Around Here Week 13: 03/29-04/04

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

photo cred: Becky C

photo cred: B

photo cred: Greg R

selfie cred: B

photo cred: Uncle Jonny

photo cred: Stacy S

photo cred: Becky C

Intentional Outdoor Hours: 44+ hours (of 1000)
The green is greening and the birds are chirping and I'm not kidding I literally forgot that birds sing in the spring and summer - that is how long winter has been! Oh thank goodness for a beautiful week as my soul was in desperate need for it. The babies and I took a walk back to the fields behind our house were we know toads like to leave their eggs. We did find toad eggs and the kids were so excited! We can hear the spring peepers and croakers at the baseball field too while at practices. Spring may really be coming (please! please!)

Reading The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett and The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough. 

Listening to Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser because it is the next book for my Lit Ladies book club. It's the Cinderella story but told through a historical fiction perspective of the stepmother. I'm legitimately obsessed and won't stop yapping about it. 

Kindergarten readiness testing for Red and Olive at CT. Brandon took the babies and they did great (and had fun!) Even Violet got to visit with them while they were there (thank you Mrs. Mazz for sending her down to say hi!) And now it's official; they'll be Township class of 2039! Our last two babes will officially be in school and it feels absolutely surreal. Next year, we will have a junior, freshman, sixth grader, fourth grader, and two kindergartners!? A long time ago, I made a Note on my phone that marked out the various ages/grades of the kids all the way up until the babies are seniors in high school. And back then it seemed impossible to imagine the day when they would be in kinder (which meant Grey would be a junior). And holy freaking cow. We are there. Time is so distorted. 

Celebrating our six year old Reddy Sketti! We had a fishing birthday party for him at our house on Sunday. It turned out to be a pretty nice day (a little chilly and windy, but tolerable!). So grateful for the family and friends that show up with arms loaded down with food and drinks to share (Abba made mac&cheese and brought Red's favorite fruits - Uchie brought spinach dip and juice bags - Heather brought fruit and party mix - Mimi made her famous baked beans). We played a funny 'fishing game' with a donut on a string and we sang to Reddy and Mimi; our birthday twinnies: Reddy turns 6 this year and Mimi (his great grandma) turns 88 this year! How incredibly blessed we are to have both of them to sing to each year! On Reddy's actual birthday - our April Fools' baby - Red took mini donuts to celebrate with his classmates and baseball donuts to his baseball team at practice.

Happy Fels Naptha season to those who celebrate. LOL. After every home game (white pants), I ask Grey how bad his pants are and he consistently says, "Uh, yeah. Pretty bad." 

Annual Spruce Creek fishing trip for Daddy! The happiest fella - Gem and I always tease him that he never smiles as big with us in photos as he does in the photos he is holding up fish he caught?! He had a great time and it is always a soul recharge to spend time outside with his best friend Uncle Jonny. The two of them, Yetka and CJ laugh and play their 'reindeer games' the whole time and just get to be goofballs. Grateful for that for him. 

Crossing things off the to do list like a boss! We got our taxes filed and I emailed the schools about opting out of the state testing for the kids (Gem, Violet, and Rusty this year!) Brandon got fitted for his tux for Butter's wedding and I ordered their bridal shower gift. We double checked about what Grey will need to fly this summer to Montana with the Conn family and I got signed up to make food for the softball fundraiser at Forbes Brewery. And we are always having to add money to the kids' lunch accounts...this week it was Red and Olive. 

Attending my favorite mass service of the year - Good Friday. Violet and Gemma both volunteered and it is such a solemn event with the lights progressively turning off and the story of Jesus's last night and day. I sit there and sing with tears running down my cheeks thinking about Mother Mary. 

Impressed that the Easter Bunny came through, even if it was in under the wire this year. LOL, never felt less prepared in my life. B was zonked on Saturday night after the full week of fishing and so thank goodness the Easter Bunny and the tooth fairy showed up in my heart to make the magic happen (we still have at least 2 believers in this house - maybe three, but I'm not entirely convinced about Rusty, I think he humors me and honestly, I love him for that). 

Time with Family and Friends. Chum got the big kids to school on Wednesday morning when B was at fishing camp and took Reddy to baseball practice that day (thank you!) Rusty got to sleepover at his friend AJ's birthday party, Violet had a sleepover at Brookie Lasure's house. Gemma spent the day with Abba and Chum at cousin Janell's baby shower (thank you for taking her!) Grey and Gabe went out to eat and for ice cream with Gina and Leah. We all got to spend time with Bryce and Reed on Fishmas! 

Teaching only two and a half days this week because of Spring Break! We had practice testing two of the days at the elementary school. My expo group finished week 1 and got new vocab for week 2. Spanish 1 learned about the difference in Ser vs. Estar and Spanish 2 read chapters 4-6 in Robo en la Noche. I got registered for the upcoming IUP Methodology conference in late April too - grateful for my co-Spanish teacher Ella who took care of all the paperwork so we could go to the conference again this year - and also for being such a good friend and teaching partner! xxxo

Sporting with two 6U AYSO soccer practices for Olive and Coach Momma. Reddy had two coach pitch baseball practices, and Rusty had one minors baseball practice. Violet had a Sparks soccer practice and one 12U AYSO soccer practice this week. Gemma had one Gators soccer practice, three softball practices, and one softball game. Grey had one baseball practice and three baseball games this week. We got Gemma signed up for her AYSO referee training class too! The girls and I went to Kidsport soccer fields on Saturday morning to volunteer for field clean up and it was such a beautiful morning! We got a lot of stuff done (setting up nets, painting lines, carrying sandbags to nets, etc)

Making hamburgers and hot dogs and veggie pizza for Reddy's birthday party, Teriyaki noodles with chicken and broccoli, sloppy joes with mac&cheese, spaghetti for Sketti's birthday, sheet pan kielbasa tortelini, and chicken and gravy over mashed potatoes. For fishing camp, we had deli sammie sliders and pasta salad. For breakfasts I made french toast, egg sammies, and Sopapilla. For desserts, I made fish and worm cupcakes for Red's birthday party and on his actual birthday, I added baseball lines to white glazed donuts for his baseball practice. 

Around Here Week 12: 03/22-28

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

photo cred: B

photo cred: Becky C

smartboard artwork done by students Kendall and Molly

photo cred: Kuma

photo cred: Kevin

Intentional Outdoor Hours: 30+ hours (of 1000)
Sunday was beautiful (almost 80 degrees!) so Brandon and Gemma took most of the afternoon cleaning out the chicken coop and moving our guinea babies to the outdoor coop. But with the chickies moved outside, it seemed only reasonable to Mr. Not-to-be-trusted-in-Tractor-Supply to pick up ANOTER dozen of peeps. Grey literally said, "I mean c'mon. We have to do something about dad and the chicks." LOL forever. Things are looking a little more green around here (and I have some early bloomers showing - daffodils, tulips, and sedum) But by Saturday it was back down to the thirties and literally snowflakes falling while the boys packed up for fishing camp (ugh). 

Reading The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett. We had our teacher book club meeting on Sunday at The Grey Goose to talk about Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. I got to hitch a ride with Loni and it was so nice to chat the whole ride; we are yappers and I love that about us - hah! The Grey Goose was delicious and adorable and the conversation was captivating - as always! 

Proud of Violet for her zoom interview with Camp PARC on Sunday evening. She had an interview with the Camp Owner over zoom to apply to be a Peer Buddy this July. Camp PARC is an incredible place that holds summer camps for children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities. Violet would be a friend to a child attending the camp and would be overseen by an older teen counselor as well. Many of our friends volunteer at Camp PARC and when Violet learned about being able to volunteer - she was committed (you know my girl who wants to do all the things!) She did a great job in the interview (I was sitting right off screen smiling and giving her thumbs up - it is scary thing to do at any age, but she did great at 11yrs old!) Then we had a joint chat and I was able to ask questions and learn more. We will wait for official confirmation that she got the job and then summer camp will be in July! 

Getting the planner in order as spring sports season and end of the school year align for the ultimate showdown. All baseball and softball games are marked in pencil (we've already postponed a few games due to weather!) This spring we have six kids on eight different teams (3 baseball, 4 soccer, and 1 softball), plus Easter, Reddy's 6th birthday, Grey's 16th birthday, a semi-formal, spring concerts, and fishing season. LOL, but we truly operate better at maximum involvement. As long as I have my planner and our village, I can hold it together (barely...but I can).

Thankful to Lamont who came by for haircuts. All my fellas looking so fresh and handsome again. We love and appreciate you, Mont! 

A happy half birthday to our Violet Mary who turned eleven and a half this week. She was disappointed that it was such a busy day and it felt like no one remembered her half birthday, but when I got home at 9p that night, I whipped up some pumpkin/ chocolate muffins and we sang and measured her on the doorframe and she was feeling a little bit happier. Oh, my deeply feeling VaVi. 

Dealing with some nighttime ninjas over here. Both Olive and Reddy have been having trouble with bedtime. They have a million requests (water, back rubbing, snuggling, stories, hungry, etc) and then usually midway through the night, they find their way into our bed because they had a nightmare. I think they are still adjusting to the room change; from listening to three siblings sleep to only one other sibling sleep. Poor little things, I'll take the snuggles because I know now (with teenagers) that babies don't keep. 

Astonished about the turkey hen that was enjoying a little walk in our backyard. Even with all of us watching and Nova the cat lurking - the turkey just stopped by unconcerned to say hello! 

So proud of Violet who finished her quilt this week! Kuma picked her up early from school so she had plenty of time on Friday to finish the whole thing (God bless her quilting instructors, Kuma, and Pappy who have got her through the process!) Her quilt looks beautiful and will be displayed at the quilt show in the upcoming Maple Festival in Somerset County. She is hooked now and has plans to make a quilt for Grey for when he graduates (so sweet). Very proud of our creative and ambitious girl Vially who wants to do every thing that's possible to do in the world. 

Cheering on the Somerset musical students and staff who put on an incredible show of Mamma Mia. Brandon, the three girls, and I all attended on Friday night and were dazzled with their performance. How proud I am to know and teach so many of those kiddos. And my co-workers who put the show on, so proud to teach alongside them. Bravo to all the high school students and staff keeping the Arts alive! I am always fangirling this time of year. 

Fishbrain. It's just about all any of the boys in my house can think about is fishing season. All week we've been talking and prepping for Youth Mentor day which was on Saturday. Reddy woke up everyday this week and first thing he said was, "Fishing on Saturday!" and on Saturday he woke up and said, "It's best day!" The boys have more trouble falling asleep on the eve of fishing camp than they do on Christmas, I am not even exaggerating. Mentor Youth day was a blast, even though it was pretty chilly. We were bundled up though and had the campfire going to keep everyone happy and warm enough. Brycey and Reedy came with us to be mentors for some of our youths (since their officially grown now!) Much to Greys' joy - he is still technically a Youth (for another week and a half!) We had both grandpas there, Uncle Ray, and Uncle Drip and the nephews. It was the perfect day! And no one was happier than Reddy! 

Easter clothes picked! After fishing camp, the girls and I stopped by Marshalls to pick out Easter day clothes for everyone in the family. What a relief to have that crossed off the list! 

Teaching about Peru and Spain at Eagle View, it was a switch over week between finishing and starting a new country. The kids are actually so interested in learning about other places and I really try to include the coolest places and events from each country. The most engaging things this week have been Peru with Nazca Lines and Spain with Bull leaping. I got a new group for Spanish Expo so we started week 1. Spanish 1 finished their novel Brandon Brown Quiere un Perro and took their final book test. Spanish 2 started their last novel, Robo en la Noche and we read Chapters 1-3. It was the end of Q3 so I had all my grades to finalize which always gets a little hectic. Next year recommendations were due this week too because next year course scheduling starts next week. It is so wild to see the end of the school year (only 9 more weeks!) but what a busy and wild last nine weeks it is every year. Hang on to your hats! 

Sporting with one coach pitch baseball practice for Reddy. Violet had one Sparks soccer practice. Gemma had four softball practices, her first ever jr high softball game, and a Gators soccer practice. Grey had two baseball practices and two baseball games. On Wednesday night, Grey and some of his football teammates attended the public school board meeting in support of their football teammate Eddie. We co-op our football team with the neighboring district and it was proposed to maybe end the co-op and have Eddie (and the other kids from that school) play football in a different district. Eddie doesn't want that and neither do our boys. The team and some of the moms (me, Becky C, Jenn, and Becky S) all headed out to be there in support for Eddie and the co-op. Even Grey and Gabe spoke up to the board on behalf of our team. Next step, another board meeting where the Coaches can come and present. I attended Meet the Coach night for my AYSO 6U team on Thursday night. 

Making smash burgers on the grill, meatloaf with roasted potatoes and carrots, copycat Olive Garden chicken over pasta, ground beef tacos, crack chicken sliders on Hawaiian rolls, egg roll in a bowl, and church picnic chicken on the blackstone with roasted potato fries. For fishing camp, I made meatball sub sammies and for Violet's half birthday I made a batch of chocolate/ pumpkin muffins