, snuggle, and sneak them treats as much as they want. Rusty and Violet are your two little partners in fun- making up hilarious dances and elaborate pretend games. They will keep you little and I am endlessly grateful for that. You and Grey are so close in age that you mostly annoy the living crap out of each other (and your bickering annoys the rest of us!), but I also know that the two of you would defend each other to the ends of the Earth; in the way you ask about the other quietly to me and dad and how you both watch and cheer at each other's games. 

You have friends everywhere we go - classmates your age, teammates older than you, Violet and Rusty's friends younger than you, random kids at the fields that gravitate to you because you smile and wave to them with a this-is-obviously-a-babysitter kind of way. A friend/teacher said to us the other day, "Well, my son joined the rest of the entire fifth grade boys in being in love with Gemma, and I told him, 'you don't have a chance honey! She's like a 20 year old- she doesn't have time for you silly boys!" LOL...accurate though. 

Gem, I hope you always have kindness in your heart, and a friendly smile on your face, and no freaking clue that you look like you look! You are so cluelessly gorgeous it is almost laughable. Your style is comfy/sporty with sneakers on your feet. (To find a dress for you to wear to promotion was a feat of feats!) You like what you like and it's mostly tshirts, gym shorts, and some hair ties or woven bracelets around your wrist. You're taller than me now and sneak cardigans out of my closet and wear my crocs out that door even while I'm asking everyone if they've seen them so I can wear them. 

You are selfless to the point of martyrdom; always giving away your fancy pens, your last piece of gum, and the good seat to whoever looks like they need it - your friends, teammates, or siblings.  This makes for a great post in basketball, which you play fearlessly and tough; rebounding like a gosh darn queen. And also for an incredible defender on the soccer field, using your whole body as a shield and protecting our goal. You have the heart of a protector and care giver - so often teachers have said to me, "that girl has the heart of a future special ed teacher," because you have this patient, loving, and protecting heart that believes everyone deserves a fair shot. I am so proud and grateful for that, Roie - but I know you often times forget that YOU deserve all the things too. I will do everything I can to always make sure I am someone who defends and rebounds in life for your fair shot. 

When I sent your end of year photo to my best friends, Karpy said, "I want Gemma to be my BFF." and that really is your vibe. I love that you are the kind of a girl that everyone wants for a friend and every parent wants for a babysitter and every teacher wants for a student and every kid wants for a sibling. You are so likable, my darling. Not because of some gift from above (although probably a little bit of that) but mostly because of the way you make people feel when they are with you. Someone you want in your corner, someone you want to laugh with and share stories with, someone who is on your team (both metaphorically and literally), someone you want to stay up half the night watching rom-coms with and then waking up the next morning working side by side to clean up the mess of blankies and smashed popcorn kernels. 

Right now in time, I'm your momma and I have a boat load of lessons to get into your heart, and boundary lines to draw as you grow, learn, and mature. But my Gemmi Ro, I can't wait until you're grown up and we can just be friends. Because you are the actual nicest person I've ever known and I am so very grateful I get to be your momma.

Gemmi, 
I am so proud of you.
I am so inspired by you.
I am so very thankful for you.
Dad and I say daily - we couldn't get through a day without Gem.
That is actually true. 
I love you, my darling, 
forever -
even though you're already taller than me.
forever and ever,
xxox momma.

Around Here Week 22: 05/28-06/03

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

first and last day of seventh grade

first and last day of fifth grade

first and last day of second grade

first and last day of kindergarten

reading to the guinea pigs

Intentional Outdoor Hours: 184+ hours (of 1000)
A beautiful and sunny week here in Western PA - exactly the perfect entrance into summer break. It was almost intolerably hot on Saturday for the soccer tournament and a baseball game; although I definitely do not want to come off as complaining about sunshine and heat, because I do really love it...but it was hot as Hades trying to get that pop up tent down at 3p with cranky, tired, sweating children (and mother, hah). Everyone smells like sunscreen at the end of each day and that makes me so happy. 

Reading and finishing Normal People by Sara Rooney. I really loved it; like a lot. The writing style and timeline of the book was so original and had me fully immersed in the relationship. I haven't seen the series on Hulu yet, but I'm anxious to get it started. Then I started reading Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid I bought both of those books (plus What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera ) at Walmart right before my eye doctor appointment because I didn't bring a book with me for the waiting room...also I needed to prep for summer reading....the kids and my students know that I believe summertime is for reading! (hahaha, nerd for life).

A birthday celebration week! B and I attended our friend, Pam's surprise 60th on Sunday which was hosted at my parents' house (yay!) Our Gigi's birthday was on Memorial day, so we spent the whole day swimming and grilling out and it was perfection. (happy birthday, Gigi! we love you!) and then our Rusty's 7th birthday was on Saturday. Party plans are in the works for next week - but we celebrated on his birthday with chocolate croissants for breakfast and then baseball donuts at his game with his teammates. I was actually icing the baseball lines on those donuts in 85+ degree heat on the only strip of shade I could find up against the school at the soccer tournament in between the girls' games and a random dude walked by and was like, "um, this is the most mom thing I've ever witnessed" (HAH!)

Memorial day picnicking at the Altimore's house on Sunday night (dance party as always!) and at Gigi & Pappy's house on Monday to celebrate Gigi's birthday. I am so ready for all the outdoor meals, yes please! 

Eye check & new glasses. I had my eye doc appointment and got fitted for new glasses. I am the most boring shopper ever because I literally just buy the same frames every time and want to get out of there as quickly as possible.

Summer break cleaning. I got started in our bedroom and worked through laundry, clearing out clothes from the closet, and decluttering our nightstands. B had about 2 million dress shirts and pants that needed ironed (I exaggerate, but for real), there were random things that needed carted to the attic (like a roaster and some Christmas decorations - hah!), and we both had a bunch of clothes that needed hung up and organized in the closet. I kept shouting - "I think I can almost see the floor!" I remember being so judgmental when I was younger watching shows on HGTV like - why wouldn't this family just clean up their house and make the improvements while they lived there instead of doing it all just to resale it.....oh sweet, little child. because LIFE, honey. Most of us are just trying to scrape through to the next day of games, sick kids, appointments, dinner, and laundry when you got a house full of kids. Anyway...I still have a huge list to tackle at decluttering and cleaning this summer -but I feel good to have at least started. 

Tearfully saying thank you and goodbye to our nanny Miss Emma. What an absolute blessing she has been in our lives this year. I was so anxious and stressed about childcare for our babies. But Miss Emma was so amazing for us. She was such a comfort to our babies, she did Gemma and Violet's hair some mornings before the bus, she helped everyone remember their school stuff (like Gem's trumpet, or library books), she got everyone ready to rush out the door in the afternoon if we had games to run to, and I got to chat with her at the end of each school day too - about life, or funny things the kids did, or weekend plans. She was honestly one of the best parts of the school year - knowing my babies were safe and smiling with her while I could focus on school and my students. Miss Emma, you are beloved to us.  

Executing covert operations with our Studer family on Wednesday night. Our cousin Tausha celebrated her 40th birthday on June 1, so the cousins, aunt, and uncle snuck over to the Que to hang 100+ 'Wanted' signs for a Foxy & Forty Tausha and a giant poster at the entrance to the family rec area. It was fun and we were giggling the whole time trying to be sneaky and keep our staple guns to a reasonable noise level. Happy 40th Taush! 

Shouting hooray for the last day of school for the kids! The first day vs. last day pics were brutal this year; so much change in 9 months. Time is breaking my heart constantly. What a gift to see it all happen in real time, but goodness - the yearly time markers of school crushes my guts. 

So very grateful to all of our kids' teachers who supported, encouraged, taught, and cared for our kids this year. We had kids in Kindergarten, second, fifth, and seventh grade - that was 13 classroom teachers that saw our children everyday - Mrs. McCall who taught Rusty to read, and Mrs. Feathers who introduced Grey to The Giver, and Mr. Tresnicky who gave Violet the knickname Versus (her initials - VS). And then a multitude of other special teachers that supplemented their day with learning and growing - Mrs. Turner (librarian) setting aside books that she knew my kids would like, and Mrs. Evans (music teacher) who pushed and cheered for Gemma as she learned new songs on her trumpet. And then even more staff members - lunch ladies who were patient when Rusty was learning his lunch number and our bus driver who knew to watch for us at our "second bus stop" when we were late to the first one and Mrs. Rosa (principal) who smiled and chatted with our kids at sporting events. All of these people interacted with our kiddos every school day of the year, helping to bring a smile or encouraging word to their days. I am so very grateful for you all! Please enjoy your summer school staff! 

Playdating with our nephews on the first official day of summer break. They won't be at our house every day this summer because my mom and Miss Emma will be with them - but I am always happy when we get to spend the day with them because they are the squishiest and sweetest darlings on Earth. Also, to see those baby cousins together makes me want to explode with joy. Olive and Wells are so hysterical together and have their own little secret language, I really can barely stand them. We played out on the back porch mostly (water table for the littles, and trampoline and Uno for the bigs) and it was a calm, easy transition into that summertime living. 

Super annoyed with Osa right now. She really wants to 'play' with the chickens, but she doesn't realize that she's a giant beast and they definitely don't think it's playing. She has been trying to herd them back into the fence around the coop, but sometimes they panic and get stuck between her and the fence so she's just like, "oh, I'll just pick you up BY YOUR SKULL and carry you over" and then the kids or I are like "OSA!? put the chicken down!?" and then she panics and goes running with the chicken hanging out of her mouth across the yard. Oh Lord, it is such a chaotic mess. For the record, the adult chickens don't die, but it is definitely an assault. Ugh, my nerves can barely handle the mayhem of a puppy guardian learning on the job. Homesteading is not for the faint of heart.

Sporting with a baseball game for Rusty (he missed one this week due to fever). Violet had a sparks soccer practice, a tournament team soccer practice, two AYSO games, and played in the CT soccer tournament on Saturday (3 games). Gemma had one AYSO soccer game, one summer league basketball game, and played in the CT soccer tournament on Saturday (4 games). Grey had two city baseball games, one summer league basketball game, and the annual SHOFCO soccer tournament too (he plays with a group of friends and did well). B and I had to miss our volleyball game this week because that day we had two soccer games, a city ball game, and a fever kid. 

Making frozen pizza, copycat Olive Garden chicken over pasta, ground beef tacos, cheddar brats & hamburgers on the Blackstone, and take out pizza. I made coffee cake for last day of school brunch and we had pancakes and bacon on the official first day of summer break for breakfast. I brought homemade mac&cheese for Gigi's birthday party! For the soccer tournament, we had meatball sub sammies in our travel crockpot. 

Around Here Week 21: 05/21-27

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

Last school lunch date! B will be at a different school district next year!

Mrs. Roman & Gemma in Kindergarten & fifth grade together

photo cred: Heather

Intentional Outdoor Hours: 149+ hours (of 1000)
We got all the flowerbeds mulched this week (what a beautiful refresh!) and added some more perennials to my side patio pollinator garden. When the nursery sees us coming, I know they are smiling because I should never be left unsupervised at garden nurseries or bookstores; this is just a well known family fact. All the kids pitched in to help with planting and mulching which left us all with stained hands and sunkissed faces (or burnt to a crisp shoulders - as in Brandon's case, because he doesn't listen to my repeated reminders to apply sunscreen). 

Reading and finishing Verity by Colleen Hoover. Full disclosure, I already heard what was going to be the big reveal(s) at the end, so I didn't have that big surprise - but even still the shock value of some of that story and the smut was just not doing it for me. I think I've hit my Colleen Hoover limit for awhile. Still kind of reading Scythe by Neal Shusterman only because I really loved it the first time, but thinking I actually want Grey to read it this summer so we can discuss. It's the last week of school, so unfortunately I'm not prioritizing my reading - but I did snatch up a book to borrow this summer from my coworker/bestie's room - Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk. I also brought home The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman, which has been on my TBR list for literally 10+ years and was stashed in my "to borrow" bookcase at school for students

Visiting the Vorndrans after Violet's Sparks soccer game on Sunday. We had pizza and wings with them and the kids were so happy to play together. You know I carted jerseys all the way to Pittsburgh to wash them at Taryn's house because our washer is out of commission. HAH - it is even more funny because Tare and I mostly send each other memes about laundry on Instagram; so how fitting that I literally come to her house to do my laundry. Ohmi, we just laugh to keep from sighing and crying. 

Coming home to the sweetest surprise - remember our washer pump is broke...so while we were in Pittsburgh - who snuck over to our house snatched up four loads of dirty laundry and brought it back washed, dried, and folded?! Yep, I know you guessed it because she's always looking out for me like my fairy motherhood godmomma; Heather! (thank you - still crying about your always perfectly timed thoughtfulness)

And finally, grateful for my handy handsome hubs who installed the new washer pump and got us back up and running! 

Listening to marching band versions of lots of music right now trying to get hyped for the upcoming football season and planning, brainstorming, and dreaming all the Tami Taylor dreams of my heart. (shout out to all the Friday Night Lights fans - clear eyes, full heart, can't lose)  #sorrynotsorry that I'm this way. 

End of the year full blown madness. Last day of Sunday school, Gemma had TWO field trips this week, kids coming home with all kinds of papers/artwork/projects/desk clean outs. We paid for a library book that Rusty left out in the rain (hah, we love you Mrs. Turner!) and he took in his birthday snack for his summer birthday! And Gemma participated with the middle school band in their last breakfast concert. 

Having our last school lunch date together. B will be moving to the neighboring school district in July (the same that our children attend). We have had lunch dates together for most days over the last seven years (excluding 2021-22 school year when I was on leave) so it felt like the real closing of a chapter. Loved so much being high school sweethearts with you B, but so very excited and grateful for this next new adventure where I get to be the coach's wife. (#TamiTaylorDreamsComeTrue)

Talking about the fourth dimension with Grey and both of us going full nerd about it. Hah, I love that he and I both have the same kooky brain on things like abstract thinking and connecting dots; real and imagined. I hope we'll always go off the deep end in conversation about weird stuff. (shout out to his math teacher Mr. Kramer for showing the movie Interstellar and bringing this topic into our life this week!)

&...experiencing the fourth dimension this week! I looked through all my books from school to see if there were any I could read over the summer and found The Zookeeper's Wife which I started over a decade ago but never finished. Inside, there was a bookmark that had a note written from my long time friend and soul sister, Stephanie, that she wrote in 2010. It was so sweet and meaningful and actually was the EXACT message that I needed to hear this week while I had some anxiety and self-doubt going on. Like literal exact message, even Brandon was like, "What the heck!?" Through time and space collapsed (over 12 years of it!), the fourth dimension  found a way to get that message to me that I needed so much in this moment. (thank you Steph, xxox, grateful for you forever)

Self-caring on the last teacher day of school. If you know me, you are proud of me because I am the last person on the Earth to take a damn minute for me. So after school, I went for a pedicure but it was so packed, I was like, 'no.' So I told myself I would try one more salon or just bail on the idea - but they were open and amazing (Star Nails on Scalp!) and I got a pedicure and had the sweetest chat with a 95 year old great grandma. Then B was delayed on his way home from a meeting, so I stopped at Cliptations to get an eyebrow wax (two self care procedures in one day, WHO AM I EVEN?!) so I really felt ready for the summer (ie. it will be another 9+ months until that happens again, LOL). Then B met me at The Fifth for lunch and celebration drinks. Official teacher summer self-care, can't believe I did it. Proud of me, hah. 

So proud of our Roie who was promoted to the middle school this week. Her promotion ceremony was on Thursday night and was so touching (I cried twice!) and B was able to give her a hug and her certificate on stage as a new employee of the school district. My sisters were there to celebrate her that night and then on Friday, I spent the afternoon at the elementary school chaperoning the fifth grade promotion party! Thanks to all the parents who helped plan and were there to keep those kiddos having fun! (big thanks especially to Michelle and Jenn V!) I was glad to be there (I painted faces and coordinated the inflatables - thanks Flood City Party Rentals!) 

Thankful for Mrs. Roman (and telling her - so we were both crying at promotion ceremony, hah) who was Gemma's kindergarten teacher and then Gem's fifth grade ELA teacher this year! They started elementary school together and finished it together and even now I feel sentimental about it. Gem didn't have the easiest start to formal learning - Mrs. Roman and I spent hours discussing; on the phone, emailing, and texting about how to best support her. Mrs. Roman was always such a loving, patient, and kind advocate for our Roie. She saw that Gem brought so much value to the classroom, even if she wasn't the best 'traditional' learner. How grateful I am that Gem was able to start kindergarten with a teacher willing to see all her light even when it didn't show up in grades. She celebrated her, tried every darn thing under the sun to support her, and was always there as a sounding board for practice at home. Mrs. Roman, we love you to the ends of the Earth. YOU are what an educator looks like. xxo

Choosing Bridgerton style playlists while I clean up and organize. Calming and catchy. 

Volunteering at the Path of the Flood race on Saturday morning. We have supported the same aide station for the past three years; the last one - only a little more than a mile until the finish line. So we blast music and whistle and cheer loud enough to encourage the runners all the way to the end of the straightaway before they get to us (like half a mile long)! My sisters, nephews, Heather, our cousins, and Abba all join in on the craziness with dancing, clapping, high fiving, and homemade signs. It's worth it to get up on the first Saturday of summer at 7a to cheer on those runners. The runners are all so sweet thanking us for being there for the last little boost of enthusiasm to get to the end. One runner was like, we could honestly hear you like 2 miles away - HAH! I am a life cheerleader to my core, so encouraging at races is one of my favorite joys! 

Giggling about our Loopy Lou (Olive) who we find regularly INSIDE of the guinea pig cage. We have been moving the guinea pig cage around the yard each day which has been an amazing summer break idea. This way, we don't have to clean poop/hay up constantly and have it stinking up the house. The pigs are so happy to be outside munching on clover and grass all day (plus hay & spring mix). We bring them in each night (predator safety) but it has been such a nice change for humans & pigs. Anyway, Liv can fit through the door. This chick is out of her mind. 

Teaching LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL! Whew, the last couple of days are always a whirlwind and a little nutty. I had organized all the things that I need to get done onto a bunch of lists so I can cross them out as I go - but what a list?! LOL. I got all the kids' paper passed back out, strongly encouraged a few students to get in some missing work, and gave lots of hugs, advice, and listening ears as the kids were desperate for the last minute check ins and chats. I got heartfelt notes and big hugs from seniors who stopped in on their last day (still crying about it!)They graduated on Tuesday night and the underclassmen spent 2 hours in school on Wednesday for their last day (we had TWO fire drills?!) and the teachers had to go one extra day (Thursday). Before the end of the school year, I got all grades finalized and my grade levels organized by unit in new folders (halleluiah and a 'you're welcome' to next year me!) I feel really good walking away from school before the summer all organized and cleaned up! (this is the first year this has happened in so many years! In 2020, Covid shut me down then in 2021 I was out on maternity leave, and 2022 was my leave of absence year so someone else put everything way). I'll be able to come into my classroom in August and know exactly where everything is! 

Sporting with two baseball games for Rusty. Violet had a Sparks soccer game in Pittsburgh on Sunday, missed a Sparks practice due to hamstring soreness, and she had three (!) AYSO soccer games. Gemma had two AYSO soccer games and a double header summer league basketball game (she's playing up with the junior high girls). Grey had two city baseball games, he returned (finally, oops!) his junior high baseball uniform, and he had a soccer practice for the SHOFCO tournament next week at school. B and I played at Roxbury co-ed volleyball one game on Tuesday and B had football open weightlifting M-Th for the last week of the school year. And can I just say for the thousandth time - we could not do sports without the help of grandparents, aunts, uncles, sports families, and teammates. THANK YOU all so so much. 

Making Crockpot Hawaiian meatballs over rice, ordered take out subs for volleyball night, chicken casserole from Heather (THANK YOU!!), pizza rolls and salads, Korean beef and green beans over rice, and ordered in chicken wings & pizza.