Journal: late August

TODAY

Out my window: Wet deck, about 1/2 inch of rain overnight. It's been a wet and fairly moderate August, although soooooo huuuuuumid. I told Aaron if we lived in the Pacific NW I think I'd need to find  a new hairstyle because I really despise my hair when it's rainy. I digress. I've really been enjoying my potted flower garden on the deck this summer. Can't believe we're only 4-6 weeks out from pansies and mums! I'll miss my annuals. I learn something new about a variety of plants each year and it has been really fun to experiment with different plants and what works well and what I probably wouldn't repeat again. Already thinking about next summer, and hoping to find a few more spots in the yard for annuals as well. Aaron does most of the landscaping, but he said he'd be willing to make some room for some things for me, so we'll see!

Around the house: Not much. We switched bedrooms around pretty extensively this summer, which has helped us make much better use of our space. The boys each have their own room upstairs, and the girls are sharing the big basement bedroom. It gets better...if Maura wakes up during the night (most of the time she sleeps through the night), nine times out of ten Gemma gets up and resettles her. We still have the issue that the boys sleep upstairs but shower downstairs, and Gemma sleeps downstairs but showers/does hair etc. upstairs. Trying to figure out the best way to make that process a little less of a mess.

We also got a smart TV this summer, so we're planning to set the old one up in the basement family room for the kids to use with their Nintendo and a DVD player. Currently most of the time they spend watching/playing though is when the baby is sleeping (in the basement) so we're not in a huge hurry to get that set up for obvious reasons.

The kiddos: Back to school is treating us well. It always does. The routine is good for us. Gemma is playing volleyball this Fall, her first sport! She's only had one practice so far, but she's enthused about playing, and she is going to give basketball a try this winter. She also is back at her piano lessons after some time off over the summer. She's pretty disciplined with her practice, and seems to have a good amount of natural ability. I enjoy hearing her play. Kolbe  may do a baseball tournament this Fall and we're hoping to get him on a basketball team as well. We'll probably wait until baseball next summer for any sports for Clem. Three in basketball this winter sounds fun but a little cRaZy...

The baby: She is the happiest kid. Pure joy. That said, she seems to be battling a cold and teething this weekend, which is making her sleep a little less great than it usually is. Each thing on its own has never seemed to bother her, but I think the cold and that final molar combined are giving her a rough time. She's getting lots of words: mama, daddy, dinner (which she pronounces "da-DOON-duh") blueberry, Max (our dog), Jesus, cheese, pray.....she repeats a lot as well.

In the kitchen: Green salads with chicken tonight. Typically I make two big meals a week (Monday-Friday...weekends vary), a smaller/simpler meal on Friday, and then we supplement with leftovers/Aaron cooking/hot dogs/frozen pizza, etc. the rest of the week. Up this week are chicken tetrazzini (I typically add spinach, onion and garlic, and put some cheddar and a more substantial amount of white wine in the roux) and shepherd's pie (technically cottage pie since I use ground beef). Looking ahead at Friday...maybe another pan of chile rellenos? Hatch green chiles are in season and I have a recipe that's so much better with fresh chiles.

Reading: Finishing up Cardinal Sarah's God or Nothing. It has taken me absolutely forever to read, partially because I've read several other things while reading this, and partially because sometimes I'm just not motivated. But the end is amazing, especially his insights on prayer, and the beginning - about his childhood in Africa - was so interesting. Definitely a worthwhile read. Need to decide what to read next. I want this set for Christmas.

Watching: Not much. I crash within about seven minutes of hitting the couch most nights.

Bringing me joy: Maura. Being back to work. Kids back in school. Playing piano. Prayer. Good books. Coffee. Wine. Cooking. Life.

Thinking about: The Church.

Pictures to share: Clem got to bring home the traveling class pet and journal this week. Gemma took this picture on her camera. She takes some really good pictures!

Journal: settling into our new routine

Yes, it's been (almost) a month.  I know.  I think like only two people read this though, so as Pete the Cat would say, "it's all good."
TODAY

Out my window: Sunny and warm.  The days are definitely getting shorter though, and the heat is so much less intense even on the hot days.  We went to a local baseball game last evening, and the weather was so nice, despite being a warm day.  Hubby is watering our trees on the off chance that we don't get the rain that's being predicted for the next five days.  You just never know around here.

Around the house: My pumpkin spice candle is burning, because hey it's almost Fall!  Much as I despise winter, I really do love this season-changing time of year.  And there are so many fun things to do in Fall!  The candle is probably a bit premature, but it smells nice. I saw this idea on Facebook where you put coconut oil, pumpkin pie spice and some cinnamon in one of those little warmer things and I really want to try it.  I don't have a warmer but bet it would work in a small saucepan on the warming area on my stovetop.

The kiddos: They're all back to school!  And despite all the changes around here with me going back to teaching, I think this may be our smoothest start to a school year yet.  Gemma has settled in nicely, although homework is definitely not her fave.  Kolbe had a few rough mornings the first couple days of school but got past that and really seems to enjoy being there, and Clem has never looked back.  He was my first child to not have any tears on the first day of school (and my other two didn't even GO to preschool).  He loves it.  Runs up to the door with gusto and a huge smile on his face every day we drop him off.  I really hope (for his sake and mine) that this continues.  Makes the big change of having him (and me) gone in the afternoons much more manageable (for him and for me). 

In the kitchen: What's cooking here this week? 
Sunday: Grilled steak/jalapeno poppers, corn on the cob and some sort of wilted greens salad that I am still trying to figure out a recipe for....

Monday: French Dips and steamed broccoli

Tuesday: simple spaghetti with meat already in the freezer

Wednesday: lemon garlic chicken (new recipe I'm trying!) with fetuccini in cream sauce and steamed green beans

Thursday: salads (crispy chicken) probably, or leftovers

Friday: baked catfish and simple sides 

I am back to only cooking for one at the rectory, so that is a nice change, especially with heading back to teaching. 

Learning...how to juggle working and school and everything.  Really it's all good so far.  I didn't take into account how short my short days (Monday, Wednesday and every other Friday) were going to be, so that has been nice, still plenty of time around the house to be with Clem and get things done.  And I'm not there until around 9 on my long days, so even then mornings are still relaxed.  Or at least as relaxed as a morning can be trying to get two kids and Aaron out of the house.  The kids seem to be settling in with their respective school workloads and I'm sure they'll learn all kinds of interesting new things this year.  I have ample plan time built into my schedule at school, so I haven't had to do a ton at home (especially with all the work my partner and I did this summer), so that has been nice.

Reading: Um. Nothing. I did make a resolution at the beginning of the year to spend 15 minutes reading/meditating on Scripture a day, and this may very well be the first New Year's Resolution I am still sticking with come (almost) September.  And let me tell you, it has borne much fruit.  The kids and I are reading a book about Clare of Assisi at the breakfast table, and also The Saturdays.  Gemma and I just finished Understood Betsy, and I just don't know what we are going to do to follow that beautiful book.  It may be my favorite read-aloud yet.  And before that we read Caddie Woodlawn and its sequel, so I just really don't know where to go from here.

Watching: MLB mainly and a few other random things....like the back of my eyelids.

Bringing me joy: Confession.  New students.  The coming change in seasons.  Pretty flowers.  A date with my hubby on the horizon.  Doing puzzles with the kids.

Thinking about: lots.

Pictures to share:  

First day of school 2016.  Third grade, first grade and PK4yrs.  If you are friends with me on Facebook you've already seen these.  Sorry.

Seven Quick Takes: almost back to school edition

1. I got a lot of shopping done last weekend to update (errrr, read: pretty much start from scratch) my professional wardrobe for the upcoming school year.  We happened to walk into The Limited, who I had been told was a good place for what I'm needing clothing-wise, on their *one day only* 60% off the entire store (regular and sale price) sale.  Seriously, the pants I got ranged from $10-$27 a pair (they were regular $80 pants.  Gulp).  Nice dress pants.  I was so excited!  They are currently out for (free) alterations to the hem, so hopefully they fit like a charm when I get them back (fingers crossed).  I have long legs, but after talking to my husband (the fashion expert) and a couple of the gals at the store, I realize I've actually been wearing my dress pants a little too long.  So we'll see how it all hashes out.  I found a brown and black pair of shoes at Dillards that I think are going to fit (it's been a long time since I had to wear dressier-type shoes all day, so I am hoping for comfort, they seem promising...) and some odds and ends at Maurices that I am still trying to decide what I'm going to keep and what's going back, but I'm all of a sudden feeling much better about my wardrobe than I was a couple weeks ago.

2. I also got almost all my meal planning done for August AND September (!!!). I wasn't planning to do September, but it just sort of happened as I would add things and find a time to repeat them and think of other things, etc. Meal planning is normally something I only do a week in advance, before making my weekly grocery list, but with so many irons in the fire as the school year starts, it just felt like something I needed to do.  If for nothing else, for my sanity's sake.  So now I just have to make grocery lists each week.  And grocery shop (which my dear husband has offered to help with). And cook.  But it's all good.  After weighing the pros and cons, I decided to go ahead and keep my (very) part-time cooking job, so it's nice to have my ducks in a row for all that and make sure no one starves, here or at the rectory.  As an added bonus, I won't have to explain why I decided PB&J and hot dogs seemed like a reasonable weekly menu.  Here or at the rectory, LOL.  I even found a new crock pot chicken recipe that looks promising.  If anyone has more crock pot recipes to share, I'm all ears (eyes?).  I have a feeling the crock pot will be my BFF this fall and winter as I settle into my working schedule.

3. Speaking of ducks in a row, earlier this week I finished my second of two college courses this summer to get my teacher's license renewed by next summer.  The first one was a one day workshop on-site for one credit hour, the other class was a month-long, four-module online course that consisted (mainly) of two reading and two writing assignments a week.  It was a lot of work, but ended up not being as bad as I originally thought it would, and I am so SO SO glad to have it behind me and have those hours!!

4. And speaking of planning, I have my first month of lesson plans mostly done as well.  My co-teacher has showed me the magnificent wonder that is Planbook, and I've been on a roll.  Things have changed SOOOOO much since I taught ten years ago.  Wowzer.  I figure if I can stay on top of the lesson planning and meal planning, hopefully everything else will fall into place (at home and school) without too much stress.  Childcare is largely figured out (it has all fallen into place with so little effort) and I am getting reallllly excited to get back in the classroom.  While there's definitely some apprehension, I'm feeling very ready to settle into our new normal this Fall.

5. The kids have all their supplies and I am again grateful for our neighbor and her used uniforms shirts (for Kolbe) she was willing to again let me go through.  His shirts from last year probably would have still fit, but we have another boy coming down the pipe, and he's smaller and will be starting kindergarten younger so I think he'll definitely wear them two years.  It seemed to make sense to save the wear on them this year.  Shopping in someone's living room is the best...for atmosphere and prices!! Gemma's jumpers are all altered and I am hoping (hoping hoping hoping) that if I take the hem out next year (read: someone else re-does the hem for me. I don't do hems.) I can stretch them through next year as well. And then she'll be in skirts!!  Her shirts from last year still fit.

6. Clement is really excited about starting preschool but his concept of time just isn't quite there, plus the big kids start three days before him, so we made a countdown chain to hang in his bedroom.  He feels like such a big kid and is getting so excited!

7. Yesterday I worked in my classroom and (with the help of my co-teacher) got my computer and projector set up.  It was a classic case of the blind leading the blind.  So many cords!  We were hilarious.  But we got my phone talking to the projector, and the computer is up and running (with a few finishing touches from the tech coordinator last night, hopefully he didn't groan too loudly when he saw our work) so now I just need to go in and familiarize myself with everything.  Last time I taught, technology in my classroom consisted of a VCR, so this is a whole new world.  But I'm a fast learner....  After initially deciding to head down to my room after Mass this morning, I looked at the state of my hyper children and decided spending an hour+ around pricey, new (to me) technology with Thing 1 and Thing 2 and Thing 3 wasn't in anyone's best interest.  One of these days....

That's all, folks!  I'm off to the work-force a week from yesterday, feel free to send any extra prayers my way!  If you made it this far, I'll leave you with this adorable picture of my precious baby who will literally sleep anywhere, including the dinner table at grandma's house.  Find more quick takes this week at This Ain't the Lyceum.

PAX!

Journal: the new school year

TODAY

Out my window: Windy and warm, but overall the weather has been really mild. The light is slantier and the days are getting shorter.  I can tell Fall is coming.

Around the house: It is quiet around here.  I had no idea adjusting to having the two big kids in school (even though Kolbe is only half day) would be such a big deal.  But it is really quiet around here.  I think I already said that.  I will continue below...

 

The kiddos:

Gemma has had her best start to a school year yet.  She actually had to miss her first day because she had pink eye, so that was a pretty big deal.  I think it actually ended up being more traumatic for me than it was for her, but we weathered it and she is settling in and seems to really like her teacher and is getting along well with the kids in her class.  She LOVES having Kolbe at school with her, she is in full-on big sister mode.  The last two years, Aaron walked her in every day and sat with her until her class walked by because she didn't want to go in the "kiddie holding pen".  This year, she won't even let Aaron walk in the building with them. Once they get to the sidewalk they say goodbye to him, and she walks Kolbe into the building and drops him off in his designated location and then walks herself to the place where second grade waits.  She really likes her teacher and homework has been a relatively painless event each day.  I am so grateful.  We had some really rough first semesters the past two years, and this year seems to be starting off in a much more positive direction.  Providentially, on the first day of school our neighbor gave us a really nice, sturdy child size table/desk that fits in her bedroom perfectly.

Kolbe likes school a lot.  Lunch and recess are his favorites (and we have lifted all food restrictions for him when out and about and he has been doing just fine with that! YAY!!).  I believe school will be a bit more academically challenging for him than it is for Gemma, but he seems to be keeping up and he feels like such a big kid going to school every day.  He loves to talk to me about things that happen at school too, which is exciting because Gemma really never says much and I have learned to just not press the issue with her and simply let her talk if she feels like it.  The irony is that Gemma is my louder, more bubbly kid, and Kolbe is my quiet one.  Oh well, I'll take it.  There are 17 in his kindergarten class, and I'm so glad he has the same teacher that Gemma did.  

I was worried that having to get two up and around in the mornings would mean we would need to get the kids up even earlier.  Gemma got up at 6:30 in kdg and actually had to move back to 6:15 in 1st due to some chronic breakfast table piddling issues.  This year after a few days of 6:15 and way too much extra time on our hands the kids have been getting up at 6:25 and that is giving us more than plenty time!  I think they both enjoy having a sibling doing the same thing they are (if that makes sense).

In other news, we found out today that Kolbe's ruptured ear drum is completely healed!!

Clement is having a harder time adjusting to the change in routine than anyone (well, I may be giving him a run for his money).  Part if it I am sure is that he is #three and going through all those fun things that #three year olds do, but he just seems a little off without the other two around in the mornings.  He plays really well by himself though, it is cute to see him get so engrossed in toys and other activities completely on his own, something he's never really gotten the chance to do before.

All three kids have been getting along together and playing together so nicely.  It just makes my heart happy and our days so much more pleasant.

In the kitchen: 

This week: lasagna and sauteed summer squash/zucchini; crispy chicken salads; shredded Mexican chicken soft tacos; some sort of pasta, squash and shrimp or chicken fettuccini-type dish tomorrow night I think and still trying to figure out what we're going to have tonight.

Next week: homemade pizza; chicken and twice baked potatoes; beef stew; cod?; I will fill in more blanks later in the week.

Learning:  Just keeping up with school routines and homework and such.  So far the homework seems very manageable for both (Gemma's good attitude has helped this immensely). I will say, I am glad that Kolbe is half-day and we can tackle his homework when he gets home (he needs quite a bit of help/direction), and then I can give Gemma some time (it's not so much help that she needs as it is attention) when she gets home.

Reading: We have enjoyed the Jamela books so much this summer. They are just adorable picture books.  I don't know if it is because they are written and illustrated by the same person, but there is just something really great about them.  Kolbe checked out the audio book Count on Culebra for maybe the fourth? time this week.  It's fun, and the accents just make the audio version.  Finished The Middle Moffat and started Rufus M this morning.  The breakfast table, after our saint/Bible reading, seems to be the best time for family read-alouds currently.  We have some dedicated time for picture books before bed.  Gemma and I are reading The Year of Miss Agnes at bedtime as well. I got each of the olders a book for the first day of school.  Kolbe's was Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes (the Pete illustrations just crack me up).  His speech teacher introduced us to Pete and Kolbe has really liked him ever since.  For Gemma I got Little Nellie of Holy God, which I thought was very appropos for her big second grade year.  It is a beautiful story that we've read together numerous times, and I think she even read it on her own once or twice.  I am excited to begin a few other First Communion preparation books with her in the coming months.  The kids both had their first trips to the school library this week.  I am so glad they have that opportunity.  Gemma got a Magic Treehouse book and she actually started reading it on her own (this is big for her, she still hasn't gotten into chapter books independently).  We'll see if she perseveres, it's due next Wednesday.

Watching: MLB.

Bringing me joy: My kids, they are so awesome.  A bit more time in the evenings with hubby now that said children's bedtime is earlier.  Watching baseball with said hubby.  Nicer weather.

Thinking about: Trust, surrender, forgiveness. Oh my.

Pictures to share:  

Gemma helping Kolbe get ready on his first day of school.  She was so helpful, and so sad she didn't get to go.  She has been such a sweet big sister to him this past week.

Traditional front door pictures.

Together.