Around Here Week 24: 06/09-06/15

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

Happy Birthday baby Ivy! 

Intentional Outdoor Hours:  220+ hours (of 1000)
Up 30 hours this week! I have been getting out most mornings and drinking my coffee on the porch with my book and it is such bliss. I am also doing my best to just get out and enjoy the weather instead of fretting over chores inside. We have been making good use of our fire pit already this summer and it makes me so happy.

Reading The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney along with The Book Love Foundation Summer book club. It's a beautiful book written in verse from the perspective of a young girl in Sudan during the civil wars. I am flying through it and loving the comments and thoughts on the facebook discussion with all the other people/teachers reading along with the book club.

Spending the day at Greenhouse Park with family and friends. My Dad and Mum organized a fun day complete with a pavilion, fire pit, and fun. We spent almost the whole day playing kickball, hanging on the playground, and splashing in the Stonycreek River. Grey and Chum even attempted a kayak trip down the river, but it was too swift for our sit-on kayak and they ended up flipping and narrowly escaping a rapid. Grey thought it was so cool and awesome (meanwhile, B was having a nervous breakdown - haha. he's the more nervous of the two of us when it comes to our kids and dangerous things; he can barely stand to watch them on the trampoline). It was such a nice day relaxing and being outside.

Taking both dogs to the vet and getting good reports. Bullet is almost 10 years old and Trixie is almost 8 years old now. Bullet is 96lbs and Trixie 93lbs. They got caught up on their vaccinations, new Seresto collars, and a clean bill of health covered for the whole year. Very thankful to the vet staff who knows Bullet has a lot of anxiety and lets us come through the side door because he cannot handle life.

Strawberry picking in Indiana, PA with the kids. We woke up one morning and it was perfect weather (sunny but not too hot) and so I loaded everyone up and we headed to Ben's Strawberries about 45 minutes away. It was a quaint and inexpensive little strawberry farm (only $1.75 a pound!). The kids were amazed by how many strawberries there were and loaded our buckets down with almost $9 worth of strawberries. I had to have a little informational chat with Rust that we only pick the red ones (after I saw him pick a few teeny tiny barely even green ones!) They were so juicy and delicious (and Keto friendly!)

Selling our wares at the local community market! I was very ambitious and carted all four kids and our (broken, busted) canopy down to to the community market in our little town on Thursday afternoon. We got all set up and tied down before it started torrential downpouring for about 20 minutes, but then the sun came out and we just had to hold the (broken, busted) canopy down when the wind gusts threatened to set us aflight through the parking lot. The kids brought their items; Grey - fly fishing ties, Gem - fresh eggs, Violet - custom artwork and we stayed from about 3 hours. It went okayish. Thank goodness for Gem's little friend, Molly and her family who were set up with their garden veggies and baked goods next to us to keep everyone playing and occupied. Mostly the kids were bored and frustrated that they weren't selling everything every second. Rust was a restless maniac and everyone was starving (duh). B stopped by after work and just shook his head and laughed when I said, "Why don't you just say, 'sweetheart, these seems like a difficult idea' when I say I'm going to do this kind of stuff!" It was alright and an important lesson and we might do it some more this summer but goodness, why do I do these things to myself (lol). The kids have an instagram @StuderFishandChicks and I'll keep ya'll posted when I decide to be a lunatic again and take four kids under 10years to the farmers market.

Being accepted to college...again! I finally had enough conversations with all the right people to confirm that I will need to take a student teaching practicum to be officially certified to teach in PA (which is odd because...experience and TFA and a masters doesn't count apparently, weird flex but okay Pennsylvania Dept of Ed). I actually love love love learning and school so I'm pretty excited about the prospect of being a student again, but who in the world at nearly 36 years old and a mom of four kids with a full time job and multiple volunteer positions has the time and money for this?! yeah, not me, but mommas find w a way - so I'm on it and will be 'graduated' in May 2020.

Spring Sporting with the final soccer games of the season! Violet and Gemma each had two last games this week and it is bittersweet. I made mini fruity pebble muffins for our Mighty Muffins' last game and the other parents all pitched in with snacks to give our crew a little end of season snack party. Miss Hannah was there to see Gem's last game and then brought her down to Roxbury for our volleyball games. She even stayed for all six matches and took the kids for ice cream during (thank you Miss Hannah - we love you so!) Grey had a playoff game with his team on Monday night and lost (he had a rough game with his snotty nose and nerves about playoffs), and that was it for regular season ball! He played up in two majors games later that week (a win and a loss) and had practice for his little league sanction team twice too.

Making for the kids chicken and veggie casserole, hot dogs on the grill, frozen pizza, and leftovers. The kids each helped in a small way to make Strawberry dump cake with whip cream icing after our day at the strawberry fields and we had lots of good breakfast food like mini pancake muffins (with toppings: bacon bits, sausage, blueberries, and chocolate chips!), egg sandwiches, and fruity pebble muffins.

Keto'ing and losing another 2 lbs this week (yipee!) We are still going keto strong and sticking within our macros each day. We had chicken & broccoli with alfredo sauce, cauliflower rice and ground turkey, pork chops (with almond flour) in the air fryer, jalapeno stuffed chicken, and lots of salads, bulletproof coffee, burgers, and cheddar brats.

Summer survival

Summer vacation is here and we are all home together, making memories, and enjoying everyday to the fullest. Ugh, I wish it were that easy - amirite mommas? I do love summer and obviously my kiddos all home and wide open free days (especially the mornings) but there comes with it challenges as everyone is trying to get into a new schedule and everyone is starving all.the.time and everyone is bored all.the.time.

The summer stretches before us with wide open space and time which is blissfully exciting and a little unnerving with all these kids. So I came up with some ideas to keep us all (read: me) relatively sane and content as the summer rolls on. Here's some thoughts for other mommas and daddas out there wondering how to survive the summer (hah).

1. Food
Our kids can snack with the best of them and there are certain foods we can't even bring into the house and expect it to last more than an hour or two before it is devoured (read: toaster strudel or pringles) I knew that there was no way our kids could be successful on a 'no snacks' summer (only proper meals) but was honestly worried about them eating all of our food in the first week of summer. So I devised a daily Snack Option menu that is posted on our fridge. The kids can get their own snacks during the day, but it must only be the snacks listed for the day. They actually weirdly love the structure and having to see other snacks in the house but know they are saving them for another day. It is also nice that I can even include leftovers as part of the snacks and it keeps the fridge cleaned out and rotating. We have also been baking together, so those treats are listed on the snack menu too. Now if only to figure out a way to get them to put the wrappers in the garbage!?

2. Screens
If you're a regular reader, you know I'm all about the outdoor time over screen time. We have a tv in the living room and one in our bedroom (I lost that battle) and we have a firestick (netflix, prime, etc). So our kids definitely know and love the zombie'd out state of sitting in front of the tube. And the fight to switch from screens to something else is exhausting. To combat that awful tug-of-war, we've had a standing rule in our house (for about 3 years) that there are no screens before 11am. It's a hard rule that doesn't have exceptions, so the kids don't even ask anymore. There's something about them having to wake up and find something to do on their own that fuels their brains for the day. We usually don't turn on the tv until at least 2p and many times not even until dinner making so I can have a minute without someone hanging off of me. If we start the day without screens, they can make it so much longer without needing that distraction.

We also incorporate Screen Free Wednesdays in the summer and that applies to Mom and Dad too. Just a day in the middle of the week to unplug and be awake the whole day without distractions.

(our kids also have ipads, but they have been off the charger and with dead batteries since Screen Free Week and they haven't really noticed or cared - so they'll be staying that way until the new school year when they need them for studying).

3. Boredom
Without the distraction of screens (and even with screens) one of the most heard phrases in the house (second only to "I'm starving") is "I'm bored." My usual response to this is, "I have lots of chores you can do if you can't find something to do." hah.

We do keep a list of all the fun stuff we can do at home (similar to our screen free ideas list) that the kids can be reminded that there is actually plenty to do right here at home. The biggest mom issue I have to combat with this is the messes that working through boredom creates. The kids know they need to clean up after their mess, but also their version of 'cleaned up' isn't quite my version and it takes a lot to loosen my grip on perfection. I try very hard to meditate on the knowledge that ideas and play that is born out of boredom benefits their brain and expands their creativity. Just breathe, Momma.

4. Can we go somewhere? 
This is another common phrase from my kids all summer. We have time to visit new or favorite places with the wide open days during the summer so my kids get it in their head that we should be going somewhere every day. To keep the kids in check this summer, we made a "It's a good day to explore" jar. I took little strips of paper and wrote different spots that we can visit that are nearby without a lot of planning. They are so excited about pulling a paper out - hahha - they each have already done a 'practice pull.' I explained to them that we are only pulling out a paper if the day works for a trip - so we can't have a lot of other stuff going on (doctors appt, practices/games, graduation party, etc) AND it has to be a good day for ME (chores are caught up, no one is sick, etc) - which helps as a reminder that our chores will be caught up if everyone pitches in every day. Some of the things that are included in the jar: bikes/rollerblades in the school parking lot, hiking at a local trail/park, swimming at our grandparents', aunts', or cousins' houses, the local library, ice cream visits, mini golf, playground visits, quemahoming dam/beach, etc. 

photo cred: Gemma 

5. Perimeters
We are 'free range' parents which means our kids get a lot of independent time, including outside. Granted, we are blessed abundantly with the means to do this as we live on top of a mountain with a huge yard and surrounding wooded area (and farm land behind that). We really can parent like our parents did and let the kids outside by themselves and then scream for them to come home to eat. Our kids' perimeters around our home are based on their age and their own comfort levels.

6. Hygiene
We try to keep it simple in the summer - swimming counts as a bath. This is normal summer standard, right? We also try to keep our Thursday 'Hygiene Day' rule in tact so that all the kids get bathed/showered and nails clipped/checked on Thursdays. Because then I at least have an idea of the last time it for sure happened. #bigfamprobs

7. Bedtime
It's been several years that we have used the No Bedtime Summer at our house and it works for us. I am a morning person, so if the kids are staying up late and sleeping in, it actually works better for me than trying to wrestle kids into bed at night. We generally stay awake and outside until the sun goes down anyway which can be almost 10p in the summer - and we are often making a fire and sitting on the porch while the kids jump on the trampoline after that. The kids either crash out on the couch where they are or they go up to bed when they are ready by themselves.

8. Preserving the free time
This is new for me - I'm still learning - but I finally hit my moment of clarity to just say no to busyness. We got a ton of flyers home the last few weeks from school with all kinds of activities, day camps, and sports camps. I loved that there were so many ideas for about 45 seconds and then I was tired; tired of even thinking of the driving to and from and watching the clock. So I've been trying very hard to focus on the freedom of a clear schedule; no classes or camps or weekly commitments. Although (I said I'm still learning!) I have signed Gemma and Violet up for a week long camp each at our community arts center in July because Grey is playing all-star baseball this summer (another lost battle) and they get something just for them too. Gem will be doing theater camp and Violet is doing art camp.

So, that's how I am attempting to 'survive summer' with four energetic and starving all the time kiddos. What are your best tips and tricks to keep everyone relatively sane and happy during the summer?

Around Here Week 23: 06/02-06/08

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

photo cred: Jenn Valetine

Intentional Outdoor Hours: 190+ hours (of 1000)
Up 21 hours this week thanks to lots of spring sports and sunshiney afternoons.

Reading They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera and finishing it in 24 hours. So good and such an incredible story idea. This is one of the books on the #ProjectLit list for high school. When I posted it on my teacher instagram, many of my students said they have, are, or want to read it too. It's a great one!

Celebrating our three year old RustMan on his actual birthday. We measured his height (taller than Violet at 3y but shorter than Grey & Gemma at 3y). We sang over his favorite breakfast (pancakes!) even my little soccer team sang him happy birthday in the huddle! We had his birthday party the Friday before, so he was pretty confused about why he got another one; "It still mah birtday?"

Feeling like a kid again when my parents came to watch our volleyball game. We played six games on Friday to make up a rain out and my parents came and cheered like I was a teenager. It was the sweetest and so comforting somehow. It's easy to get swept up in motherhood and be so focused on how you're loving and caring for and tending to, and barely keeping it together for all the humans that need you - and then to have my parents there at our silly little co-ed league game cheering; it just really helped me remember that I am someone besides 'Momma Tab.' (thanks Mum & Dad xxox)

Starting summer officially at the Studer house.  The babies went to daycare until Wednesday so that I could have three whole days with no one in the house but me (!) I read, rested, blogged, scheduled appointments, and did some cleaning & lots of laundry. I took the babies to one of our favorite playgrounds for their first day of summer for a picnic lunch and it was nice to just spend time with the little ones for a day. The big kids had their last week and day of school and we are all home! All of our kids are mostly looking forward to sleeping in late and staying up late (#nobedtimesummer) and all the playing outside. B and I could not get over the first and last day pictures side-by-sides of the kids (Grey wore the same shirt both days, LOL) - why do babies grow so fast? B is on his summer schedule of four 10 hour days, so we get Daddy home on Fridays which is so nice and waking up super early to get his lunch packed has helped me get my much needed alone time in the mornings.

Terrified when we had a horrible drowning scare on Saturday evening. Violet can swim, but she still tires easily and isn't strong enough to make it in the deep end solo. Violet swam for two hours; going down the slide (in floaties) and swimming without floaties in the shallow end with her siblings and cousins at our cousin's pool. The grown ups told the kids it was last call and as we were cleaning and packing up; Violet went up the slide ladder (without a floatie) and joyfully went down into the deep end. Her older cousin and sister were only a foot away from her as she struggled and bopped up and down trying to get to the ladder. Neither of the girls realized anything was wrong and the grown ups were doing that half watching, half cleaning up sweep of the pool patio. I heard one little "ack" and whipped around shouting, "Where's Violet?" We all saw her and her cousin and sister grabbed her and Brandon pulled everyone out of the pool. That's how fast - that's how silent drowning can be. It was awful and I was sick in my stomach all night and into the next day thinking of how different our night - OUR LIFE - could have been. The girls were inches from her and didn't realize. And we were right there and didn't know it was happening. Thank God that she was able to make that one little sound, so many parents are not so lucky to get that notice. We had a very long chat with that little water daredevil about making sure she tells us if she's going in the deep end and praised her for not panicking; that she kept trying to get breaths and swimming underwater even though she was fatigued. We talked to the big kids too about what drowning really looks like (NOT like the movies) and to watch for all the little kids that might be swimming with them at any time. Brandon and I continue to be on edge and high alert now knowing how different it all could have been. It is quick, it is silent, and it can happen to anyone! Please be safe, I am sending so many prayers to all your families for a safe summer of swimming.

Having so much fun playing volleyball alongside a former student, Maddy, who just graduated this year. She is doing awesome and she's such an asset to our team!

Wishing a happy birthday to my little sister, Kayla on Friday night. I headed over to her bestie, Sarah's house, where we laughed and chatted into the night until it was officially her birthday at midnight so we could sing to her. We love you, Kitty.

Congratulating a former basketball player of Brandon's for his college graduation! We are so proud of Ryan and grateful to him (and his brothers) for being role models for our kids.

Spring sporting with two soccer games each for the girls and 3 baseball games for Grey. Grey's team ended up winning a nail biter on Saturday against the second place team in the league. It was so great to see the boys all work together and feel so proud. They'll be in the playoffs next week and then we only have Sanction All-stars left of baseball (which is a lot, but I'm saying only because I'm trying to be positive, hhah). The spring sports season is coming to a close and I can't say that I'm not a little bit relieved. April - early June has been so hectic for us the last few years, the end is always a little bittersweet.

Making for the kids (because we're Keto, see below) french toast, Taco pasta, frozen chicken nuggets, fridge left over buffet, hot dogs on the grill, and cake box chocolate chip cookies to share with our bus driver for the last day of school.

Keto'ing all week and actually loving it. After a few days of meh (feeling kind of buzzed and out of it), we started to feel more awake and markedly less hungry. I think that's what is blowing my mind the most. I am such a snacker; I want to eat all day and I'm hungry all day. But now on keto, I don't even feel hungry until about 10:30a and then I eat a proper breakfast and then I'm good until about 2/3p; it is blowing my mind. We are also eating a lot of good and interesting things to meet our macros (we use the Carb Manager app to make sure our calories are coming from 70% fat, 25% protein, and 5% carbs each day). We've had buff chicken zuchinni boats, grilled salmon, cauliflower rice (obsessed), fried cheese taco "shells," so much delicious avocado, grilled steaks, homemade keto bagels, 'bulletproof' coffee, and peanut butter 'fat bombs' (thank goodness for Pinterest and Keto instagrammers for recipes!) One week in and I'm down 4lbs and Brandon's down 8lbs!