around here: week 20 2021

 {May 9-15th}

{Your Story is Beautiful}

{Wyatt even practices his stacking skills at school
& his teacher sends me pics. Love her!}

Waking up... on Mother's Day to an empty house (thanks mom & dad!) and a full heart.  Jack texted me as soon as he was up, "Love you. Happy Mother's Day!" It made my heart swell up.  I made myself a delicious eggs & spinach breakfast and then Josh and I headed to Wenatchee to spend the day with my parents and my sister's family.  We got the cutest pictures of the little girls together, and really enjoyed each other's company.  It was so nice.

Watching... the twins at their baseball game, and then Carly at the park when their game was over.  Watching her made me think how lucky she is to have such a large cheering section always rooting for her. 

Thankful... that my friend Jessica asked me to come and share my gratitude journal with a gathering of her church friends.  It was fun to share that creative side of me, and I enjoyed being with other women. It's been so long since I have regularly gotten out of the house!

Being... flexible and trying to stay in the moment as different things come up.  You would think that with four kids, I would be really flexible and "go with the flow", but I am not. And change (especially last minute change) is hard for me. So I'm working on embracing new opportunities (like when Wyatt had last minute practice this week and that meant Carly and I got to go play at the park in the sunshine) and trying to be wherever I am, fully.  It's not easy (especially during school-at-home with the twins) but I am trying!!

Writing... through some of my new writing course on date night since Josh was gone working on his car.  He was also gone Saturday, and I have to say, I am so grateful that he and Samuel are able to do the work themselves. They amaze me.

Having... the cousins over with Nanny (my mom) on Saturday for some swimming.  We had the most fun, swimming and splashing and playing, and then when we were done with that, Nanny ordered us pizza and we had movie night!  It was awesome.

Finding... all the socks.  Everywhere I go, there are dirty socks.  Under the couch, in the car, on the stairs.  In my bedroom, on the rug, under the table.  Ev.er.y.where. They're making me CRAZY!

Receiving... news that my speeding ticket has been successfully deferred.  As long as I do not have any moving violations in the next 12 months, it will not go on my permanent record. Phew! (For that story, go here.)

Entering... the phase of parenting where we can leave the kids home alone for periods of time, and while it is wonderful (and freeing!) it is also bizarre.  I do wonder if the growing up of your kids ever slows down enough for you to catch up. 

Reading... so slowly this year compared to years prior.  I am not sure if it's because I am schooling the boys, or if it's because of my sleep issues, or if it's because I am just sort of burnt out, but I am reading a snail's pace.  Josh is actually ahead of me on "Number of Books Read", which is appalling to me. Haha! I am still reading some, just much slower than usual, and I'm not in as big a hurry.  Some if it may also be because I hit my "Read 100 Books" goal last year, so this year I don't have a specific goal. I am just trying to enjoy whatever I'm reading. I am very curious if Josh will close out 2021 with more books read than me. He isn't convinced because he tends to read less in the summer and I read more, but I guess only time will tell.

Loving... the book "In A Jar" that Carly checked out from the library.  In fact, I loved it so much I ordered us a copy.  It's about this little bunny who collects memories in jars of his favorite places and moments.  Reading it inspired Carly to find a jar in the hutch and go outside to gather things in it. 

Organizing... the twins room.  It's not exactly how I would have it, but I try really hard to let them have their space be their space. So it's a perfect compromise.  My favorite part, of course, was color coding their Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. 

Soaking... in all the beautiful blue skies we've had lately.  The joy that the blue sky brings me is immeasurable. 

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Deep Thoughts:

Around Here: Week 28 {2018}

 

Reading... and finishing The Book of Essie, The Stranger in the Woods and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.  I started Disappeared on audio and am finishing Four Seasons in Rome.  Then I plan to start This Is How It Always Is.  I got to choose my Book of the Month book for July and I chose Ghosted.  I also chose a bonus book, Goodbye, Vitamin, which I have heard good things about.  I can't wait to get my hands on them!

Feeling... so proud of my boys for forming a book club together with me.  It was all their idea, and they are hoping to read 600 minutes total by the end of summer.  They named it The Cunningham Book Club, or "CBC" for short.  We aren't reading the same books, we just get together to read at 7:00pm (bedtime) every night in the boys' room.  I bring whatever I'm reading and they bring what they're reading and we snuggle together and read.  It's so enjoyable. 

Swimming... at the pool with the kids twice this week before they headed out of town for Grandma's Camp.  I just love the relaxed vibe at the pool.  They play music over the loudspeakers, and the warmth of the sun makes the water so inviting... it's just my favorite place to be with the kids in the summer.

Laughing... hysterically as I tried to get Jack into my lap so I could hold him like a baby after bedtime stories one night when he was pretending to be asleep.  Carly thought it was hilarious and later Josh and I commented how we really can't believe it's been a decade since we rocked him and Logan with bottles in their mouths to sleep, and now they're both nearly as tall as I am. 

Enjoying... ten days seizure-free for Logan.  He went from Sunday July 1st until yesterday, July 12th, without a seizure.  Unfortunately, he had a seizure at Grandma's camp.  He called out that he was going to have one, Jack helped him sit down, and then he began having it.  It lasted two to three minutes and he recovered quickly. 
The good news is that he was having seizures every two or three days in June.  So going ten days is a huge improvement.  And today is the last day he will take his Trileptal (the old medication he was on after his first seizures back in early 2017), so hopefully the seizures will cease after this.  The Trileptal is not a good match for the new kind of seizures he's experiencing.

Grateful... for neighbors who let us do laundry (and even fold it for us!) at their house.  What a blessing as we wait for our washer to be fixed.  The part arrived last week, but the appliance place didn't have an appointment available until Monday. sigh.  I'm sure Josh could fix it, but we have appliance insurance, so we have to go through the company.  I am trying to remain optimistic... but nearly a month without a washer is a long time for a family of six!!!

Hitting... 169 pounds on the scale and feeling amazing about being in the 160's.  I have now lost 31 pounds since January and am very proud of myself.  Walking everyday and working hard to not emotional eat is the key! 

Fixing... up little areas around my house to bring me joy as I finally work through week three of Ordinary Magic, which my sister-in-law gifted me back in June.  I started by putting my rock collection in mason jars, instead of the old wipes container they had been in.  Now every time I walk past them, they make me smile.  I also cleared a shelf in my bedroom for putting my finished books this year onto.  Next on the agenda is clearing off my nightstand and hanging some photographs in my bathroom.  Just creating little spaces of joy throughout my home.

Reading... stories to Carly from the regular bookshelves, not just her bookshelf.  It's so exciting to read her new books.  I love watching her face take in the pictures. She often asks questions, or will choose the same book a night or two in a row, so she can get familiar with the new story.  Her current favorites are We're Going on a Bear Hunt and Big Smelly Bear.

Letting... Carly try using her potty when she asked this week.  She even actually peed in it!  I gave her m&m's and she was so excited to tell her brothers about it when we Facetimed them.  I'm not sure she's ready to try potty training full time, but I was proud of her for wanting to try it, and relieved she's not scared of it.

Loving... watching my children sleep.  Something about seeing them all curled up with their sweet little heads on their pillows, clutching their favorite stuffed animals, snuggled in their blankets, just sets my heart at ease and makes my mama heart beat a little slower.

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