Around Here: Week 51 2020

 {December 13-19th}

Making... sugar cookies with the kids for movie night.  They had so much fun decorating, especially Carly.  I bought two tubs of vanilla frosting and split them each three ways, so I was able to make five colors (plus one white) for them to use. I have to admit, I also had fun decorating my cookies. Is there anything happier than a rainbow cookie with sprinkles?  I also made muddy buddies, which the kids and I devoured, and cake & cupcakes for my mom's upcoming birthday party. Carly gasped as she saw the cake, covered with sprinkles. I love her zest for life. 

Cutting... out tissue paper snowflakes to decorate the back door.  We did the same thing last year with my sister and her crew on Thanksgiving, and I loved how it made the dining room feel so festive. So we did it again. Last year we used coffee filters, but I didn't have any this time, so we made do with regular old tissue paper, normally used for wrapping gifts. 

Feeling... so good as I wrapped gifts and gave two of them to our doctor and nurse. This year I have really been feeling the joy of giving, and I could hardly wait to get my presents to their recipients.  We were able to deliver the doctor's on Tuesday when Logan (finally!) got his cast off and Jack (finally!) got his flu shot. Jack was the last of the kids who needed theirs, but he hates needles, so it was hard to convince him to do it. Logan was thrilled to have his cast off, and I'm glad to be done taking him in every two weeks for a new cast. 

Laughing... that no matter the weather, my boys wear shorts and go outside barefoot.  Josh and I are constantly telling them to go put on pants... a jacket.... socks... and shoes... It's exhausting and ridiculous.

Pausing... every time I see Molly snuggled up sleeping somewhere. There's something about a cat curled up on a cold winter day that is just so cozy. 

Cleaning... the oven and the fridge this week.  Holy rewarding!! The oven was really gross, and I still need to go at it again, but the first pass was incredible.  I used Easy Off, letting it sit for twenty minutes before using a bucket of hot water to clean it out with a sponge. It is so pretty in there now!

The fridge was also rewarding, but so hard to do! About two weeks ago it developed a smell, and whoo-whee! it was not fun to clean! I still have no idea what the smell was, but the fridge is scrubbed clean and smells great now.  Phew!

Sending... the boys outside to play basketball every day and feeling so grateful our neighbors don't mind if they use their street hoop.  

Acquiescing... when Carly asked if she could turn on the Christmas lights on her bed and read "like brothers" after I had tucked her in one night. It was so cute to see her sitting there, "reading" to herself and her stuffed animals.  

Finding... pictures that Carly took on my phone of her favorite stuffed animal, Lollipops.  I also found some of the Christmas tree and her toys. They always make me smile. I love seeing the world from her perspective. 

Creating... art with the kids to hang as decorations for my mom's birthday next weekend.  My sister asked us to contribute this way, and I'm so glad. We had a great time!  I forget how much fun I have drawing & painting until I'm doing it. (That's not to say I'm super artistic... but I have fun anyway!)

Reading... and finishing My Name is Mary Sutter.  I then started Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery, which has been the coziest Christmas read. I've really enjoyed it. It's apparently the third in a series, but I didn't read #1 or #2, and didn't feel at all out of the loop. I listened to Weapons of Math Destruction, which is blowing my mind (the way that numbers are used to manipulate us... it's crazy!) and started Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children with the boys.  I bought the whole series to read with them as Josh and I alternate readaloud at bedtime with them.  

Totaling... my reading numbers for November and hitting 99/100 on my yearly goal. I am so excited that I am going to make it this year! Whoo hoo!

Discussing... black holes at the dinner table with Wyatt.  That kids' scope of knowledge is truly incredible, and it's a rare conversation where I can just answer him without turning to Google. #smartypants

Feeling... the freedom of school being done for two weeks for Christmas vacation. I am so incredibly grateful (and ready) for this break. So are the kids. There were some things that the teachers mentioned we could work on over break if we wanted to, but I assured them (and the boys) that we needed each day of this respite and we would not be doing a drop of work.

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Loving... this picture my mom shared of the time we had four cats growing up. My sister acquired two kittens over quarantine, and that makes for a total of four cats for their family.  She was telling her boys that she had four cats growing up as well, and that they all liked to sleep on her top bunk in our shared room. 

The black cat is Wolfgang; the orange cat is Blade; the white cat was my cat, Bianca; and the grey siamese was Rex.  Wolfgang was the sweetest, laziest, chubbiest cat I've ever had. I loved him!  Blade was a big boy, a hunter, who would often bring my mom choice treats (lizards, mice or rabbits) and leave them on the front patio for her. Rex was my sister's cat, and Bianca was mine.  I had Bianca until after Josh and I were engaged. Some 14+ years.  I loved her something fierce. 

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