around here: week 8 2021

 {February 14-20th}

Can you just HEAR this picture?

Reading... The Kiss Quotient, which is an adorable love story about a girl on the autism spectrum trying to figure out relationships. I read it in two days! I am also listening to The Kite Runner on audio. So good!

Putting... a cast on Logan's hand for his broken pinky because he just can't keep on the splint.  I am worried it's not going to heal right, so his doctor and I decided that casting it was the safest choice. Logan wasn't thrilled, but I have to do what's best for him in the long run.

Loving... my husband for bringing me yellow roses the day after Valentine's Day.  He was busy working (finishing the cabinet install for our old neighbors) on actual Valentine's Day, so we didn't celebrate, but the next day he came home with flowers. And he chose yellow because he knows I hate red. I think red is cliche and not as pretty as the other colors. (So random, I know. I don't know how he puts up with me. Hah!)

Playing... Oregon Trail (online) with Wyatt just like I did in fourth grade! Wyatt was not impressed with the graphics (or lack thereof) but we did have SO much fun playing. We were laughing so hard by the end.  His cousin Milo as well as Jack (he named the players after his cousins and siblings) drown in a river crossing; Carly got a snake bite, then got lost, then died; and finally Wyatt died.  He was only about halfway down the trail and ran out of water.  It was a really fun assignment his teacher sent out, and I was grateful to have part of school we enjoyed!

Cleaning... up the milk spill Carly had Wednesday on her way to dump her bowl in the sink. I am grateful she cleans up after herself (by putting her dirty dishes in the sink)... but this time I think I would have preferred she left it on the table.  (Whoever says "Don't cry over spilled milk" doesn't realize how dang sticky it is! What a mess!!) 

Enjoying... Monday off for President's Day weekend.  Schooling the kids at home has me more pumped for days off than ever before. I am as excited (or moreso) than the kids!

Working out... 3x this week, per my promise to myself. I am so glad that I am doing this.  I feel amazing!

Going... to my sleep study consult.  We think that I may have sleep apnea, and my doctor recommended an oxygen meter to wear one night to see how I did.  Well, my oxygen dropped 47 times in one night. Not good.  So the next step is a sleep study and then go from there.

Still... having so much fun with our apple peeler/corer/slicer.  My mom bought it for us (it's Pioneer Woman) and my kids go ga-ga for it!! 

Attending... counseling on the 19th, via doctorondemand.com (I can't say enough good things about how simple, affordable and life changing this app has been for me!) and talking about how I am allowed to enjoy eating.  And also the terrible realization that life is both good and bad.  I know that sounds ridiculous, but I am a black & white thinker, so grey is tough for me.  Remembering, constantly, that life is a sliding scale, and both good and bad can exist at the same time, in the same place, even in the same person, is mind bending for me.  

Enduring... some really mean, negative self talk.  Along with my belief in things being black or white, good or bad, I also believe that I fall into the loser category when compared with winners who have their lives all together.  Giving others grace I can do, all day long... but when it comes to giving myself grace, or the benefit of the doubt, or reminding myself that I am doing my best, I suck.  
I've also been questioning my worth since I don't bring in a paycheck.  My counselor suggested I do some research on the benefits of being a stay-at-home parent, and also that I talk back to the negative voices that are trying to bring me down. 

Looking... ahead to summer (and afternoons spent in our pool!) and purchasing myself some new swimsuits as well as a new cover up.  I am so excited to see if I like my meet.curve suits.  I even ordered myself a two piece. I haven't worn one of those since before I was married! I'll be sure to keep you posted. 

Receiving... the sweetest (and cutest!) little Valentine's gift from my mom.  She got me a cat ring holder to go by my sink for when I need to take my rings off to cook or wash my hands.  The kitty's tail holds the ring, and I just think it is the sweetest! Thanks mom!

Taking... the kids outside to play in the snow one morning because snow is pretty, school is hard and you only live once, right?!  I shoveled our driveway while they played and let me tell you: Josh makes that look easy. Easy!! I came in (after what was a pretty halfass job, honestly) and was wet under my snow gear like I had showered in my clothes.  I was SO sweaty.  And I was sore for a week. Josh and the twins shovel snow like it's sweeping up dog hair. They're amazing and I am not worthy. Hah!

While we were outside Jack & Wyatt built one wall of an igloo; Logan made a snow cave (that he could actually fit in!) and Carly sat on the porch eating (hopefully fresh) snow.  Grady jumped around in the waist high snow like a fox, happiest I've ever seen him. It was a super fun morning. I'm grateful we seized the day. 

Thinking... about overthinking (ironic, right?) after listening to Anne Bogel's new book "Don't Overthink It" on Hoopla.  It offered lots of practical advice to limit the number of decisions you are forced to make everyday, and I have found it so helpful. I definitely was suffering decision fatigue, and Bogel's advice for that is to make as many routine decisions as you can, without thinking. For example, every night when I go to bed, I floss, brush my teeth, wash my face and take my medications.  It's not negotiable. I don't have to think about it, decide what steps I'm going to do. I just do all of those things, every night. That prevents overthinking. My mornings are less sure, so my goal is to get them a little more regimented.  Anyway, if you're an overthinker like me, I think you'd enjoy the audio version of Don't Overthink It. It's narrated by Bogel herself, and her voice is very soothing and encouraging.  

Letting... Carly paint as often as I can. She asks nearly daily, but I try to say yes regardless because I know that the art is good for her, and the mess isn't as bad as I think it will be. It's still hard, because it's still a pain to clean up afterward, but it keeps her entertained and she loves it. 

Happy... that Molly is all better after getting fixed last week.  She was pretty out of it for the better part of three days, and I made her sleep in our room to make sure Grady wasn't too rough with her (they play hard sometimes!) but she's back to her regular, healthy, crazy, kitty self. Thank goodness!

Raising... a little reader in Carly.  She wants to be just like mommy and just like brothers, which means at bedtime when normally I would turn off her light and leave, she's been begging me to let her turn on her bed lights (twinkle lights we wrapped around her daybed) and read like me & the boys. A couple nights a week I let her, and I usually walk in a half hour later to find her like you see above: passed out with her little pink glasses still perched on her nose, books and bubbas taking up most of the room on her bed, and the lights still on, making her look like a little angel. 

Enjoying... a Saturday afternoon to myself when my mom offered to take all four kids for a few hours. It was absolutely glorious and I did a whole lot of nothing at all.  I diamond dotted and watched Grey's Anatomy (what will I do when I reach the last season?!?) and just soaked in the peace & quiet. It was so lovely.

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Around Here: Week 48 2020

 {November 22-28th}

Reminiscing... about life in the past as I sort through all the pictures on my phone.  This last one (of Josh and the twins in 2011) took my breath away.  Josh was so young!!!

Letting... the kids go play in the snow one morning when we woke up to it. They had so much fun and I enjoyed sitting out there, reading on the porch, as they played.  I sure hope we get more snow this winter!

Needing... the days off that are coming for Thanksgiving this week.  School has been hard as of late, and I am ready for a break! (The kids, too!)

Decorating... for Christmas with some music (Amy Grant, of course) on my HeyDay speaker and lots of little hands sorting through our vast collection of ornaments. It's probably one of my favorite traditions, pulling the ornaments out and talking about each one's history.  The kids love playing with them (mostly only Carly now) and I allow it even though it makes the tree look uneven and we usually lose two or three each year from breaking... because I know that someday I will have a perfect tree and it will make me sad.  

Baking... pumpkin pies, fudge and prepping the seven layer salad on Wednesday with Jack.  I was really proud of us- we made the pies from scratch!!

Celebrating... Thanksgiving, just the six of us, and feeling so blessed.  Josh cooked the turkey and mashed potatoes & gravy.  We ate together, sharing sparkling cider in fancy glasses, and telling each other what we are most thankful for.  The twins were both thankful for me teaching them last quarter.  That meant a lot to me, because it was hard work the three of us did, and I'm glad they knew it was for their own good.  Carly was grateful my  mom and dad moved to Wenatchee.  I was grateful for our house and Josh was grateful for just about everything- his job, the kids, me... And Wyatt was grateful for us, me and Josh.  

Making... turkey cookies with the supplies Aunt Julie brought over for the kids.  They had so much fun, and the turkeys were really cute.  Thanks for being so thoughtful, Julie!

Starting... a new quarter with the twins, including math and having terrible flashbacks of seventh grade with Mr. Rye in the portables, struggling to remember PEMDAS ("Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally") and learning how to find the area of a triangle.  Sigh. 

Readjusting... our daily routine to have less screens and feeling better about it. The kids do screens from 12 or 12:30 to 3:00pm.  Then they go play outside or do chores or play games. Before this change, it was hours and hours of screens. Each day I think it got a little longer.  

#quarantinelife 

...but at some point I had to get back to monitoring it and encouraging them to do other things. 

Reading... Caste and spouting off statistics and random information at poor Josh.  It is just so good!

Loving... my life without Facebook.  It's amazing how much more time I have on my hands. I am also shocked at how much easier it is to keep up on chores when I am not sitting down every hour to check in on my social media accounts. (I canceled Instagram & Facebook a week ago) I am surprised to say that I don't miss it, and in fact I am so much happier without it. 

Meeting... with Wyatt's sleep study doctor to find out the results of his most recent sleep study.  It turns out that he no longer has obstructive or central sleep apnea.  I am so grateful that all is well! 

Raising... big boys who sometimes hurt the house that we live in.  Having three boys in three years, particularly a set of strong willed, growing twins, means that some of each day is spent breaking up fights.  One night this week, I simply didn't get there in time, and one brother pushed another into the wall, creating a huge hole above the catbox. It'll be a pain in the ass to fix, and Josh & I were not happy with them, but after feeling pretty upset, I've come to peace about it.  They don't know their strength and try as I may to teach them self control, sometimes things like this may happen.  The hardest part is to not see their failure in managing their emotions as a failure on my part as a parent. 

Cheering... Grandpa on as he gets closer to his last round of chemo.  He's been so brave about his treatment every week, and this week he even took the bear we sent him at the start.  He and grandma named him Luke (short for leukemia) and Carly loved seeing him comfort grandpa as he was brave for his needle.

Welcoming... Dashy our holiday elf, back from the North Pole after Thanksgiving.  Carly is thrilled with him and his shenanigans, and he has shown up every morning thus far! #winning

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