100 Small Things 2019

I have felt off for a few months, sort of stuck in a rut and feeling kind of down about the state of things; the world, myself, mostly the weather (hah). Usually my 100 small things list creation sparks a small flame inside of me that gets me all antsy-pantsy about the upcoming year - but this year it took me several weeks to really consider my choices and ideas. I wanted my list to be ambitiously doable (is that even a thing?) I need this year to be about realistic and intentional steps I can make towards being the me I want to be.

this is such a wacky stage of our lives; our bigs kids digging into sports seasons but still strapping little ones in and out of car seats, our big kids are pretty independent but right there on the edge that we forget that they still need reminders to do things like brush their teeth and wash under their armpits (hah). Our little ones are still little enough to need us for lots of things, but big enough that we can probably stop babying them so much too. We are both working full time jobs while volunteering with our kids' activities and trying to keep the spark alive in this ten+ year (19+ years together) relationship. We spread ourselves so thin sometimes that we make ourselves unavailable to the people who love us the most (ie. family).

Gosh, life.
we're all trying to figure this out and my 100 small things list is my focused way to make sure that despite the wildness and beauty of this life; I remain pointed in the direction of my dreams. That I am still playing the 'long game' for the person I hope to be and the life I hope to be living when I'm an old lady sitting on my porch swing holding Brandon's wrinkled, calloused hands listening to our bajillion grandkids chasing chickens around our yard. (hey, we all got dreams).

so here she is - 2019 addition of 100 small things.

soul
1. 1000 hours outside (or at least beat 2018 hours)
2. last will and testaments complete
3. cover concession stand duty for my kids' coaches...BE the kids' coaches
4. find a way to meaningfully thank the people who supported and prayed for us through Gigi's journey
5. direct deposit our church contributions
6. plant a garden and tend to it
7. update our family photos in the hallway staircase including a canvas print of Rusty & Violet
8. Live like the seasons and find a quote to match (winter, spring, summer, fall)

mind
9. finalize certification plans and begin
10. read 20 new to me books; 4 of them in Spanish
11. diversify my book authors and track
12. clear out and organize the living room desk and filing cabinets
13. learn some piano alongside Gemma (techniques and youtube)
14. learn French through the duolingo app
15. watch Marie Kondo's Netlflix series

body
16. try one month of HIIT exercise
17. drink 2 water bottles a day at work
18. average 12,000 steps a day (at least 5/7 days a week)
19. donate blood at least 4 times
20. when getting down on myself, repeat mantra, "I am grateful for this capable body"
21. explore hiking trail near Incline Plane downtown
22. attend a yoga class taught by my friend/coworker before she moves this summer
23. buy and try dry shampoo
24. go a whole month of 'blue dots' on the WW app
25. NSV: wear engagement ring comfortably
extra: keto for 3 months

mommahood
26. snowboard with Greyson
27. painting class with Violet
28. see a show/ballet with Gemma
29. see a movie with Rustman
30. take the kids to sell our eggs at the farmer's market
31. volunteer in Grey and Gem's classes
32. figure out ipad/screen time control/system
33. finish 2017-18 yearbook
34. start 2018-19 yearbook
35. fix bedtime routine with the kids
36. update photos in kids' baby books
37. add kids' birthstones to my mother's ring
extras: enroll girls in summer camp courses at CCCAC
make & grow a new family member (hah), finish 2018-19 family yearbook

romance
38. nsfw
39. once a month babysitter secured date
40. go heavy on the blond highlights for summer
41. add lace to my jammie collection
42. commit to a no-phone-zone bed
43. watch a complete Netflix series together

relationships
44. grandmas & kids mini trip
45. email our family weekly with kids' schedules
46. clean and clear instagram feed to spark joy (from 700+ to under 300!)
47. plan a party
48. host a grandparents dinner at our house (have the kids help cook and plan)
49. scf monthly happy hour at our homes

money
50. update Amazon subscribe and save
51. put money aside for Christmas all year long
52. update budget ledger and discuss with B
53. switch bill pay duties to Brandon for the next 10 years
54. look into cable/DirectTV/other options and changes
55. switch garbage services
56. do a month of no spending
57. close out random money CD at old bank
58. find a path to pay off student loan by 2020
59. cancel subscription boxes for the girls

writing
60. writing retreat with Loni
61. attend a Johnstown writer's club meet-up
62. write 100 blogposts
63. write at least 50 pages to my novel
64. write a short story
65. organize CCD lesson plans and put in a binder by grade
66. write a monthly gratitude post
extra: submit short story for publication

travel
67. AKT playdate weekend at the halfway point
68. celebrate someone's birthday (trip!)
69. renew passports
70. get Rusty a passport
71. celebration trip to FL with Gigi and Pappy
72. Plan Disney 2020 trip
73. visit Erie, PA

home
74. fix living room curtain rod
75. clean stove
76. buy 2 kayaks
77. bookcase/built ins for the playroom
78. donate books and toys to the daycare
79. move family meals to the dining room table
80. roof a patio
81. choose beautiful flowers for our front porch planters
82. correct the clocks in the kids' rooms
83. write down and stash our family favorite recipes
84. go through kitchen cupboards and organize
85. buy a fiddle leaf fig plant for the living room
86. hang a fern (or other plant) in our bathroom
87. clear and purge our closet
88. clean out and organize the attic
89. order cornhole bags

biz&school
90.. clear out and organize filing cabinets and closet
91. laminate word wall and hang with magnets
92. curriculum map for 2019-20
93. participate in Wooly Week 2019
94. post and create classroom signs (phrase starters, etc)
95. take Spanish club juniors and seniors to the Gateway clipper
96. host a taco truck day at school
97. take over Prom committee 2019-20
98. start Project Lit grou with Renee and Ashley (book club with students)
99. take Praxis Fundamental Knowledge test
100. have a co-founders meeting and make decisions about The Hunting Daddies

Around Here 3: 01/13-19

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

Intentional Outdoor Hours: 1+ hours (of 1000)
Barely got any more time outside this week, but I'm not beating myself up over it. My sweet friend Ashley shared with me this quote that totally fits with how I've been feeling in this cold, dreary winter weather. (thank you!)

Reading and finishing The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult. I only had about 20 pages left and about 300 steps shy of 12,000 on Thursday night, so I did a few laps around our dining room table while finishing the last little bit of the book (two birds with one stone is my favorite). I enjoyed the book a lot - as usual with Picoult as the author. Not my favorite of hers, but very interesting and an important read about WWII. I thought I sort of knew where the ending was headed, and I ended up guessing correctly, but then I wasn't overly pleased with being right (hah). I started reading Room by Emma Donoghue which is a borrowed copy from one of my students (thank you Abi!) So, so good.

"Getting my blood out" (that's what my children call it) at our Student Council blood drive on Friday.

Playdating twice this week. Gemma had a friend get off the bus at our house after school one night. Gem and Ava played dress up and hoverboards and even helped make dinner. Grey took the bus to his friend's house after school one night and they jammed out because they've made a two man band (hah). Halen on guitar and Grey on drums (bless you Angie for enduring those jam sessions!)

Visiting Mimi for brunch between Grey's basketball games and getting Violet's cheetah, Speedy, stitched up after he had a little tear in him. She had a 'bandaid' on him all week until she could get Dr. Mimi to give him stitches. I also got to see Mimi's first monthly newsletter and I loved it. We got her a year long subscription with Neveo which is an app that Mimi's grandkids have on our phones and we upload pictures of the kids all month long and then Neveo creates a polished little newsletter style to send to her. Since she doesn't have any social media, she missed out on most of our Instagram and Facebook posts, so this is Mimi's own printed out, fancy version of a newsfeed! She loved it and has it in a special folder on her dining room table for safekeeping.

Hunkering down for the huge winter storm that (was supposed to) hit this weekend. We did get quite a bit of wind and freezing rain, a little bit of snow too. But all in all it wasn't as bad as it seemed it was going to be. (thank you plowtruck drivers). It was such a relief though to drop any responsibility for leaving the house. Gosh, it was total bliss to not have to feel guilty about not going anywhere! We got some chores done, watched a bunch of movies with the kids, played around and goofed off as a family, and mostly did nothing but stay cooped up in the house. It was heavenly and so much needed!

Laughing until my belly hurt about Violet asking Brandon to play 'Applejack' which is basically him being a horse and her riding on his back. He played and played with her and then finally was like, "okay, Vi, I need a break" and she just leaned down over his shoulder and held out her hand near his mouth like it was full of oats and said, "Just eat this Applejack and you'll be good again"

Basketball season'ing a ton this week. B had three games with his varsity team - one of which I made it to because it was at my school! I cheered for both teams because I have the hots for the coach and my students play for the other team (hah). Grey had three games this week too, including his first game with his CT team at the Y. Gemma is very interested in learning how to keep 'the book' and I'm planning on digging up some of Brandon's old stats books from previous years to give her some practice on the blank pages (she'd love that! and it's a useful skill to have - I volunteer occasionally to keep the book at Grey's games all these years later)

Teaching pre-Capibara con Botas unit about Ecuador and animals with my Spanish 1 students. Spanish 1 Honors students are working their way through Somos Unit 5 which included a class story that went on forever and ever until my entire #oldschoolchalkboard was filled up and the kids were still saying "más!" Spanish 2 practiced their er-verbs while Spanish 2 Honors fell in love with Selena's El Chico del apartmento 512 song and learned about piropos. Spanish 3 Honors finished reading Los 3 Cerditos and had a little fluency reading. Our school also was trained on the new PA wide system Safe 2 Say Something program which empowers kids to anonymously report situations that they think are dangerous or concerning. And it was the end of the 2nd marking period which meant I had lots of LMA (Leave Me Alone) passes rolling in for bonus points to add to their final grade.

Making banana blueberry muffins and egg & spinach 'muffins'. We also had chicken and gravy over mashed potatoes, a deer roast in the crockpot, and delicious veggie chowder soup with four ingredient beer bread. Gem helped me whip up some pork chop & stuffing casserole and cake box mix chocolate chip cookies to deliver to our cousin Heather. I am currently loving hot tea in the afternoon daily to warm up my afternoon and give me a little boast of joy.

Around Here 2: 01/06-01/12

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

Intentional Outdoor Hours:  1+ hour (of 1000)
We got one afternoon of 50 degree weather and some sunshine that was total bliss. The big kids and I got outside until it got dark and the (literal) thunderstorm clouds rolled in. Other than that, my outdoor hours seem to be accumulating only from our cold weather chicken duties of switching out the water and collecting eggs. My poor girls, they must be so bored all day coop'ed up (hah chicken puns), I wish I could speak hen and tell them spring does return after all this cold and wet.

Reading The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult. I also started reading some new Spanish learning novels to share with my students (Clase de confesiones, La bella mentira, y La perezosa impaciente) that arrived this week from my classroom fairy godmother, Ashley. You are so sweet and considerate (she included boxes of tissues too for a healthy start to the new year!) I just can't even believe I am blessed enough to have someone who constantly cheers me on in the classroom. gracias, gracias, muchisimo gracias.

Celebrating Orthodox Christmas at lunch at Gigi and Pappy's house and then with our traditional sleepout under the Christmas tree. This year, we took all the rest of the Christmas decorations down (including all the ornaments!) but the kids were happy to sleep under our 'naked' tree (lol). Orthodox Santa came and brought one gift for the girls to share and one for the boys to share. For the record - as of January 12th, our 'naked' Christmas tree is STILL UP. #lawdhelpme

So proud and inspired by my cousin Heather who is always the kindest and most thoughtful person I know, but this week gave birth to a beautiful baby girl for a couple who so desperately wanted a baby but couldn't do it on their own. Heather, you are just incredible and being a surrogate is only one (albeit a really big, selfless, brave one) of the million examples of things that you do for others all the time. I am so proud and lucky to know and love you.

Feeling grateful that 'lasterday' is still going strong in this house thanks to Vially. So is 'lasternight,' 'lasterweek,' and 'lasteryear.'

Passing my last (?) PRAXIS test before I can register for online college classes to finally square up on this certification. I took the Fundamental Knowledge test on Saturday and after two hours of ELA, Math, Science, and Social/Civil Studies questions - my brain was mush. But I passed so onward and upward.

Meeting up with the Vordrans for a playdate! B and the girls decided to drive me out to my test (since the weather looked a little iffy) and we made the lastest last minute plans with the Vorndrans at the trampoline park near my testing site. Everyone jumped and wore out their energy while I tested, and they we all went out for Mexican afterwards. It was so wonderful to catch up and so incredibly nice to be with friends who also know and accept this is such a crazy time in our lives (with little kiddos) and when we can squeeze in a short visit then it's awesome, but when we can't - no hard feelings. xxoxo love you guys!
...meanwhile the boys had a sleepover with my parents and had a blast playing in the snow and Grey even got to try out his new snowboard. He's obsessed.

Basketball season'ing with two games this week for Brandon's team and two games for Greyson's Duke Andrews team (we had to miss his first CT game because of overlap - he was so bummed). He also had three nights of Booboo's basketball practice which keeps us buzzing around all week, but with the help of my parents (thank you!) we usually only have to either pick up or drop off. This is always the point in basketball season where exhaustion starts to set in and I start apologizing to all our friends and family about how we sort of fall off the face of the earth. Even though I have attended (next to) no games, it is still tough on our family to have a Daddy running back and forth to games/practices every day of the week. Just sending a thank you to all of our friends and family who tolerate us through the next few weeks, we always roll out of basketball season a little ragged.

Teaching review in Spanish 1 as we prepared for the Unit 3 test (#weloveGimkit). I have finally decided to just bail on teaching old school all together in Spanish 1 because it just does not do anyone the kind of good that teaching through novels and comprehensible content does. So, please excuse me while I realign my curriculum map for the 43rd time until I figure out what works best de nuevo. Spanish 1 Honors worked through Somos Unit 4 while learning about habla, toma, and quiere ser. Spanish 2 had all their privileges taken away (for forever?) because I have had it up to there. More on my thoughts about being a teacher in 2019 to come soon. Spanish 2 Honors started the Somos Unit 13 (el chico del apt 512!) and Spanish 3 Honors finished the preterito Super 7 interview and started Los Tres Cerditos fluency unit. On Señor Wooly Friday, we did an embedded reading of the Feo song and it was an awesome exercise in using their skills in listening, speaking, and reading in Spanish. After they read each level of embedded reading, they could come to me to listen to and answer some questions in Spanish about the passage and then 'level up' to the next embedded reading. Gah, I loved listening to them work their way to figure out the answers and understand the questions #geekforlife

Making Hawaiian meatballs in the slow cooker, tomato soup and grilled cheese (and burning the soup on the bottom of the pot, I have been trying to get that thing cleaned for days!), super delicious pork chops and stuffing bake, and a fridge clean out day on Sunday. Brandon and I have been doing really good at making all of our weekday lunches on Sunday. The first week we had three days of beef chili (3 day work week), and this week we had five days of salads (two plain salads, 2 days of flavored tuna on top, and 1 day of taco meat on top).