{January 3-9th}
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| {Carly with her cousins Liesel & Alvin} |
Hearing... that Josh's students should be headed back into the classroom soon! He is excited to have kids in person after ten months of remote teaching.
Understanding... 7th grade math. (Yes! You read that right!) I am doing algebra and ratios with the twins right now, and I actually understand it, which is more than I can say for my own seventh grade math experience.
Choosing... books for book club to read. Each person brings two books to our zoom, and then we get to vote on them. We ended up choosing:
I love our book picking meetings because I add so many good reads to my "To Read" list. I am really excited about all of these picks.
Running... errands to pick up glasses, send mail at the post office and drop off paperwork for our mortgage. The kids always complain when we have to run errands after picking up school lunches (we get free lunches everyday from the school. I just have to pick them up!) and this time I finally told them that running errands with four kids is not my idea of a dream either, but here we are. I used to run errands when they were at school... but that's not an option anymore, so we have to do what we have to do.
Setting... up our refi paperwork to get locked in at a lower percentage rate for our house. Josh and I are thrilled to have a lower rate, and a (little bit) lower mortgage.
Watching... Ava for date night & the show Cosmos with the boys for school. Ava was a good one, it kept our interest for sure. And Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey was blowing Wyatt and my mind! Highly recommend. I'm pretty sure it was on Disney.
Counting... calories to keep track of what I am consuming, per my counselor's advice. She said losing weight is simply math. Calories in to calories out.
Losing... four pounds this week! Down to 219lbs! Woot woot!
Keeping... a promise to myself and working out Monday, Wednesday & Friday this week. My goal is to keep this promise for all of 2021. Just three times a week, simple walking workouts with Leslie Sansone (love her!) but that make my heart pound and make me feel stronger. (Honest moment? The workouts were HARD this week. I am out.of.shape. But I am hopeful that will change with time.)
Enjoying... movie night with the boys and watching Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children after we finished the book earlier this week. The movie was a bit (!) darker than I had imagined, but luckily Josh and Carly were up in our bedroom watching Moana, so she didn't get scared. I did like the movie, but I don't know if it's one I would watch again.
Relaxing... Saturday with just a handful of chores and then lots of reading and Grey's Anatomy. I am in season 9 currently, and really enjoying it as an escape.
Reading... The Simple Wild (again) and feeling so grateful that I bought a copy of it. It's a really cute love story that takes place in rural Alaska. So much of it is reminiscent of our time in the village of Marshall. I am constantly underlining parts that remind me of there.
"Life up here may be simple but it's not easy, and it's not for everyone. Water runs out; pipes freeze; engines won't start; it's dark for eighteen, nineteen hours a day, for months. Even longer in the far north. Up here it's about having enough food to eat, and enough heat to stay alive through the winter. It's about survival, and enjoying the company of the people that surround us. It's not about whose house is the biggest, or who has the nicest clothes, or the most money. We support each other because we're all in this together."
Amazed... that Carly can diamond dot. We got into diamond dotting probably two years ago, and the boys and I would listen to audio books while working on Wyatt's wolf poster together. Carly has been asking for her own, so I ordered some tiny ones that are stickers when you're finished. Butterflies, bugs and owls. I wasn't sure how well she'd do, but I thought we'd give it a try. It was awesome! Kept her busy the entire duration of the boys' school work one day this week.
Laughing... when Carly played Fortnite with the twins this week. She was so cute with the headset on, and the boys were so sweet helping her get a win. Jack says "she's a sweat." (He says that means she is super good. Hah!)
Also laughing... at Molly eating Grady's dog food with him. He is so patient with that cat, I can hardly believe it. In the time it takes him to eat the entire bowl full of food, she probably eats three kibbles. Hah!
Ordering... Madame Vice President shirts for Carly and I from Free To Be Kids. I can't wait to get them!
Feeling... touched when Samuel (Josh's brother) made a Paw Patrol light switch for Carly's bedroom. He printed it with his 3D printer, with pink and white filament, and it's adorable.
Playing... outside with the kids despite the misty rain. We are ALL over the wet weather we've had lately. I am ready for dry days! I love playing out during this time of year, though, because we live under what must be a bird highway. So many geese heading south. It's amazing to watch.
Enduring... an emotional week, but with a smile on my face. Life is crazy, but all I control is this family. My goal is to simply raise them to be better.
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