{June 8th - June 14th, 2025}
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| Logan's new job has him waking up super early and working super hard. He's one tired boy. |
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| Tell me you have three teenagers in your house without telling me you have three teenagers in your house. |
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| These are surprisingly delicious! |
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| I love Chobani Flips. This new one is super yummy! |
Reading online... that studies show that sons who hug their moms regularly have lower stress levels, better emotional regulation, and deeper connections as adults. It also said that hugs release oxytocin which boosts mood and strengthens bonds.
Loving... when my kids come in my room. I spend a lot of time in my room. I like to read, journal and blog up here, and it's just my happy place. So often when I'm in here, it's just a rotating door of children. Carly will often come in for snuggles; Wyatt with a question; and the twins just to flop on my bed and scroll on their phones. I like to think it's similar to when they were little and learning to play on their own, but every so often they would need to touch base with me. I am their north star.
Learning... about the role that fascia plays in fibromyalgia pain and looking forward to my massage this week in hopes that if we release some of that fascia, some of my pain will dissipate as well. My massage ended up feeling incredible and I'm so grateful. (I can't remember if I shared this- but I decided to call my health insurance one day to find out if massages are covered, and it turns out I can get massaged twice a month for just a $15 copay! Woot Woot!)
Adjusting... to Jack and his girlfriend being back together again. I said it before and I'll say it again- I am not emotionally cut out of my kids to have significant others. I get too invested!!
Volunteering... for field day for Carly's entire school and having the best time. I ended up kind of leading Carly's class from station to station, and I think the kids' favorite was tug of war. We did boys vs. girls and they had so much fun!
Shocked... at how much Wyatt grew from sixth grade to eighth grade. I know the same was true for the twins, but maybe it never stops being jarring how much growing your kid does in middle school. They go from little kid to teenager in three short years and it takes my breath away every time.
Losing... three pounds this week! Down from 270lbs to 267lbs. That feels so good!
Buying... candles for summer (I like to burn them on the back patio when we're swimming to help combat the smell of dog poop Hah!), pillow mist from Bath & Body Works (my fav- lavender vanilla), new pool goggles for my crew, and some pool toys (gems for Carly and some diving rings).
Decluttering... along with The Minimal Mom membership, and I am already feeling so good about both my progress, and the future of our home. I have so many decluttering goals and I am feeling super pumped because in the course of one year (just twelve months) we will have gone through every part of our home at least once. I can tell that the clutter adds to my stress level and I can feel the difference as I declutter areas of the house.
Chatting... with my besties Kari & Kori and catching up. Gosh I love those girls and I'm so grateful that whenever we talk, it never matters how much time has passed since we last spoke, it's like we pick up right where we left off.
Swimming... with Wyatt and Carly in the afternoons this week as Josh still had students through Friday. (Our kids got out Monday.) He said as he was clearing out cabinets and helping his students pack up at the end of the week, one girl asked him if he was sad and he said it did make him tear up. He's been a teacher with his own classroom since 2011. And now he's leaving to be assistant principal, and it's hard to close this chapter.
Seeing... my counselor and talking mostly about parenting teenagers. As hard as I know it must be to be a teenager, it's also hard to be the parent of a teenager. We're all doing this for the first time, and just trying our best. We discussed how to choose a curfew for them, letting the equation of "responsibility = freedom" be our guide. She also discussed the idea that noncompliance & violation of the rules will limit the freedom they enjoy. And finally, we discussed how I am having a bit of the "Summer Scaries" knowing Josh will be working and it'll just be me and all four kids everyday. She assured me that I am capable and that it's important to take things just one day at a time.
Sending... Jack to see his therapist as well. I hope he really talked with her.
Determining... that the curfew we are comfortable starting the summer with is 9:00pm most nights, and 11:00pm three nights per week. If they make it home on time, and are making good choices, they could potentially get later curfews (or earn more 11:00 curfews) but if they test positive for weed or nicotine (we do weekly urine tests) then they will lose their privileges for a week. (No car, no friends, no phone.)
Jazzercising... this week and loving how for that hour I am off duty and it's all about me. I am also wondering how I'm going to make it work during summer with Josh working and it being at 4:30, which is usually when we're in the pool. I guess we'll see.
Screwing... up as a mom and posting some pictures that I was asked not to share of one of my kids. I hate that I forgot and broke that trust. I apologized, but I am still feeling pretty terrible.
Feeling... so incredibly proud of Logan as he started his new job for the party rental company. He is waking up so early every morning and working his butt off everyday in the absolutely scorching summer heat. He's setting up, tearing down and cleaning bounce houses, tents and chairs, among other things. He makes $17, which blows my mind because when I was in the work force in high school, I made $13 and that was SO much.
Sleeping... in and really relishing slow summer mornings. I sit on the front porch swing listening to the bird song and meditating. It's so lovely.
Watching... The Titan documentary and feeling so sick about the way that the man in charge fired everyone who disagreed or pointed out planning flaws. I am incredibly claustrophobic, so I wouldn't go in a submarine anyway, but seeing how small that one was really had me feeling some type of way! Such heartbreak for those who lost their lives, and those who tried to save them.
Noticing... that my headaches from the Phentermine are getting a little better each day. The dry mouth is still there, but honestly it just forces me to drink more water, so I can't complain too much.
Subbing... for my friend Amy for Extended School Year for the kindergartners and enjoying the day so much. It's such a different feeling than during the regular school year since the kinders are the only students on campus. They have this for ten days this year and I'm glad they're getting this extra, super-focused academic time.
Watching... two of Josh's coworkers kids and laughing at how hard it was for Carly to cope. She did not care for three year old temper tantrums or screaming or crying. I forget she's the youngest until I have littler kids around and then it's quite apparent she's not used to the chaos of little ones. (Sidenote: childcare is underrated. Childcare providers work so hard, with such long hours, and so poorly compensated. It's really terrible. #endrant)
Driving... to Wenatchee after watching the little kids to paint some pottery with my sister. We were part of the class on painting whimsical mushrooms, and oh my gosh did they turn out cute! I can't wait to see them when they're all fired. My sister did hers purple and I did mine a pink/coral color. It was so nice to sit and chat and not have any children or chores that needed doing. Ahhhh. Lovely.
Overthinking... the entire drive home from Wenatchee about my kids and my parenting and all the ways I am failing as a mother. I was feeling like an awful mom about things from Carly having too much screen time (and that being the reason she has ADHD) to Wyatt being a neglected middle child. From worrying that Logan is overly concerned and anxious about his brother to wondering if I should force Jack to do the intensive outpatient depression program his therapist mentioned. I ended the drive crying to my sad songs album and then when I got home I journaled it out and realized I was being really hard on myself and it wasn't necessary. I'm not a perfect mom, but I am trying, and that's enough.
Taking... Carly to her final Friday gymnastics of the year. (She starts summer gymnastics next week) She is anxious to see who her coach is because she has loved Coach Piper so much. I am just impressed with how much growth she's had and the fact that her interest is still as high as it was when we started.
Melting... when I heard Logan and Carly arguing about Carly being able to make her own sandwich (she is for sure capable, and often does it) and then peeking around the corner to find Logan making it for her regardless.
Carly had asked me to make it, but I was busy and told her no, she could make her own. Logan was very vocal in agreeing she could make her own, but then relented without saying a word and made it for her. Those two are often oil and water, so to see him be sweet and cater to her like that really touched my heart.
Attending... Josh's nephew Ethan's girlfriend Aleyah's graduation party. She graduated with her degree in special education and it was so nice to get together and celebrate her. We always have fun with Josh's sister and her family, as well as Josh's brother. All our kids came with and everyone had a great time.
Loving... the cute date Logan took his girlfriend Elyssa on for their six month anniversary. They went to the sand dunes here in town and enjoyed a bonfire and some smores. I mean... how cute is that!? I love them.
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