Around Here Week 12: 03/19-25

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

photo cred: Becky C

photo cred: Chum

photo cred: Darren A

Intentional Outdoor Hours: 23+ hours (of 1000)
We have had wind advisories out the wazoo this year - what the heck?! This week was another one and the kids always make me nuts by bringing out fitted bedsheets to the trampoline to jump and hold it out like a parachute so they semi-fly away. So then my already-filled laundry baskets are filled even more with bedsheets brought in from trampoline human kite fun. #sendhelp

Reading Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri (for Project Lit) and The Lake by Natasha Preston (borrow from my student Ella). 

Fangirling at the CT Musical on Sunday with my three biggest kids (Grey, Gem, and Vi). CT put on Footloose and as usual, they did an incredible job. Gosh, I sit there with tears in my eyes so proud and happy for them after months of intense work and they aren't even any of my own kids or students (LOL!) It was a great afternoon with my big kids and I was proud to be there to support the arts in our community - bravo! 

Making all the intentions and affirmations on Monday with the New Moon in Aries. Manifest your dreams to life, baby. 

Writing out our seasonal BIG to do list. I like to categorize all the big things floating around in my head into a giant bulleted list so that I can see it all and cross it off as we go. Things like indoor tasks (switch decorations, clear out shoes in dining room, etc) and outdoor tasks (clear back porch, get baby chickies, etc) and school (letter of Rec for student Izzy, map out Q4 plans for each level) among other categories, mostly random things I contribute to like clubs and volunteer stuff. I keep it in my beloved planner and we take baby steps in the right direction when it feels like everything is going poo. (HAH)

Planning and making notes for Reddy's birthday, Grey's birthday, Easter, and Violet's first Holy communion which all occur in the span of a week and a half. Um..lol?

Thankful for the first day of spring! Although the actual first day of spring was cold and miserable - the day after that was absolutely gorgeous and we spent the whole evening outside. No one was arguing or fighting, everyone was sufficiently tired and dirty and hungry. They all came in to wash up, eat, and pass out. Oh gosh, it was so stinking glorious. We even made the first fire of the year and I just felt so stinking happy to get everyone outside. Spring - I love you so much, please stay! 

So proud and grateful that our big news is out in the world. B will be both the business manager and the Varsity football coach at CT starting in the new school year. You can read the article here. Proud wife all day, everyday. Thank you all for sharing in our joy and excitement about it. We are so thankful for the incredible support. 

Cheering Grey and his friends on at the charity Dodgeball tournament they participated in at school. They got to play games throughout the school day and ended up digging out of the losers' bracket to come back and win the Jr High championship game! So that evening, they were invited to play against local first responders in the main event that then offered checks to them that were raised in the tournament. It was great and Grey had so much fun (even if he complained about his shoulder hurting for two days after, hah). 

Happy for Reddy who had his own (FIRST!) playdate with Chum and Abba. Our little lockdown baby has been so slow to being comfortable with one-on-one time with anyone outside of our immediate family, but he was finally ready and so happy to get some grandparent time with them on Thursday afternoon. Chum picked him up and they played all day at my parents' house. So excited for him - a whole new world of adventures for him! And then they had Gem over for the evening which is always so appreciated to get a little special alone time for our big kids (thanks Chum & Abba!)

Officially opening prom ticket sales in the office this week! 

Sending Vi & Rust with our friends/neighbors the Altimores to Reading Night at the elementary school. Our PTO puts on the most incredible reading night (Harry Potter themed this year!) but with the babies, it would have just been too much for my sanity. Thankfully Darren agreed to take our two middles and they had the best time with Giada (thank you so much!!)

Mentor fishing day on Saturday. Rust and Grey went out in the cold and rain with B and Pappy to get their lines wet for most of the afternoon. Not the greatest day, but they caught a few and are so very ready for fishing season to be in full swing next week. 

Singing a Happy Half Birthday to Violet who turned 8 and a half this week! She wanted Nutty Buddies to celebrate and we measured her height. She and Gem went to Aldi with me for groceries so we also stopped at Starbucks for pink drinks and cake pops for them (I got a skinny Americano), so half birthday bonus! 

Teaching (more like guiding) Spanish 1 through their final novel projects for Brandon Brown Quiere un Perro. We had a little end of novel celebration on Thursday and we all kind of needed that little pick me up. Spanish 2 is working through Esperanza the novel, they made it up to chapter 5 this week and worked on some family trees for class. Spanish 3/4 started their novel Fiesta Fatal and read chapters 1-8. I was hoping to get through it in just one week, but we stopped for a lot of important learning and making connections, so it's alright. We will finish next week. We are down to only 39 students days of school left and I've mapped out the rest of the year for each level. I'm sweating a little bit - we need to stay on track to get in everything I want to, so it will be work to keep everyone focused in the last few weeks, but we can do this! 

Sporting with a basketball game for Brandon in the old man league. Grey had jr.high baseball practice Monday-Friday including team pictures. Violet had two soccer practices, and Gem, Vi, and Rusty had BB Gun league on Friday night. The kids and I headed to Violet's Laurel Highlands Futbol Club field for clean up day on Saturday and it was rainy and foggy - but we helped put up three soccer nets! B met with the Varsity football players this week to do a meet & greet too. 

Making nacho dip, shrimp scampi, stuffing-topped pork chops, Pioneer Woman's skillet lasagna, sloppy joes & baked beans, ordering in pizza one night, and baked cheese ravioli. Pappy and Gigi dropped off ready-to-bake pizzas one night too (thank you!) We had a staff potluck on Friday and I made cake mix chocolate chip cookies.