Around Here Week 47: 11/17 - 23

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

photo cred: B

photo cred: Jackie F

photo cred: Uncle Juice

Intentional Outdoor Hours: 610+ hours (of 1000)
First snow day of the year! Both my school and the kids' school had an old fashion snow day called. B still had to go into work, but the rest of us spent the day at home and the kids got out to sled ride and tend to the farm for awhile. While the kids were outside, I reorganized the pantry which was a long time item on my to do list! 

Reading Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls. It's going slow but I do really like the characters and storyline! 

Listening to The Chain by Adrian McKinty and what in the good grief?! I like it, I think...? so much drama and insanity. The author took the writing suggestion of 'kill your darlings' a little too literal and the whole book is basically an exercise in making every single moment a challenge for the main character.

Chore day on a wide open Sunday at our house. B and the kids worked outside (cleaning off the back porch, closing the porch windows, etc). Pappy was in the garage working on electrical, and I was in the house doing load after load of laundry, ironing, and organizing the pantry and fridge. I did a massive clean up of our bedroom too - hanging up clothes in the closet, clearing off dressers...if you are normally dysfunctional like our family (LOL), then clean clothes get tossed over the chairs instead of hanging them up, and dressers become holding stations for whatever is in your hand right this second instead of just putting it in the place it goes. It is a survive each day right now in the blur of raising young kids - so we do what we need to do to get through the days. But it felt good to really go through everything and clean up and clear out - so yay! 

Hooking up the tv in our bedroom which is a winter-only treat. I like to turn on Youtube fireplace ambience for the winter months while I do laundry or while I read before bed. It's nice to give the kids access to their shows during winter sports that Daddy and Grey like to dominate the tv with in the living room. Even in the winter, we still aren't a huge screen family, but we give ourselves a little extra cozy comfort in the long, dark (!), cold winter months.  

Family hang out in our bedroom because of course with it all clean and clear and the fake fireplace on, every single child found their way in to us. There were lego building competitions and side conversations and laughter. It's shocking to me always that no matter their age, they still want to be near us - maybe not even talking to them or asking questions - they just want to be in the same room as us. Grey and Gem did the nearness thing again later that week. I was on my bed reading and first Grey came and laid next to me and scrolled on his phone, occasionally asking me to look at a reel he thought was funny and then Gem came and laid down next to me and closed her eyes and laughed at Grey's memes and reels when he showed them to her. 

Ordered our family yearbook for 2023-24! Fourteen months of love, sweat, and tears (hah). It is such a labor of love to make that thing but it is cherished in this house by everyone to get all our photos and memories collected in the book to look at and laugh together. Life moves so quickly that sometimes it feels like we are doing nothing but running and sleeping - but then we stop and flip through our yearbooks and remember that although time marches on - we sure had a lot of good times in between the hustle and bustle. This yearbook was especially important to remember all the special times when we had such a hard and sad time this year (miss you everyday, Gigi). I included a memorial page and my eulogy in the book. Such a hard and sad time, but there was a lot of good times; and all the holidays and memories made with her for the rest of the year - to see her smiling and snuggled up with us for the other parts of the year is so special. I can't wait to get this book home. 

A happy half birthday for Olive - three and a half this week! We celebrated with mini donuts and measured her height on our kitchen doorframe. It was a little confusing for three and a half to know the difference between a real birthday and a pretend half birthday (hah - she asked if her friends at school were going to bring her presents). I sent a quick note to the preschool teachers to let them know that we celebrate half birthdays in case Liv went on a birthday bossgirl streak at school. 

Doghouse building for Osa. She is a fulltime farm dog and we want to give her a space of her own (she has no problem sleeping with the goats, but I would feel better if she had her own house) So I found these plans online and B and Pappy got to work with the kids occasional help to get it built this week. I can't wait to get the house down at the farm for her! Never ending grateful to have a handy (and handsome) husband! 

Volleyball tourney for Grey at school. He participated with some of his friends and fellow teammates in the charity volleyball tournament and they won! Mostly he enjoyed playing with his buddies and getting out of class (obvi) but it was play for a cause so wins all around! 

Stopping by the funeral home to give hugs and condolences to a friend and fellow coach. 

Hot Cross Buns concert! Violet had her fourth grade recorder concert this week and did great alongside all her classmates. For the spring semester she gets to choose an instrument to try and she is leaning towards the flute or saxophone for now. Grey tried sax but didn't continue with it and Gemma played trumpet for two years. 

Thankful for our barber Lamont of Ambitious Cuts for getting all my fellas looking fresh and clean for Thanksgiving next week! 

Setting up our Christmas Budget spreadsheet. I just followed the exact video from Easesence Instagram and all my formulas and charts worked like a charm! (She has since shared a very cute, fancier one too!) Brandon added in a few more formulas because math boy wants to run all the numbers (hah). It looks so pretty and also is actually very helpful. It even has a countdown to how many days until Christmas and it is both motivating and terrifying. 

Movie & dinner with Uncle Juice. He came to grab all the kids (except Booboo who had a basketball game) and took them for Chinese and then to see Red One at the movie theater. He also gifted them all giant nerf guns. Uncle Juice always takes it up several notches in fun and the kids adore spending time with him (thanks for such a special day for them!) 

Couch shopping with B while the kids were out with Uncle Juice! We used the free time to check some new couches out because we really do need it and we are anxious to get our basement den finished before Christmas. We stopped at three different places and I think we found then one! Just want to go home and double check measurements and also give ourselves a 24 hour think-about-it time frame before making such a big purchase. 

Wedding dress photo shoot for the girls. I took pictures of my other two girls in my wedding dress when they were three and the thought of getting Liv in it has been itching my brain. We had time on Saturday evening, so I pulled the dress out and had her put it on for some pictures. Violet and Gemma both wanted another try in it and it practically fits Gemma now - waaah! Time is absolutely unhinged.

Teaching and getting my official faculty photo taken and I can't stop shaking my head and laughing because GIRL. It was a day that I have no prep at the elementary school, so I come rushing up to the high school already semi-whiplashed and then I was the last one that needed their photo taken, but I have eighth graders - so my principal comes in to watch the class and I was in such a hustle that I didn't even LOOK IN THE MIRROR FIRST (in what world do I live!?), never re-applied lip color, didn't fix my hair, like literally just sat on the seat and said 'cheese.' I really feel like I am truly becoming Miss Geist from Clueless...like can some teenage student please take pity on me and give me a make-over!? Elementary is still working on Doy Gracias lesson, Spanish Expo is in their Geography week. Spanish 1 started reading Capibara con Botas and read Chapters 1-3. Spanish 2 finished their novel Tumba and we studied for their book final next week. 

Sporting with two swim practices for Rusty. Violet had a basketball game and Gemma had five days of basketball practice (Vi went to one of them with her). Grey had five days of basketball practice which included two days of lifting and then a scrimmage on Saturday. He also played in the all day volleyball charity tournament at school on Thursday. 

Making crockpot ham & potato soup, chicken & dumplings, spaghetti with garlic bread, Korean beef with green beans over rice, frozen pizzas, take out Chinese. Liv got chocolate croissants for breakfast and then take out pizza and mini donuts for her half birthday dinner. I made a batch of puppy chow on the snow day! 

Around Here Week 46: 11/10-16

 A glimpse into what it is like to be in our family just this moment. 

photo cred: Uch

Intentional Outdoor Hours: 609+ (of 1000)
Gained only about a half hour this week (shameful), but Golly! The sunrises! The weather is finally now during the day chilly enough that we made the official move of Queen Barb, our guinea pig, to be an inside pet full time. She loves being outside in her cage all spring, summer, and fall during the day (she sleeps inside every night), but its become too chilly during the day now. We got her all set up and she is adjusting well. 

Reading Hang the Moon by Jeannette Wall

Listening to and finishing Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Coffee date with Katie! I just needed some friend face time and I'm so glad we had a chance to meet up and chat - thanks Kate for meeting up last minute. We had warm drinks and caught up and laughed and it was exactly the dose of joy I needed! Bonus, we met up right next door to the grocery store I had to visit so two birds, one stone. 

Grateful for veterans. We had a beautiful assembly at the elementary school and the kids got to invite their veteran family members so it was especially touching. I talked about my sister Kitty and her time in the National Guard with my high school students (#bigsisbrag). So very grateful for all the women and men that my family knows personally who have chosen to be brave. thank you. xxo

Smiling at the pictures and videos of Violet's special day with Abba and Chum. She got to take her friend Evaley to 814 Lanes & Games for her birthday with my parents. Then they got to hang out at my parents' house; Vi loved every minute of it (thank you!)

Feeling calm and thankful for how things shake out. There were a few moments this week that I was doubting decisions in my career path, but after multiple chats with various people (thank you all who endured my existential crisis, LOL) I feel relaxed and at ease with how things are going. 

Camo kisses for Grey and B who spent Wednesday morning in the woods with Uncle Jonny. Neither brought anything home with them, but Grey saw a ton of deer out of bow range. A day in the woods for those three together is always the best kind of day even without a harvest. 

Thankful for grandpas who make things run smoothly! Chum was here bright and early on Wednesday morning to get kids to school and preschool while Daddy and Grey were hunting. Pappy was here during the school days this week working on fixing our basement and garage electric! 

Making a foolish mistake of running over the well pipe in our yard one morning before school! It was cold and I was in a hurry and I ran right over the dang thing not realizing I was parked that close to it. Not only did I demolish the pipe (oopsie, my bad! -guess that movie -) but I also ripped off a part of the front bumper (ughhhhhh) so it was hanging and dragging to and from school that day. Thankfully, we stopped at Pappy's house while Rust was at swim and he cut off the hanging piece so that I could drive without the danger of the dragging piece until we can get it actually fixed for real. Ugh, so frustrating to make such a careless mistake because of rushing...but it be like that somedays. 

Starting to feel the pull of the holidays as event dates, special projects, and holly jolly realizations trickle in. The babies had a turkey disguise project due this week (Reddy picked a football player and Liv picked a cheerleader). I got the paperwork and envelopes for the elementary school Santa's workshops, dates and times for the kids' Christmas concerts (3 this year!), and Reddy has a line to practice for his preschool Christmas play: "It says Happy Birthday!" When I was in Aldi for regular groceries I saw a couple of cute little things that I was like, "those would be perfect stocking stuffers for the babies, but too bad it's so far away" and then I was like, "wait! no it's not?! hahaha, so I snagged them and felt weirdly accomplished that I have one thing done. HAH. I also ordered our Christmas cards this week! 

Teaching the verb Hay and farm animals in the elementary school. Spanish expo started their Geography unit this week. Spanish 1 is in their capibara disguise project era (hah) and they got so creative! They also took their vocab test and read Chapter 1 of the novel. Spanish 2 continued reading Tumba Chapters 2-5. I got some special treats from Señora Lauri's Spanish 3 students who completed their Cooking Show project! I stayed after school for a FOR (Friend's of Rachel) club meeting this week too.

Sporting with three swim practices for Rusty and a swim meet on Saturday. Violet had a basketball game on Sunday. Gemma attended three open gyms for basketball with the varsity team and then started official junior high basketball practice on Friday and Saturday. Grey turned in his football equipment, and had volleyball practice (hah) with his team for the marathon volleyball tourney day at school then started official varsity basketball practice on Friday and Saturday. B, Grey, Gemma, and I all attended the football end of season banquet on Sunday night. B had a great speech and the boosters put on a beautiful evening. Feels crazy to wrap up the season; both too long and too quick (as most things usually are!)

Making chicken parm spaghetti, taco bowls over roasted potatoes, french toast for dinner!, chicken flautas, buffalo chicken dip over homemade mac&cheese, and pork roast & keilbasa with sauerkraut in the slow cooker. I made a batch of double chocolate cookies and Violet helped make a dbl batch of peanut butter, oatmeal, chocolate chip cookies for fuel at the swim meet! 

A Day in the Life: October

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

5:45a-6:50a
It's time to rise and shine, hah. Teeth, hair, lipstick, clothes. Regular morning chores like coffee, packing lunches, setting out backpacks, feeding the guinea pig. I packed up some mini cupcakes for Olive to take for their Halloween party tomorrow at pre-school. Then it's kissing the kiddos and B goodbye as I head out to start my commute by 6:55a.

6:55a - 7:26a
Commute to school and listening to Lessons in Chemistry on the drive. I am really liking the book and I always say good morning to a beautiful (I think wild black cherry) tree that is on my drive. So grateful that my friend and coworker Loni showed me the backroad way to school which is the only way I take now so that I can enjoy a little of the beautiful Somerset county farm roads instead of the main roads through town. 

7:30a - 10:40a
Elementary school teaching. It was Day2 so I had drop off greeting duty this morning. It was national oatmeal day and because our PTA and secretaries are awesome - they had oatmeal pumpkin cookies in the staff lounge for a little morning pick-me-up. Best! 

Then we were finishing up our Día de muertos crafts - third grade is finishing alebrijes, fourth grade is working on calaveras or butterflies or cempasuchil flowers and fifth grade is finishing their calavera / alumininum foil crafts. Everyone was in pretty good spirits because they know that on Friday we get an early dismissal and they get to wear their costumes to school for fall fest. You can already feel the excitement in the air for trick-or-treat night too. Yeesh, teaching elementary school the week of Halloween is wild...actually from Halloween to winter break is fairly wild to be honest. 

10:50a-3:45p
And it's up to the high school to teach the rest of the day. Eighth grade expo was with a new set of kids so we did Taco Tuesday with common Spanish words and cognates. Spanish 1 is watching The Book of Life this week to celebrate Day of the Dead - but before we start watching each day we practice a little speaking or writing in Spanish. Today we summarized in simple Spanish sentences using Super 7 verbs. Spanish 2 is watching Coco to celebrate Día de Muertos and they also warm up first. We described a scene from the movie in Spanish at the beginning of class. 

3:45p-4:30p 

Commute home. I got to chat with Uch on the phone as I made my way to the babies' preschool. I got there just in time for a 4p pick up and then we stopped at the high school to pick up the other kids. Grey stayed for practice (duh), but Gemma (God bless her) said she would stay home with the babies for swim practice and Violet's basketball game. So we all headed home and I got the kids settled while Rust and Vi got ready for their activities. I heated up a hot tea for the ride because I knew my soul was going to need it. 

4:30-5p 

HUSTLE to swim practice. Swiftly and safely, we made it only a few minutes after the 5p start time.

5p-6p 

Rusty's swim practice and Violet brought her homework to do while we waited. Rust had some practice for diving off the block without losing his googles (still about half the time slipping off). But I got some helpful suggestions on different style of goggles and straps that might work better from the swim coach and swim families (thanks Mallie and Stacy!) Violet got some math assistance from Coach Mallie who was there since his daughters swim too. Best perk from joining swim this year - seeing Coach Mallie and the Stephens sisters multiple times a week! 

6p-8p 

Thankfully Violet's basketball game was just a few minutes from Rusty's swim practice, so the three of us headed over there for her 6:35p start time. Coach Daddy made it just in time from varsity football practice to coach the girls' 3rd and 4th grade basketball team (hah). I got payment to the family who ordered the jerseys (thank you Ott family!) which has been an item on my to do list for 2 weeks! Violet struggles with using her competitiveness to drive leadership vs cutthroat behavior, so after the game she rode home with me so we could have a chat. ahem; the long way home with Mom after a game means business. We had a long chat and hugged it out when we got home.

8p-9:20p
It was sheet pan chicken fajitas tonight for dinner and Pappy came over after Violet's game to eat with us - so double win! As I made dinner, the kids all worked on emptying backpacks and finishing up homework or taking showers. It is very loud and a lot of movement and talking over each other in the dinner / homework hours. Never enough dinner it seems these days with two teenage athletes, but luckily we had some leftover taco meat in the fridge, so the last few wraps had ground beef tacos in them instead of chicken fajitas - we are problem solvers around here. LOL

9:30-10p
Clean up kitchen, oversee some homework from Gem, writing down our checklist for the next morning and afternoon. Wrestling kids into bed with a million tuck-ins and kisses and reassurances of how many days left of school we have before the weekend. It's later of a bedtime than we want, but when we have late practices or games sometimes that's how it shakes out. 

10p-11p
Kitchen table chatting because life takes its twists and turns and surprises us all the time. Chatting with B over hot teas and then finally dragging ourselves away from the table, closing up shop (starting the dishwasher, turning off lights, giving Bullet a pet on the head, and finally laying down to sleep.