Around Here Week 26: 06/28-07/04

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

photo cred: Eva McD

before & after

photo cred: Peyt

Intentional Outdoor Hours: 283+ hours (of 1000)
Oof, a heat wave slammed PA this week and it was brutal with temps in the 90's (feel like temp was 98+) with humidity usually over 80%. The air was THICK and hot this week. So it was multiple trips to the farm to refresh with cold water and we froze little chicken treats too (veggies frozen in water). We swam in Pappy's pool most days this week too! 

Reading and finishing My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix. We had our Lit Ladies book club at Ryan's Artisan (after hours! thank you Jacinda!) and it was a great time. I didn't love the book (Horror and campy isn't my thing, but it was enjoyable and book club saved it for me because Katelyn - who picked the book - did a DnD style game where we all had roles that went along with the book and she read it really dramatically and it was so cute and fun actually! Bravo!) I'm also still reading I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith which I am enjoying, I just need to dedicate more focused time to reading. Because I picked the next Lit Ladies book: Heart the Lover by Lily King and I'm reading along with the Laurel & Leaf Bookshop book club: Margot's got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe.  

Watching The Sheep Detectives with the kids and it was very cute. We watched it all together (the four littles and parents) on the back porch! The kids had so much fun guessing whodunit - we are going to have to watch more mysteries as a family! 

Summer to do list completed: 

• The back porch space is done - and just in time for our Fourth of July party! Our furniture pieces all arrived and Grey and B got to work assembling and screwing everything together. B picked up a discounted tv and wall hanger (hooray for saving money because we took the already-opened ones!)
• Grey got his eye appointment done and contacts ordered (he was the last one of the crew!)
• I emptied and cleaned out my purse
• We printed off Violet's Camp PARC peer buddy packet
• I talked to cousin Morgan in MT to help plan Grey's upcoming vacation with the Conn family and Becky and I have been chatting nonstop about packing lists and plans (!! so excited for Grey! Thank you Conns!)
• School: I started work on an ACT 48 (Professional Development class) online. I'm taking a class on family communication - one thing I know I can be better at as a teacher (I just want to be more consistent and for it to feel meaningful and not forced)
• Updated the beach vacation spreadsheet with to pack and dinner plans (thank you Uchie for keeping us all organized!)
• Well check-ups for Olive and Gemma and got all the paperwork for all the girls for the upcoming school year. (PIAA physical for Gem, sixth grade & kindergarten doctor/vaccine records for Vi and Liv!)
• I had a chiro appointment
• I cleaned off the kitchen window ledge (collecting zone for all things tiny: earrings, bobby pins, change, etc) and washed the windows and the screens

Rejoicing that all six of the kids can swim! Olive had an aha! moment and realized that the last barrier she had to swimming was being brave enough to try! She got a little courage at the Que at her birthday party last week, and then at Pappy's pool, she gave it a try and has been a little fish all week. She can swim underwater no problem - and now we are working on coming up for breaths and practicing doggy-paddling. Not that anyone younger than 14 is allowed to swim without an adult still - Rusty and Violet, even though they are incredible swimmers, still know they need to wait for a grown up - it is still an huge sigh of relief to know that everyone can swim! 

Printed off and working on editing my motherhood book! Over the last year or so, I have been collecting some of the best posts over the last 18 years of writing this blog and organizing them in Reedsy in hopes to publish a compilation of my blogposts about motherhood. This week, I printed them all off and started editing/ revising/ re-organizing to see if I can get one step closer to actually publishing the thing. Even if no one else wants a copy - I do! So documenting this here to keep myself accountable to keep working towards the goal! 

Ebensburg pool day with my sisters and the kids! A very fun day at the public pool with sisters and cousins in the sunshine. Olive got brave enough to go down the big red slide only to have a grown up man go down the slide before she came out at the bottom. Very scary for a second, she was right at the edge of the slide and he came barreling down super fast and his feet pushed her off the ledge and she was dragged under by undertow of him. He did not even apologize or come over to see if she was okay?! The young lifeguard came over apologizing profusely and asking what she needed, while the man audibly said to his buddy, "the lifeguard told me to go" with a shrug of his shoulders. Needless to say, Olive did not go down the slide again but we all still had a good time and moved on because I set the mood. I let it go (because I know we live in a time that many adults and children do not have any social decorum and I refuse to let their tactlessness ruin my day!) so we swam and Red and Liv loved touching the bottom of the 5ft area and then pushing off and the girls delight in being near their aunts and Rusty and I helped the babies practice treading water, and my little nephews were hilarious as usual, and my sisters were beautiful and funny and everything good in the world. It was a good day! 

Fourth of July Party at our house! We hosted a second annual party at our house this year with Uncle Drip as the firework master. The kids were vocal about hosting again (I debated because it makes me pretty nervous with all the potential for bodily injury, but alas, the kids win). We had lots of guests despite the rainy weather and there was enough of a break in the rain that Kev and half the football team were able to put on a great firework show (God bless Uncle Kev for directing all those kids with cool under pressure and safety. Appreciate you!!) When it was a full downpour at the start of the party, you know I deferred to putting on Just Dance on the back porch as a distraction. LOL, can't help myself. There were basketball games, the Roman Candle / Harry Potter line, sparklers galore, great conversation, and yummy food. Even Osa joined us for the fireworks to try to keep her feeling calm (kind of worked).

Graduation parties this week: we had three stacked on Sunday! All football players/friends: Jacob Bartis, Dawson Statler, and Brennan Lohr. We definitely got our fill of delicious graduation party food!

Time with family and friends. Violet had a sleepover at Bria's house. Gemma had a night swim at Zolina's house. Both Violet and Gemma had a mini shopping trip with Abba and went with the Lasure girls to see the fireworks in Somerset. Grey continued his summer with friends - he went to his friend Josey's birthday party, swam at his friend Gabe's house, visited the Que to go paddle boarding with friends, went fishing with the fellas, and went to the Millrats baseball game with the friend group. We all went swimming at Pappy's house four times this week! (it was hot hot)

Sporting with all star baseball practice for Rusty two times this week. Gemma and Grey both went to Weightlifting and Conditioning three days this week (two days were cancelled because of the parking lot re-asphalting). Gem had two soccer kickarounds, one basketball shoot around, and one basketball game. Grey had two basketball games to end the summer league season.

Making homemade pizza, chicken Caesar wraps with Instagram chicken, meatball sub sammies, ground beef tacos, chicken, veggies, & biscuits casserole, beef&cheddar sammies, and lots of leftover meals. We went out for dinner with Pappy for the unofficial summertime local wing tour - this week we tried Morris's Tavern and our teammate and friend Macy was our waitress (she did awesome!) For the fourth of July party - I made buff chicken dip, shortcake with flag themed fruit toppings, dipped wafer cookies, and Grey's best friend Bryce helped make the Firecracker 'lil smokies. For breakfast I made banana bread. For desserts, the kids helped make thumbprint cookies with blueberry and peach jam for my book club meeting. For weight room Wednesday I made patriotic monster cookies (with red, white, & blue m&ms)

Movement: I rollerbladed 4.1 miles this week. I am so proud of how much stronger I am on rollerblades now; I am having fun and much less worried about falling. Little pebbles or slight unevenness aren't tripping me up like they have in weeks past. My ankles and lower back feel stronger and more capable. And it is honestly so fun! My goals are to keep building stamina, get better at stopping, and eventually learn to skate backwards (!) My friend Renee and I are in talks about roller-skating together once a week because she also has skates and my sister Uch has been practicing on her rollerblades...are we starting a community?! I hope so!  My weighted vest also arrived this week and I have been wearing it down to the farm (weighted vests are beneficial specifically for perimenopause because the loss of estrogen increases bone loss and muscle decline...ugh - growing up is hard to do).

Around Here Week 25: 06/21-27

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

photo cred: Violet

yummy drinks and food from Flood City Cafe after the dentist!

photo cred: Eva McD

selfie cred: Heather R

Intentional Outdoor Hours: 256+ hours (of 1000)
Lots of time outside this week with outdoor chores and swimming. The weather is holding up pretty beautifully for summer; warm and sunny but not too too hot. I'll take it! 

Reading I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith (liking it!) and My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix (meh, not liking it much but going to finish it for book club!)

Watching Voicemails for Isabelle (on Netflix). I cried and laughed so much. 10/10! 

Summer to do list completed: 

• deep cleaning the back porch - everyone worked together to move everything off the porch - including the cupboard where B found the skunk hiding the other day (no skunk this day - thank goodness) and we got the space pressure washed
• we moved the pieces of furniture from Aunt Kitty up into the house to help organize. In her move, she gifted us with a hutch with a built in fireplace which we moved into the living room - which meant we rehomed a bookshelf to Gemma's room and an end table to the back porch. We had to move all the kids' books to the basement 'kid cave' and the family yearbooks fit in the hutch (yay!) She also gifted us a long dresser that fits in the laundry room and immediately made the shoe situation in there at least look better! Thank you so much Aunt Kitty - happy to give them a home, we didn't even know how much we needed them! 
• I finalized the summer chore chart and got it printed and hung in the kitchen! 
• I printed off Grey's MT packing list and fishing license for his July vacation with the Conns - thank you Becky C for walking us through the steps. I did have Grey do it instead of just doing it myself which would have been faster and easier - but I have to keep reminding myself (even / especially ) in teenager raising, that they need lots of opportunities to do stuff by themselves
• Rusty, Violet, and Gemma all had dentist appointments
• Rusty had an eye appointment
• Gemma had her last Physical Therapy and was discharged!
• I power washed the rugs from the living room and the girls' room. What a difference! Immediate gratification!
• I sent out the invitations for our Fourth of July party
• Brandon, Grey, and Pappy replaced the roof on the goat house
• Violet and I brushed Osa until we couldn't get the smell of dog hair/mats out of our her hands and I literally was googling "can you get tendinitis in your elbow from brushing a Great Pyr" (spoiler alert: yes - ugghhhhh) and then Rusty and I took Osa for her annual Lyme's vaccine
• I ordered the back porch furniture and carpet (!)

A day at the pool for Father's Day. Grey was on the grill with the chicken Philly cheesesteaks and I made and brought cake mix chocolate chip cookies. The kids all got in to swim, but it was still a little too chilly for me! It was a great day hanging out and laughing - Red is getting so much more comfortable in the water and Olive was not quite ready to try swimming on Sunday (although by the end of the week at the Que, she was going under with no floaties at the Que!) We got our annual HoponPop picture with Brandon who refuses to give up even though we all tried to get him to agree to be held this time. He did it! If even only a for second for Grey and Gem's feet to be off the ground. Hilarious and wild always to set that up. How incredibly blessed the kids and I are to have these father figures in our lives, especially B, my Dad, and Pappy (but also shout out to all our uncles, godfathers, coaches, and family friends who are role modeling out there what good and decent men look like. I am so grateful for you!) 

Waving to the helicopters that were so low near our house because the farm fields behind are house are used as training grounds for the army helicopters. The boys were loving how close they were (turned into a whole story line in their nerf gun battle)! 

Finally having Olive's birthday party at the Que. It was Teen Beach Movie themed including a sign for Big Momma's House, surfboards, and lei's!  Abba brought the paper products and snackies, while Ms. Heather brought juice bags and watermelon. I made hot dogs & sauerkraut, mac&cheese, and made the beach cupcakes and 'tire' mini donuts. Peyton and Gemma did Olive's hair with braids and curls and all of her favorite people were there to spend the day at the Que. The weather was nice enough and the water was warm enough (for the kids at least!) to swim and splash. Grey took the fishing boat and he was thrilled to get it out on the water - very lucky for him that his baby sister loves his friends like bonus big brothers - Gabey, Cooper, Brycey, and Reedy were all invited to her party too (hah)! Imagine being a five year old and getting to invite so many big kids! At Olive's request; bonus big sisters Abigail and Peyton were there with Gemma and bonus big sister Evaley was there with Violet. And she got to play with some of her own friends too like Bowen and the Mazz boys and her Moore-boy cousins; just a girl surrounded by fellas - good thing she is sassy and can hold her own! 

Out to the theater to see Hadestown. Many of my former NS students are actors in the Potter's Players theater group and this summer they were putting on Hadestown at the Greensburg Garden and Civic Center. What a coincidence, because earlier this spring, our friend and semi-neighbor Michelle told me that her favorite musical was Hadestown when we were yapping for an hour+ about books and musicals and history and all things nerd (MY FAV CHATS!! love you Michelle! xxo) So I reached out to her and her daughters and we all bought tickets and went together! I loved seeing my students; both that were acting in the show and that had come to the show to support their friends (#oncemykidalwaysmykid !!) and THE SHOW. My God, the show. I cried and then cried again on the way home talking the girls through some of the parts, and then sobbed again describing it to Brandon. Brilliant in the ways that some stories live on for generations, brilliant in the way we keep telling sad stories even though we know the endings, brilliant in the power of love, brilliant in talent of my former students' talents. Okay, crying again. If you get a chance to see Hadestown - I cannot overexaggerate this: You Must. 

Grad parties this week: friend Nathan Dail and friend/football player DJ Bambino

Time with family and friends Olive & Reddy got a movie date with Miss Heather - they went to see Toy Story 5 and then got ice cream at Silver Bell and got to visit with cousin Caleb who was working ( thank you Heather - best day!!) Violet enjoyed Bria's birthday sleepover and then had a sleepover with her friend Evaley at Abba's house (thank you for hosting them, Mum!) Gemma went thrift shopping with the Lasure girls. Grey went fishing at our Bedford camp with his buddies and had a sleepover at Gabey's house

Isn't it so bizarre to live in a dystopian story? Like actually living in it. If we were reading a book about this moment in time, we would be screaming at the characters because how do they just go about their normal every day lives while all this insanity happens around them? I know the reflecting pool debacle is the absolute least of the egregious offenses...but it is also a blatant metaphor for the entire administration. And the literal lying directly to our faces about it. It is so far gone now that it feels futile to get worked up - like yeah, we all know he is lying, we all know millions of dollars were wasted and/or funneled to his friends - but like whatever I guess?! (by the way this is one of the goals of a cult of personality leadership style: to wear you down so far that you give up caring...so if you can still find it in your guts to be regularly pissed off- proud of you!) 

Sporting with weightlifting/conditioning five days this week for Grey and Gem. Also, Gem had three basketball games, her last physical therapy on her ankle, volunteered twice at the youth soccer camp, and asst trained at football practice. Grey took a break from basketball games this week because of his ankle sprain at basketball team camp over the weekend but had football practice on top of WL/C. I attended the football booster meeting on Thursday night and signed up for our team dinner (and maybe to help with the volunteer schedule or for the games meal coordination)

Making chicken Philly cheesesteaks on Pap's Blackstone for Father's Day (Grey did most of the dinner from prepping/cutting to grilling!), meatloaf and roasted broccoli, spaghetti, sloppy joes with mac & cheese and baked beans, baked turkey and cheese sammies, copycat Olive Garden chicken over pasta, For breakfasts I made chocolate croissants For desserts we had cake mix chocolate chip cookies (Father's day), I made chocolate chip oatmeal cookies for Weightroom Wednesday, and for Olive's birthday I made beach cupcakes (graham cracker crumbs for sand), broccoli salad, a crockpot of hot dogs and brats with sauerkraut, shells & cheese, and baked beans. The girls and I stopped at 7 Brew for our first time on the way home from Hadestown

Movement This week I skated 4.7 miles in total. New rollerblading skills: I can do 2 miles straight! Very proud and definitely feeling stronger. It feels very similar to running: the first mile you are miserable and then after the first mile you feel totally fine and energized! I bladed at Sandyvale (my favorite spot!), the elementary school parking lot, and the fire hall parking lot near Pappy's house,