Around Here: Week 15 2025

 {April 6th-12th}

@birdsofashmae

Enjoying... spring break and the opportunity to stay up late, sleep in and not do much of anything else. 

Hitting... Dollar Tree with my sister and Carly, leaving the boys to go to the movies together to see the Minecraft movie. We had so much fun just bumming around Dollar Tree and talking and laughing. 

Cleaning... out the second pantry while Roxanne and Carly were sorting through and organizing Carly's Barbie stuff. I have had "organize second pantry" on my to do list for months. In the end, it was done so quickly, I regretted that I hadn't done it sooner!

Still... making it to Jazzercise on Monday and Wednesday, and feeling proud I am making it a priority, and grateful that my feet and back, which used to hurt during each workout, feel a lot better. 

Taking... Carly and her friend Joslyn to the park at a nearby elementary school. I walked laps while they played on the playground. I was happy for them to have each other and I was happy for me to get some movement. 

Reading... The Blue Castle and Northwoods, and listening to Sunrise on the Reaping. I am enjoying all of them, but The Blue Castle is really magical. It's by L.M. Montgomery, the author of Anne of Green Gables, and the writing is so good. I also started reading It Goes So Fast on my kindle app on my phone. It's so good. I had a goal originally to read one book per day of spring break. I got close most days, and I'm happy with that, because I read more than I would have if I had never made that crazy goal. 

Getting... the all clear from the dentist (no cavities!) for Carly & Wyatt, and when they told her she was Sugar-Bug free, she sang, "For the first time in forever!" Hahah! (She's had cavities two, maybe three times). On the way home we got donuts which delighted Carly to no end. Later I took Wyatt to the orthodontist. He is likely going to need jaw surgery when he is older. His throat is so tiny that surgery would help him get better sleep and cure any sleep apnea he may have. 

Happy... for the twins to spend the day in Wenatchee, thrift shopping, eating out, and hanging with their cousins and my parents. 

Hitting... Costco with Josh, which was lovely. We had a good time, laughing, walking every aisle and grabbing a slice of pizza at the end.  He's my favorite person to spend time with, it rarely matters where we are. 

Requesting... the boys send me photographic proof of their chores being done before they could go off and do what they wanted. They weren't thrilled, but I thought it was brilliant.

Mortified... thanks to a thing that happened that keeps playing on repeat in my brain. Have you ever done that before? Had something embarrassing happen that you can't seem to live down? I'm just praying the other person isn't replaying it in their head!

Grateful... for three of my four kids spending some time with their Grandma, making gingerbread houses (even though it's spring). It was a lovely quiet day for me home with just Logan, reading and blogging. 

Talking... to my counselor about my lack of belief in God anymore. It kind of got off topic, and we ended up talking about whether you can be a good person without faith or religion. Interesting conversation, to be sure, but not what I wanted to delve into, which is more, like, what do I do now that I don't believe in God? I wish, oh I wish I still believed. But I just don't anymore.

Planting... dahlias with Josh in the backyard on our twenty-fifth dating anniversary. On that day in 2000, when we were juniors in high school, we decided to officially be boyfriend and girlfriend. A decision I have never regretted. 

Visiting... and laughing with Josh's sister Julie who came to hang out while we planted the dahlias. We had such a great time. 

Informing... Carly that her balance beam arrived. She is SO excited to be able to practice some gymnastics at home. I died at how she decorated the garage- complete with pictures she drew of different gymnasts she loves- I just love her.  The only bummer about her balance beam and practicing in the garage (so she has more room) is that she is terrified of ants, and sugar ants have shown up for the season.  We're going to need Josh to save the day and spray for them so she can not freak out every time she goes out there. 

Trying... a Jazzercise stretch class, which I had assumed would be slow moving. Boy was I wrong. If anything, it moved even faster than my Monday/Wednesday class. But it was only a half hour and it was fun and felt good. So that's happy. 

Researching...  COVID and fibromyalgia. There seems to be some overlap between long COVID and fibromyalgia, both of which can follow a bout of COVID.  My fibromyalgia has just been so bad this school year- my feet and lower back mainly, but also my collar bones and hands and arms and the worst headaches & migraines. I'm just so tired of feeling this level of weary. 

Shopping... at Safeway for dog food, Carly's friends' birthday gift and some other items on my list. I am grateful to not be shopping at Wamart, but I sure do miss Walmart's prices. 

Watching... Dying for Sex, and oh my lord, what an incredible show. I laughed, I cried... it was amazing.  What struck me is the way that sex is a given for men. Of course they want it, of course they have fetishes and desires. But when women make it clear that they want sex, that they have dreams or feel lustful, it's not as readily accepted. 

Making... pizza and cookies for movie night while watching Hercules with Carly & Wyatt. It was a lovely way to end the week and I'm so grateful for those little munchkins and this one week break amidst the chaos of the end of the school year. 

***

Well this is just rude.

I wish I could doodle like this!

The neurologist Logan sees said they have seen a massive
spike in seizure activity with vaping, and an even bigger one
in people who "dab" (use a weed pen). It's so scary. 

From "It Goes So Fast"
by Mary Lousie Kelly

I just started Act III according to Mary Louise Kelly,
and it definitely feels this way. 

***

Me & Cousin Kimmy opening presents with Aunt Barb and Cousin Kasey

Me & my cousin Kimmy

Born ten days apart, we always celebrated our birthdays together.

Our engagement party. 
Circa 2002

Our one year wedding annivesary.
2004

Christmas 2000

Aww, I love those kids with stars in their eyes. 

Around Here: Week 14 2025

 {March 30th-April 5th}

Thinking... on what a great dad Josh is. We are all so lucky to have him. 

Loving... every moment of spring showing up for us.  It was a long winter and every blue sky, warmer temp day, and bit of green is bringing me total joy. 

Tracking... what I did in a day as a stay-at-home mom and dang, us mamas do a lot. It's so much work! If you are feeling expendable, please take a minute and write down everything you do one day. From sun up to sun down, keep track of it all, and I promise that you will walk away feeling amazing. 

Accidentally... breaking Carly's guitar string while attempting to tune it for her. Oops! Thankfully I was able to order more strings and they should be here before guitar lesson Wednesday.

Opening... a bank account with Jack. He's been working diligently with his detailing business so he had quite a bit saved up that he wanted in a savings account. I'm so proud of him! He's such a hard worker and I feel like opening a bank account is such a big step toward adulthood for him. 

Taking... Carly to the orthodontist.  She chose green bands and had chains put on the top four teeth, so suddenly her teeth are very much straightening out and looking awesome!

Exercising... twice this week with my Jazzercise classes. I am so happy to be in a routine of going on Mondays and Wednesdays and I'm so grateful for that class. 

Excited... for Logan to start his job umpiring for youth baseball for our city. I am so proud of him and think this "on your feet" go-go-go type job will be perfect for him.

Making.. Wyatt an appointment for his legs which have been killing him lately. At first I thought it was just growing pains, but as it continued and is causing pain all the time, I wanted him to be seen. The doctor thinks it's his overly tight achilles tendons that might be causing the calf pain and has referred us to a podiatrist in town. Meanwhile, she suggested new shoes and lots of different stretches for those tight tendons.

Visiting... my sleep doctor for my yearly check in and making sure that I'm using my CPAP regularly (I never sleep without it) and don't need any adjustments. All was well, and I went home quick as a wink.

Subbing... in my fav kindergarten class (for the teacher I did my substitute teaching with) and just laughing. Oh man, kids are just the best and I never regret a day spent subbing.

Giving... Logan his med increase, so now he's taking the Depakote morning and night, and thus far, all seems well.

Opening... a package that had a new & improved Molly (American Girl doll) inside for Carly! Her leg was reattached and her hair was combed out and treated and looks like new!

Holding... my breath during court for a loved one. Thankfully the outcome was better than anyone could have even dreamed and we're all celebrating.

Attending... a 504 meeting with the high school guidance counselor for Logan's ADHD, and while he resisted getting a 504 (he thinks it's not fair to other kids) we convinced him that the way his brain works makes some things easier (he doesn't give up; he's very adventurous, rarely scared; he thinks outside the box) it makes other things harder (remembering to turn in the work he has completed; keeping track of important papers) and because of that he deserves to have some accommodations to even out those differences. We only put two things on his 504. One that says he can turn in some late work, and one that says if he loses papers, he can get replacements. Hopefully he doesn't need to use it, but I feel better knowing it's there in case he needs to.

Listening... closely as Carly has her guitar lessons because during the week we have to practice and I can't help her if I don't know what she's talking about. Haha!

Thankful... for Cory Booker for standing up (literally) for our rights on the senate floor. That was incredible and inspiring.

Snapping... a pic of Logan & Jack, both snuggled into my bed; Logan because he had a cold, and Jack because he's been having really bad back pain. I hate when my kids are suffering. Those poor bubs. 

Subbing... a half day in third grade and enjoying it. I have found as I have subbed more that I enjoy different things about each grade. It's been a welcome realization.

Reading... Baby-Sitters Club: Claudia and the Bad Joke with Carly at bedtime, and Northwoods and The One & Only Ivan (in one day!) this weekend. 

Loving... Josh's creativity and playfulness when he dressed up as a secret agent for a school dress up day after one of his kiddos told her mom (who works at Josh's school) that "Mr. Cunningham hasn't done any of the dress up days!" He wore an actual suit, plus an airpod to look like an agent, and his sunglasses. He nailed it!

Happy... to end the week at gymnastics with Carly. It's a very mellow vibe there, and it's fun to watch all the girls at every talent level. I never did gymnastics, so it all blows me away.

Hitting... our local fav pizza joint for a farewell party to Josh's cousin and his wife and family as they depart for South Dakota. It was so fun to see them, and the pizza was delicious and Carly had a blast spending quarters in the arcade. 

***

Random twin info I shared on my Insta Stories:

***

I had this doll family growing up.
Seeing this brought back so many memories!

My spirit animal must be an otter.

So grateful for you, Roxanne.

Okay, Josh always gets SO annoyed at the number of
coffee mugs we have. But we break an average of one per week,
so I feel like having a lot is a sort of insurance.