A glimpse into what our life is like just this moment.
Intentional Outdoor Hours: 475 hours (of 1000)
Now that the school year is closing in, I find myself in the house cleaning, organizing, and planning during the day -but thankfully fall sports practices and activities make sure I am grabbing outdoor time each evening. We had a great nearly full day outside at the family reunion and an afternoon/evening at the Que with friends that was just about perfect. Plus, my birthday miles!
Reading Wool by Hugh Howey and being surprised how much I'm liking the in depth description about the silo. I don't normally like overly descriptive books, but I am not hating this style. Such an interesting concept for the plot - can't wait to see where this goes!
Birthday Miles; counting 'em up! Thank you to everyone who has found away to make time to help me get this wish fulfilled. I have the best people (love you all! xxo). Mile 25 with Aunt Pam (1.16 miles in the absolute pouring rain!), Mile 26 with Mallie (1.04 miles), Mile 27 with Ang P (2.52 miles), Mile 28 with Jo (4.59 miles), Mile 29 with Elena (1.72 miles via phone PA to NY), Mile 30 with Miss Hannah (2.30 miles)
MOTH sighting! We got another gorgeous one this week, a Regal Moth. This one also only lives for about a week because they have no mouth.
Feeling all the teacher love - You guys!! thank you for supporting my teacher wishlist, seriously crying while smiling when we open a package from you all. I got surprises in the mail this week from Ang K and Alyson Q & her family,
Celebrating Abba's birthday with a trip to the movie theater to see Barbie. We got all dolled up (ha, punny) and Rusty is always thrilled to have an opportunity to wear one of his several blazers (he picked the searsucker one for his most Ken vibe). We all loved the movie (don't mind me crying like 10 times), but most all loved being all together to celebrate my mumma.
Obsessed with the progress on our back porch. Mr. Darren was here everyday this week working on finishing the siding/flashing/weatherproofing. It looks so gorgeous and I am so grateful he is on the job! Reddy was his helper this week - handing him strips of shake and nails - he loved being one of the dudes!
Knock-knock-knocking on crazy's door. This is the last week before all levels of football/cheer (youth, jr.high, and varsity) go full ham on the season, but I can already feel the rumblings of mayhem. I need to take care of myself (Please remind me if you see me because I am freaking TERRIBLE at doing it). I did get a sinus infection this week with swollen red under-eyes and a dull headache (my body breaking down to force me to slow down, LOL, but seriously) It is about to be nuts but it will never be this nuts again. We have a lot of big firsts: we have a participant in every single level of football/cheer (flag, minors, majors, jr. high, & varsity). B's first year coaching Varsity AND his first year at a new school, the first time I'm the only one at my school (neighboring district). These next three months are going to be absolute chaos, but most of our life is chaos anyway (lol) and knowing that up front and trying to be intentional and organized about our time and effort is going to be what saves us. Also snuggles and hugs and early mornings and late nights. But nothing is permanent. So how we will get through it is together and we will always be able to laugh and say, "omigoshhhh- remember that?!"
Back-to-school prep! We got the kids' schedules and homeroom teacher letters this week! (G: Rising HR/Berzonski Pd1, G: Sanderson HR/DeBarto Pd1, V: Callihan, R: Magistro) I ordered mini magnets for Grey & Gem's locker plus other locker essentials for Gem's first locker (shelf, magnet pencil holder, & mirror). I spoke to my principal to see about dates to get organized physically and digitally (hah) and finalized my curriculum map for each class for the school year. I reached out to Miss Emma to confirm her first start date back as our nanny (yay! we LOVE you!) and Pappy took Grey & Rust for their annual school shopping trip (thank you!!)
Summer playdates: Grey had a sleepover and fishing day with the Conns, Gem separated aloe plants and replanted with Chum for her dreams of selling them at the farmer's market (thank you cousin Hannah who hooked us up with planter pots!). Gem and Vi spent an afternoon at the Mock sisters' house and Grey got in some golfing with Chum. Vi got to spend some time with Giada while Mr. Darren worked on the back porch too! Mallie and his girls visited and all the kids had the longest, most fun game of tag ever in recorded history.
Thankful for neighbors when we were rushing out of the house to get to practice one night this week and Lucille would not start. Oh man, it was so defeating and hot out and we were all just exhausted anyway from all the running. Thankfully, our neighbor Mr. Mike came to our rescue and got us over to the school only slightly late to practice.
A day at camp with the Fiores. Kate and I took all the kids to the Que for the afternoon. We had lunch, lots of snacks, and the kids did some paddle boarding, fishing, hammock swinging, and swimming. We all had such a lowkey summer day of relaxing in nature - Gem honestly came saying how nice it was to have a campsite - but just for the day. Easy to make it comfortable and then so easy to pack up in the evening.
Basketball hoop assembled! It's up! It's up! After all summer of anxiously awaiting our basketball hoop/court; it's finally all put together and ready for play....well, we still need to paint lines - but we can shoot hoops and ride bikes and hooray!! Pappy and Mr. Darren came by to help us get the glass and hoop up and then we and the Altimore family stayed out shooting hoops, playing outside, and listening to pump up music until dark. The hoop looks so great and we are so happy with how everything turned out. Now that we are moving into teenage/big kid years; we needed something for them to do on their own or with friends.
Uzelac family reunion on Saturday. B and five of the kids went to the annual softball tournament in the morning while Olive and I stayed home to finish up our potluck meals (Pioneer woman bowtie lasagna and cowboy cookies). Then we all met up at lunchtime at the reunion with our extended family (my mom's mom's side; she was 1 of 14!) Grey sold 50/50 and got in on the horseshoe tournament (partners with Kev). Gemma led the Bingo games and helped all the kids in the parade. Rusty and Violet had a blast playing with cousins on the slack lines and playground. Reddy took a long nap and Olive did her "cheer dance" for just about anyone who would watch. We ended the night (as is tradition) with karaoke and Gem, Vi, and Rust were all happy to get up there and belt it out. It was a great day and went off without a hitch (good job Abba who is in charge of planning it!) As always, I am so grateful for our family reunions that keeps our kids connected to our roots.
Sporting the first dip-our-toes-in-wild of fall sports. Jr. High football only had a 7v7 this week in Somerset. Grey loved it and all the boys did awesome. They will start Heat Acc next week. Gem (and me as the coach) had two cheer practices, Violet had two cheer practices, Rusty had three flag football practices, and Coach daddy had a full week of Heat Acc with the Varsity 3-6p or 3-8p. Plus he had the coaches' rules meeting and got all his coaches/volunteer spirit gear sorted and handed out. I picked up my drink donation for football boosters but then missed the meeting bc of cheer practice (ugh). B and I attended the Youth league board/coaches meeting too (reminder to thank your VOLUNTEER youth league board members and coaches!)
Making meat sauce spaghetti & garlic bread, pork chops with apples & cinnamon in the crockpot, copycat chik-fi-la sandwiches, homemade pizza, and Pioneer Woman bowtie lasagna (reunion). For breakfast we had egg sausage casserole and pumpkin/chocolate muffins. I also made a batch of cowboy cookies for the reunion. We had lunch at the school with Brandon one day this week with subs from the Thomahawk so that we could help sort coaches' gear and see Coach Daddy (hah).
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