Around Here: Week 22 2024

 {May 26th-June 1st}

Spending... time with family in Wenatchee on Sunday.  We had such a great time. The little girls play so well together (Carly & her cousins), and for some of the time, my sister left her three girls with me, and it was so fun to paint Daphne's nails and play with the dollhouse with Sweet P. I adore them both so much, but they LOVE their mama (!) so when she's gone, they tolerate me more than if she's there as an option. Hah! Being with them, though, made me remember how hard it is to have little ones. Props to all you mamas still in the trenches. You are amazing. 
While we were there, the kids played outside and hiked with papa; the boys went shopping with my mom and sister (who are so patient at shopping with them!); and then we all had dinner together and it was delicious! Then my mom played the video of Josh and I performing Celine Dion's All The Way at our American Sign Language performance our senior year, and the boys were hilarious watching it. They said "Dad had mad rizz" hahaha!

Feeling... speechless and grateful that while I was in Wenatchee with all the kids, Josh planted nearly twenty dahlias from my dahlia collection of tubers for me in the backyard. He is just the best. 

Enjoying... whip cream on my cup of warm coffee. Yum!

Catching... up my old book instagram account. @Shellyreadsbooks
My last post was in October of 2022, right before I started my masters program. I am so happy to have the time to contribute to it again! 

Walking... with Carly after school Monday and walking her to school on Tuesday which felt so good!  Being in nature is just so good for me. 

Wearing... matching shirts with Carly. I ordered myself a "books" barbie shirt and when she saw it, she said, "You have to tell me when you're going to wear that and I'll wear my "Carly" barbie shirt, so we can match!" So wore them together to school one day. It made me so happy. Gosh I adore her. 

Timing... my shower to see how long it actually takes to do what I do in there.  A full shower (with shaving my legs) was only 15 minutes.  That was good to know. I had been talking to my sister about how just jumping in the shower can feel so overwhelming. That's how timing it came about. Knowing I can be in and out in less than 15 minutes (probably less than 10 if I don't shave) makes it feel more doable. 

Trying... Hint water and really loving it! Highly recommend!

Loving... Carly doing morning announcements at school while I was there subbing. She sounds like a tiny little news reporter. Best little morning attitude, full of sunshine and clear speech. I am so proud of her!

Receiving... my favorite shirt order to date. It says "Ok but have you tried therapy?" Hahah! I love it and stand by it so much!

Withstanding... the passage of time, despite how brutal it is. Josh found a car for Logan this week (a Honda CR-V that is 5 speed and so stinking cute!) and Jack gets his license next week... I just can't believe that these little babies I ushered into the world at 4 and 6 pounds are now the same size as my husband and capable of driving a vehicle by themselves. Gah. I'll never get over how fast it all goes. 
It's so hard to send them out into the world. It's so scary, letting go. But I have to do it. I'd be doing them a disservice if I didn't. But that doesn't mean it's easy. It's terrifying. 

Proud... of Carly for touching the octopus they had at the school. At first she was grossed out, but she got brave! And really grateful for the pics a teacher friend sent me! Thanks Candace!

Cleaning... the house and Carly's bedroom on Friday while the kids were at school, and it just felt like, so amazing. I am loving being able to be a mom and homemaker again after 18 months of being a student and having to somewhat ignore all that needed doing around the house. I also got to blog and that felt great too!

Relishing... weekends with our family. Sleeping in; reading; watching Young Sheldon on the TV... it just doesn't get better than that. 

Making... cookies and pizza in the toaster oven this weekend since our oven's heating element died. I was proud of both my ability to pivot and how good it all turned out! (Also- Josh ordered the heating element and it should come sometime next week!)

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Memories:

Molly 2020

1995?

Josh's Grandpa Jay & Grandma Donna Cunningham

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I love this quote so much:

I feel this caption.

Journal entry from 2015

Jack ordered this recently and the boys keep saying, 
"Jean Paul Gaultier!" in this ridiculous voice. Hahaha

This is so funny to me.
God bless the middle school teachers.
You are the true heroes.

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Bookish posts make me SO happy!

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