Around Here: Week 43 2020

 {October 18-24th}

{My mom & my older brother Dalton}

{My grandpa getting his chemo}

{note the high heels}

Welcoming... Josh home after he was gone all weekend working at my grandparent's house. It was so kind of him and his brother to do all that work for Grandma Pansy & Grandpa Jerry, and I really appreciated him being my hands while I am able to do so little to help them. 

Grateful... that Grandpa's second chemo treatment went really well, and he isn't suffering any side effects or anything other than tiredness.  It's such a blessing. Also a blessing that they can get the treatment in a neighboring town. They don't have to go all the way to Portland to get it each week. 

Enduring... Carly waking every night at least once a night. It is just exhausting. But it's also bittersweet because I know that this phase won't last forever, and soon I won't have any kids waking me up at night regularly.  So while I wears me out, I am also trying to cherish it. I feel like that balancing act in itself sums up motherhood.  Trying to enjoy it while not letting it kill you.

Washing... dishes for dayssssss when I didn't do them the entire weekend Josh was gone. A lot of people asked why the kids don't help with the dishes, and please don't worry, they do.  But that weekend we were on the go and then just relaxing, so we just never got to them.  And by the time I needed to face them, it was a bit overwhelming of a task to lay on the boys, so I did them myself. But the twins do dishes a lot, and Josh cooks or does the dishes pretty much every single night. I am very lucky!  (But I do need to get better at adding paper plates to my regular grocery list. Hah!)

Laughing... when Carly showed up downstairs in a dress up dress and crown and demanded that I "bow at her".  (For those wondering, I for sure bowed at her... I was a little afraid of what might happen if I didn't.)

Swearing... at the twins when they lost their shit over a zoom meeting I made them attend and wanting to just disappear Monday... They weren't listening; I had no patience; and together, we made school at home feel like hell on earth.  We are six weeks in, and still I am struggling.  They want to set the agenda for the day, or only do what the teacher says... but I am the adult in charge here, and reminding them of that constantly is getting quite old.  

So...

Grounding... the twins from their game consoles and all screens for the foreseeable future until they can say, "Okay mom" to whatever I ask without arguing or losing their minds.  While Josh was home, it was much less of a struggle to get them to listen, but now that he's at work everyday, I am feeling very on my own, and we had a bit of a "Come to Jesus".  All the things they have here in this house, are a privilege, and one they have to earn by doing their jobs- both chores around here and school.  So until they shape up, screens are out. 

Trading... screens for chores on Tuesday.  
The twins cleaned out the garage, weeded the yard and did multiple jobs in the house during what would normally have been their screen time. I am hopeful this motivates them to be more respectful of me.

Watching... When Calls The Heart, season by season, working my way toward the new seasons (6 & 7) that I bought on Amazon Prime.  I can't wait to see what the new seasons hold. 

Feeling... proud of the twins for pouring themselves into their NWEA testing (reading) on Thursday.  They both took their time and got scores that were right where they should be.  I'm always glad when their test scores reflect what they actually know.

Suffering... a migraine Friday and letting myself stay in bed. It meant the kids got more screen time than I would have liked (the twins earned theirs back with their good job/focus on the NWEA) but when I have a migraine, it's about survival. 

Removing... Carly's pink booster seat from her kitchen table chair.  I don't know what it is, that she's my last, or maybe that I only have a few things left from her infancy & toddlerhood, but moving on from those baby items is super hard for my heart.  

We sold her bike trailer because she can ride a bike with training wheels now.  We gave her tricycle to my niece.  She no longer wears diapers or bibs, never took a bottle or a binky, and I have her stroller, but I know that I won't ever use it again. I just haven't bit the bullet and gotten rid of it yet. 

So unbuckling that tiny chair from her seat before dinner this week felt monumental.  

She will be five in two months. Five. I can't even believe it. 

And even though it's going too fast, and I want to slow time down, I also wouldn't trade it for anything. Watching her grow up is my greatest joy. 

So very bittersweet. 

Enjoying... book club which met via Zoom this week to discuss our book, Lila by Marilynne Robinson. The discussion went from distance learning to the book to our value as women, and what impacts our self esteem and our self worth. It is just so good for my soul to spend time with those women.  They all understand my role as wife and mother, and they understand the demands placed on my shoulders.  They are so kind and good to me (and each other) and they have been a super bright spot throughout quarantine.  I love you Legenda Ladies!!!

Reading... The Body Keeps Score (which is a slow read that I want to fully absorb before rushing to the next chapter) and Leave The World Behind, which is a page turner from Book of the Month.  Seriously, I was dying to find out what happens in Leave The World Behind. (But, semi-spoiler-alert, I was not pleased with the ending of LTWB at all!)

Seeing... the pic of my older brother and my mom sharing one last dinner before she moves away (from him, but closer to me & my sister!) made me tear up. I am so grateful that they were able to do that, and I just love my brother. 

Falling... head over heels for the tree in front of our house. It is the most beautiful color in October, and it feels like a gift.  It always makes me think of Anne of Green Gables saying, "I'm so glad I live in a world with Octobers." 

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around here: week 5 2020

{January 26 - February 1}

(Josh texted this math problem to me- I cracked up when I saw that he wrote "Rookie" on it.)

{lipstick mirror}

{so fancy!}

Feeling... all the way better and proving it by mopping our floor. I have never been so happy to mop in my LIFE! I am so elated to feel well and to be getting the house back under control.  It was really hard to be stuck in bed for so many days.  I'm so grateful for my health.

Wrapping... up January reading with 14 books total (8 audio books & 6 real books) and ending with 123 on my Unread Shelf. My goal is 100 books this year, so I'm pretty happy with this start! I'd also really like to get my Unread Shelf down near 50.

Reading... and finishing Normal People by Sally Rooney which let me down.  I thought it was going to be a long, drawn out love story, but instead it was an incredibly depressing, very sexual book that was not my cup of tea.  I also listened to I'm Just A Person by Tig Notaro and The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani (both three stars).

Wishing... I was with my dad when he went to visit my grandparents this weekend where they live at the beach.  I miss them so much, and when he sent me the picture of them above, my heart swelled.  He also sent two pictures of my Grandma Pansy's grandpa.  His name was Karl and I guess he left my Great Great Grandma Christina with four teenagers.  Can you imagine?!

Taking... a picture of Jack's eyes when I noticed that they have bits of brown & yellow in them.  Then that inspired me to take a picture of Logan's eye as well (to compare since they are twins) and then my own and Wyatt's.  It was fun to compare them all.  They're pretty similar, all having started blue, but since turned green.  What are the eye colors in your family?  Josh also has green eyes, but so far, Carly's are blue.

Driving... Carly out to her Grandma Carol's and enjoying the beauty of the sunshine through the fog.  The drive out to their land is so beautiful.  No matter the weather.  I love driving by the fields, whether empty or full, whether covered in snow or ice.  It's just lovely.  Like taking a deep breath after driving around the city, so full of houses and buildings. I love it.

Laughing... at Carly when she tries to make a "kissy" face.  For some reason she can't quite do it without a LOT of effort, so it's hilarious to watch.  She's also really cute, always asking to wear lip gloss when she sees me put my lipstick on.
All of us cracked up at breakfast the other day when she asked if she was big as Wyatt and then made him get down from the table to compare heights.  It was adorable.  She said she is as big as "he" so soon she will be able to go to school, too.

Walking... the dog with Josh after work each day, loving the time to talk and be outside.  We take Carly, pushing her in the stroller, and Grady, walking him on his leash with his harness.  Carly plays with her toys in the stroller and Grady happily walks along, sniffing everything.  He still pulls a bit more than we would like, but he's really good about ignoring cats or dogs he sees, which is the best.

Celebrating... Wyatt as he received an award (one of only three in his class) for academic excellence.  He works so hard and we are just so proud of him! After he got his award, we took him for a treat from Dairy Queen.  We're so blessed to be his parents.

Running... errands with Carly on Friday- getting in a trip to the library, returning Jack's band instrument (turns out band is not for him) and running to the store.  Carly enjoyed all the errands, but especially playing the drums at the music store!

Enjoying... Saturday with Jack & Carly.  Josh took Wyatt with him to Costco and Logan got to spend the day with Grandma Carol.  Jack's friends Easton & Channing came over for a few hours and it was just a really nice, mellow day.

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Week 33 Around Here {2019}

Wow! This week was a FULL one! 

So I am sorry (not sorry!) for all the pictures- haha!

Here we go!

{Shelly & the twins at the waterfront circa 2009}

{3 years ago-- oh my heart}

Driving... to Vancouver with the four kids by myself to see my parents and let my mom (God bless her!) take my boys school clothes shopping.  She does this every year, and I am so, so grateful.  I packed that morning, before we left, which was a bit nuts- I never do that- but I had been packing the house (like, into boxes, to move) the day before we left, so that's just the way it worked out.
On the drive the kids and I listened to Orphan Island, which is our first audio book together.  Jack was super into it, and I think we will be doing that more often in the future!

Walking... the Columbia River waterfront with all four kids, which I have been walking since before I even had children.  I remember taking the twins there as babies after I got off work.  (See photo above)  Now they ride their scooters and zoom past me.  It's crazy!

Eating... pizza with just my kiddos at NYC pizzeria and having the best time.  We really enjoyed ourselves, and they were so well behaved.  The pizza was amazing (yum!) and when they were all finished, but I wasn't, Jack said, "Hey guys, let's let mom finish eating."  I felt so thankful, and so proud of him.

Hitting... the mall for some school clothes shopping and Bricks & Minifigs.  We bribed the boys with Legos if they did well shopping for clothes.  And truly, they did amazing.  Jack spent the morning with my dad because he had done his shopping the week before when he came to Vancouver with my sister. So mom and I just had the other two boys and Carly.  We got right down to business trying on clothes and it went super smooth.  (Mostly because my mom has the patience of a saint.)  I was also able to get some outfits for Carly for this fall, and I may actually be looking forward to cooler weather so I can put them on her.  She's going to be SO adorable!!!  We met up with my dad and Jack at the Lego store (Bricks & Minifigs) when we were done with the clothes shopping.  Jack was THRILLED because my dad and him had found a pocket knife at an estate sale.  Jack wants to be just like his dad, who carries a pocket knife, so he feels pretty cool now that he has one. (Even if he can't use it whenever he wants.)

Trying... Olive Garden as a family for the first time and LOVING it!  Jack had it last time he was in Vancouver and made my mom promise to bring Logan back because Jack just knew Logan would love the breadsticks and pasta.  He wasn't wrong!  Logan is hooked!  He was in heaven.  The rest of us enjoyed it so much as well, and the kids were so, so well behaved.  It was a lovely way to end a day of shopping and busyness.  Just sitting all together, talking and laughing and eating.  It made my heart feel so full.

Heading... to the beach to see my grandparents with both of my parents in tow (and my kids, obviously) and having the MOST gorgeous weather ever!!  I was particularly grateful because I had woken up with a migraine and was working on getting rid of it.  So the sunny weather felt like a boon to my soul.  We went out to lunch with my grandparents first, then we hit the sand.  The kids were thrilled to run and play and dig and get wet.  Except for Logan who wasn't feeling well, and literally slept almost the entire time we were there.  He took a nice beach nap, which reminded me of his dad, and restored his pep for the rest of the day.  After playing at the beach all afternoon, we got ice cream at the local shop with my grandma & grandpa and sadly had to say goodbye.  We got Dairy Queen on the way home and had some very happy, tired, campers.
My favorite memory from the trip, though, is from my grandparents bedroom where they have a rotary telephone.  Jack picked it up and was asking how you used it, and I refused to tell him.  I let him mess with it for a bit, cracking up when he couldn't figure out how to hang up.  Then he kind of figured it out.  And Logan got in on the action.  Soon they were competing over who could dial a number the fastest, using an actual timer.  I videoed the whole thing, and I have to tell you, I haven't laughed so hard in a long time!

Enjoying... a beautiful day at one of my favorite places in the Northwest- the Washougal River.  We got Subway and brought snacks and all my moms pups, and we made a day of it.  And oh! What a day it was!  The twins swam and swam and swam, and Wyatt threw rocks to his little heart's content.  Carly was in and out of the water, playing with her toys, and the dogs, and asking me or my parents to swim with her.  Wyatt asked my mom the day before if he could try something he had seen on Youtube.  (Why is Youtube the bane of my existence!?!) She said he could, so he got to carve a watermelon like a pumpkin.  It was actually really cool, and looked pretty funny!

Roasting... smores and having pizza after we got home from the river.  It was a lovely evening with lots of yummy eats and happy kids.  The smores were, naturally, a huge hit, especially with Carly who ADORES marshmallows and chocolate.  She was winning at life, I tell you!

Getting... us all home safely on Tuesday so I could make it to book club and I could continue the nonstop work of getting ready to move.  (We close on the 24th!)

Sharing... all my thoughts about my book at book club (August's book was Molokai by Alan Brennert, which was my pick) and loving every minute.  I love those ladies so much, and I swear that time with them makes me smarter!  Aside from encouraging you to join a book club (seriously, go do it!) I also encourage you to read Molokai.  It was a really engaging story (with lovable characters), but also taught me a lot of history about Hawaii that I didn't know, and a TON about leprosy and the leprosy colony that existed on Molokai that I didn't know about beforehand.

Also reading... Maybe You Should Talk To Someone and really enjoying it. I am underlining a lot in there, and feel like there is SO much insight.  It's almost like therapy itself, there is so much great advice and insight since the author herself is a therapist.

Taking... the kids to the pool Wednesday to get them out of the house for a bit.  It was so lovely!

Dividing... and conquering Thursday by sending the littles off to be with Grandma & the bigs off to be with friends, and then I was able to get some serious packing and cleaning and organizing done here at home.

Receiving... keys to our new house!!! They let us move in a week early if we agreed to do the painting ourselves.  We agreed to that joyfully, knowing that being able to get our things in over the course of a week (and to be able to clean and paint at our leisure) would make things much nicer for us in the long run. (Especially since Josh's first day back teaching in the classroom with students was Thursday, and we would only have Friday after school and Saturday until 6pm to move.)
I am just so, so happy with the house. I can't even tell you.  It is beautiful and spacious and nicer than anything I ever thought I would be able to live in.

(I promise to share more pics in the next few weeks' updates!)

Feeling... sad to leave our old house behind, especially our garden and yard.  We've put so many hours into them.  Wyatt is particularly sad to say goodbye to his pumpkins.  As my sad feelings come up, I am just letting myself feel them, and then I remind myself that new memories will be made in our new house in the years to come.

Suffering... my worst migraine in years on Friday.  I was in tears it was so bad, and I couldn't get out of bed.  Logan was really worried so he called my mother-in-law and she offered to come get all the kids so I could sleep.  I stayed in bed until 1:30, sleeping off and on and icing my neck and head.  Then I ate some lunch and watched a little TV.
My bestie Shana dropped off some Past Tense oil to see if that would help my migraine dissipate even more.  I was nervous at first- I haven't used oils before... but I tried it, and it felt sooo good.  I now carry it in my purse.
Josh got home and then picked up the kids from his mom.  By then I felt quite a bit better and after they were in bed I was able to eat dinner and watch an episode of Game of Thrones with Josh before falling asleep again.
I'm sure the migraine was from the stress of traveling, summer coming to an end, the boys all planning to attend brand new schools at the end of the month, and our big move coming up.  In the coming weeks, I am going to need to make sure that I get enough sleep, move and fuel my body well, and try to keep my stress level lower.  Otherwise, this could get out of control!

Book nerding... out of control and posting my Mid-Year Reading Check In post on the blog.  Oh how I love compiling all my reading numbers and choosing my favorite books to share with you.  I've read 11 that I think you should REALLY read, and I got on a midwife kick and a biography kick that lead me to some great reads as well.  Check it out if you're looking for some good recommendations. (I also share my tips on how to squeeze as much reading time as possible into your life. #idratherbereading )

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