Week 26 Around Here {2019}

{pc: Aunt Roxanne}

Having... my sister over along with her kids on Saturday.  It was a really fun day, and I was so glad to spend the day with her.  She even curled Carly's hair while she was here with my new wand from Ulta, and Carly looked so darn cute!
I enjoyed loving on my niece Romy & seeing all the kids snuggled up on the couch together watching a movie during movie night.  They're just so sweet together.

Trading... kids on Sunday with my sister.  She got Jack and I got Milo.  We met at the halfway point and swapped kids, then met again in the afternoon to trade back.  Logan & Wyatt had such a great time with Milo, and Jack loved being at Roxanne's sans his siblings.

Sending... Jack for a sleepover at Grandma's.  He was so excited to have some special time with her and Papa, and I think it was just what he needed.

Kayaking... with the kids and Josh while Jack was with grandma.  We had a great time on the water, but it was interesting to see how lost Logan was without Jack there to be his buddy on the water.  They drive each other nuts... but they also depend on each other for entertainment and companionship.

Celebrating... Wyatt's birthday with a pizza party.  We watched a Spiderman movie and enjoyed pizza, Koolaid, cake & ice cream.  Wyatt had a great time, and I think his friends enjoyed themselves, but the best story of the night is this: I had given Carly a little Koolaid before the party started.  Then about an hour later, the boys were all having pizza and I started pouring them cups of Koolaid.  Carly marched her little self right over to the table, jutted her cup toward me and said, "I need more alcohol, mom."
What?!? Somehow she mixed up the name "Koolaid" with the name "Alcohol", and wanted more.  Hahaha!  Then, later that week, we were at the grocery store and as we were cruising down the center aisle of the store, Carly pipes up, "Can we get more alcohol?"
She just can't seem to remember that it's called Koolaid.

Riding... with the kids to the school for a morning play time, and enjoying it so much.  Carly loved riding in the bike trailer, and I felt really good, too!

Spending... some time with my bestie on Thursday, and enjoying it so much.  We got lunch while we were together and had the chance to have so many uninterrupted conversations since we were kid-free (thanks to her mom and Josh).  It was lovely!

Playing... at home is going really well so far this summer, thanks to the boys' "Play List" (a list of all the things they can play when they have free time) and the consequence of weeding when they are naughty.  I had been so nervous for how it would go, but I am happy to report it is going just swimmingly.  They are having so much fun building forts and reading books and I am grateful for the permission my counselor gave me to give them more screen time if I need it to survive.  I always have that little card in my back pocket!

Reading... The Road Back to You (which is about the enneagram), Harry's Trees (which I talked about last week & am still working through) and Love You Hard.  When I finished Love You Hard I started The Prayer Box, which I am loving!  It's about a woman whose landlord passes away, and while cleaning out her house, she comes across a life's collection of prayer boxes.  Through these prayer boxes, she begins piecing together this woman's life story.  It's really good!

Taking... the twins on a bike ride, just the three of us, and having the best time together.  We raced and took turns leading the pack.  When we got home, we all felt great, and I was so glad I had said yes.

Storm watching... with the kids on Thursday night and loving how Carly got out her pretend camera to take pictures.  They loved the lightening and counting to see how far behind the thunder was.

Blogging... my heart out to get caught up on the few weeks I was behind.  I am so glad to be caught up!

Getting... away for a small group get together with the girls I started small group bible study with back in 7th grade.  For over 20 years these girls have been by my side through thick and thin, and it was so amazing to sneak in some time away with them.  We left our collective 13 children with our husbands and had some kid-free time in Seattle, going out to dinner, walking to see the sunset view and talking until 1:30 in the morning!  This time I got to meet Maggie's little girls, and her youngest is Carly's age and just a doll! I wanted to take her home! {swoon!}

{thanks to Tabitha's friends for sharing}

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Week 19 Around Here {2019}

{credit: @gorkiegork}

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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{credit: @anxiety.assist}

{credit: @yourenneagramcoach}

{credit: @justmyenneatype}

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