Around Here: Week 12 2024

 {March 17th- 23rd}

I'll never get over my kids' art work. It's my favorite. 

Aww, look! They're becoming friends!

A painting from one of my sweet students.

Proof of how Wyatt opened the Tide box last week.

Old Shelly would have freaked out, but I just laughed and took a picture.

Loving... the twins' responses to the homecoming pic I shared of me & Josh our senior year. Jack said, "Dad's got motion" haha. Mad rizz. 

Doing... a "raincloud in a jar" experiment with Carly. It's essentially water, shaving cream and food coloring. Our shaving cream (cloud) layer was too thick, but finally some "rain" started coming through after we sprayed the cloud with some water. She was happy, and honestly, that's all that matters!

Opening... our windows because the weather is acting like spring and we could not be happier!!!

Cleaning... house on Sunday with the whole family after the twins got home from Wenatchee and loving how organized Carly is. In addition to unloading the dishwasher and cleaning her room, she reorganized the whole pantry! Thank you sis!

Wanting... more money if only so I can buy sliced olives. "What makes you feel rich?" Olives in a can that I don't have to individually cut myself to put on a pizza or in an enchillada. Haha! It's truly the little things. Josh bought sliced olives this week and I a) took a picture b) found him and thanked him c) felt like I won the lottery. Hahaha! 

Writing... Wyatt's baseball schedule on the calendar and getting it input on my phone. Josh is coaching Wyatt's team with the help of Logan & Jack (which I love for them!) and while I'm sad the twins aren't playing, I will say juggling ONE practice schedule is so.much.easier than three!!!

Laughing... at how Carly wearing my "Absolutely Not" hat to the grocery store was a whole vibe. She's just the best and always makes me laugh. When I grow up I want to be as cool and as confident as she is.

Pulling... up to Josh digging a gigantic hole in our neighbors' front yard.  He discovered the  yard was swampy and did a little investigating and it turned out it wasn't our water line, it was hers. So he started digging and kept digging until her brother showed up to help out. Turns out she had a broken line and her water bill was $500 last month and she couldn't figure out why! Poor girl! I am happy for her that it will be solved now. 

Feeding... George bits of dinner when he begs each night. We are the worst pet owners when it comes to reinforcing bad behavior. We are constantly throwing scraps to the dogs (or even the cats) when we're eating or cooking. Hah. But a cat begging is just too funny. We can't help but give in. He's just so cute!!!

Sharing... a difference of opinion in phone rules with a friend of ours.  She shared that her children's phones will be private (not checked by parents) and that they will not have Life360 (an app that tracks where your child is at any given time).  I am glad she's found a system that works for her, but funny enough, our set up is the exact opposite.  Josh and I consider these to be OUR phones that we're letting our children borrow. So they know (and have always known) that anything I find on them is fair game. I will read texts, look at pictures, etc. and they have to have Life 360 downloaded and turned on. I believe in these two things because a) whatever you put out into the world could be downloaded and saved for later. So you should not be doing ANYTHING online (or on your phone) that you wouldn't want your mom to see. And b) I am a VERY worried person, and knowing that I can click on their location and know where they are at any given moment provides immense peace of mind for this worrywart. 
I am truly curious, what are your rules for cell phones? When did your kids get them? Have you had any struggles?
The twins have had a phone (they shared) off and on since maybe 4th grade because of Logan's seizures. But they each got a real phone (that was on our phone plan) when they started middle school. It was the same for Wyatt. Phones used to charge in our bedroom but now we have an old gun box (that locks and unlocks with a finger code) downstairs that we have them put their phones in when we get home from work (around 4:30) and they can charge in there overnight as well. I love the gun box, because when we're having family time or dinner, I don't want phones out. And this prevents them from just walking by the counter where they're charging and stopping to see what's new. It's extreme, but it works for us. 

Trying... a new hair crimper that I ordered online, and I love it!!! It gets really hot (I burnt myself once) but Carly and I both really loved how our hair turned out!

Recording... Observation 3 for my GCU supervisor and not feeling at all confident about how it went. Thankfully my first two were perfect (with 100% scores) so I am not too worried that this weeks' was shaky. The worst part of the observation is having to watch myself back. I see all the mistakes I made and what I would do differently. But it's all good.  My supervisor is really kind and understanding, and we discuss what could have been better. Here's hoping my fourth (and final) observation is better!

Scoffing... as Hadley walked off the princess pillow I had on my lap for her and opted instead to go lay on Josh's feet after the kids were in bed the other night. What the heck!?! He didn't even want kittens! Haha! Go figure!!!

Watching... Naked & Afraid and Alone with Josh and discussing what would be our strengths & weaknesses if we went on the show (we both agreed the mental game would be the hardest, but that also I would struggle with some of the physical tasks) and what items we would bring if we were doing the challenge. The boys really enjoy talking about those kind of things, too and it's fun to hear their perspective. 

Cringing... when our neighbor sent a picture of Jack's truck that her friend had backed out of on her way out of the driveway. Jack's rear driver side door is crunched so bad! I felt awful having to call and tell him. (But I also didn't want him to pull up after school and just see it, so I felt that telling him was the better of two evils). She must have been going so dang fast! Jack is so bummed. Because while the truck is old and certainly not perfect, it is a really nice truck and he's excited to drive it. So it being smashed on one side is really a bummer. Thankfully she has insurance, so I told him that while it's annoying and irritating, it's not the end of the world and we will get it fixed. 

Enjoying... a story my sister told me about the twins and her boys talking tattoos.  Logan said he might get one one day, as did Jack. Jack said he would probably get one for Papa, and Milo piped in saying he could get a picture of my parents' e-bikes with a quote that said, "This isn't one of your motorbikes from the land!" Jack just started at Milo like, "Huh???"
Roxanne cut in and started cracking up, "Milo. He means a tattoo for his Papa Carl. Not Papa Barry." Bahahaha! 

Cherishing... Carly's precious tea party she set up when we brought home McDonald's for her and Wyatt Friday night.  She had all her favorite stuffed animals sitting on chairs & bar stools around the foldable table with tea cups & plates. She then passed out french fries and orange soda in their teacups. So adorable!

Watching... A Quiet Place II with Wyatt and oh.my.goodness people! It was SO good (even better than the first) and gave so much more back story. I absolutely loved it. Highly recommend. 

Sending... Carly to the land with Josh on Saturday for a Grandma Playdate. It was so lovely to have the day to myself after working all week.  But after a little bit of downtime, I transitioned to cleaning Carly's bedroom. It.was.a.mess!!! (Peep the before & afters above- quite the transformation!)

Having... hard conversations with people I love. I keep thinking at some point I will feel equipped to do adult things and confidently feel like "I'm a grown up!"... but instead I am always feeling sort of like a kid trying on being an adult. Or a kid doing adult things. But I did it. I spoke truths that were hard to say out loud while still offering love. Not an easy balance. 

Taking... Wyatt to Quincy Saturday so he could have a cousin sleepover (thanks Roxanne!) and it was a gorgeous drive! 

***

Some thoughts on going back to work
I shared with @galiacollaborative
on Instagram. 

Around Here: Week 11 2024

 {March 10-16th}

"So much of the heartbreak of middle age is learning how to hold two feelings at once- hanging on and letting go.  Aging kids and aging parents. Closing ceremonies and grand openings to new beginnings. Losing yourself and finding yourself. Who we were and who we are becoming. Heartbreak and excitement. The naive dream of a precious storybook life and the reality and beauty of pain and unexpected outcomes. It's all so much- but damn, do women know how to hold things. 

I've convinced myself that I don't know how to do this- how to wake up and do hard things every day while also showing my kids how to have fun, make memories and love well.  I think that I don't know how to carry it all. But I have proof that I've done it every day until now which means I do know how to do it. And so do you."

-Kelle Hampton

Loving... how Maggie gets ready with me everyday. She climbs into the sink and lays inside it as I do my hair and make up and she makes little chirps and meows and talks to me while I get ready. 

Enjoying... Education Assistant Week at school as we celebrated our EA's. There were so many fun treats and special things that us teachers got to partake in as well. Cotton candy, churros, and so many other snacks. So yum!

Lesson planning... and just enjoying the freedom of developing the plans myself. I adore our students so much and look forward to the lesson I'm teaching. I still pinch myself daily that I am in a classroom!

Reading... and finishing A Little Life. It was so full of ups and downs and peeling back the layers of Jude's life, but I was here for the ride. Now that it's over, I am devastated. But I started The Frozen River (about a midwife in the 1700's) and it's really good. I'm glad to sink my teeth into another good read!

Receiving... flowers from one of my little kindergartners and they are so beautiful. She made them with construction paper, tape and pipe cleaners and they are so precious, I am never throwing them away! 

Happy... that Carly is enjoying the Dr. Suess set up in our classroom so much. My mentor teacher has a Cat In The Hat tent that she set out along with Dr. Suess books, and Carly has spent most of her time in the classroom this week in there. 

Laughing... so hard at Logan this week as he has been mooning us at bedtime. It's the last thing we need, as I'm trying to wind the boys down and this makes them all laugh hysterically... but I can't help it. He is just so damn cute with his mischievous eyes and that dimple, running away after he moons us. 

Fighting... with someone online who I considered a friend, but after this back & forth (in response to something I posted about raising middle schoolers- how parenting them can be summed up with: "F**k you, Tuck me in") I decided I was done. Block. Finished. I don't need to maintain relationships with people who don't assume the best in me. Obviously that meme I posted was a joke, but also, it's kind of true. Kids coming into their teen years are trying to gain space from their parents, but they also really need us close by. So to write and tell me that your kids have never felt or said that and that if they did you would be really sad is just unnecessary. I don't need it. I am confident in my relationship with my kids.  There are (and will be) growing pains, and I can handle that because it's part of the job. 

Visiting... the sleep doctor for the first time in a year and feeling thrilled to report that I haven't taken a nap in three months!  I had been so worried when I knew student teaching was coming up, about how I would survive the day without a nap. And here I am, even with  my fibromyalgia, thriving and nap-free. 

Grateful... that Josh was willing to step up and coach Wyatt's team for baseball this spring. We had a record 500+ children sign up this year, and Wyatt's team (along with a few others) didn't have coaches yet, so Josh volunteered to do it for Wyatt's team. He's the best!  He's going to have the twins help, and I think they all will have so much fun together.

Watching... students struggling academically and trying not to let it break my heart. I think this is the part of teaching that is really hard. When you don't know what to do differently, or how to better help, it can feel really hard. 

Leading... my students out to the baseball field during a fire drill this week and hanging outside for a very long time as the fire alarms would not shut off in the building. I worried quite a bit for Carly as she is very fearful about fire drills, but she said she was the least afraid she's been.  It makes me so happy that she is outgrowing that fear. 

Waking... up sick around 4am Friday, just vomiting and in so much pain. Thankfully when I texted my mentor teacher she said not to worry, that she would take care of everything- lesson plans, etc.- and to just rest up and get well. I spent almost the entire day sleeping or taking sips of water, and thankfully by around 10pm I was feeling a little less miserable. 

Thankful... for Josh's sister Julie who picked Carly up Friday and took her for a play date, getting her lunch and taking her shopping.  She got slime and made cupcakes and just had a great time. Thank you Julie!!!

Enjoying... the Taylor Swift Eras tour on Disney and just feeling blown away by her musical ability, her dancing ability, and her endurance! It was incredible!

Sending... the twins to Wenatchee to spend some time with my mom, their aunt and their cousins. They went to the Alpine Slides and had so much fun. I was happy to get pics of them on their adventures. 

Watching... the boys play basketball out front with the neighbor kids and loving it so much. The laughter and good times just melt my mama heart. 

Rejoicing... when Hadley finally laid with me while I was resting from being so sick.  I love having cats snuggle me and reading while she laid with me made me so happy. 

Finally... watching another scary movie with Wyatt.  This week we decided to watch A Quiet Place. I hadn't seen it in a while, and oh man! I forgot how good it was. But the ending? I sobbed!!! Gah, so good!

Facing... some hard stuff that I can't talk about. Let this just be my reminder to you that you never know what someone is facing. So be kind. 

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