Week 19 Around Here {2019}

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Grocery shopping... with all four kids Saturday to get it out of the way, and feeling amazed at how quickly we were done.  We really can divide and conquer and man, are we fast!!!

Taking... Wyatt to a birthday party in the park this weekend and having the best time with all four kids.

Watching... Brain Child with the kids on Netflix.  We've only watched one episode so far, but the kids can't wait to watch more.  (We all learned so much!)

Thankful... the guys washed my van this weekend with Carly's help, which motivated me to vacuum it, and now it's so fresh & so clean, clean!  I love that feeling.

Learning... so much more about the enneagram. If you've heard people talking about it, but have no idea what it is (or want to know more) click this link and listen to Christina Wilcox give a super quick (less than 4 minute) spiel about what the enneagram is, how it is best used and a few other important facts. I am a firm six. I believe with a wing 5.  Knowing this has made figuring out why I do what I do really fun as of late.

Walking... to school everyday this week and enjoying all the gorgeous weather and spring blossoms.  The walking is so good for my stress level and just makes me feel great about myself.  So grateful!

Baseballin'... three nights this week and feeling so proud of my boys.  You can really see the difference in their ability as time has gone on this season.  Jack & Logan both did great pitching and hitting, and Wyatt got on base multiple times this week.  Jack is becoming quite the catcher, and I love how he cheers on his teammates.  I loved seeing the twins get out and practice a couple times this week as well after school with the neighbor boys, taking advantage of the green space we have near our house.  This is the stuff I always dreamed of when we lived in Alaska and talked about someday having a house.

Growing... tiny, baby grass in our front yard and feeling so proud of it!  Josh and his brother worked really hard to till the land, lay dirt with manure in it and fresh baby seeds, plus so.much.watering everyday to keep it moist at all times.  I can't wait to see how awesome our yard (and adorable picket fence) look with a lush lawn this summer.

Doing... Carly's hair in little twists this week and loving the look so much!

Reading... That Kind of Mother and identifying with it on so.many.levels. There's something I am underlining on almost every page- some kind of truth about motherhood or parenting.  It's amazing. And the fact that it has so resonated with me, but was written by a man is blowing.my.mind.
I also finished Verity, which was insanely disturbing and still has me a bit stunned.
Meanwhile I am also listening to the last of the Midwife trilogy (Once A Midwife) by Patricia Harman, and hoping I can find some other books I enjoy as much once this series is over.

Sharing... my book choices for The Inspired Readers Book Club summer reads (over on Facebook- come join us!) in last week's Around Here post, as well as on social media.

We will be reading:
That Kind of Mother by Rumaan Alam for May
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett for June
The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand for July
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid for August

Sending... Carly to Grandma's on Thursday to play & learn at "Grandma School".  She had a great time, and even came home with flowers she had planted for me for Mother's Day! Awww!
On the way home (as always) she fell asleep, and when Josh got her here, he was able to hold her as she slept.  It was the sweetest.

Envying... everyone with mature lilac trees.  My aunt gave me three trees when we moved here, and they are growing beautifully, but they are still babies, so they aren't producing a lot yet.  I can't wait until they are bigger and full of blooms!

Researching... more on pineal cysts since Wyatt's begun complaining of visual changes (mostly having trouble focusing) in addition to his insomnia and headaches.

Playing... outside as much as possible this week, soaking up the sunshine after school, and loving the green grass & longer hours of daylight.

Making... wishes on "wishies" with Carly (who only wishes for her wishes to come true, but never actually ever wishes for anything), which is the sweetest thing ever.  She thinks it is so magical to find them, blow the little whisps into the air and watch them disperse.  I swear, seeing the world through her eyes never gets old.

Attending... Muffins with Moms at the boys' school on Friday morning and seeing so many of my mama friends with their kiddos as well.  The kids were thrilled to get chocolate milk with their muffins and I enjoyed sharing some special time with them.

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Week 12 Around Here {2019}

Getting... outside! Finally! Hooray!  The temperatures have risen, the snow has (mostly) melted, and we have started walking to school again. It is the best!  Carly keeps telling everyone, "Me and Wyatt are just so glad the snow is melted!" Haha! You and everyone else, girl!!!
I myself was walking back into the garage one afternoon this week and took a deep breath of the fresh, warmer air and thought, "We made it through the long, dark winter," which sounds dramatic, to be sure, but which felt authentic in the moment.  There were times (like last Tuesday when they called yet another snow day) when I wondered, truly, if winter would ever be over.
Josh is equally thrilled with the change in weather and has been outside playing catch with the boys everyday after school.  My heart bursts with love for him when I see him being the dad I always imagined when we were dating, throwing the ball to our boys, shouting encouragement to them... I am sometimes in disbelief that we have three growing sons, all such spitting images of him.
{Swoon}

Dealing... with lots of mud along with that melted snow.  But honestly, I can't be too annoyed.  If muddy shoes and a dirty floor means the kids are playing outside, I will deal with it!

Reading... and finishing Down Came The Rain and The Lost Man, and starting Becoming (on audio) and No Exit, which I got from Book of the Month.  It sucked me in from page 1!

Looking... back at pictures of baby Wyatt, and finding one of him nebulizing as a toddler. Oh, he was just so delicious! What I wouldn't give to go back in time for just one day!!

Excited... for baseball season for the boys.  Josh will be coaching the twins, and I'll be in charge of getting Wyatt to and from his team practices & games.  They are all three very excited and eagerly practicing everyday.  I am so proud of them!

Watching... the movie Lincoln for date night with Josh (and his brother Samuel who came for the amazing pizza... seriously, Josh's pizza is the real deal!) and being blown away by how good it was.  I told you last week I listened to Sally Field's book In Pieces, and in it, she talks about getting the role of Lincoln's wife in the movie, which made me want to see it (it came out in 2012).  I checked, and sure enough, it was on Netflix, so I decided we should watch it for date night.  Josh and I were captivated.  I felt like the ending was a bit rushed, but the rest of the movie was really fascinating and on point.

Loving... Josh for taking the boys four wheeling on Sunday at his parents' land.  They had so much fun (as evidenced by the amount of mud on their snow pants & coats) and I very much enjoyed the break.  I got to shower in peace while Carly watched PJ Masks, and then I got to go shopping with my friend Shana at a resale event here in town. I found TONS of cute clothes for Carly for super cheap, including some cute swim suits so she can have a variety to choose from while we spend our entire summer at the pool.  (Have I mentioned I am over winter???)
I dropped Carly off at my in-law's land Thursday and whenever I am there, I just can't get over the wide open sky.  I took a picture Thursday morning, it was so gorgeous.

Hosting... some neighbor boys for a few hours Saturday and dying (!!!) when their little brother took off his boots to come in as well when his dad was dropping them off.  I told his dad that now he had to let him stay as well because I'm a giant softy, and we just couldn't tell him no. So he stayed as well, and he and Carly played SO well together. They melted my very heart!!

Finally... taking down the Valentine's decorations and putting up Easter ones.  I am normally never one to leave decorations up too long, but I just have not been motivated in the home decor category lately, as laundry alone seems to be filling my time, but February got away from me this time.

Walking... the kids to the park on Saturday after the neighbor boys left, and it was so nice to get out of the house for a while.  We walked, then played at the school playground, and walked home again.  It's a nice walk, nearly a mile each way, and it makes me so grateful for where we live.  After that we watched Zootopia for movie night and I made pizza & cookies for the kids.  It was a quiet evening, except for one brother's misbehavior and that was nice. (Parenting... it just doesn't take a vacation, does it?)

Praying... for my friend whose little brothers' funeral is coming up this weekend.  We grew up with Zach, from his toddlerhood, (he was the cutest baby!) and it's unbelievable that he is gone.  My heart is with you, Marquez family.  May God comfort you during this time.
Sidenote: if you're unsure what to do for someone who has lost somebody, Laura (who I follow on Instagram) always says "Just DO something", so following her advice, together with my friends, I ordered Emily a necklace that has Zach's name on it.  I wasn't sure it was the right thing to do, but it was something to let her know that I was thinking of her, and that I saw her pain.  This is where I got the necklace, and they were awesome to work with.

Thankful... that Carly has transitioned from her crib to her big girl bed (the bottom half of Wyatt's bunk bed) like a champ.  When I decided to transition, it was a quick, spur of the moment decision based on the fact that Josh's brother had a desk for us, and we needed to make room for it, which meant moving our desk into Wyatt & Carly's room (for Wyatt), which meant getting rid of the crib.
I felt confident about the decision, until I got home from an errand and saw the crib disassembled in the garage with her soft pink sheet still on the mattress.  Then I got all emotional about it.  I've had a baby in a crib in my house pretty consistently for nearly ten years.  Over a decade of having a child in a crib.  And POOF! Just like that, it's over. 
I am trying to embrace where our family is now, and not spend too much time looking back wistfully, but the ending of certain stages is always hard for me.

Inspired... by how much our Orthodontist loves his job.  The twins got braces this week, and they got to put on each other's brackets (!!!) with the help of Dr. Feller.  It was hilarious and amazing!  They did a great job, and I was so proud!!
They look so handsome and grown up with their braces on, I can hardly stand it.  This first phase will last a year and we will go from there.  For now, they are pretty sore and not eating near as much as usual, poor guys! But Josh and I have assured them that their teeth will adjust and soon having braces will feel normal.
In about two weeks (after the spacers have time to work) they will get wires on the top braces as well, and then they will be sore all over again... but I haven't told them that.  No need to further dampen their spirits!

Buying... new lamps for our new bedside tables and LOVING them! They are super cute but (stage whisper:) they're just from Walmart!
I also bought some spring flowers to plant along our white picket fence- daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths. I can't wait to add some color to our yard after months of white & grey!

Receiving... a care package from my grandma this week that felt like a warm hug.  She sent me two scarves, a bunch of notepads and a puzzle from some of her friends for the kids and I to do over spring break.  She also sent the cutest quilt with flowers & polka dots for Carly that she got from an auction. I love it!

This made me laugh:

#truth

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And I loved this reminder:

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