Around Here: Week 22 2023

 {May 28-June 3rd}

Logan made this with stamps in Pottery class.
It says: LOVE YOU PAPA 2023

These two fight so loud and crazy sometimes it makes us pause and wonder why we let these wolf-size animals with huge teeth live in our house. Haha!

Shopping... for cute, comfortable sandals for my Europe trip with my mom since none of the Amazon ones worked out. We ended up finding a great teal pair that match the dress I bought on Amazon and are so comfortable! Jack got a pair of Birkenstocks and so we are all set! That same day we also met my mom's new Pomski, Sophie, who is the cutest little red fox-looking dog you ever saw (and so sweet!) and we got to hang with my sister and her crew over at mom's where all the kids swam and played. 

Gasping... at Logan's bruise after taking off his bandage from his surgery scar. Oof. The bruising is awful. And the number of stitches is insane too! Good thing he's so tough!! (But I did notice a lot of extra tiredness this week. I think surgery and healing takes its toll on the body. Poor kid.) He had his post-op check up with Dr. Chough this week and he agrees that he's healing up beautifully. 

Doing... homework with the kids ev.er.y.day this week and praying for June 14th to get here already!!!

Starting... to feel nostalgic for taking all four kids to school.  I know that next year the boys might get rides with friends, and also next year I student teach during the second half of the year which means that I might not be taking the boys to school in the mornings. It all just goes so fast. I know everyone tells you, but it's hard to believe until you're living it. 

Writing... a packing list for Europe because I have to be so careful about every single item. I will have a backpack and a 20" luggage for everything I need for twelve days overseas. Oh man I am nervous!!!

Ordering... Jack a new, not broken, pair of glasses for our trip. I ordered them on Zenni optical and with a little glasses repair kit I paid $40 and they came super quick. Highly recommend. 

Suffering... some pretty bad health anxiety (some zits on my head had me convinced that I have skin cancer) and feeling grateful that my sister can see me so clearly and is always there for me. She said Girl! You have so much going on, of course your anxiety has to make a special appearance. 
Just talking to her about it helped reduce it. But I also made an appt with my primary care physician to get a referral to a dermatologist to check my entire body. I'm 40, it's probably time. 

Making cookies... with my girl after she expressed a desire to make cookies and have them as a special treat after kayaking the lake with the family. She is so cute. 

Kayaking... with the fam (minus Logan who said paddling would hurt his collar bone too much) down at the lake. We got there, though, and didn't have enough life jackets, so Josh stayed out. Just Wyatt, Jack, Carly and I got in. It was Carly's first time paddling her own little kayak, and I was so proud of her. She did great. We had her bungee corded to my kayak and she was such a happy little camper. The boys were messing around with each other, and Jack accidentally rammed into Wyatt, knocking him out of his kayak. He was shocked to be suddenly in the water, but Jack is very clear headed in an emergency and told Wyatt to grab onto Jack's kayak and just breathe. Then I paddled my way over and grabbed Wyatt's kayak and paddle and held them while Jack paddled gently to shore so Wyatt could walk back over to Josh. They both handled it so well. I was really proud of them. 

When we were done kayaking, Carly was ready for her super special surprise snack when Jack and Josh were loading the kayaks back into the truck, they accidentally pushed too hard on the long one, and it busted the back window out. Oh gosh. 
Josh, frustrated the window broke, wanted to leave right then.

But I, who had spent my day making cookies with Carly for the family, wanted to stay. The window wasn't going to get un-broken... But we were not seeing eye to eye, so Josh drove Jack and the kayaks home, got the van, and then came back to get us. It was a really frustrating, upsetting end to a rough kayaking trip. 

Finishing... my double classes (HALLELUJAH!!!) on the 31st and looking very much forward to both a one week break (yay! no classes!) and to only taking one class at a time this summer. During my one week break, though, I am taking advantage of the time off and getting my field experience hours for summer completed. This week I did my English as a Second Language (ESL) hours at Carly's school.  It was super neat to see the classroom and watch the teacher work her magic with the kiddos. 

Dying of cuteness... when Carly used the little bag her Aunt Makayla gave her to pretend she was a substitute teacher. She put stickers and crayons and markers in there and was so proud wearing it on her shoulder. I love her imagination so much. 
Also dying of cuteness on her little page about her and her friend Kamden. Kamden's mom and I have been friends since I first moved here when Carly and Kamden were babies, and I love their friendship so much. They're just the sweetest. 

Blown away... by the difference in the before & afters of our yard. Josh thatched and aerated the grass and holy moly the difference it makes!!

Super grateful... to my parents for buying the boys all new helmets for their four wheeling and dirt biking.  Love knowing they're safe. They also got chest plates for the twins, which is comforting so hopefully we won't have any more broken collar bones!! 

Also grateful... to Josh's mom and my parents who pitched in with us to get the twins new (to them) dirt bikes for their birthday next week. They have no idea and we are SO excited to surprise them! One is a Yamaha YZ 250 and one is a Kawasaki KX 250. They're going to be so excited!!!

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