Around Here: Week 52 2020

 {December 20-26th}

Walking... with Carly and Wyatt in an attempt to be more active myself and help them be more active. It's been really fun!

Finishing... 100 books! I can't believe I did it! And this year, no less, when life was so crazy!

Laughing... at Carly who is constantly stealing drinks of my water, or my cocoa or eating bites of my food.  She's like a seagull. "Mine, mine!" Also laughing with my sister when she joked that one of Carly's gifts from my mom was a new recorder for Carly. #evil

Sitting... in the car while Jack pumped gas for me for the first time.  Life.changing.

Celebrating... my mom's birthday (and Christmas) with a party at her house with my sister and her kids, and myself and my kids. We had such a fun day, I didn't want to leave!  We brought cake and decorations, and while we were there we played games (Musical Chairs; Hokey Pokey; ) and danced. I love watching Romy dance. She's just so darn cute. 

Lighting... 63 candles for my mom's birthday cake and loving how fun it was.

Opening... books & bubbas on Christmas Eve and watching Polar Express while eating the delicious pizza that Josh made. It was a lovely, cozy evening for us.  (The book I opened, if you're wondering was Diana: Her true story- in her own words. I can't wait to read it!) 

Locking... the cat up in Grady's crate while we brought presents down for Christmas morning.  She and George like to eat ribbons, so the gifts lived in my bedroom until the 24th. 

Watching... with joy as the kids came down the stairs to their gifts from Santa.  The twins got dirt bikes (woo hoo!); Wyatt got an RC car; and Carly got a Barbie camper.  The other present I most enjoyed watching was Logan's airpods.  I wrapped them inside a box, in another box, in another box, (seven boxes, total, I think) and his laughing frustration as he got closer was so fun!  What a good sport. In addition to presents, we also enjoyed homemade cinnamon rolls (my Grandma Beverly's recipe) and I got a nap that was equally delicious. Josh took the twins to his parents' land to ride their dirt bikes (which are manual! those boys are so brave!) and when he got home, he made our entire dinner! Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, Red Lobster rolls & stuffing. Yum!!! 

Surprising... Josh with a new apple watch.  That man does so much for our family, I was overjoyed to see the smile on his face as he opened it. 

Grateful... for the gift my sister gave our family- specifically the boys- which was to take all our Legos and organize them into bins (that she bought) and by color.  They look amazing and are so fun to build with now.  The boys have been playing nonstop since we brought them back home. 

Loving... opening presents with Carly.  She is in no rush to get through her stack, and takes her time, fully opening and playing with each one. It's so fun and it made Christmas morning feel like it lasted forever. 

Opening... my very own (adorable, pink) sprocket printer that my parents got me for Christmas and feeling like a kid with a Polaroid camera. Hah! I used to follow Laura Kelly of Pitterpatterart on Instagram, and she has been keeping a gratitude journal for three years now, using a picture she prints each day from her little Sprocket printer.  She inspired me to want to do the same thing in 2021, so I am thrilled my parents got me the printer.  It is ink free (the ink is in the paper) and super easy to use with an app you download from the app store. The app has fun stickers and emojis you can add to your pics, and is super user friendly.  I'll be sharing my gratitude journal starting in January. I can't wait!!

Joyfully... cheering when it started snowing Christmas afternoon.  I am like a kid when it comes to snow, and nothing makes me feel more peaceful than watching snow fall out my window. 

Looking... a little bit worse for wear the day after Christmas as I bathed Carly. I don't think I had showered in three days and I was exhausted, but in the best way. 

Meeting... my new therapist on Doctors on Demand, and feeling so grateful for her.  She was really easy to talk to, knowledgeable, and understanding. I think it's going to be really good for me to have regular counseling again. 

Giving... everyone haircuts, even Carly this time, and they all look so fresh! 

Suffering... only THREE migraines this month, as opposed to the nine I had in November. I am so relieved to be having less, and am super grateful my psychiatrist suggested I try the blood pressure medicine I am on. It seems to be working!!

Sending... Wyatt off to Wenatchee for some special time with his Nanny & Papa, and feeling so thankful for family when my sister sent me pictures of Wyatt and his cousins sledding (with Uncle Blake) at a local park. His RC car for Christmas turned out to be a dud, so to end his week with such happy memories really filled my mama heart. 

Reading... Winter Sisters and Grace Where You Are and planning my 2021 reads. I love book planning so much!!

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Around Here: Week 51 2020

 {December 13-19th}

Making... sugar cookies with the kids for movie night.  They had so much fun decorating, especially Carly.  I bought two tubs of vanilla frosting and split them each three ways, so I was able to make five colors (plus one white) for them to use. I have to admit, I also had fun decorating my cookies. Is there anything happier than a rainbow cookie with sprinkles?  I also made muddy buddies, which the kids and I devoured, and cake & cupcakes for my mom's upcoming birthday party. Carly gasped as she saw the cake, covered with sprinkles. I love her zest for life. 

Cutting... out tissue paper snowflakes to decorate the back door.  We did the same thing last year with my sister and her crew on Thanksgiving, and I loved how it made the dining room feel so festive. So we did it again. Last year we used coffee filters, but I didn't have any this time, so we made do with regular old tissue paper, normally used for wrapping gifts. 

Feeling... so good as I wrapped gifts and gave two of them to our doctor and nurse. This year I have really been feeling the joy of giving, and I could hardly wait to get my presents to their recipients.  We were able to deliver the doctor's on Tuesday when Logan (finally!) got his cast off and Jack (finally!) got his flu shot. Jack was the last of the kids who needed theirs, but he hates needles, so it was hard to convince him to do it. Logan was thrilled to have his cast off, and I'm glad to be done taking him in every two weeks for a new cast. 

Laughing... that no matter the weather, my boys wear shorts and go outside barefoot.  Josh and I are constantly telling them to go put on pants... a jacket.... socks... and shoes... It's exhausting and ridiculous.

Pausing... every time I see Molly snuggled up sleeping somewhere. There's something about a cat curled up on a cold winter day that is just so cozy. 

Cleaning... the oven and the fridge this week.  Holy rewarding!! The oven was really gross, and I still need to go at it again, but the first pass was incredible.  I used Easy Off, letting it sit for twenty minutes before using a bucket of hot water to clean it out with a sponge. It is so pretty in there now!

The fridge was also rewarding, but so hard to do! About two weeks ago it developed a smell, and whoo-whee! it was not fun to clean! I still have no idea what the smell was, but the fridge is scrubbed clean and smells great now.  Phew!

Sending... the boys outside to play basketball every day and feeling so grateful our neighbors don't mind if they use their street hoop.  

Acquiescing... when Carly asked if she could turn on the Christmas lights on her bed and read "like brothers" after I had tucked her in one night. It was so cute to see her sitting there, "reading" to herself and her stuffed animals.  

Finding... pictures that Carly took on my phone of her favorite stuffed animal, Lollipops.  I also found some of the Christmas tree and her toys. They always make me smile. I love seeing the world from her perspective. 

Creating... art with the kids to hang as decorations for my mom's birthday next weekend.  My sister asked us to contribute this way, and I'm so glad. We had a great time!  I forget how much fun I have drawing & painting until I'm doing it. (That's not to say I'm super artistic... but I have fun anyway!)

Reading... and finishing My Name is Mary Sutter.  I then started Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery, which has been the coziest Christmas read. I've really enjoyed it. It's apparently the third in a series, but I didn't read #1 or #2, and didn't feel at all out of the loop. I listened to Weapons of Math Destruction, which is blowing my mind (the way that numbers are used to manipulate us... it's crazy!) and started Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children with the boys.  I bought the whole series to read with them as Josh and I alternate readaloud at bedtime with them.  

Totaling... my reading numbers for November and hitting 99/100 on my yearly goal. I am so excited that I am going to make it this year! Whoo hoo!

Discussing... black holes at the dinner table with Wyatt.  That kids' scope of knowledge is truly incredible, and it's a rare conversation where I can just answer him without turning to Google. #smartypants

Feeling... the freedom of school being done for two weeks for Christmas vacation. I am so incredibly grateful (and ready) for this break. So are the kids. There were some things that the teachers mentioned we could work on over break if we wanted to, but I assured them (and the boys) that we needed each day of this respite and we would not be doing a drop of work.

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Loving... this picture my mom shared of the time we had four cats growing up. My sister acquired two kittens over quarantine, and that makes for a total of four cats for their family.  She was telling her boys that she had four cats growing up as well, and that they all liked to sleep on her top bunk in our shared room. 

The black cat is Wolfgang; the orange cat is Blade; the white cat was my cat, Bianca; and the grey siamese was Rex.  Wolfgang was the sweetest, laziest, chubbiest cat I've ever had. I loved him!  Blade was a big boy, a hunter, who would often bring my mom choice treats (lizards, mice or rabbits) and leave them on the front patio for her. Rex was my sister's cat, and Bianca was mine.  I had Bianca until after Josh and I were engaged. Some 14+ years.  I loved her something fierce. 

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