Around Here: Week 10 2023

 {March 5-11th}

Love these three crazy, loud, teenage friends. 

Shower messages give me life. 
Thanks, babe.

Peep the gummy worms on the window. haha!

Getting... a new rainbow mug that makes me so happy, and feels so good in my hands. Fellow coffee drinkers will know what I mean. Something about the way a mug fits in your hands can make that coffee taste even better!

Sending... Josh with all four kids off to the land.  I was so grateful for some peace and quiet here and the chance to catch up on life a little bit. At the land, Carly loves to ride the four wheeler with her brothers and sister is a daredevil! She is Logan 2.0. 

Cleaning... Carly's room on Sunday to start the week off fresh. I would say about once a month I do a good, deep clean. Well, clean might not be the right word. Organize would be more appropriate. I sort her toys, throw out anything broken, donate anything she's willing to let go of and just make her room easier to play in.  

Taking... Carly to the emergency room after she fell unloading the dishwasher and split her lip wide open! Poor girl! It turned out they don't do anything for lips or mouth injuries usually because they heal on their own so quickly. So we stopped and got gas (and some gummy worm treats for Carly) and went home. On the drive, she played with the gummy worms, even sticking some to her car window. Haha!

Sobbing... at the beautiful video montage my sister made of my grandpa. Gah I loved that guy. A part of me still can't believe he's gone. But what a beautiful life he lived. 

Dealing... with another massive snow.  What the hell?! The hilarious part is that was Carly's luau day at school.  Haha!!!

Doing... a happy dance when my new bookshelf earrings came. Kelle on Enjoying The Small Things shared them a week ago and I promptly ordered them. I figured if I'm gonna be a teacher, I better dress the part. Aren't they cute?!? I wore them to kindergarten to sub and one of my favorite little guys said he liked them. Aww!

Taking... Carly to gymnastics! We tried soccer last year, so this year we are trying gymnastics.  We'll see if she likes it, but so far, I can tell you she looks ADORABLE in her leotard. 

Punishing... a kid for skipping class.  Oooooh we were NOT happy. I mean, I get it. Sometimes hanging with your friends sounds way more fun than whatever class you should be in, but you drew two short straws kid, and you have two educators for parents. We apologize, but someday you'll be grateful. In the meantime, get your butt to class, sir!!! Going to school is our kids' only job, and they better do it well.  Also, skipping is a slippery slope. Once you skip a handful of times, it becomes harder and harder to want to go to class.  So we're not going to have that. The boys all know now that if we get a call that says they were marked absent that day for any number of periods, their phones are gone, for at least a week, minimum. Not worth it!!

Making... diner every couple nights as we all are taking turns. (Well, Josh, the twins and I anyway). I am so grateful I have older kids who can help out and pitch in, especially since I am in school and my time is so limited. 

Starting... two new classes this week and struggling to adjust. The beginning of classes is always hard because I generally have no background knowledge in the subject, and I don't know that teacher's particular expectations. You know? So the first week is rough. Luckily I have George to keep my company. He always sleeps on the bed behind me for moral support. At least that's what I tell myself. Maybe he's really just showing off that he can nap as much as he wants while I read textbooks and write papers. 

Attending... STEAM night with Carly at her school and enjoying lots of different activities. She got to put braces on fake teeth thanks to our orthodontist Dr. Feller coming with his amazing staff.  She also got pics with the Groff Gator. So cute! And gosh, can I just say how much I love our staff? The teachers and assistants are so good to our girl and so good at their jobs. We're really lucky. 

Feeling... worn out. Just completely exhausted from double classes, plus parenting, plus adulting, plus counseling (and digging up lots of old stuff) and it's about to get crazier with four sports!!! This spring will be the first time all four kids are signed up for something and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little terrified about how it's all going to go down. Wyatt and Logan will be playing baseball for the city baseball teams (12U and 14U, I believe); Jack is on the high school team; and Carly is on gymnastic. Oh my goodness yall.  Here's hoping we make it!!

Wanting... to embrace and embody the following attitude toward my kids: 
"Can't get enough. Don't need a thing."

-Kelly Corrigan

How perfect is that?!

Taking... Grady to the vet and feeling grateful for our gentle giant. He was such a good boy and never barks or makes a sound. 

Listening... to Dani Austin's podcast Deinfluenced and loving it so much. I have followed her and her husband Jordan off and on for two years and love their podcast. It's the only one I listen to every single week. 

Reading... Gold, but it's going really slow. I miss Damnation Spring. 

Making... Carly do Xtra math to memorize her addition and subtractcion facts, which she hates, but she's doing it. I'm proud of her. 

Walking... with Carly and Josh to the park after work one afternoon.  It was so nice to get out in nature, and it made me excited about spring coming. 

Loving... Wyatt's Bart art he made in his art class. It's so colorful and fun and so Wyatt.  He loves the Simpson's. 

Observing... teaching in kindergarten and first grade this week and feeling so grateful I have a place like Groff where I can get all my experience with amazing teachers who are all so willing to help me learn. 

***

Okay, this shirt keeps popping up in my ads, and it makes me laugh. 
I want it. 

I am trying to remember this when their teenage jokes and volume
make me wish they'd walk wherever they're going. 

Oh I love this ring!!

This is from etst's instagram stories. 
I love this so much.