Around Here Week 21: 05/24-05/31

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

photo cred: Deanna M

photo cred: Deanna M

photo cred: Violet

photo cred: Eva Mc

photo cred: Gabey

photo cred: Onara C

my velcro children. hah.

photo cred: Miss Emma

happy birthday in heaven, gigi. 

photo cred: Onara C

Intentional Outdoor Hours: 152+ hours (of 1000)
hammock is up, let the summer reading in the hammock begin! Up 16 hours this week thanks to sports, graduation, and pretty evenings!  

Reading and finishing Mistakes Were Made by Lucy Score. Cute and exactly what I expect from Lucy Score. A nice, brainless read that has me smiling at the romcom. I stopped by my favorite local book store The Leaf and Laurel Bookshop and picked up my summer reading book haul! The first true sign that summer vacation is here: A giant pile of TBR books! Brandon and the kids had to endure my read aloud of the back of every book and then we participated in a sniff test and decided that Heart the Lover by Lily King had the best book smell! 

Listening to It's Not Her by Mary Kubica and sorry, I'm hating it. Pushing through though because it is a book club choice...but literally rolling my eyes constantly at the awful writing. The story plot isn't terrible but the writing is so terrible I am completely disengaged as a reader/listener.

School stuff this week: 

• Violet had a field trip to the aviary with the fifth grade
• Since Red and Olive didn't have school all week, we made arrangements for their care - Pappy had a playdate with them on Tuesday, Miss Baylee came to our house on Wednesday, and they got to hang out with their Moore cousins and Miss Emma on Thursday and Friday (including a sleepover - thank you Uch & Kev!)
• Grey had finals this week which meant after tests, they were dismissed early. Grey and his friends took advantage of that by fishing literally every single afternoon! 
• Violet and I finished organizing, labeling, and packing all the fifth grade promo tshirts and delivered them to the ceremony on Thursday night. Our dining room table was filled with the bags all week 
• Fifth grade promotion ceremony and party this week for Violet! 

Blessed with bonus kids - I don't ever remember anyone telling me how wonderful it will be to love your kids' friends as they grow up, so let me be the one to tell YOU! The bonus kids we have in our kids' friends is some bigtime joy as a mom. There are some of our kids' friends that we have known, had over to our house, and cheered for in sports for 10 years now! And we know there are still friends of our kids that we don't even know yet as they continue to grow up. If our kids (who we adore) pick a friend who they like - it's pretty much a guarantee that we are going to enjoy that kid too. (our kids have picked some pretty freaking awesome young people to spend their days with!) Not just a bonus kid to Brandon and I, but bonus siblings/friends to all our kids too. All of our kids are cushioned in joy from the friendships of their siblings. As just one example - Grey's besties Reed and Bryce helped Rusty with his pitching this week and I couldn't help but marvel at how cool it would be as a ten year old to get pitching tips from three of the starting infield Varsity players (big bro Grey and his two best friends). Our little kids get high fives and hugs from so many teenagers (siblings' friends, teammates, and the entire football team). Our big kids have their names shouted across fields and rooms by younger kids (siblings' friends and teammates) who are looking for recognition and high fives. Truly, what a gift it is to be part of a community and let people in. 

Celebrating Violet who had her fifth grade promotion ceremony and party this week! She and I got all the tshirts organized just in time! Then Brandon got to give her the promotion letter on stage at the ceremony since he works at the school. On Friday, B and I both volunteered at the PTA organized annual 5th grade promotion party where the kids rollerbladed through the school, played on the bounce houses, and got their faces painted. B helped with bubble soccer and Rusty and I manned the dance party room. It was a great party and our fearless PTA leader Jess Claycomb did an incredible job making the entire promotion events go beautifully (we appreciate you, Jess!) So proud of our Violet and she cannot wait to get to the big school next year! 

Wishing a happy heavenly birthday to our Gigi. We sang over cookies to her. miss you everyday, gigi. 

Releasing our painted butterflies. Red, Olive, and I let our butterflies loose on Saturday morning. We had four survive (one didn't form it's chrysalis correctly). We let them go in the front yard, right near our blooming flowers. 

Sending Uchie and the Moore boys big hugs and kisses for taking care of the farm while we were away at the soccer tournament and graduation party. My speech for anyone who takes care of our farm while we are away is, "Thank you so much and if animals die, they die. It's fine." LOL, if you have a farm, you get that. It's the wild wild west out here man; foxes that eat chickens, goats that get fatally sick at the drop of a dime, a 17year old dog...you never know what's going to happen in a day. Thankfully no animals died while we were away, however, I did get a text, "Two goats are out, so now what?"  I told her if she felt safe leading them into the pasture with goat feed she can do that, or whatever leave them out too if she was nervous to which she responded, "I am not letting them eat your flowers!!" So it was Uchie to the goat retrieval rescue with her three little boys helping lead the parade! (Officially Goat Queen, we appreciate you Uch!)

Driving practice for Grey continuing to go very well. I am grateful he is a cautious driver and honestly, being a passenger princess is just fine with me! He got big time practice this week when he drove the Turnpike from Pittsburgh to Elizabethtown!! Teaching a kid to drive is such a great reflection on all the things that need talked through for decision making. We have always been a No Screens Car with the kids, so they have watched us as drivers their whole lives - often times asking us why we make choices or noticing how close we are to grandparents' houses by looking out the window. But now with an actual kid driving, the little things that are so random that could use talking through and practiced keep popping up. I am a forward thinking and preparing person, so I prefer to talk through and practice as many things as possible together before my teen driver has to face them on his own. Some of the things I have added to our practice list include (and probably will continue to grow as things come up naturally):

• Highway/turnpike: cruise control, blind spots of tractor trailers, etc
• Bad weather: downpours (you know the ones I mean - like a bucket of water thrown at your windshield), windshield wipers speeds, four-ways, braking on wet roads, etc
• Busy times of tricky intersections: right-a-ways and why
• Windshield madness: ya know when the windshield starts fogging up and you don't know what combination of what to press to clear it (AC/heat/wipers/wiper fluid) - LOL, that is the worst. 
• Using GPS maps while driving (not relying on the passenger) 
• Alternative routes: when you miss an exit or turn onto the highway by accident, or just taking alt routes through our town to frequented places

Grad parties this week: cousin Reid Gilmore in Elizabethtown

Time with family & friends. Violet and Rusty had a great time at Yogi Bear with the Maurers, although I had to pick Rusty a little early because he had too much fun and ended up getting sick. Violet stayed on over the Memorial Day and came home with the cutest beaded braid in her hair and lots of memories (thank you Maurers!) Fishing for the boys, B, Pappy, and the Conns on Memorial Day. 

Teaching the last week of school! No classes at the elementary school because of their early summer break, but I did get all my stuff packed up and moved to my new space for next year. Thankfully everything fit inside of the closet space and it can just hide there through renovations! At the high school, we had Somerstock (annual field day) and I got to spend the afternoon with my friend and coworker Loni as we chaperoned all the outdoor activities, including Live music from our school's rock band and a student band (so proud to know them!) We also had Tractor day (students drive their farm tractors to school), and awards and the last short day. It was a whirlwind, but my students all helped me take my room down and they finished Selena the movie just in time! Oh, and lots of Just Dance (duh). Graduation was on Friday night and I have never attended a graduation ceremony that I didn't cry - that still holds true. So proud of those kids and so excited for what is to come next in their lives. Congrats class of 2026! I know you'll make the world a better place. xxo

Sporting with Rusty's two youth league minors baseball games.Violet had one AYSO All-stars soccer practice, one Sparks soccer practice, and it was the Alliance tournament this weekend for Sparks (she played two games on Saturday). Gemma had physical therapy for her ankle twice this week, She had one kickaround for SHOFCO, and one summer league basketball game. Grey had one summer league basketball game and attended the QB Combine at Valley HS on Saturday morning (thank you for taking him Pappy!) 

Making Ranch porkchops with green beans, sheetpan chicken fajitas, roasted broccoli and mac&cheese, copycat Olive Garden chicken and pasta, take out pizza. 

Around Here Week 20: 05/17-23

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

photo cred: CTASD

photo cred: Sam R

photo cred: Heather R

three graduates in the family! 

photo cred: Michael O'Ship

photo cred: Deanna M

photo cred: Deanna M

photo cred: Deanna M

Intentional Outdoor Hours: 136+ hours (of 1000)
It is definitely spring in Pennsylvania which means you have to change your wardrobe five times in the day to accommodate for the weather. It's a surprise everyday (sometimes every hour) which season we will experience - almost summer like with blue skies and sun so bright you're squinting and sweating to strong winds and chilly light rain that gives football season vibes to downright cold and questioning if those are raindrops or snowflakes. Western PA is not a place to live if you like consistency or predictability when it comes to your weather. 

Reading and finishing Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. An important and incredibly well done coming of age story. Thank you Jenn V for the borrow and suggestion! Next I started Mistakes Were Made by Lucy Score which I am reading alongside my friend and coworker Elizabeth. We both purchased our book at the book launch party for my friend Renee's book shop The Laurel & Leaf. Lucy Score is generally a good time, so it is easy to get back into the small town vibes story. Speaking of The Laurel & Leaf bookstore, I got my summer reading book list sent to Renee to be ordered this week, yay!!

Listening to and finishing The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough. Holy Cow, what an amazing, detailed account of that event. I got to have dinner and chatting with the people who participated in The Path of the Flood reading group too! For the past few months, I have managed a facebook group with other readers as we read the book and we finally got together in person to discuss the book. It was so nice to hear everyone's thoughts and reflections. How grateful I was to go into the restaurant that night, not really knowing who (if anyone!) would be there and in total there were seven of us - three of whom are good friends and educators! (thank you for participating Megan, Jakeb, and Renee!) 

School stuff this week: 

• Rusty and the third graders had their Pittsburgh zoo field trip
• Violet and her group did their presentation on France
• Olive had her snack day on her birthday - she took in mini donuts to share
• Grey and Gem took their necessary Keystone state testing exams this week (Lit & Bio for Grey and Algebra for Gem)
• I emailed photos of Violet and her friends over the years for the fifth grade promotion video
• Red & Olive graduated from PreK and had their last day of school on Friday!

Thinking of Gigi on the second year anniversary of her passing. Two years later and I am no way exaggerating in the least when I say I still cannot believe it. Just impossible that she is not alive. I miss her everyday, most days in a dull heartache, but some days in a flash of shock and absolute despair. For the smallest reason, the grief washes over in a tidal wave and feels unbearable. But I let the tears come and take some deep breaths and can get through the surprise of how deep the water still feels without her. (Grief is like glitter). We talk about her all the time, I send photos to B and Pappy and the big kids when they pop up in my memory feed. The windchime in our back yard rings and we say that is Gigi talking to us (Olive sits out there under the tree and says 'hi Gigi'). Gemma wears her jewelry, Violet wears her smile. We are all always looking at the clock right at 4:44 and know it's her.  Brandon finds quarters every where and says, "Mom, how about you start leaving my $20 dollar bills - you know I got all these kids to feed!" She is part of our lives every single day. Love you gigi.

Celebrating our FIVE YEAR OLD babiest baby Olive! We had tacos and confetti cake gobs with homemade whip cream filling for dinner. She took in mini donuts to school for snack and mini cupcakes to her soccer game to share with teammates. We have a Teen Beach Movie birthday party planned but had to reschedule it because the weather is not giving beach vibes (at all - high of 40 degrees and rain!?) My youngest baby is five years old which seems an impossibility - although she sure has the sassiness to match! She is the perfect amount of sweet and sassy and she is absolutely adored (and babied) by everyone in the family. Our little queenie Loopy Lou, she rules the roost!

Applauding our two pre-K graduates! Maple Ridge held their PreK graduation ceremony on Thursday night and B and I got to watch Red and Liv sing their songs, dance, and receive their diplomas. What a blessing the PreK teachers and Maple Ridge have been to our family this year. Red and Olive learned and grew so much - they made friends, read great stories, and took field trips. Their lives (all our lives) were enriched by the educators that helped them get ready for Kindergarten. They adore the teachers, principals, aides, and all school workers that they were encouraged by this year. Some favorites were their teachers (obviously) Mrs. Gongloff, Mrs. Lesko, and Mrs. Cook and the classroom aides, Ms. Heather and Ms. Cookie. Their beloved principal Mr. Spangler, their funny and cool gym teacher Mr. McCormick, and their amazing bus driver, Mr. Brandon were among the ones most talked about at home. 

Giving Violet & Rusty a kiss goodbye as they headed off to Yogi bear campground with the Maurer family for Memorial day weekend. A long weekend full of camping, swimming, Spike ball, biking, and time with friends - the luckiest! (thank you for having them!)

Cheering on the runners at the Path of the Flood race on Saturday morning. Uch was part of the Path of the Flood race committee this year (bravo!) and we set up our aide/water/cheer station in the usual spot - in Woodvale before the tunnel only about a mile from the finish line. We are the last spot to charge up and make it to the end. We take it as a personal challenge to motivate the runners and get them to smile and keep on keeping on. One runner said to us, "I really thought I was going to get up here and there was going to be like 50 people cheering and here is just you four." Hahhhaa, we take our jobs of motivating the runners with fun and joy very very seriously. It was a great morning spent with my Mumma and sisters. (xxox love you more)

Taking a day of rest on Saturday and doing literally the bare minimum. We mostly lounged around, read, and took a long hot shower. I literally went to bed at 7p on Saturday and it was amazing. The weather was perfect for doing nothing (rainy, chilly, and dreary) and I think my soul really was grateful to have no expectations. Brandon and I kept looking at chores (laundry, vacuuming, etc) and saying, "I think that's a tomorrow problem, right?" LOL, sorry Tomorrow Tab & Brandon! 

Time with family and friends. Gemma went thrift shopping with Aunt Kitty, out to eat with Abba and Chum, and had two soccer kickarounds with her friends at the high school field. Grey went to the outdoor store with the Conn family (thank you!) and then to Applebee's all you can eat ribs with the guys. We had lots of help for rides/games on Thursday night of PreK graduation - thank you to Chum, Pappy, and Kitty who all snagged big kids to go to games/practices while B and I attended preK graduation.

Teaching the last week of elementary school! The lower grades were done one week earlier than the upper grades because they are having massive renovations over the summer and all the teachers needed time to get packed up and ready. The younger kids had zero complaints - hah! In expo, we finished the geography unit and started on week 4, but abbreviated because the eighth graders had some special events planned. Spanish 1 learned about Selena and we started watching the movie while also de-decorating my room (a very big task). Spanish 2 turned in their final house projects with essays and their speaking presentations. So proud of all of them - I loved seeing their creativity on their house designs. 

Sporting with two 6U AYSO soccer games for Olive and Coach Momma (we had birthday snacks after our game on her birthday!) Reddy had one coach pitch baseball game and Rusty had two minor youth league baseball games. Violet had one Sparks soccer practice and three 12U AYSO soccer games. Gemma turned in her softball uniform, REFed 14U and 10U AYSO soccer games, and had one Gators soccer game. Gem also went to get her ankle/foot checked that has been giving her trouble for the last year. No breaks were found, but she does have some weakness and stretched tendons - so she'll attend Physical Therapy for eight sessions and have it rechecked. Grey had four baseball practices and one District5 semifinal baseball game (we lost - our first loss of the season which also made it our last game of the season!! Heartbreaking, but a record of 19-1 is something to be proud of - You can hold your heads up high, fellas!)

Making kielbasa, veggies, and tortellini on the blackstone, ground beef tacos, crack chicken sammies, church picnic chicken on the blackstone with roasted broccoli, and buffalo chicken dip. We also had dinner out to celebrate Red and Olive's PreK graduation at Tailgatez (my favorite grilled chicken salad!) and I made brownies with peanut butter on top (just like Gigi) and confetti cake cookie gobs for Olive's birthday.