around here: week 28 2020

{July 5-11}

Doing... chores per usual Sunday and feeling grateful to have so many helping hands.  Having all of us home 24/7 makes this house quite disgusting, but together we whip this place into shape in just a few hours.

Taking... Wyatt to his vision clinic appointment to get his eyes checked and get his new glasses for the year.  He's the last kiddo to go, so it feels good to have that done.  He did great, and I think he's going to love his new glasses.

Swimming... swimming, swimming! Nearly every day this week we jumped in the pool after quiet (screen) time.  One day my sister's crew even came out and we all swam together. It was so fun. I am so, so grateful for the gift of this pool.  (Thanks, mom & dad!) 

Attending... book club (well... on the computer) where we got to choose our next 6 months of books. It was super fun to vote on what the ladies brought and share my choices.  I offered up The Two Lives of Lydia Bird and The Giver of Stars.  In the end, they voted for The Giver of Stars, so we will read that one come August.  I am so thankful for that group of mama's that I get to meet with every month (via Zoom) during the pandemic craziness.  I know that they know my suffering and are right there in the trenches with me. Such a blessing to not feel alone.

Sending... the twins and the little kids to the land each on their alternating days (two go on Tuesday and two go on Thursday) and feeling so grateful for Josh's parents who lighten our load weekly and help us keep our sanity intact.  

Sitting... in the parking lot at the vet with Molly, who, once again, preferred sitting on my shoulder to look around, while waiting for her vaccines. She's such a silly kitten. 

Enjoying... a much needed visit from my bestie Shana.  I am telling you, face time with other women lately is so soul filling for me.  This is such a strange time, with so much anxiety for the future and what the "right" choices are and how we are going to survive this weird summer... talking to other friends and mama's who understand what I'm going through is priceless.  Laughter in addition to talking? Icing on the cake.

Organizing... like mad when my sister was here.  She helped me tackle my closet, which I have been avoiding by closingthedoor every time I walk out of it. Hah! It is so much better than when we started and I am highly motivated to keep going now. 

Inviting... Josh's sister Julie and her wife Erica over Saturday and enjoying the best visit while the boys swam with their cousin Alvin.  I've missed Julie so much since I moved to our new town four years ago, and I cannot believe she lives here now, too. And in my same neighborhood!! It feels like a dream come true. 

Reading... Such a Fun Age on audio and Little Women out loud to the boys.  And I ordered Born to Shine after following Ashley LeMieux on Instagram for a few months now and wanting to know more about her story.  She and her husband Mike were legal guardians for a pair of foster kids who were available for adoption for FOUR years.  They were working on the paperwork to adopt them (such a slow process) when they got a call that the kids would be going back to some family members.  Now.  Ashley didn't even get to say goodbye. Her story is gut wrenching, but her resilience and her determination to find joy is beyond inspirational. 

Helping... Jack and trying not to freak out when he came inside after stepping on a screw and was bleeding profusely from his baby toe.  I know that I don't do well with blood, so as soon as he came in, I called my  mom to see what I should do and she walked me through it (thanks mom!) and Jack was a CHAMP. He didn't cry and stayed super calm.  He was the perfect patient. 

Laughing... as I continue to find Carly asleep in her glasses despite the fact that Josh and I put her to bed without them. She really likes to be able to see clearly, so when she's playing in her bed after bedtime with her stuffed animals, she puts them back on. Hah! Little stinker. 

Also laughing as her summer time diet has transitioned from granola bars and beef jerky to strawberries and Otter pops.  She probably asks for Otter pops no less than six times a day. The girl is addicted. 

Loving... the flowers we have blooming in our yard- the sunflowers, the lilies and the hollyhocks.  All so beautiful. 

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"Maybe life isn't about avoiding bruises.

Maybe it's about collecting scars

to prove we showed up for it."

-Hannah Brencher

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